Tag: books

Exploring Dean Potter: The Dark Wizard of Extreme Climbing

My dear readers. As a person who never walked, climbing was way out of reach. It is something that occasionally fascinates me. I’ll be honest, if I was able bodied, I wouldn’t risk it. I definitely wouldn’t free climb.

If you want to know how nutty people can be, then you need to watch this.

From the very first frame, The Dark Wizard Episode 1 grabs you with the raw, exhilarating energy of extreme climbing and never lets go. Titled “The Death Consequence,” this opening installment serves as a powerful introduction to the legendary—and often controversial—figure of Dean Potter.

It masterfully blends breathtaking footage of his daring feats with intimate glimpses into the man behind the myth, setting up what promises to be one of the most thought-provoking docuseries of the year.The episode opens by immersing viewers in Potter’s early years in Yosemite during the 1990s, where he bursts onto the scene as a fiercely talented, renegade climber. We see him forging new ascents, setting world records, and connecting deeply with a tight-knit community of like-minded adventurers who thrive on the sport’s intoxicating mix of freedom and adrenaline.

The cinematography is nothing short of spectacular—sweeping shots of towering granite walls, heart-pounding sequences of free soloing and base jumping, and slow-motion captures that make you feel the wind and the exposure. It’s viscerally exciting, the kind of footage that leaves you breathless and in awe of human potential.

What elevates this episode beyond a simple highlight reel of athletic achievements is its honest, unflinching exploration of Potter’s inner world. Friends and contemporaries, including Alex Honnold, share candid reflections on his restless energy and the darker undercurrents that drove him. One particularly poignant thread is how Potter used the “death consequence”—that razor-edge awareness of mortality during his most extreme pursuits—as a form of therapy to quiet his racing mind and battle personal demons. Journal entries come alive on screen, revealing a sensitive, introspective soul seeking clarity through emptiness and risk. Lines like “I need to quiet my mind” hit hard, transforming the narrative from pure adrenaline into a profound meditation on mental health, self-medication through danger, and the complex relationship between joy and struggle.

Five stars out of five. Just don’t copy him. A ticket to an early death.

Distant Love (Part 72)

Two cloaked figures walking on wet path near lit stone cottage during rain

“Oh God, come in! Your soaked. And Maeve, your not much better. Come on in the two of ye.” She gets a towel and starts patting him down.

“I’ll be okay,” Derek insists.

“It’ll be the death of ya. People get sick with a soakin’ ya know.” A deep now hung on her face. Then she continues. “I forgot to mention it earlier to either of you, there are a few people coming to meet Maeve later.”

“Who, auntie?” Maeve’s eyes open wide.

“Marcus and some of the others. They’ll be here in a couple of hours.”

The room goes silent.

“Who are they?” Derek enquired.

The older woman replied. “Oh friends of the family.” Both women looked knowingly at each other.

Derek thinks to himself. This is interesting. They must be resistance members that they are meeting, Best to play dumb.

He says, “Sure it will be good for me to meet your friends Maeve. It’s important that I get to know your circle.”

She looks at him with a smile. “Yes, it is. I hope you like them, they can be a raucous bunch. You won’t be seeing them that often anyway, they only come round every so often.”

Wheelchair Wars Audrey 3 (v)

Human figure frozen in cryogenic chamber with frost and tubes in sci-fi lab

Within minutes, all the other troopers were in their pods.

Audrey shuffled herself forward in her chair and put on arm on the pod for support. “I’ll need your assistance, now.”

Brona supported her to stand and then to lay down into the pod. Her long hair draped over Audrey, she smelled of soap. Audrey felt a tingle run through her body.

Timothy would like her.

Pushing back her hair with her hand, she smiled. “Are you okay now?”

Feeling warm all over, Audrey smiled back. “That is fine. Go to your pod. When you wake, I will need your assistance once more.

Brona placed her hand on Audrey’s. Her hand was warm, soft. “I’ll be just over there.” Brona pointed to a nearby pod.

Audrey nodded, then pulled the translucent opening closed.

For a brief moment she wondered what awaited her on the other side. A strange new world full of horrible Sisters, no doubt Then her thoughts turned to Timothy, the love of her lfe and if she would ever see him again.

The pod turned cold. The hairs on her arm stood up and her breath became white. A few seconds later a white gas gushed over her body.

Wheelchair Wars Audrey 3 (iv)

Three people inside illuminated futuristic cryogenic pods emitting mist in a sci-fi chamber

The bridge was small and difficult to drive the battle chair around. A man with long grey hair was standing in front of the viewport.

“Are you the captain?” Audrey enquired, her voice echoing around the deck.

He tuned around, adorned with deep lines across his forehead and crow’s feet. in a shabby, torn blue uniform. “Yes, I am. My name is Carthage. Sorry that the bridge is so cramped. Not very accessible. It’s not a priority where this ship is from.

Audrey shuddered. “Is there anything I need to know about it?”

He rested his hand on the captain’s seat for support. “It’s more of the shock when you come back, We will be travelling close to light speed. While you are in stasis much time will pass.”

Audrey swallowed. “I know. All in service to the Emperor.”

Carthage then continued. “Well then, you should go to your pod. When I next see you, we should have arrived.”

Audrey turned and went to the back of the ship where her pod was waiting for her. It was in the center, with row after row of other pods surrounding it.

“Enter your hibernation pods,” she bellowed.

Brona went to leave before Audrey hushed, “Not you.”

Wheelchair Wars 3 (iii)

Military officer in wheelchair inspecting lined-up armored soldiers in futuristic space station

“We have been given a mission of the utmost importance by our most beloved Emperor. At all times, your total obedience and loyalty are expected.”

With that, she watched her troops, a mixture of stern-faced men and women, walk up the long ramp to the ship.

A sound of feet clattering. Audrey turned to see one of her troops running towards her.

A young woman with long, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes spoke. She was trembling. “I’m so sorry for being late. There is no excuse.”

I should really punish her. Set a good example for the others.

Audrey looked behind her. All the other troops are inside.

However, I could use an assistant. And she does look good.

“What is your name, trooper?” Audrey asks in a softer tone.

“Brona,” she replies, standing upright.

“Well, Brona, as punishment, you will be my personal assistant for the mission.”

Bron’s eyes flicker towards her and then away. “Okay, as you wish.”

“Walk behind me at all times. Speak only when spoken to. Now come along.”

Audrey pushed her joystick forward, and they made their way up the rampway into the ship. Inside, the troopers were already readying their hibernation pods.

Audrey headed to the bridge to talk to the captain.

Wheelchair Wars Audrey 3 (ii)

Rocket lifting off from a launch pad with fiery exhaust and city buildings in the background at sunset

“Your destination is over eight light-years away. It is a planet of ice and fire. Make sure to bring plenty of warm clothes. We lose heat quickly compared to the walkers. The ship Empericus 546 is awaiting you, along with over two hundred troops at your direct command.”

He turned his wheelchair around to face her.

“You will be travelling at light speed. I will have aged greatly by your return, if I am alive at all. Know that this is an important mission for the Empire.”

She replied, her voice cracking, “I will do as the Emperor commands.”

“Then, that is all, Audrey. Report to port 46Y2 in under an hour.”

Tears welled in Audrey’s eyes as she drove her chair away from Oreus’ room.

I know that I must serve the Emperor, but I thought that at least I would have Timothy by my side. I may never even see him again.

She stopped and wiped away the tears. There was much for her to do and little time.

Over fifty minutes later, she was addressing her troops, who donned white uniforms and were armed with light machine guns as they prepared to board the Empericus 546 or what they would simply call the Empericus, while on mission.

Review: The Testaments Episode 1 – A Stunning Dystopian Journey

Multiple people wearing red cloaks walking on a damaged street in a destroyed city.

Ah readers, there is surely no better way to spend a Friday afternoon than reviewing a series in one of my favorite dystopian universes.

Is it strange that I loved The Handmaids Tale, being a man and all. I couldn’t care less.

Years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments (on Hulu) follows two teenage girls navigating life inside the oppressive regime: the dutiful and pious Agnes (played with quiet intensity and breakout star power by Chase Infiniti) and the spirited newcomer Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a convert from beyond Gilead’s borders. Assigned as mentor and mentee at Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives—where obedience is enforced with brutal, divinely justified precision—their unlikely bond becomes the emotional core and catalyst for upheaval.

To date, I’ve only seen the first episode but that will change this weekend.

What makes this setup so brilliant is how it reframes the dystopia through youthful eyes. Instead of the raw desperation of Handmaids, we get the gilded cage of privilege mixed with stifling control: lavish yet suffocating halls, rigid social hierarchies, and the constant psychological weight of expected perfection. The series smartly avoids retreading familiar ground—no sea of red cloaks in the early episodes—and instead builds a textured, lived-in world that feels both evolved and eerily consistent with what came before. It’s a defiant coming-of-age tale that explores friendship, identity, rebellion, and the quiet power of connection in the face of systemic cruelty.

Visually, The Testaments is stunning. The production design contrasts opulent, pristine settings with underlying menace—think polished marble and elegant uniforms that mask the brutality beneath. Cinematography captures both the grandeur and the claustrophobia of this society, while the score enhances the emotional undercurrents without overpowering the performances.

Giving the first episode 4 stars out of 5.

Have you seen it? What did you think?

Challenging Myths: The Real History of Native Americans

Two cowboys on horseback silhouetted against a dramatic lightning storm on the open plains.

Many of my readers may not be familiar with Matt Walsh. He is a popular right-wing YouTuber from the United States. He is as reviled as he is loved, becoming famous for his opposition to trans ideology, and especially child transitioning, describing it as child abuse.

Here, in an over one-hour-long documentary, he delves into a different contentious topic. Note that I watched it on YouTube. Also available on DailyWire+.

Matt Walsh’s “The Real History of the American Indians” is a bold, refreshing, and much-needed documentary that cuts through decades of romanticized myths and perhaps ideological propaganda. In this episode of his Real History series, Walsh delivers a clear-eyed examination of Native American history that challenges the dominant narrative taught in schools and pushed by Hollywood.

He dismantles the fairytale of universally peaceful, noble “Indians” living in perfect harmony with nature, only to be mercilessly victimized by evil European settlers. Instead, Walsh presents a more complex and historically grounded picture: one where tribes frequently engaged in brutal warfare, conquest, and slavery among themselves long before European arrival, where concepts of land ownership differed sharply from Western traditions, and where conflicts with settlers involved aggression on multiple sides rather than one-sided genocide.

He points out that pre-Civilization violence was horrific and worse on a pro rata basis than modern warfare. No prisoners were taken – everyone apart from pre-adolescents but not babies faced extermination if a battle was lost.

Although not mentioned in the series, this is one of the reasons the African populations boomed after colonization, also. Free from constant war, farmers could grow crops. Similarly, the population of Ireland grew after the arrival of the Vikings, who brought trade and settlements, reducing overall conflict.

What makes this documentary stand out is Walsh’s signature style: sharp, unapologetic, and deeply researched. He doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths on any side, but his core strength is exposing how selective storytelling has been weaponized to instill guilt and self-loathing in modern Americans.

Myths like the “smallpox blankets” as deliberate genocide or the idea that the entire continent was “stolen land” with no legitimate settlement are taken apart with logic, primary sources, and straightforward reasoning. The result feels liberating rather than divisive—it’s history as it actually happened, not as activists wish it had.

Visually and structurally, the film is engaging and accessible. Walsh combines narration, historical context, and pointed takedowns of mainstream shibboleths without descending into dry lecturing. Viewers come away better informed about the realities of pre-Columbian societies, intertribal conflicts, the challenges of assimilation and reservation systems, and the genuine progress that Western civilization brought to the continent. It’s a strong antidote to the guilt-tripping versions of American history that dominate today. If you’re tired of sanitized, agenda-driven accounts that treat Native Americans as cartoonish victims or infallible environmental saints, this documentary is essential viewing. Walsh does what great historians should: he tells the raw, unfiltered truth that sets the record straight and helps us understand our shared past without the self-flagellation.

Four stars out of five from me.

Have you seen it? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

Also, don’t forget to subscribe.

The Swedish Connection: A Hidden WWII Hero

My dear readers, this is a Swedish film about a quiet, undeclared hero. The Swedish Connection (Swedish: Den svenska länken) is a World War II drama about Swedish foreign ministry bureaucrat Gösta Engzell, who develops and executes covert plans to rescue European Jewish refugees by using legal loopholes and paperwork. Released in 2026, the film stars Henrik Dorsin as Engzell and was directed by Thérèse Ahlbeck and Marcus Olsson.

It is a remarkable true story about what great things an ordinary person, not in the limelight, can achieve. It’s 1942, and neutral Germany is surrounded by Nazi Germany and its erstwhile ally Finland. A Swedish bureaucrat and his Department are doing everything they can, at times against the wishes of their government, to save as many Jews as possible by providing a connection to Sweden, and thus released.

Henrik Dorsin delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance as Engzell, portraying a man who starts the story mired in rules and paperwork but grows into an unexpected moral force. His journey, guided by humanity rather than headline-making heroics, is one of the film’s most rewarding elements — it reminds us that heroism doesn’t always wear a uniform or charge into battle; sometimes it quietly persists behind desks and in government halls. Sissela Benn as Rut Vogl brings warmth, intelligence, and emotional grounding, making her interactions with Engzell some of the most heartfelt moments onscreen.

The film’s tone is another notable achievement. While it doesn’t shy away from the horrors of the Holocaust backdrop, it also finds space for hope, humility, and even light touches of humor. The result is a heartfelt, uplifting experience that honours its real-life subjects without ever feeling exploitative or overly sentimental.

The provisional visa process pioneered by Engzell’s team are credited with rescuing 100,000 Jews during the war.

Unfortunately, the Irish Government did nothing similar, when perhaps thousands more could have been saved.

Five stars out of five for me.

Exploring the Culper Spy Ring in Turn

Hello dear readers, I’m back to report on the Series Turn. It’s four series long, so it took a while. But it was worth it. You might wonder why I don’t give too many low ratings. Simples. If I don’t like something, I stop watching. And I loved this.

At the risk of repeating myself, Turn: Washington’s Spies (originally titled Turn and stylized as TURИ: Washington’s Spies) is an American period drama television series based on Alexander Rose’s book Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring (2007), a history of the Culper Ring.

The story covers events from 1776 to 1781 and features a farmer from Setauket, New York and his childhood friends. They form an unlikely group of spies called the Culper Ring, which eventually helps to turn the tide during the American Revolutionary War. The series begins in October 1776, shortly after British victories, recapturing of Long Island and the Port of New York for the Crown, leaving General George Washington’s army in dire straits.

But it’s going to be a long and bloody war.

It is an engaging, atmospheric historical drama that blends espionage, character-driven storytelling, and Revolutionary War intrigue into a series that is both entertaining and surprisingly educational. It’s one of those shows that manages to feel fresh even when dealing with well‑known historical events, largely thanks to its focus on the lesser‑known Culper Spy Ring and the ordinary people behind it.

It is full of twists and turns that keep the audience fully engaged.

Samuel Roukin as Captain John Graves Simcoe gives a great, memorable performance. He comes across as quite the psychopath, bringing fear even to those on his own side.

The overall narrative strikes an appealing balance between historical accuracy and dramatic tension. While the series takes creative liberties, the core storyline is grounded enough to feel authentic.

Highlights:

  • The slow-burn pacing allows character motivations and relationships to develop naturally.
  • The spycraft elements—coded messages, invisible ink, dead drops—are fascinating without feeling overly dramatized.
  • The show explores moral ambiguity, portraying both sides of the war with nuance and complexity.

The finale is a clear example of this. A war of good and evil was not fought between Britain and the UK, but in the souls of individuals themselves. America won the war, resulting in some being returned to slavery. Simcoe went on to become the Governor of a part of Canada and ended slavery in the area.

Five stars out of five from me.