Jorge wrote:We finished The Vow. Found the first stretch of episodes quite gripping, but the latter half were a real drag. I don't understand why they spent so much time dawdling in these pointless side-stories. Could've been a solid 5-episode miniseries, instead it's this bloated bore.
Meanwhile, Seduced -- a 4-episode miniseries by Starz about the same cult, but focused on India Oxenberg's story -- is much, much better based on the two episodes that are out. We weren't planning on watching more NXIVM stuff after The Vow fizzled out, but decided to check it out after hearing multiple people talk about how much more compelling it is. And yeah, it is much more visceral. Deeper analysis of cult dynamics from a variety of voices, information presented more concretely. It certainly helps that The Vow has helped share the general story more, but we get more voices of former members, researchers on cults and cult tactics, useful background info. Also India's grandmother -- an actual princess -- is an amazing shittalker.
Just saw - NXIVM head Keith Raniere sentenced to 120 years in prison
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sat January 10, 2026 10:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sat January 10, 2026 10:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Watching Tales From The Loop on prime. It's far too slow but there is a lot to like about it. I didn't realize at first it was based on the books that I mentioned in the reading thread. Wish there was more of that influence, but I'm sure the budget is tiny.
I watched the first episode of The Haunting of Hill House last night. It was great and pretty scary. Im looking forward to watching the second episode tonight.
Only two eps but it was fine. A little weird. Like it.
I watched the first ep on the treadmill the other day and yeah, it was fine. A little dry. Seems like it has potential, though.
Finished The Righteous Gemstones last night. I put off watching it because Danny McBride + mega church seemed like shooting fish in a barrel, but it was so, so good. Might be one of my favorite seasons of comedy ever. Judy's monologue in the finale...good lord!
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sat January 10, 2026 10:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sat January 10, 2026 10:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
