Powerless; the surprise package

I am pretty behind on my series these days; and I am very sure I will be further behind in the months to come. At times I do question myself am I really watching a wee bit too much TV series?
No, I am dead certain I am not even close to borderline TV addict, but no doubt, I kinda follow a mean (and ever expanding) list of series. Technically week-in week-out, but it doesn't necessary means I am spending an obscene amount of time watching it (and certainly not like any real addicts who sits in front of the idiotbox day-in/out) as I tend to watch only when time permits. In which whenever I do, it was in time : short period to a maximum of say 4, standard episodes (standard I suppose are those above 40 mins under 50 mins episodics)
Even binge-worthy flicks from Netflix; took me about 3-4 days I suppose in the case of the pilot season of Stranger Things & Luke Cage last year. (Ok I admit, both Season 2's of Narcos & Daredevil took 2 nights I think, but those were start of the year; when I was still transitioning from the old life)

Anyhow, towards the end of last year, I've started to relegate a few of those weeklies to my Watch When You Are Free / Season Is Complete as my-then pull list was bulging (I suppose) and yeah, I managed to catch up to all of it by the years' last quarter when most shows were on break (sort of)
With the start of the new season and the subsequent new series this year, I've somehow segregated a few more from Top Priority Watch Today Tonight  list to the previous folder; on a weekly basis.
Of course, with the recent culling of my duplicates* , I've been pretty careful with my management of these files and somehow slows down my "Movie/Series Time".
This week itself I've started to put all 4 of the CW-verse shows in the Not So Top Priority list, and my mental note is getting confused of sorts on where my "Previously, on...." is, too.
This list has expanded, in part being prudent with my daily data usage (ok, I am trying) and thanks to my self-imposed discipline (whoa? surprise!) of not watching anything during the day nada yada; and somehow it covered shows like The Flash especially; since it is no longer sits on top of my weekly pull.

As it stands : Series for Jan & Feb 2017
Watch When You Are Really Free
Gotham : continuing the trend from previous season of catching half seasons whenever accumulated.
Lucifer : ditto
Quantico : same
*MacGyver : its ugh, predictable, but I suppose an alright watch when absolutely nothing better to do
Ash vs Evil Dead : hah! completely forgotten about this, oh well, next up, I guess

Not So Top Priority 
The 100 : always with the cliffhangers, so I tend to collect at least 2 episodes before a single go
Blindspot
Marvel's Agents of SHIELD : dropped down here ever since the winter break sans Ghostrider
Supergirl : Massive improvement and could've gone up to the top tiered list, if not for my status quo
The Flash : hits a new low this time around, I still enjoy it I mean, but...
DC's Legends of Tomorrow : much better too
Arrow : I kinda prefer this for the first time ever since their shows multiplied
*Legion : okay to be fair I meant to save it for the right mood per se
*Riverdale : this technically is on the other list, but it tends to be available much later in the day, so it inevitably falls under this category, and yeah it actually shouldn't be that highly ranked anyway with its same-y formula of teen over-the-top drama and archaic stereotypes (moody teen, queen bees, bitchy over-achievers, everyone has a secret)... but it is based off the much-loved Archies world, so...yeah.

Top Priority Watch Today Tonight
*Powerless : yes, the surprise of the lot. I mean I am surprised that I found myself looking forward to it. Given that it is only on its 4th episode, and with a much annoying mold of comedy stereotypical supporting casts, this show shines to me as it is funny, at least as a parody of sorts and a much needed change (for me) since I've stopped catching up on 2 Broke Girls and err Fresh Off The Boat (is this still on?)
Nevertheless, Alan Tudyk is really the backbone of this show (like how important his K2SO was in Rogue One, as the comedic relief imho)
The Walking Dead : usual suspect

*denotes new series

Granted, the ones that are on those spots (heeey, I still occasionally watch something during the day when I am not out / and the internet is down somehow, or whenever I could go without a nap) are replaced by both new series.

Man, I am watching a wee too many things somehow eh?
oh there's another list or two:

Good thing these are on season breaks / and comingsoons, phew!
Limitless
iZombie
Vikings just finished alrighty!
Shannara Chronicles
Fear The Walking Dead
Preacher
Into The Badlands
Sense8
Stranger Things
Westworld
Iron Fist & The Defenders yay!
American Gods
and of course, Game of Thrones

Animated Series, Kevin
Archer
Adventure Time
One Punch Man & Voltron (gah, I missed the 2nd season!)
Ultimate Spider-Man
The Venture Bros

Overkill, when you add up the movie flicks, and weekly comics.
As I am looking at this nonsensical list, perhaps it was all a manner of keeping up with my torrents. Yeah, a hoarder is always a hoarder.

p/s Yay, EFL Cup Champions! Glory Glory!

October in Pictures

Trying out this collage as a blog graphic (just to see how it fits kind of) , perhaps this might be how I'd weblog an entry for every month, seemingly I can't (and somehow sort of lost any bit of motivation to do so) be back to regular weblogging somehow, with the mounting excuses it certainly defied the whole intention of blogging.

October has and perhaps always had been a mix-bag of bittersweet month, evidently more so from last year onward. In short, I wouldn't really pin it as a bad month (for me); it's just synonymous with so many other things that if I were to simply put it as a "Them Feels" Month is too general in nature.
I struggled (and procrastinated reasoned successfully) to not do/write about 5 posts that was pretty high-up on my list to do prior to October, and hence I found myself unprepared when it (the month) rolled over and I asked myself; and justified that there will always be a tomorrow. Of course, it does and it doesn't and perhaps all in all this is me 'reporting' and justifying my spent month, in chronological order:

Heidi's birth-date was on the 10th, and we finally got together and managed to move her urn to the niche, sort of a moving-in of the final physical items, after like 17 months.
I suppose I am half-happy with the final plaque bearing an absolute 90-odd percent semblance to my design (She always did encourage and love my designs and etc) but alas, it was a shame there was an annoying bit of spelling mistake on the engravings of a certain word, (engravers fault, not mine) that it had to be it. Now, I promised myself to 'fix' it, by figuring out the possible material for a stick-on for the word the next time we make our way to the memorial; since we certainly are not making the trip north this week for All Souls' Day (yeah, we don't really celebrate that, but we might, someday?)
Our trip was an extremely short one; reach the island by 9am-ish, pick up the urn and towards the ever-green and ever tranquil Penang Christian Cemetery, a quick lunch (yay Penang food), and a short stop in Sg Dua; and then it was back home for lunch.

Wasn't prepared, as I think about it now, could've just brought along that 1 snow-cap of hers I have as keepsake , oh well.

Bucket List #1 : One day, when I could afford and find a master sculptor, man. (this has been around 80+ years!)

certainly not my favorite Dhoby Ghaut's; but that will do in the mean time, that day.

truth be typed, I was mad at the engraver; it wasn't just that 1 spelling mistake, there were irregularities with  the capitals here and there...but then again, I don't think this was made digitally with auto-correct

On another note, Angél was sick a week prior, the vet said he was down with flu (of course, for a newbie with cats aka mois , I was dumbfounded-ly shocked, since I saw the sign of him having a bruised 1 eye and all I thought was he got scratched near his eyelids) and I suppose I must've muttered an idiotic line something like "Cats can get fever?" in Malay. Of course I was lucky enough with my 1 canine boy to not being sick when he was older, but then again, caring for a sick cat is way much harder! It isn't so easy to sneak or feed pills, certainly. But he was alright in under a week.
But on the morning of our trip to Penang, I found Angél's Wife #1 lying in the garden, which was pretty odd, since she was such a nimble ninja (actually both of his waifus are such cats. came for the food, and vanish as soon as you move an inch)
Black Face as what we unofficially call her, had gone to the other meadow by the rainbow bridge that morning. That was the first and final time I got to touch that cat that we know and don't know. Poor kid must've got poisoned somehow from her last scavenging hunt the night before, as I walked over to her owner and told her that my brother has dealt with the carcass. Days later, heard from her that her kitten had also joined his mum a day after. Oh well, poor kitties.
Angél is fine now; but I could still remember the whimper (do cats whimper?) cry from Angél when both of us found Black Face. damn

Mama Cat & Junior, happier times, September. R.I.P

Junior - could've fooled people as Angél. Similar markings, even with the shortened tail; though slightly smaller and without collar., eyes could've been a different shade 

The other big one was on the 7th.
Well, I wish I could avoid that.
The 7th actually has a deeper connection to that, as it was tied to a person of years' past. Yet it now shared an ambiguous date with the day I last see Chance.
1 year. 7 eff-ing doggie years.
I miss the boy.
I miss his fur on everything.
I miss waking up to see that jovial spirit with his hetero-chromia eyes
This is harder than I imagined.
How do you somehow explain this to a canine companion?
Yet I don't seem to do anything about it huh?
 Well, I wish I could avoid that. Choices, man. But. Soon.

the final last 2 pics of him before the pick-up. He must've felt something, 

I remember goading him to come up and take a pic with Angél, I can't brace myself to watch the video, not yet.

So what exactly have I been up to this sad ol' October?
Apart from the fortnight visits to Sunshine (and subsequent visit/prospecting to the other 2 prospective Christian Old Folk's last Wednesday) and attending a few activities by the Chinese Methodist & Chinese Gospel Hall, I did not commit to the 3-day combined camp by FGA though.
Did images for 2 sermon presentations, well, actually stayed up the night to fully start & finish Mom's first ever slides; pretty last minute since she wasn't sure whether to proceed with presentation anyway, but yeah I was proud and happy for her to get the courage to try that something new for herself. I mean, yeah, Dad has grown into this 'new and spank-ly original custom-made images' (not much on the latter, yet, I suspect) presentation slides. Although for Mom's maiden try it somehow wasn't to be, we forgot all about informing the need for a projection; so we made do with the few Gospel-Hallites squinting their eyes to see this RedYacer's screen whenever wherever.
Made a couple of other images as well, though not all were of usage as yet (even the Diwali ones, oh the shame)
Oh yeah, I've finally reconnected with my guitar-ing old self. Well, got the guitar loaned in by Ps. Cheah late September when he couldn't made a trip to Sunshine then, though I only did practiced once then; I've put in a teeny effort to touch the acoustic for a few practice sesh. So yeah, it was pretty alright. It is practically like riding a bike/ or swimming I suppose. You just don't forget how-to.

Taiping Chinese Methodist's 111th Anniversary service. Wow. Chaperoned Mom & Dad as VIPs

Kau Kee Choy Stir-Fry; one of many variations I started doing as these shoots were going on sale, found out it translates to Go Ji Choy as in the Goji berry's Goji. A bit of lazy to research then, but I suppose it is from similar cultivae? These leaves does have some berries, albeit different and so much smaller than gojiberries somehow. 

Lady's Fingers Red & Pale variants: Taman Kaya home-grown! Pretty productive month indeed to have quite a good harvest of our Red Okras (and even abundant Potato Leaves!) and Friendly-Black Chillies but alas; it grew to about the usual length of those locally found okras; however our neighbor's pale colored okras were freakin' huge! Our pale variant plant died off some time ago according to Mum; but both were 'smuggled' in from 4th Aunt's visit to Korea perhaps.

Dad's sermon at TCM Seniors service. That's a lot of senior citizens!

October is also a month of reconnecting with the bulk of tv series returning for their new seasons too.
I was raving madferrit for Marvel's Luke Cage late September, though I only binged it much later when the rest of the other shows were about to start again, well I haven't actually been as up-to-date on most series anyway. A lot more compared to the last didn't make the same-day watch-list; the only exception is that much-awaited episode of The Walking Dead, and most of The Flash. Almost every other show made the new pull-list for a later date. So far I've only caught a single episode (or 2) of each Gotham, Lucifer, Supergirl, Ash Vs The Evil Dead, Quantico, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, (okay this one was 2 episodes, since I think I like the 'new' Ghost Rider) like 4 episodes in I think of Blindspot, the new McGyver maybe 3rd episode. Both Arrow & Legends of Tomorrow were up to the week, though not as frequent.
And it's not just that, I've been cutting it slower too with them comics; week in week out I'd only do the current Civil War II's and actual tie-ins, and the occasional The Walking Dead & Archie (and their line-up) whenever they do appear. But with the way things ended September (Ulysses' vision of Miles Morales killing Capt') we got the inevitable surprise (hey, since it launched so early on) of Doom in Infamous Iron Man, yeah we know it's coming (Doom & Riri) and perhaps sensed a certain somebody's demise months ago but that certainly is a curveball, much too soon!
Pretty miffed to see the end of my much loved Vision & A-Force, but, fingers crossed for more gems to come and discover.

"...back to it! " yikes!

Come on, crossover already

So, what actually was my escape this month?
I hid myself in conquering China. Well, to be precise, shagging my way across making 'friends' & fighting/debating banditos & shady merchants across China in KOEI's (ok, KOEI TECMO) RoTK XIII
Introduced to this series when I was a wee boyo of , err 10 I think, by my brother during my school break it became a major influence on me growing up. I suppose that was in line about the time after my dear sis got me to read too; so when I got back home after the holidays I'd immersed myself in this classical Chinese literature. Gorged into it really like 2-3 times on the decades-old tomes from the school library smelly as f*#k; getting myself on the illustrated simpler bilingual copies like I suppose more than 10 times before finishing puberty mayhap. That was the gist of it. Of course, together with my Dickens',Twains', Dumas' & the other classic chaps; since I could only read English, and if you wanna know more about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in the early 90's.... that's what you are left with. (since you are hopeless with Chinese symbols)
Anyway, before my connection gets sluggy in half an hour, better post this up, before I justify not to.

Not My ScreenShot

5 Shows That's Quite Worthwhile To Watch During These Dry Spell Til Year-End (Something Like That)

recycling this meme, though my post has arrived so late after that season ended

this post was supposed to be titled something along the lines of "Game of Thrones Withdrawal Remedy : a Top 5 shows to watch currently"  or something of the sort, did a few drafts to my OneNote that comes with Win10, but of course, knowing Win10 and its' updates, I had a sneaky feeling my notes are someday going to be missing (in which it happened, once and this other time missed a few files as well but that's another story for another day) in which yes, it happened when I kinda need it today for this post.
No, I am a fan of Windows 10, but if I'd be held at gun-point, I'd only blurt that yeah, this Microsoft has its dark side in the latest OS where it ain't so cloud-friendly as it should be eh?

Fiend.

Anyway, as I'm supposed to turn in early tonight, I'll just re-title this list to "Kevin's 5 Shows That's Quite Worthwhile To Watch During These Dry Spell Til Year-End (Something Like That)"

As I've been following some of these faithfully, some has been /or relegated to those episodic(s)-that-I-accumulate-on-the-days-after-to-watch-when-I-really-have-time-to-spare ; phew! anyway, will add a few lines and at the moment as they are nearing their season finales' by this week and the next.

Oh, I've a few extras to the list added at the end. So here we go, by rank:

no caption for this one

5. Wayward Pines (2nd Season)

my 5 words or less : Child Pregnancy!

Fox's Wayward Pines was pretty much a runaway hit of 2015; thanks to the relatively fresh source material from the books of the same name (kinda, at least the first book eh?, which yeah, mental note to hunt the novels down as my Goodreads book challenge) 

The first season had a great premise, a great hook halfway through the season (presented so well in that episode, though the uncanny feeling was already riding on from the end of the 1st episode anyway) right up til the end for that good twist in the end which had me looking forward for how the kids / 1st Generations would fare, etc

Of course, all we got from this season's get-go was a curve-ball that we are getting another protagonist that isn't Ben Burke; which is fine by me. However it gets, well, somewhat very predictable, and as much I tried to watch it somehow without nitpickin', and hoping for those good twist of yester-season; it's an okay piece of drama mostly, perhaps had too much expectation somehow?

No big twist in the middle of the season, as in no big surprise really, you kinda suspect it all along, but a point to note: last week's 9th episode was great, especially the story of Djimon Hounsou's CJ and his 'work' throughout the years. That was creepy similar to an idea/nightmare I had some months ago. 

The season finale comes this Thursday

my IMDB score if I were to vote: 6.5/10

summary: for the fans of the series

*4. Marco Polo (Season 2) ~ binge

my 5 words or less: Malaysia (properly) Represented

This 2nd season  is so much better than the first, imho, though at the time of writing, it feels, quite forgettable once you finished binge-ing on it. Fair to say, it is a nice series to binge on, and certainly not as loosely based on as the first season,(mayhap the 1 year hiatus kept the post-production in a better shape somehow?)  as most scenes were much fluid and direction is pretty clear and well presented, of course the strength of Benedict Wong's Kublai Khan & Joan Chen's Chabi performances carried this series so well.
Well, the cast is pretty awesome as it had an ensemble of Asian actors (with some Chinese lineage) from different countries and imho doing great work in this; Brits Benedict Wong & Tom Wu, China's Joan Chen(i suppose she's American years ago?) & Zhu Zhu, Canada's Olivia Cheng, Singaporean Chin Han from Season 1, Aussie's Remy Hii & Uli L.... my favorite character the bastard Byamba, Korean Claudia Kim, American Rick Yune and of course, Michelle Yeoh
Added an asterisk as I decided to add binge-worthy series from Netflix to this list as extras; and I am too lazy to separate Marco Polo out of my initial top 5 list, so....
my IMDB score if I were to vote: 7.5/10
summary: much improved 2nd season, and do check out 2015's 1-shot episode "Hundred Eyes"

3. Feed The Beast (new) 

my 5 words or less: Secret Sauce! & Pi-lar

Adapted from a Danish series, the pilot got me hooked as the quirky combo of David Schwimmer's (wow I spelled his name right on the first go) Tommy and Jim Sturgess' Dion as 2 best friend's and their supposed struggles to open an upscale restaurant in the Bronx (only read of the place, didn't know it is that ghetto of a place to not have a nice restaurant, poor Taskmaster, no place to wine and dine) 

I've always liked watching Jim Sturgess, and combined it with some nice looking culinary bits it is a very entertaining show/ I remember a month or so ago I was looking forward to Wednesday's for a new episode, with its many restaurant opening 'struggles' which incidentally wasn't much portrayed as almost all of their problems are self-made and self-induced drama tbh. Cute and/or funny bits thrown in, but somehow it gets repetitive with the 2 main casts' clash in personality, priorities and trust. Nevertheless, I am still looking forward to tomorrow's (er 9th?) episode as it sets in motion of what could probable happen to the mobster and detective with Dion (and most definitely involves Tommy) caught in the middle

my IMDB score if I were to vote: 8/10

summary: enjoyable, great supporting act from Carmine Falcone from Gotham as Tommy's dad, and Mrs Eli Roth as Tommy's love interest/restaurant manager Pilar

2. Braindead (new)

my 5 words or less: Bug man, bug people
New series starring Ramona Flowers Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Tony Shalhoub which caught me by surprise as I look forward to Mondays these 1-2 months (since both my #1 & #2 are aired on Sundays) 

I've never been that keen on political shows (well, maybe there's this other more famous one with Kevin Spacey) and about politics of another country even; but Braindead is an enjoyable 45mins as its' satirical take on US politics combined with comedic sci-fi drama strikes a good balance in a show; or at least to my liking.

my IMDB score if I were to vote: 9/10

summary: instead of the usual "PREVIOUSLY, on **** ****"; its opening recap is done as a song, quirky song.

1. Preacher (new)

my 5 words or less: bloody gruesome murder joyride

Adapted from Garth Ennis' popular comicbook series, Preacher has been a must-watch these 2 months. I've only read a few issues here and there in the past and that totally felt like another lifetime indeed in a small town, and watching this adaptation is practically a new experience. I suppose some elements aren't exactly the same as the source material, but this is a fun series to wait for come Monday. Great performance from the cast; Ruth Negga as Tulip is brilliant as always no harm done in changing the character's ethnicity, of course Dominic Cooper, and Joseph Gilgun as Irish vampire Cassidy, with the occasional appearance of Jackie Earle Haley as Mr Quincannon. I've since developed a liking to the 2 (idiotic) Adephi angels. I am sure we are in for something in the season finale with the probable introduction of The Saint of Killers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BONUS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonus list of series to binge on (plus 1 returning weekly series, not ranked as I have yet to watch it) 

*Stranger Things (new) 

Netflix' latest offering is a sci-fi mystery set in the 80s about some disappearance or some sort, the trailer looks dead good, and yeah, will most definitely watch it when time permits.

*Mr.Robot (2nd Season)

I missed the first season and it was on my to-watch-when-I-do-remember-to-look-for-it-list/folder since; but I suppose with a few recommendations and rave reviews that I gathered, I should really watch it, no? Maybe when I could find my 25th hour?

no pic of Mr.Robot, so here's Earl of Lemongrab in The Lemon Shriek/Scream

*Voltron: Legendary Defender (new)

New Voltron animated series from Netflix the previous month. I've only watched the 1st Generation of said series when I was little, and watching this new one, well yeah it was pretty good I suppose, it was a swell feeling when the lions finally form-up. It is also a nice to hear Finn Jeremy Shada voice work here, as is it was hard to discern Steven Yeun's Glenn Rhee too.

Well, October is just another 2 months or so to go for the likes of CW's DC superheroes to return, (and Marvel's Luke Cage on Netflix wooo!) but I suppose as replacement we are drawing closer to the final 2 superhero movie of 2016 first.

Besides, we can always read Marvel's comic event of the year (which is building up goddam awesome!) Civil War II

About a certain GoT episode that is pretty much the best

The most satisfying episode, really.
I mean of course, this whole Season 6, all of us Smug Ones were in uncharted territories; and up til Episode 9 there has been so many awful moments vs good scenes (the much deserved roasting of Vaes Dothrak, Arya's arc finally moving forward, Tyrion in Meereen, though Jon Snow being resurrected doesn't really count imho, since we know he would come back from that, but..) and frankly watching The Battle of The Bastards I was a bit swayed to think maybe and just maybe Jon might bit the bullet arrow or being trampled to far too many pieces beyond divine help. It certainly was a gripping battle well done alright.

In a season where they did such a fine job in getting Bran and Hodor's bit so well played out; especially Hold The Door, which was such an awesome curve ball; and thus highlighting one of the most devastating death scene ever, not just this year; but certainly ranks so darn high in pulling at the emotions bit.*mental note to list awesome movie/show deaths*
I mean, yes this is Game Of Thrones where beloved characters die, often senseless deaths as pertaining to the novels and some not; of course eventually in my case I'll try to not get emotionally attached to most characters; because they die eventually; but Hodor. Oh, hold the door. Masterstroke.

We were in for a treat in Episode 9, DRAGONS! Finally! (conveniently forgotten about this early a scene, thanks to the.most.satisfying.death.ever.for.a.villain.
To be fair, both Joffrey B meeting the poison chalice was satisfying. It certainly was a nice feel to it in the books, and seeing it then in the previous few seasons was well in the way it was satisfying when (imho) equaled in The Walking Dead's Governor met his end. To me, the fire-show by Daenarys a couple of episodes back for the bunch of Dothrak d!cks was pretty high on the list too.
Given that this is something we Smug Ones haven't read yet, it simply adds to the much-wowness.
And then, Ramsay Bolton. Yes. Finally dammit.
From the start of the battle to the end of poor Rickon, to the wonderfully shot cavalry charges, and the dire situation of being surrounded, right up to Wun Wun (probably redefing BFG as Big F#*king Giant)single-handedly 'man'handled the gate, and Jon throwing Longclaw and showed us his shield prowess and arm-eye&legs coordination (Jon, you fantastic fish you) and the bashing and bashing bashing bashing, and Sansa with her prisoner as icing & cherry on top for this gratifying and much deserved episode. Sweet justice.

Though there might be jarring misses in the form of Asha/Yarra & Theon's sudden & convenient teleportation to Meereen (perhaps GoT is getting closer to source material's style of mixed timeline?) and the battle producing a top-class archer in Ramsay (given that both medium didn't show Ramsay being so, but figured with him raiding Winterfell moons ago must put him in some mega-cunning pedigree of commander, and perhaps he just is talented with the bow) but hey, in my books this still almost definitely and certainly deserves the much-backed vote as TV's best episode ever.

Come on Monday, bring on the season finale...and I suspect Mr. Martin should be releasing Book 6 soon enough the big tease.

you know nothing Jon Snow 

Wait a minute. Where is Ghost mmaboy?