The Gulf 2

Okay, seriously, this is the best New Zealand TV show I've ever watched. I like Step Dave, but Step Dave didn't make me want to devour it in one go. This show did. This crime show makes The Brokenwood Mysteries like a child's play. Like the first season, one crime is featured over two episodes and they are as jam-packed as the episodes in the first season - solid, good storyline coupled with good acting, good crimes. I finished two episodes in one go because the stories are awesome. But the difference in the second season is that some of the crimes are ultimately linked, and the final mystery is only unravelled in the last arc of the series. I like this show, and I like how Jess/Ruby's daughter mother's relationship is written - messed up but they still love each other. Harding has a problem and I'll just say this season ends with a cliffhanger, so they better bring a season 3 else I'll lose my mind.

The Flight Attendant

I first knew about The Flight Attendant when I first saw the book in Popular. The recap sounded interesting, but then what really captured my attention was it has been made into a television series. Starring Kaley Cuoco! 

So I googled for the show, and at the time of searching, only two episodes had been released.

I didn't read the book. I haven't read it too, but I've finished the TV series because, come on, it's Kaley Cuoco!!

Anyway, without spilling too many beans, I have to say the storyline is really good. All the actors and actresses were extremely professional and good at their job. I love Kaley Cuoco, I knew her since she starred in Charmed, and then I watched all The Big Bang Theory. I like her a lot, and she did a superb job! She's awesome, as she always has been. The actresses who play Miranda and Annie were also awesome. OMG I love Miranda too! The I-don't-give-a-fuck attitude this assassin has is a gem!

The show has been renewed for a second season. To be honest, I'm not sure what it's going to be about, probably just a continuation of the unfinished storyline in season 1 (not giving out spoilers), but either case, I can't wait for it! (Too bad it's premiering only autumn 2022)

MCO 3.0?

The problem with Malaysians is that Malaysians use emotions to make decisions. They don't stand up for facts.

Logic dictates that if one hardcore MCO didn't work and a softer MCO doesn't work as well, the problem must be that the MCO is fatally flawed.

But Malaysians, as always, conclude that the problem here is that it is done wrong, instead of the solution being wrong.

So Malaysians loudly want a MCO 3.0.

Fine, call for it. Go for it.

We'll see how it goes maybe six months later. Since you guys love destroying yourself, go for it. I couldn't care anymore.

The biggest horror on this planet is when people abandons logic and reasonings and facts and allow emotions to take over and make decisions based on fear. We've seen the consequence. We had daily cases of barely 400 when we had the first MCO - where did it lead us a year later? Seriously, what inspires people to think a third is going to work?

You want it to work. You wish it's going to work because you're scared.

But the fact is it isn't going to work. And calling for another one is delaying the inevitable. You're just a camel wanting to stick your head in the sand because it is a much more convenient of facing the fact.

The core has always been the same: comply with the SOP. Non-compliance is useless. You can put in century-long MCO, as long as people are not compliant, it's not going to work.

But Malaysians being Malaysians just have to stick to doing something prove useless.

Fine. Good luck.

"How The British Took Over India" - TREVOR NOAH

Good things ought to be shared. Something to cheer ya'll up.

Ju-On: The Origins

Okay, allow me to say Ju-On is one of the earliest horror movie I've watched. It was the year 2002, the movie was just theatrically released. It was the year 2002, the internet wasn't a thing. I saw its rather dark, black gory face as a movie poster being advertised on Star2, back in the era where movie showtimes were printed in the newspaper spanning across one page. I still remember it was the time the GSC Mid Valley was the 'hot' theatre, while the tiny ones closest to me was The Summit Bukit Mertajam (now closed).

Anyway, a few years later, probably around 2003 or 2004 when I was still in primary school, the movie was aired on ntv7 in conjunction with the seventh month Hungry Ghost Festivals. It was a 10.10pm slot (10pm - 10.10pm was the news slot), and the movie began with a couple driving along a deserted road when they appeared to have hit something. The driver stopped, came down to see nothing. The passenger wanted to know what happened, peeked at the mirror, and saw a cat lying motionless but suddenly a pair of children's legs emerged to retrieve the seemingly dead cat. She was frightened. Then, couldn't find what they've hit, and couldn't be sure she was hallucinating, they proceeded to drive, only to find Toshio suddenly appeared behind the steering wheel. In shock, the driver panicked and met an accident.

I was freaked out. I didn't think I continue watching.

A few years later, The Grudge, the remake by the USA, hit the theatre. I remembered it hit the box office in the USA and broke the summer record as the best-performed horror movie (in 2004). I knew Sarah Michelle Gellar from other movie so I bought a DVD (yes, DVD was a thing in 2004) and watched the movie. I remember I was fascinated. I absolutely love The Grudge, and had since rewatched it multiple times. I mean, the storyline was good. It was scary. And it felt authentic. I actually knew what was happening.

I then went to search online in attempt to find the original series. Back then, the internet was very fresh. The only source of videos was Youtube. Seriously, Youtube in 2004 had lots of movies that, in 2021, clearly violated copyright laws of the producers. Anyway, I found Ju-On: The Curse and Ju-On: The Grudge. All of them. So I watched all of them. While it is true the Japanese version was much more terrifying, they were also very much more confusing as the story was told in a non-linear manner. In my opinion, Japanese movies tend to focus on the scare, not so much about the story. 

Fast forward almost two decades later, Ju-On: Origins, released on Netflix, share the same theme. It focuses on the scare, not so much the story.

The curious thing about this six-episode series is that it doesn't feature either Toshio, Kayako or the annoying cat. It seems to tell a story that doesn't relate to them. 

Then, after finishing the story, the main question is still left unanswered: what began the curse? At least in the original movies, we knew how the curse began. Yet, this show that is named Origin, doesn't explain how the curse originated. Rather, it told multiple stories in a non-linear manner interacting in confusing shots that didn't seem to lead to an answer.

Maybe I'm too dumb to follow the storylines. It's possible. I'm not used to Japanese story-telling.

I won't say I'm disappointed though. The show was fine. The scare wasn't as strong as the original movies, but the story was okay. It just felt disappointed that there wasn't an answer.

I would recommend it, but only if you've watched the original movies. Because then you can compare. If you haven't, then, well, be warned that the series doesn't seem to relate to the movies, and have totally different characters although both feature a fixation with a cursed house.

Supernatural 15x19 Ending Montage

I'm sharing this again, because I'm rewatching it.

It's emotional when you compress 15 years of memories into a two minutes montage. 

I grew up watching this. Supernatural stuck with me from primary school to working adult life. This show means a lot to me. 

Well, this is the first year I wouldn't have a new season to look forward to. I wish there are more.

By the way, I'm still outraged both Castiel and Jack were not featured in the finale.