At 7:45 this morning it was 80°, which is manageable. However, with the humidity it felt like it was about 108°. Stifling is the word that comes to mind. Sultry is another.
Happy Town returns tonight for its series burn-off. I think there are five episodes that, when aired now, won’t harm ABC’s precious sweeps ratings. I wonder of M.C. Gainey will get a chance to take another bullet.
Speaking of “Mr. Happy,” Justified wrapped its first season last night. I like the 12-13 episode cable seasons. It gives the writers a manageable time for a meaningful arc, plus it provides them with the opportunity to see what works and what doesn’t work, and retool as necessary. The finale was as much about Boyd Crowder as it was about Raylan. His was an interesting arc. He came out of prison a changed man, and it took us (and Raylan) the rest of the season to figure out he wasn’t just putting on a show. By the time Raylan figured it out, both Boyd and Raylan were on the outs with their respective fathers, and it was only natural that they would team up for the season’s final showdown. Boyd was “disowned” by his father and confused by his Father. Raylan put a bullet in his daddy’s shoulder, which isn’t recommended by Dr. Phil. The sniper’s bullet took me by surprise, I will confess, though it made sense in terms of resolving what happened in the first episode, and the subsequent shootout was excellent, with bullets and bon mots being tossed about with equal verve. (You do seem to have a penchant for getting abducted, Raylan said to Eva.) All in all an excellent first season and I hope they can come up with something equal intriguing for next fall.
I’m working my way through The Passage by Justin Cronin. The book is full of surprises. Just when it seems like it’s going to be a very linear story, he zigs and zags. The first part is basically the story of where the virus came from, and how it got free. Reminiscent of the earliest pages of The Stand. Then it goes off into The Road territory, with an adult and a child surviving alone. It’s an interesting way to execute the apocalypse. Put two non-observers in a remote cabin, let a couple of sketchy reports come in, but basically let the world go to hell without showing much of it. Now I’m in the section that deals with a enclave. Bright lights are the main line of defense against the “jumps.” A new society has formed inside these walls, with its own set of laws and punishments. The two worst punishments are execution (if infected) and banishment (most other violations). Since it is a banishable offense to possess a radio, no one knows what’s going on in the rest of the world. For all they (and the reader) know, the situation may have been resolved in some places. It’s a fascinating way to tell a story. I find myself studying his style and word choices and storytelling approach while enjoying the story–that’s my choice. It really is an accomplished work.
