Scott_N

This kind of rumormongering around Xi has been ever present for many, many years and long before covid. It never amounts to anything. It would of course be very interesting if any of this bears out but a CMP article a few weeks back suggests it is most likely business as usual: Is Xi's Grip Holding? - China Media Project

Why do you think he is more questionable? Is that based on his whole career or his more recent actions, trying to position himself for a run at the top job? I don't know a whole lot about him but given how vapid most people are, and how much a presidential election is about presentation, I bet he'd do well against a MAGA guy and would appeal to centrist Dems, independents and more than a few republicans still unconvinced by where their party is going. I have to caveat this by saying I'm somewhat concerned by learning he has married Kimberly Guilfoyle... But I suppose even that could be spun to his advantage, politically.

No. Nothing scares China as much as North Korea. There are no good outcomes (for China) beyond trying to keep status quo.

Stunning TV, really. Rewatching season 1 was a potent reminder of just how good that was. With season 2 being just as incredible I can't think of many shows of similar quality. Chernobyl is the only semi-recent one that springs to mind.

First season of Twin Peaks is my favorite televison ever (only the first season of The Leftovers could possibly compete). I agree with you on season 2. I don't have much of an opinion of season 3 because I'm too dumb and seldom had any idea what was going on.

The struggle is real.

I couldn’t make it past the first 30 minutes. I loath this show with such burning intensity I worry it’ll give me an aneurysm if I continue. So I shall live vicariously through this thread henceforth. From what I saw I’m not sure what was worse – Sauron the Blob or Sauron’s painful, first attempt at public speaking. Or all the bickering children. Sorry, Elves.

What has really piqued my interest from this recent flurry of RoP activity is just what *does* IlyaP actually consider to be bad TV/film? I need to know.

I am pleased I have now finished the season. Like LP, I find it difficult to stop watching mid-season even when I actively dislike what I am seeing. The final episode was no better than what has preceded it. Certainly Jared Harris cannot save it and all the issues with the pacing, tone, storytelling, weak actors/characters were just as frustrating. I will, however, concede that my earlier, somewhat flippant, observation that Lee Pace just plays Lee Pace was both premature and incorrect. The only storyline of any interest in this show has actually been the Empire-arc (how ironic) and Lee Pace is its saving grace.

I, too, was somehow sure it was an eight episode season and was determined to see it through. Not sure I have the strength for another three.

Fair enough. The dangers of drawing conclusions based on limited data.

Terrible show in every way except visually. Worst of all is its dialogue because it is so consistently appalling but the Anacreons come close; they look and talk as if it is a spoof of the worst kind of low-brow sci-fi. Then that absolutely ridicolous armor... the whole thing is laughable. The only story-arc I have the slightest interest in is the emperors (though Lee Pace playing Joe MacMillan makes me think Lee Pace is simply being Lee Pace).

I'd agree it's visually very impressive. But the storytelling is not so this is starting to feel like just another example of ambient tv. What a missed opportunity.

I have the same problem still and it's really quite annoying. I have tried with Opera (Adblock) and Firefox (ABP) and have whitelisted entire domain/site to no avail.