Brief musings on Tuesday

I read in today's Times2 that "A lot can go wrong if you overdo your daily run".  I get that, so no more running for me.

How often do you have to use Mr Google when you have just watched a movie or TV show, especially a season finale, in order to figure out "what happened there?" For me, quite a lot. Last night I watched two such. Firstly, the season finale of Westworld. This was season 3 and I remember that I gave up watching season 2, although I can't remember why. Maybe the violence, maybe the sense of not knowing what's going on. Nevertheless I decided to give seaason 3 a go, because the basic premise of Westworld (artificial lifeforms and the degree to which, if at all, they develop sentience) is intriguing. But here we are again - after last night, on to Google to find out what just happened. In so doing, I discovered that, contrary to what I thought I had heard, this was not the final season so, in a year's time, I'll be in the same dilemma. Is it worth it?

Also I watched 2001. Again. For the umpteenth time. And still baffled by the ending. Onto Google ending to see what others think. Maybe I've done that before, it wouldn't surprise me. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great film, but there is still the nagging feeling that Kubrick and Clarke didn't really think the thing through to the end. I guess I should check the book, which I think was completed after the film.

Now sometimes I have no problem with a baffling ending, because it forces me to think through the central thesis of the film/TV series. I think 2001 is in this category, as was the last ever episode of The Sopranos. But if it makes you think "who cares?", not so much. Such as the ending of Lost (I can't believe I actually stayed up until 2am to catch it live from the US). Or Westworld.

Am I the only person afflicted by this? Does that make me dumb?

I also read and think about proposals to restart the football season. Now there is no-one more eager to watch it again live on TV than me but the whole idea, even behind closed doors, seems crazy. It's a contact sport, players run about very fast, puffing, panting, perspiring; what happens when one player, who has recently played in a match, is diagnosed with the virus? Re-suspend? Agree it was a ghastly mistake and cancel the season? Nonsense, just be patient and finish the season in a year's time, if necessary.

I fear I'm beginning to sound like Rod Liddle. Ugh.