The Grouchy Editor

Black Mirror, Season 7

Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, sadly, seems to read his own reviews and respond to the critics who praise certain episodes.

“San Junipero,” a season-three entry about two lesbians with a heartwarming ending, was hailed by reviewers in 2016 and so, season seven has another episode, “Hotel Reverie,” about two lesbians with a heartwarming ending.

“USS Callister” from season four delighted Trekkies and so, this season we get a sequel, “USS Callister: Into Infinity.”

What we don’t get anymore is originality, like we did when Black Mirror was a small British show in seasons one and two. Before Netflix entered the picture.

My grades for the six new episodes:

“Common People” — dark, depressing, timely, and thought-provoking. Just like the good old days. Grade: B

“Bete Noir” — great start to this one, but a silly ending. Grade: B-

“Hotel Reverie” — too long, and too obvious. It checks the “wokeness” boxes, though. Grade: C

“Plaything” — so-so episode, I think. I’ve already forgotten most of it. Grade: C

“Eulogy” — the best new episode, thanks largely to the ever-dependable Paul Giamatti. Grade: B+

“USS Callister: Into Infinity” — for die-hard Star Trek fans and computer-game nerds only. I grew so bored with the convoluted story and cartoon characters that I had to pause and take breaks. Beam me the hell out, Scotty. Grade: D

When Netflix took control of this formerly great series beginning with season three in 2016, it was the start of a long, slow decline.

Black Mirror is still a watchable show. The premises are intriguing, the acting usually fine, and Netflix does spend money on the productions. But the storytelling thrill is long gone.

**

Trump vs. the Courts

The left saw no problem when millions of aliens crossed into our country illegally.

But now they expect each of 10-20 million illegal aliens to receive “due process” hearings? That will take a hundred years, and the left knows it.

If the Supreme Court doesn’t stop the madness, Trump should just ignore all of these radical-left court rulings.

If it was continually stymied by the courts, that’s what the left would do.

© 2010-2025 grouchyeditor.com (text only)

Awwww … Bill and Donald are bonding. Does this mean there’s hope for the rest of us?

OK, that’s enough brotherly love. Time for …

**

… Dumping on Dems

I’m from Minnesota, where we are used to second-place finishes. I’m referring to the Vikings, who finished second a record four times in Super Bowls. I’m talking politicians, where two Democrat politicians, Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale, took dumps in presidential elections.

But nothing is as embarrassing as this clown Tim Walz, who is governor of our misbegotten state:

By the way, Minnesota’s state bird is the loon. What does that tell you?

More Dumping 

We used to run an “Asshole of the Week” posting. I’m thinking the arrogant East Coast judges pictured below qualify as “Assholes of the Year.” At least so far.

(Yes, I realize there are more, but I’m too lazy to find pictures of them all.)

© 2010-2025 grouchyeditor.com (text only)

Lots of glee from the left, and outrage from the right, about no-name federal judges blocking President Trump’s executive orders.

Seems to me that Trump should just ignore these agenda-driven judges. After all, isn’t that what Biden did — or tried to do — with student-loan forgiveness and tenants trying to stiff their landlords?

Speaking of jurisprudence, methinks it’s ridiculous, at this point, to believe that conservatives have a 6-3 advantage in the Supreme Court. John Roberts has sided with his liberal colleagues enough times for that estimate to be a squishy 5-4 advantage. At best.

**

Most people only casually follow politics. But everyone watches movies. If you want to understand much of Biden’s term in office, I suggest you watch Being There. Or read the book.

**

I think the best place to get balanced news reports (from print media) is RealClearPolitics. It alternates links to left-leaning articles with links to right-leaning stories.

These days, I lean right. Here are two good right-leaning stories from the past week, one from Victor Davis Hanson and the other from Karol Markowicz.

**

I haven’t watched the video pictured above. I have no interest in nightlife in Stockholm.

But for some inexplicable reason, I want to watch this video. Can’t imagine why.

© 2010-2025 grouchyeditor.com (text only)

Maybe it’s a Gen Z thing, or maybe it’s a case of network “wokeness,” but good grief, reality TV is getting gayer by the day.

Once upon a time, I could watch Survivor and expect to see hot chicks in bikinis. Now I’m more likely to see some effeminate dude crying at tribal council about how tough his life is.

I think The Amazing Race has a gay quota. The show must include at least two homosexual couples, preferably married. Of the remaining males, most must either be in the closet or be what we used to call “sissies.”

If there are any raging heterosexual men in the Race cast, they must be photographed doing something homoerotic, such as last week’s challenge in which men had to wrap Sumo-wrestling diapers, er, cloth bands, around each other — in excruciating closeups.

Meanwhile, on The Traitors, male contestants are routinely filmed bathing or lounging in bed with come-hither poses.

Listen, I’m all for representation on reality TV. Gays and lesbians should be represented. But just because Hollywood is dominated by gay-friendly wokeness doesn’t mean the rest of us want to be bombarded with the stuff.

**

I am regretting, just a bit, my high praise two months ago for Tim Pool’s podcast. I think of Pool as a political pit bull, much needed when doing battle in culture wars with the left. The problem is, once the battle is won (at least temporarily), the pit bull is still there, hungry for more blood.

Since Trump’s election, Pool’s emotional outbursts seem less vital, more petty. He and co-host Phil Labonte recently took turns screaming at coworker Elaad Eliahu on air when the topic was income inequality. I got the feeling that Labonte and Pool have dreams of joining the “one percent,” and cannot tolerate dissent. Eliahu, who pointed out anger over the outrageous discrepancy between the haves and have-nots, had to be shouted down and denounced as a “communist.”

And then there are Pool’s squabbles with local West Virginia government officials, and with left-leaning … skateboarders. And what’s up with the mysterious firings at Timcast, most recently Hannah Claire Brimelow?

Trump won the election, and, for the moment, things have quieted down in America. I don’t need or want the pit bull. I’d prefer some peace and quiet.

Then again, you never know when you might need him again.

**

I finally got around to watching Trap, M. Night Shyamalan’s latest hit-or-miss movie (sadly, another miss).

It occurred to me that, once a film loses you thanks to its credibility gaps, you stop forgiving dumb scenes that you might forgive in a better, more entertaining film.

Trap has way, way too many scenes that stretch logic.

© 2010-2025 grouchyeditor.com (text only)

Here’s a Thought

Hollywood movies are hemorrhaging customers. Here’s a thought: Stop cranking out two-and-a-half-hour movies, or three-hour movies. That’s too damn long.

Liberal media outlets like MSNBC and CNN are hemorrhaging viewers. Here’s a thought: Stop lying to your audience. Maybe then they’ll trust you again.

**

I checked out a pretty good thriller the other day, called Watcher (review tomorrow). Dude who played a creepy neighbor is pictured below, an actor named Burn Gorman:

Is he not the reincarnation of the guy pictured below, Skelton Knaggs, who also played creepy characters in the 1940s?

By the way, wonderful names. Now we need an actor named Burn Skelton.

**

I’ve had “likes” from Ricky Gervais and Louis C.K. on my X posts.

Is that a good thing, or should I be worried?

**

**

Short post this week, because I am a bit sick of politics. Also, I am more than a bit lazy.

© 2010-2025 grouchyeditor.com (text only)

Not really on vacation.

Am on the Epstein list, so have fled to New Zealand.

Might or might not be back next week.

© 2010-2025 grouchyeditor.com (text only)