Weeknotes 283

Hello. I’m pooped.

Three visits to the gym. I know nobody’s interested in this information but I find the mock accountability a useful motivator.

On Wednesday I paid my first visit to the new Shep for breakfast with friends. It’s a weird feeling: same physical space, same chip garnish, most of the same company, and yet everything has changed and will never be the same again. Tears in rain. It was nice to catch up.

Children of Memory is at last on the brink of revealing its conceit, although I still don’t actually know what’s going on. At audiobook pace the revelation feels painfully drawn-out and I expect it would’ve worked better on the page where I could have blasted through it in an hour or two if I could read. For my next book I’d like to pick something structurally simple that can punch through the 60% attention I pay while I’m exercising.

I’m giving Ghost of Tsushima another try after bouncing off it five years ago. The passage of time has allowed it to become a PS5 game and avoid direct comparison to The Last of Us Part II, both of which work in its favour. By summoning all of my patience and determination I actually got to the opening credits and — what do you know? — it’s a good game after that.

I’ll always struggle to enjoy the choice paralysis of open world games and the fussy menu junk of action RPGs, but the world of this game is detailed, beautiful and basically chill, mainly thanks to the impressive effort to use nature to guide the player instead of a HUD. Although the story’s too diffuse and nonlinear for me to feel emotionally engaged, it’s a fun way to trot around on a horse looking at sunsets and occasionally doing a murder.

Continuing the feudal Japan theme, I watched season one of Shōgun and thought it was a mixed bag.

Inevitably I found the plot confusing, and the first & sixth episodes in particular are aggressively boring, like they’re daring you to stick with it in case something happens. It’s also difficult to relate to characters whose entire deal is to never behave naturally or express any of what they’re feeling. On the plus side it’s a very impressive production with some thrilling moments, sumptuous visuals and Atticus Ross bringing store-brand Trent Reznor vibes to the soundtrack.

Overall it was worth watching, largely because of Anna Sawai’s fantastic performance as Lady Mariko. I’d like to see her in more things.

So I started watching Pachinko next. I’m two episodes in and enjoying it; it’s less plotty and more straightforwardly emotive than Shōgun so it’s easier to relax and let it wash over me. Anna Sawai is technically in it but she’s hardly said anything yet.

Right, I’m off to make dal for the week.