April 2021 - Dilemma

 For the past two weeks, I've got a little reprieve from work as my workload has reduced substantially.

The thing I have learnt about myself is that in order to work, I must have pressure. Else, I'll default to the lazy mode and not feeling motivated to finish a task. I need my work to pile up, only then I can be productive.

Well, I'm in my third year in Singapore. I planned to leave after two years. Covid-19 disrupted my plan.

Few days ago, my boss asked me to think about my future. What direction I wish to go. He probably noticed I'm still doing what I'm doing and think that I'm stagnating and ask me to sit for PE test.

It's not that I do not want to. First of all, I really am not ready, and I don't see the point of going for something just because everybody else has gone for it. I'm not the kind of person who follows the tide just because the tide flows that way. I like doing things that make me happy and comfortable and if that doesn't fit the flow of the tide, then so be it.

Secondly, I don't plan to settle permanently in Singapore. Is there any point in getting it? Converting it when I go back to Malaysia? I suppose it could work, but without Malaysian experience, applying for any job with a professional title may not meet a welcoming response.

I don't know. Since covid-19 has disrupted my plan, it's probably wise that I reconsider my options.

I've always wanted to return to Malaysia, but the longer I stay in Singapore, the harder it is for me to detach myself from Singapore.

I cannot imagine settling down in Singapore. I wouldn't be able to afford a house. A car. My life will be stagnating because all of these would be prohibitively unreachable for me.

But I do like Singapore's parks. The safety. The strength of the currency. The safety at night and proximity and availabilities of the various parks in Singapore allow me to exercise much more freely, frequently and vigorously then I can in Malaysia. Who the hell jogs on the roadside at night in Malaysia? It's unthinkable, yet in Singapore it's completely normal and I've been doing that and I like it. It's a form of self-improvement, it self-strengthening and it protects my health and I absolutely love it.

Needless to say, Singapore dollar is a much more appealing currency to earn than Malaysian Ringgit.

Other than these factors, I don't have anything I like in Singapore. I literally live for the parks and the currency. That's all.

The longer I stay in Singapore, the more I realise I'm sinking into this abyss where I wouldn't be able to escape. It frustrates me.

Geostorm

This show was on MeWatch, the Singapore's Tonton, on Channel 5. And since it's a Sunday night, I watched it, because the introduction seemed interesting.

Before I watched it, I googled it. I knew this movie is rather recent (I hold that any movies released after 2015 are considered 'new' ya I'm that old) 

The movie was fine, but not something I would pay to watch in a cinema. Technologically, artificially constructed satellites that could wreak havoc to the planet were something just outrageously absurd to be processed. But this is a movie, I'll let it slide.

Well, brotherly relationships turned sour at the beginning but due to sabotage, they began to heal. It's a typical movie plot - two relationships gone bad had to be put aside in the face of crisis. Predictable. The movie was fine. The plot was fine.

It kept me entertained for two hours on a Sunday night. I considered it purpose served well.

MeWatch has turned out to be a great entertaining platform for me.

BTS 'Dynamite'

I don't usually listen to K-Pop. Neither can I name any of the BTS member's name.

But during this global pandemic, we all could use a little cheerful and cheeky song to be enlightened.

Legends of Tomorrow, Season 5

 Okay, yes, I'm always slow, but that's because I like watching one season in one shot!

Legends of Tomorrow is now my favourite series in the Arrowverse. Arrow just outlived its storyline after 6 seasons and rightly terminated (though, to be honest, the spin-off on their kids and the Canary look awesome but sadly not picked up). The Flash, in my opinion, appears to be stagnant and running in a loop and slipping. I've not watched Supergirl other than those in crossovers, and I've also not watched Batwoman and Black Lightning because I ain't interested. I started watching Legends of Tomorrow because the characters were extracted from Arrow and The Flash. I once considered this the weakest, of which I continue to hold it was true for the first season, but it has not improved so much it surpasses others.

The first season was, meh. I can't recall much. The second season still confused me - how's Eobard Thawne and Damien Darkh relevant? I mean, I am still confused by the circumstances that allowed Eobard to be the main villain. The third was fine, but the fourth was great - the introduction of dark magic and John Constantine was a surprisingly welcoming element to a show that centres around metahuman and human superpowers.

I like this season a lot. I prefer the old Zari though. But she's still one of my favourite characters. I still like Sara Lance the most, and I find Charlie particularly appealing this season. Like I said, Charlie is so well-played, compared to Amaya, a character I didn't really like. I like Ava Sharpe a lot. I found that, in this season, it's comedic element is much more profound and outstanding. I'm sad that Nora and Ray left - Nora is so sweet, and Ray a close brother to Nate. But Astra's introduction is welcoming, though I can't extend the same to Mick's daughter yet. Behrad feels....incongruous. But he serves his purpose well.

In general, I like this season a lot. I mean, I remember season 1 was boring. I found season 2 a little incredulous but generally likeable. I gave season 3 a shot because I usually finish watching the show I started (with the exception of Grey's Anatomy, House MD and Lost). But season 3 turned out to be a marked improvement, with season 4 a sharp improvement and season 5 incredibly amazing.

This season has been about the return of several villains as they were sent to hell to grab some souls. Charlie is revealed to be a God, and together with her 2 sisters, once controlled fate and is currently on the run as she broke that control by hiding the three rings that yielded that power. Due to the merging of the universe after the event of Crisis on Infinite Earths, her sisters now have much smaller perimeters to search for the rings and are closing into Charlie (Clotho).

This season is awesome. I cannot describe it. You just have to give it a shot. 

I felt though that Mick doesn't appear to blend in well with other characters and have much smaller and separate screentime. I ain't sure why. I mean, he didn't even know there were two Zaris.

But Ava and Sara's relationship continued to be the focus. And they are really sweet.

I initially disliked Astra. I grew to like her.

I'm saddened Nora and Ray have to leave. I like Nora more, but it's still sorrowing that Ray leaves.

There are a few particularly strong episodes: the episode where Damien Darkh returns is very well written and scripted. It feels home in a show where personal relationship and settling down are distinct concepts. Then the one about Son of Sam, oh my god it's mind-blowingly brilliant and interesting! Also, Mick's short role as a character in television in the penultimate episode was cheeky and uncharacteristic.

There are, however, a few questions I do have

• If Charlie (Clotho) is a God, and has remained a God, how did John manage to 'clip' her wings? His magic is applicable to a God?
• In the finale, Charlie returns as a member of The Smell and sings in the public looking like Amaya, the identity she takes up. But that wasn't the image she used when she was a member before joining the Legends.
• While looking for the first ring, Sara found the shooting set of Supernatural (another show I thoroughly love with every fibre of my being) and said Dean is her 'hall pass'. Weird, Supernatural is a TV show in the Arrowverse universe? What happened to Jack's mother, Kelly Kline? She's literally...Nora Darkh.
• If Charlie and her sisters are Gods, what's their role with respect to The Monitor?

In short,

• I'll miss Charlie/Clotho and wish she stays longer.
• If Sara Lance or Zari are no longer in the show, I'll probably stop watching.
• Aliens in season 6? I can't wait for season 6!!!

Anne-Marie - 2002 - Cover (finger style guitar)

I found another masterpiece. Why am I always late in discovering gems?

I found it via Spotify. Spotify does contain a lot of masterpiece, but one really needs patience while wading in.

Maroon 5 - Memories (Fingerstyle Guitar Cover)

Whoever you are, sir, you're a pure music genius.

Wonderful piece of work. Thank you for the music!

The Gulf (TV)

 I've always wanted to watch a good British/Australian/New Zealand TV series because they're often short, compact, and very powerful. The Brokenwood Mysteries is a good Kiwi series but its length is a bit exhausting. I continued to google and found a new TV show - The Gulf.

I started expecting this show to be one six-part series on a single crime. It turned out to be a six-episode series with three story plot with each spanning over two continuous episodes. This means the show has everything I enjoy - short, compact, powerful. Technically it's similar as one episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries, except that The Gulf has a much serious tone, not exactly humorous, serious investigative work, and authentic suspense.

The Gulf started strong - Jess, the main female character, woke up from an accident of which she had no recollection of. Harding, her ambitious subordinate who she apparently wasn't very fond of initially, greeted her and sort of needed to investigate what happened.

The first story revolves around the finding of a boy who the police thought died five years ago but couldn't find the body and closed the case. The second story is about a missing girl from Perth who had a party in New Zealand. The third and last story is about the ex-cop on the island killing a Maori guy as alleged self-defence of home intrusion.

The third one was the most boring in my opinion, but it opened my view to an open and ongoing social unrest in New Zealand about how the Maori is treated. The minority is often not treated as equal everywhere, and New Zealand shows very rarely discuss it. Or at least I haven't come across one that does. 

I liked the first story the best, but I loved the ending. There are many questions that haven't been answered, and I'm hopeful that the newly aired season 2 will shed some lights on it.

Who knows Jess's secret?

What's Harding's relationship with his father got to do with anything and how did the lady know?

Part of the acclaim has got to do to the lead two actors. Kate Elliot's acting is powerful, she's an amazing actor. Acting like she did wasn't easy and not common. I've watched a lot of shows but not many plays a character as strong as she does. The struggle she displayed in the show about the memory loss and the slow resurface of lost memories and the painful dealing with her daughter and her colleagues and subordinates were captivating and she made the experience somehow relatable. Ido Drent's acting was good but his struggle over his internal demon part appeared true, although other than that he simply played a rebellious character.

Anyway, I like this show. I can't wait to watch season 2. I just hope it's available in Netflix - in Malaysia or Singapore.