Entertainment

Initially, “Disconnected” delivers an impactful opening scene as Maddie experiences a troubling nightmare where she’s back at the dispatch center and ends up with a slashed throat. It’s commendable that the show addresses a character’s trauma, considering the gruesome events each character encounters on a regular basis in the series. I can’t help but feel that the presentation could be more engaging. Despite Sue and Chimney advising her to take as much time as she needs, Maddie feels compelled to return to work, interpreting her dreams as a sign of her readiness. (It seems likely that these dreams indicate severe PTSD, although I’m not a trained professional.)

The situation this week appears quite similar to how last week ended. It seems like the message I sent regarding avoiding bullet wounds, specifically to Richie, wasn’t heeded over at The Pitt. Our encounter with him was as gruesome as I had remembered. However, there’s a silver lining: after a challenging effort to establish an airway for this individual, Dr. Robby had to improvise due to dwindling supplies, performing the tracheotomy with just “an 11 blade and prayer”. Remarkably, Dr. Abbott, similar to Dora the Explorer, discovered a hidden resource in his bag – a lifesaving emergency cricothyrotomy kit, making the procedure swift and manageable, even in the dark. Mohan was amazed and inquired about these kits, to which Robby responded with a reflection of the financial constraints at PMTC and our healthcare system: “No budget for it.

After a massive bloodshed in which only Reacher, Duffy, Villanueva, Zachary, and a truck driver are left alive (Reacher later kills the driver), we don’t see any emotional response from Duffy or Villanueva regarding the loss of multiple fellow Federal agents. The series could have at least attempted to convey the impact of the pain and death their joint mission/revenge operation has caused, but it doesn’t need to be deep like Reacher himself. I’m not asking for a deep exploration from Reacher, just for the show not to make me feel foolish for continuing to watch it after an enjoyable first season with occasional dumb moments, and a more challenging but still rewarding second season.

Artificial intelligence (AI) doesn’t originate from the natural world; rather, it’s AI that is being creatively expressed on Twitter. On March 25th, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, posted an image featuring himself and fellow OpenAI scientists Gabriel Goh and Prafulla Dhariwal in a style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, depicting them as tech-savvy characters.

The scene initially presents a shocking turn of events, as it’s revealed that Lumon has been rearing those baby goats for a gruesome purpose – sacrificial offerings. In the midst of this, Drummond attempts to execute one of these goats with a nail gun, but their adorable nature, as admitted by Ólafsson, made it heart-wrenching whenever they spoke. However, their moment is interrupted by Mark S.’s frantic search for the kidnapped Gemma in the corridor. Drummond then assaults Mark, and a vicious fight ensues, with both men exchanging blows, bites, and kicks until Drummond gains control and attempts to strangle Mark. Lorne intervenes to save the Innie, brandishing a bolt gun and viciously beating Drummond. Mark S., having the upper hand now, forces the weakened Drummond into an elevator at gunpoint, instructing him for the Gemma rescue operation. However, due to the transition process malfunction, Mark accidentally triggers the gun, shooting Drummond in the throat, causing his fatal bleeding as the elevator doors open. Ólafsson finds this scene unexpected and brutal, yet amusing in its unanticipated nature within the series “Severance”.

The Utah/US Film Festival was established in 1978, but some people believe Park City, where it’s currently held, is too small to accommodate the growing festival. The festival more than doubles the city’s population. When officials announced they might relocate, they emphasized their commitment to ensuring the festival remains inclusive and sustainable, possibly hinting at Utah’s conservative political climate. In the end, Boulder, Cincinnati, and Salt Lake City were the final contenders for the new location. Adding to this, there are whispers that Lisa Barlow might depart from “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” which could further diminish Utah’s visibility.

Their interaction eventually sparked a discussion facilitated by a translator and an impromptu animation critic. This encounter ultimately led to his job on Miyazaki’s iconic film “Princess Mononoke” in 1997, which has been remastered and re-released in IMAX for the first time this week. Today, Encinas continues to animate and teach animation at Gobelins Paris. However, during the mid-’90s, he became one of the rare Western artists to work for Studio Ghibli, realizing an animator’s dream: collaborating on films by legendary creators like Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, while learning from Ghibli’s top executives. Upon his arrival after acquiring some professional experience, they made him begin anew, just as everyone else did: “Bouncing ball exercises and drawing hands,” Encinas reminisces. “And I was so thankful for that. In less than three months, I learned more than in all my years combined at Gobelins and Disney.

Beyond just recognizing Thief‘s accomplishment, it’s crucial to understand the political undertones in Michael Mann’s perspective. The film portrays Frank (James Caan), a skilled and autonomous thief, as being manipulated and profited from by the infamous Chicago Outfit. At first, Frank is reluctant to collaborate with these mobsters. However, he has aspirations for his life, including marrying Jessie (Tuesday Weld) and starting a family, which necessitates more financial resources. Consequently, he aligns himself with the Outfit to accomplish larger heists. In return, they attempt to manage his life and retain most of the profits, intending to reinvest it in shopping mall ventures. Mann has often emphasized that the central theme of labor exploitation in Thief can be applied to various workplaces. Frank articulates this concept when he tells Leo (Robert Prosky), a complex Outfit boss, “I can see my money is still in your pocket, which is from the yield of my labor.” This dialogue was cited during the 2023 WGA-SAG strike pickets, demonstrating its enduring relevance.

The intense feeling of the situation left Jeff Probst, who has hosted 47 seasons of this program, with tears in his eyes. “A young girl or boy, much like you,” Probst stated, struggling to keep his composure. “They’re asking their parents, ‘Hey, mom, hey, dad,'” he continued. “Now I understand too, because I am a parent as well.” He had only shed tears during rare family visits (and those are less frequent in the New Era).

In its typical format, the series often swiftly shifts from one setting and character group to another, almost like a relay race, for approximately an hour per segment. Following a brief departure from this pattern last week, the program resumes this approach, juggling more than a dozen storylines simultaneously. Even for science fiction fantasy television known for its intricacy and high production budgets, The Wheel of Time truly pushes the boundary of what can be considered “a lot”.