1630 Master & Apprentice.

There is something ominous in Thomas’s character. Of course of whom can that not be said? The desire to resist change is, like many things, important to moderate. How hard should you fight to retain the status quo? Is the present state of things worth the trouble? How do you decide? Thomas’s motives are selfish and he’s said as much. Which is at least something positive. He doesn’t hide his selfishness to those he’s close to at least.

I’ve been watching The Crown, on Netfix. It’s very good, but weird in some ways. At least is so far as it’s about problems that are mostly based on a contract with a church a king made up for himself so he could fuck who he wanted. Of course most problems are based on stuff like that. I certainly can’t say that the American system of governance is any better. It’s the same sort of nonsense without the skill at pageantry. In any event the look behind the curtains at the story of the lives of the royal family is very sympathetic. I wouldn’t want to live that way. It’s like game of thrones without any of the fun killing the shit out of your rivals. At least so far…
John Lithgow is very good as Churchill. I mean they are all good actors and actresses. Matt Smith makes you forget he was once The Doctor and really sells the attitude of the Prince.
The Stuff with princess Margaret was interesting since I never really learned anything about it. Also, the Queen is a ride or die bitch. It’s no wonder she’s such a tough lady now. She’s seen some shit. They haven’t even gone in to her war service in the parts I’ve seen, just mentioned it in passing.

I know a bit more than most Americans about the rest of the world and how they govern themselves, but that’s not a very high bar. Americans are much more self centered, but in our defense, many states are as large as, or larger, than many countries and tend to act just as shitty to each other. So we tend to pay attention to that. California, Texas, and New York are practically countries unto themselves. Anyway, I’ve always liked English stuff. Blackadder, Monty Python, Allo Allo, the kind of stuff that’s easy to see over here, relatively speaking. I also listen to BBC podcasts and stuff. So I hear about the political system over there a lot. The BBC has really good quiz shows and I wish we would copy them. Or import them.

I want to watch some Australian shows at some point. I bet they’re all weird. I watched some news stuff and Australian English sounds like kids talking to my ears, which is fun. BMX Bandits is the most Australian thing I think I’ve ever watched, but it’s super old. What kind of movies are coming from there now, I wonder…

14 Comments

John Lithgow is an amazing actor I loved him in Dexter and even more as Winston Churchill. Matt Smith was a great Doctor and an even better Prince, and looks strange with Blond/Dirty Blond hair.

I suggest Spellbinder. It was on the Disney Channel in the US in the 90’s, but it’s apparently available on dvd in Aus.

You watch Allo Allo? Heh! I thought this show had fans only in my country (Bulgaria). I love it that they take the piss out of every nation they can think of :D

Probably that’s the reason it’s not super popular in Europe though

For Australian shows, I recommend Farscape, even though it’s an old one. I’d say the Almighty Johnsons too, but it’s at least set in New Zealand, and I’m not sure where it’s produced. Both of these are on Netflix though.

If you after some real Australian culture, I can’t recommend “The Castle” highly enough, a true cultural classic.

From the NZ point of view “Smash Palace”, “Once were Warriors” are a bit darker, but for a great entertaining time, you can’t go past “Goodbye Pork Pie” (remake about to be released).

“Shaker Run” was an American movie made in NZ and doesn’t have too much cringe.

Anything early Peter Jackson is brilliant, he has a very creative mind. “Frighteners” with Michael J Fox was about his earliest mainstreamish movie, but “Braindead” and “Meet the Feebles” are mind blowing (when you consider the time period in which they were made).

American’s may not know of other countries governments, but let’s be honest, knowing such things and not being in politics, is almost useless for most of them.

Then there are those in other countries, that think they have a grasp on American politics, and even when they do, they’re idea is more of a “Stupid American’s should think this way, because it’s better for us, who cares about you.” :p

Of course, we have that same problem with our own people, hell, we have the problem we’re American’s think other American’s should cater to their every whim/desire/anxiety. :p

I think all people should try to know about the workings of other countries and understand their political situations otherwise you might end up believing some of the crap certain political leaders and ‘news’ publications spout.

Remember California is the 5th largest nation by GDP in the world-oh wait, it is a state, not a nation, so Britain gets to be 5th despite being smaller than CA…

Blue Heelers is a cop show set in a rural Australian town, which over the next thirteen seasons becomes the most dangerous place in Victoria. As much a soap as a crime drama, it also occasionally features the cops informing the hapless criminals that “reading them their rights” is something from American television, NOT Australia…

Sea Patrol is another good show. In the US, it would be about the Coast Guard–everything from illegal fishing and drugs smuggling to illegals interdiction.

And another vote for Farscape Sci fi with Jim Henson aliens.

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