7 Quick Takes

October 30, 2020 by Amy Welborn

—1 —

My friend Dorian Speed (her blog – her Instagram) has been high on the Masterpiece program Mrs. Wilson this week – so I gave in and watched it over the past couple of days. It’s only three episodes. I won’t go into great detail, because part of the impact of the show are those twists and turns. But the other aspect of the strong impact this piece might have on you comes from knowing that in it, actress and co-creator Ruth Wilson is playing her own grandmother. Details of the events have been telescoped and dramatized, but the essential storyline is true.

And what provides the most profound impact are the last thirty minutes or so (don’t look for spoilers) which put on your small screen a quite surprising depiction of Christian-inspired forgiveness.

— 2 —

I told Dorian that I should have watched it before pulling together the Requiem post from a few days ago. But it’s probably better that I didn’t – it would have just made that post longer and even more convoluted.

But do know that it fits. It fits because the past is what it was. It doesn’t disappear completely, because the impact of the past lives on in us. But in order to live healthy, whole lives, we can’t be defined by it. How do we make that happen? Perhaps we can start by coming to an understanding of who God is – and who and what isn’t God.

(The show is only on Prime until Saturday, btw)

— 3 —

Continuing on the theme of watching – I am continuing to watch Fargo, but am more determined than ever that to lay down a critique before the series is finished is like writing a book review when you’re halfway through.

I’ll just say, though, that I’m not captured by this season for a number of reasons. And key to me is the absence of a feature of the Coen universe which inspired this series, a feature that’s evident in all of their films and in the first three seasons: the reality and role of a sort of cosmic justice in life and the universe.

The Coens are certainly and famously agnostic about the source of this cosmic justice, but there is no doubt that it exists in their universe. Their films are almost all about people coming up against that cosmic justice, either because of their stupidity or their evil or both. I’m just not seeing that here – yet – and it lends the whole piece a sense of random people coming up against each other with not much at stake.

I’m hopeful some meaning will be drawn out of this, and I think I can see hints of it – and who knows, it might be glorious when it all comes together. But so far, as we say, meh.

— 4 —

We took a little trip this past week. Report here. I’m hoping to get over to the North Georgia mountains soon, before it gets too chilly. Which will be a month or so – I remember several years ago we spent a few days near Ellijay right before Thanksgiving – and it was in the 80’s.

— 5 –

Other than that, life is dedicated to school – the Federalist this week as well as several odd Latin verbs, math and chemistry mercifully taught by others, and his own thing on history and Spanish. Music practice as per usual. College Kid occupied with the end of his term – they’re going to make it! – and preparing for study abroad (yes) next semester. I would like to say that we’ll be popping over for a visit, but I don’t think that will be happening. Students can travel from the US to Europe, but I don’t think tourist travel restrictions will be lifted by spring. I don’t think. That’s fine!