Ray Winninger
@winningerr.bsky.social
Game Designer | Ex-head of Dungeons & Dragons | Creator of UNDERGROUND RPG | Reformed Technologist
It doesn’t matter if *I’m* excited. You said, you can‘t remember the last time *anyone* was excited about Netflix productions. That’s obviously crazy. Theirs is as strong a slate for this year-end as most (maybe all) the other major studios. New films from multiple Oscar-caliber directors.
December 8, 2025 at 2:20 AM
It doesn’t matter if *I’m* excited. You said, you can‘t remember the last time *anyone* was excited about Netflix productions. That’s obviously crazy. Theirs is as strong a slate for this year-end as most (maybe all) the other major studios. New films from multiple Oscar-caliber directors.
You literally said, “I can't remember the last netflix produced thing anyone was excited about.” As I said, that’s crackers; fundamentally unserious.
December 8, 2025 at 2:10 AM
You literally said, “I can't remember the last netflix produced thing anyone was excited about.” As I said, that’s crackers; fundamentally unserious.
GdT’s FRANKENSTEIN, a new KNIVES OUT, and Kathryn Bigelow’s latest all debuted within the last month; plenty of people were excited about each of them. Netflix received 120 noms and won 30 awards at last Emmys. I could go on. It’s crazy to say Netflix isn’t producing content that people want.
December 8, 2025 at 1:35 AM
GdT’s FRANKENSTEIN, a new KNIVES OUT, and Kathryn Bigelow’s latest all debuted within the last month; plenty of people were excited about each of them. Netflix received 120 noms and won 30 awards at last Emmys. I could go on. It’s crazy to say Netflix isn’t producing content that people want.
The idea that Marco-fucking-Rubio has any principles beyond “Marco Rubio should be rich and powerful” is an equally ridiculous howler.
December 7, 2025 at 1:56 AM
The idea that Marco-fucking-Rubio has any principles beyond “Marco Rubio should be rich and powerful” is an equally ridiculous howler.
No, it’s okay to blame him, at least partially. He played footsie with these weirdos for years, and they would have faded away long ago if he didn’t.
December 6, 2025 at 2:26 AM
No, it’s okay to blame him, at least partially. He played footsie with these weirdos for years, and they would have faded away long ago if he didn’t.
It tries hard with Finn. He’s the first SW character who opens his eyes to the big picture and understands there are sinister forces who profit from keeping the galaxy at war forever. But yeah, that bit doesn’t quite work.
November 25, 2025 at 2:53 AM
It tries hard with Finn. He’s the first SW character who opens his eyes to the big picture and understands there are sinister forces who profit from keeping the galaxy at war forever. But yeah, that bit doesn’t quite work.
I can buy that. The Darth Maul fight sequence is genuinely electrifying. Sadly, though, the first two-thirds of the movie are irredeemable—poorly constructed and paced, makes no sense, no real stakes, etc. The scenes with Jake Lloyd are particularly awful. This is NOT his fault!
November 25, 2025 at 2:50 AM
I can buy that. The Darth Maul fight sequence is genuinely electrifying. Sadly, though, the first two-thirds of the movie are irredeemable—poorly constructed and paced, makes no sense, no real stakes, etc. The scenes with Jake Lloyd are particularly awful. This is NOT his fault!
They shouldn‘t have perverted the Force by calling upon it to subjugate their enemies. Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Luke all come to this conclusion, though they sensed it earlier. That path leads to endless destruction. In fact, in SW, the innocent *never* stop dying.
November 25, 2025 at 2:05 AM
They shouldn‘t have perverted the Force by calling upon it to subjugate their enemies. Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Luke all come to this conclusion, though they sensed it earlier. That path leads to endless destruction. In fact, in SW, the innocent *never* stop dying.
I finally saw it just a couple months ago. I made two previous attempts to watch it (including the theater when it was released) and I fell asleep both times. I often joke that me at 11 would cry if you told him they’ll one day reveal how DV was created and you’ll fall asleep every time you watch.
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I finally saw it just a couple months ago. I made two previous attempts to watch it (including the theater when it was released) and I fell asleep both times. I often joke that me at 11 would cry if you told him they’ll one day reveal how DV was created and you’ll fall asleep every time you watch.
Luke won *everything,* starting with his own soul. Tapping the boundless power of the Force to perpetuate an endless cycle of creating and blowing up Death Stars was the problem all along. (Until, JJA hamfistedly reversed course.)
November 25, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Luke won *everything,* starting with his own soul. Tapping the boundless power of the Force to perpetuate an endless cycle of creating and blowing up Death Stars was the problem all along. (Until, JJA hamfistedly reversed course.)
Plus, Thiel defines “socialism” as “the government uses resources to assist non-billionaires.”
November 25, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Plus, Thiel defines “socialism” as “the government uses resources to assist non-billionaires.”
Nope. It’s significant that Obi-Wan defeats Vader by *refusing* to fight. Luke defeats Kylo Ren’s First Order army the same way.
November 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Nope. It’s significant that Obi-Wan defeats Vader by *refusing* to fight. Luke defeats Kylo Ren’s First Order army the same way.
Oh good point. That one goes right before the prequels.
November 24, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Oh good point. That one goes right before the prequels.
7) Finally, the little grace note at the end!
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
7) Finally, the little grace note at the end!
6) One of our heroes learns that war isn‘t just cool adventures and romance. (Sadly, this is the part that doesn’t quite work, but the aim is true.) The Star Wars have kept the downtrodden suffering for decades. There are scarier villains than Vader—villains who profit by perpetuating that suffering
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
6) One of our heroes learns that war isn‘t just cool adventures and romance. (Sadly, this is the part that doesn’t quite work, but the aim is true.) The Star Wars have kept the downtrodden suffering for decades. There are scarier villains than Vader—villains who profit by perpetuating that suffering
5) Just as Obi Wan finally won redemption by *non-violently* triumphing over his enemies, Luke does the same. Luke learning that lesson was real character growth.
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
5) Just as Obi Wan finally won redemption by *non-violently* triumphing over his enemies, Luke does the same. Luke learning that lesson was real character growth.
Their stupid rules and dogma were always a subversion of the Force concocted to keep their mediocre leaders in power. Even Yoda finally learned this lesson, and he helps Luke burn the whole thing down. We learn Luke suffered awful consequences for abandoning his training in ESB, like Yoda warned.
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Their stupid rules and dogma were always a subversion of the Force concocted to keep their mediocre leaders in power. Even Yoda finally learned this lesson, and he helps Luke burn the whole thing down. We learn Luke suffered awful consequences for abandoning his training in ESB, like Yoda warned.
3) The brash pilot goes off half-cocked (like Han!) but utterly fails to save the day. He’s positively *owned* by older and wiser *women* who show him what heroism really means. 4) The movie admits that the history of the Jedi is a long story of serial failure.
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
3) The brash pilot goes off half-cocked (like Han!) but utterly fails to save the day. He’s positively *owned* by older and wiser *women* who show him what heroism really means. 4) The movie admits that the history of the Jedi is a long story of serial failure.
1) Who is the heroine’s secret parent/sibling who gave her power? Nobody; she could be anyone. 2) The ersatz pseudo-emperor antagonist is just as boring as Palpatine, so let’s shock kill him early! Ren (and his love/hate thing with Rey) is much more interesting. He’s the new antagonist.
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
1) Who is the heroine’s secret parent/sibling who gave her power? Nobody; she could be anyone. 2) The ersatz pseudo-emperor antagonist is just as boring as Palpatine, so let’s shock kill him early! Ren (and his love/hate thing with Rey) is much more interesting. He’s the new antagonist.
There is a bit of it that doesn’t quite work, though I get what it was trying to do and it’s important. Mostly, though, I found myself applauding as it systematically subverts all the SW cliches and lays the foundation for a new path. Only SW movie that repeatedly *surprised* me.
November 24, 2025 at 11:47 PM
There is a bit of it that doesn’t quite work, though I get what it was trying to do and it’s important. Mostly, though, I found myself applauding as it systematically subverts all the SW cliches and lays the foundation for a new path. Only SW movie that repeatedly *surprised* me.
That’s not true; there was never a possibility of a conviction, but regardless . . . the idea of putting together Articles of Impeachment, a vote, and a trial presided over by *Roberts* in just a couple hours, much less a day or two, is goofy.
November 20, 2025 at 10:12 PM
That’s not true; there was never a possibility of a conviction, but regardless . . . the idea of putting together Articles of Impeachment, a vote, and a trial presided over by *Roberts* in just a couple hours, much less a day or two, is goofy.