Determinedly non-political entry, since the times, they keep getting dreadfull-er: when I lived through the 80s as a teenager, I never expected to feel so nostalgic about them. But I've started to watch Stranger Things on Netflix, and wow, does it ever hit those unexpected buttons. Also, based on the first two episodes, it's a wondrous crossover of Stephen King tropes and Steven Spielberg visuals.

(Key difference between the Steves of the 80s: while in E.T., the sequence where Elliot's home is invaded by white decontamination suit wearing government officials is viscerally scary, in the end said officials aren't depicted as evil but benevolent. They really want to help E.T. (and Elliot). Meanwhile, in a Stephen King novels, you can rely on such types being really truly evil, and probably co-responsible for the horror of the day in the first place. So far, Stranger Things, despite paying visual homage to E.T. like no one's business, seems to be on the King end on the spectrum, content wise.)

And speaking of the 80s - the most joyful thing when this year's Emmy nominations were released for me was that The Americans finally got five of those, including best actor and best actress, best drama and best writing. My loyalties are slightly split because Better Call Saul also got nominated for best drama, writing and best leading actor, but much as I love Jimmy & friends, I think overall I'm rooting for Team Undercover Spies here, comrades.

Also, the BCS nominations frustrate me a bit because not only they're leaving out Rhea Seaborn, whose season the second one was, for supporting actress, but pick Jonathan Banks as Mike over Michael McKean as Chuck for supporting actor. Call me crazy, but I think acting nominations shouldn't be about which character is more beloved or likeable. Chuck does some awful things in s2. Micheal McKean also gets a hell of a lot acting to do and layers to sell (what he pulls off in the last two episodes of s2 especially!), while there's no s2 equivalent to s1's grand Mike vehicle, Five-O, and while Jonathan Banks continues to do his solid stoic supporting act superbly, he didn't do anything we hadn't seen before in several seasons of Breaking Bad and now Better Call Saul.

Mind you, the perennial favorite Game of Thrones illustrates that likeability trumping acting thing in this years' nominations as well. Yes, Peter Dinklage is awesome in general, but in this season Tyrion didn't have much to do. And Emilia Clarke over Sophie Turner, seriously? Must be the dragons. Lena Headey, otoh: deserved. And because they didn't nominate Alison Wright for best supporting actress in a drama series in The Americans or Rhea Seaborn for Better Call Saul, see above though perhaps it was because she went from supporting to virtual co-lead in s2, I can even root for her.

Next goal: get the Emmy crowd to watch Black Sails. Considering they've kept nominating Downton Abbey long beyond its expiration age, they're bound to be Maggie Smith fans, so pointing out her kid is doing amazing things as the lead could help...

Back in Munich, and now posting on non-Mongolian matters again. :) Re: the Emmy nominations, I was stunned that Tatiana Maslany wasn't included, and also somewhat surprised at certain other choices (I mean, Emilia Clarke? For season 3? Of all the actresses of Game of Thrones?), but otoh, there was a pleasant surprise in the form of Vera Farmiglia getting nominated for her tour de force as Norma Bates in Bates Motel.

Now am I feeling just the teensiest weensiest bit of fannish Schadenfreude Bates Motel got an award and Hannibal did not? Go away, unworthy feeling! But I'm glad for Vera F. The show didn't get much publicity and it was really earned.

Also: Breaking Bad got several nominations again; in addition to the expected ones for Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul there was Anna Gunn for best supporting female, which means I can root for her and Ms. Farmiglia at the same time (she got nominated for best female lead), and makes me very happy indeed, because what she did with Skyler in the episode 51 alone was outstanding. Also, the boys already got their awards several times, and this might be her last shot for this particular role, so here is hoping.

Jonathan Banks also got nominated for best supporting, which makes me afraid he and Aaron Paul will cancel each other out; if I had to guess, I'd say they'll give it to Banks for sentimental reasons, though imo Aaron Paul's work was the more outstanding in s5, part the first.

Lastly: Downton Abbey? Why?

Back, safe and sound, if very exhausted and trying to stay awake so my time zone readjustment happens quickly. I hear the Emmys weren't all that this year, but otoh I also hear Terry O'Quinn won best supporting actor, which makes me very happy, Locke fangirl that I am. According to this he took the occasion to fanboy Michael Emerson (calling him "glorious"), who plays Ben, which confirms to me - bear with me, this is the way my tired brain works - that Locke/Island/Ben is the TRUE love triangle/OT3 which the show should focus on, instead of the various geometric forms featuring Jack Shephard.