Corvinus85

I think Ochiba realized Ishido is just a brute who would do anything to get his way. Mariko outmaneuvers him, and while publicly he acknowledges that she was free to leave, he sends Shinobi after her. Obviously no one would openly accuse him of this, but everyone with a brain knew it was him. So considering her own conversation with Mariko that eventually came to a head about protecting her son's life, Ochiba concluded that being allied with Ishido was not in the best interest of her son. Her care for her son outweighed any personal hatred of Toranaga. (of course, Toranaga could just as easily dispose of her and her son, but he is subtle not like Ishido) Some of Ochiba's change in attitude towards Ishido is more subtle, like Mariko's poem about a leafless branch, which Yabushige, a man trained in poetry called stupid, while Ishigo, who has more humbler beginnings, praised it. I think there was a moment that Ochiba looked like she was internally laughing at Ishido.

Best to save them for a quick counteroffensive where they help punch through enemy lines.

Wasn't Carlot told to leave town or die in the trilogy? The land where Red Country takes place is certainly painted as a frontier land, where plenty of people who want a fresh start or to hide can end up. So to me it makes sense for such characters to show up there. And I'm not sure if that land is bigger than the American Midwest. Logen is the most appropriate western trope for drifter with a dark past comes into town.

I completed the main story in Horizon Forbidden West and now I've started the Burning Shores DLC story. I'm 63 hours in the game. At one point I got bored with all the side quests and just shot for finishing the main story. I found the last act of the main story less challenging than in HZD.

Imo, the show did a good enough showing that John loved Mariko. OTOH it's less clear how much Mariko loved John, because she certainly didn't put their love ahead of duty or even her desire to die.

You spoke too soon. It's about to become a 2 team title race thanks to Liverpool's inability to score.

On Blackthorne's dream

Mariko has a son. But my take on the falcon release scene is that Toranaga has metaphorically freed Mariko of any obligations and service. The falcon is now free to live its life normally, no longer on the arm of the puppet master.

Pinball goal. Allison smh

Sigh https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/18/24133870/us-air-force-ai-dogfight-test-x-62a

It's disrespectful to laugh at a corpse.

Did I want a battle or one more fight sequence? Sure. But this was a strong finale nonetheless. I liked the way Toranaga finally revealed his plan. I don't know if the book ever mentioned the game of Go, but the way events unfolded for Toranaga reminded me of a way of playing Go where you can allow your opponent to take your pieces all the while you position the rest in a way that you gain the positional advantage on the board until it becomes clear you've won without needing to continue to trade pieces.

Isn't Blackthorne based on William Adams who did achieve a position of high status in Tokuguawa Ieyasu's court? But indeed Tokugawa used Adams' skills for his benefit, much like Torunaga has done with Blackthorne.

I definitely did not imagine Gosling as playing the protagonist of this story, but I look forward to it nonetheless. Good choices for the writer and directors. If they adapt it as well The Martian was adapted, it will be another great SF movie.

I watched Rebel Moon part 2. I kept repeating to myself that this is not the reason why I had re-signed up for Netflix. I already joked about how RM part 1 felt like a 2004 style SyFy channel movie. Because that's what these are. Back when SyFy would occasionally throw a lot of money at a miniseries or movie to make it look better than their usual stuff. And if this had been a book adaptation, it would have been from one of those crap authors who just write knockoffs of the popular series. Spending 10 minutes on a slo-mo scene about wheat harvesting instead of some meaningful character development. Snyder should not be given full reigns on a movie again.

MCU saved!!!

Are they wrong about the penalty calls, though? I watched the replays, and one for sure was a penalty, the other two could have been called soft if they had been given.

So I watched this SyFy channel movie, Rebel Moon, on Netflix. Really brought me back to 2004. Maybe I'll watch Part 2 when the nostalgia hits me again.

Why are those events nonsensical?

Should have been 2-0 at half time if Salah cared to score. Sure Atalanta did well, but there simply was less of a fighting spirit from Liverpool compared to other European matches.

Pretty disappointing from Liverpool in the end. They didn't really look like they wanted to achieve the comeback. Leverkusen remains unbeaten.

Well good start for Liverpool.

This sounds like jury intimidation on the media's part. Mainly that Waters asshole on Fox "News".

Aston Villa are still in the Conference League and they're in a better position than WH and against an easier opponent. Doubtful WH can get past Leverkusen. Liverpool has a better chance of advancing than WH.