survivor

This is such a weird season of survivor.  They voted off Jonas last night and its all Colton's fault as Alicia would say.  Everybody liked Jonas.  He was a good cook.  Worked hard.  So they voted him off.  With the merged tribe at twelve people they vote off the guy that takes care of them, not the guy they can't stand or any of several that might be dangerous at challenges.  I can't remember the name of the lady who wanted to keep him around a couple of days--but I think she's got a shot at the whole thing if Troyzan self destructs and I think he will.  I liked Jonas and am very sad that he didn't at least make the jury.  I don't like Alicia didn't like Colton and really wanted Monica to stay around.

And that leads me to a question.  Those of us who have watched Survivor since the beginning have favorites from each season.  Sometimes my instant favorite didn't get to the end, sometimes they blew it right near the end.  And I wonder if editing has something to do with my feelings about some of these folks.  But I really wonder if when I choose someone that I want to win a million dollars--am I subconsciously choosing myself?  Someone like me?  And am I choosing them because their strengths remind me of me?  Or because their weaknesses remind me of me? 

old school or just old

I've said before that I used to feel kind of important being a part of the baby boomer generation.  Many of us were active politically.  Back them I thought of myself as a liberal; now I'm much more conservative.  But lately I've been hearing the phrase "old school" and I'm not sure whether it has a negative or positive connotation.  I've heard it in connection to music.  A very young performer talked about "old school" rock and roll.  To me that sounds different than the phrase "classic rock and roll".  Things have changed  quite drastically in the world.  And when everything is just fine and dandy that's ok.  But when things are difficult- economically or politically.  Or when things are dangerous.  Those of us who might be a bit older,  who might not be quite able to keep up with the changes for economic or other reasons or especially those of us who might think these changes are not an improvement and possibly a detriment-we will be called old school.  It's just a shade more politically correct tha old-fashioned.  I've seen lots of fashions come and go--and come--and again.  But I feel like the world is in a difficult place right now and innovation can work with experience.  Old school and new school if you will-we need both.

walking dead finale

This TV show is so satisfying on so many levels.  I don't especially enjoy the violent gory parts, but there are people who do, and I'm sure that they enjoy this show.  I've been a Stephen King  fan for years, and I would tell you that I don't especially enjoy the violent gory parts of his books either.  But there is something about surviving adversity, dealing with fear, dealing with loss that is compelling.  We do it in real life every day.  Yeah I can lose my job and still keep going.  I can deal with the ups and downs of the stock market and wonder if I will ever be able to retire.  My spouse might leave me, but I will survive.   But there aren't any walkers or any other kind of monsters after me yet.  How would I manage that?

Anyway...this final episode did so much of what I expect from TV.  It gave us Darryl and Carol on a motorcyle-love that.  It gave us Maggie and Glen.  And Glen forces Maggie to give up the driver's seat.  The group comes apart (what do we do?? what do we do??) and then the group comes together again.  And Rick is the leader and Rick is pissed.  I was impressed by Rick's speech.  And I was glad Andrea survived so far.  And a little scared of the new character.  And a bit confused by the admission from Rick that the doctor at the CDC had told him that everyone was infected.  And that's why Shane and Randall came back as walkers?  But what about the bodies they saw in the cars on the highway?  Why aren't they walking?  And how and why did they just die sitting in their cars?  I think there is more to this that we will find out.  And I am looking forward to it.  And the helicopter.  And the prison (or Wal-Mart as they said on the Talking Dead show after the finale).  Looking forward to all of it.  thanks guys for a great TV show.

tv sunday night and monday

Amazing Race- I was so surprised to find myself very supportive of Brenden and Rachel, Brenchel, or "team green" as that mean girl called them.  I was never very fond of them on Big Brother.  But I've got to admire their willingness to just lay it all out there.

The Good Wife- As always very good, but kind of sad at the end.  Alicia has kept those broken family feelings inside for so long---or maybe I thought she never had that sadness--but it all just came up and hit me in the face.

Walking Dead--This show never fails to amaze me in some way.  Here in reality we struggle to make a good life for ourselves facing ethical decisions and minor pitfalls.  But out there in Walker Land the stakes are much higher and the determination to stay alive and still do what's right is harder to maintain.  Rick kills Shane does what he has to do--but still maintains his humanity.  But Shane has already become something else.  Shane has already killed Randall, we think because he believes that is the best way to protect the group.  But then we realize that Randall and Shane very quickly become Walkers--faster than Andrea's sister did.  And neither one of them were bitten.  More questions, more dangers and I don't think next weeks finale will answer all of the questions, maybe not any of them but I'm already looking forward to next season before this one has ended.

Had planned about talking about Monday TV but it was so disappointing--The Bachelor? unbelievable.  I mean literally unbelievable.  I just don't believe it.  And The Voice?  Pretty predictable.  Maybe they are saving the best for last.

Oh and I was able to watch the shows that conflicted timewise on Sunday, later in the week.  I still like Once Upon A time.  And Harry's Law was back with a different kind of ethical question.  Cool.