The Terminal List took a Daniel Winkler tomahawk to the critics. From Variety:
Per Nielsen, Amazon Prime Video’s Chris Pratt-led thriller series “The Terminal List” was watched for 1.6 billion minutes during the July 4-10 viewing window, its first full week of availability after premiering on July 1. The series took the No. 2 position on Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming chart this week, second only to “Stranger Things.”
That’s a remarkable showing — and I contributed to these viewing minutes. We’ll be adding some more on a re-watch, because Lady Marilyn wants to watch it, too. That sound you hear is the gnashing of teeth and the rending of garments in the Temple of the Puritanical Woke. Like Yellowstone, the show is reviled by pearl-clutchers and loved by the meat-eaters.
Creator Jack Carr serves up some amusing ripostes to negative reviews from media types who truly and deeply hate this thing — and part of the fun comes from how clear it is that they hate what they think the thing represents rather than the thing itself. TTL has a 39 percent fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes — and a 95 percent fresh rating from viewers, which is just wild. But, as Carr points out, they made the series as a tribute to those who have been down range over the past 20 years and to honor the warrior spirit — not to please The Daily Beast.
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Gold & Gunpowder has a briefing on the discovery of a 350-year-old Spanish treasure shipwreck off the Bahamas.
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Speaking of the Spanish Empire…
My friend Craig Rullman is scouting the trail of the Conquistadors through the Americas. He realized that he knew little of the Spanish in the Americas and set out on a historical expedition to fill the blank space on his mental map. I am eager to see what he does with this, for I, too, have only the broad outline of the Spanish presence in the Americas, and that was drawn by my Anglophile tendencies, and thus generally hostile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTwZfQMxXRk
I tend to see Spain as a lurking threat or a target for buccaneering raids — for which I make no apology. However, I must admit that such a perspective is, shall we say… limited.
At the very least, the Conquistadors have to be held up as all-time, Tier One badasses.
Art by Gregory Manchess
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Our conversation about the espada ancha sent me down a sidetrail on frontier swords. This is the sword of Col. Benjamin Church, America’s true first Ranger, who led a force of colonial woodsmen and Indians in King Phillip’s War (1676) and in King William’s War and Queen Anne’s War.
The sword is in the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society, which describes it thus:
Hangar or cutlass belonging to Col. Benjamin Church (1639-1718) and believed to be the sword he was wearing when Metacomet (King Philip) was slain in 1676. Church’s sword and musket went to his son, Thomas Church, Esq., whose son, Col. Thomas Church kept the firearm and daughter, Mercy Church Richmond kept the cutlass. When Mrs. Richmond died at Taunton, Mass., her daughter, Anne Richmond Atwood, inherited the cutlass, which she gave to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1825.
Cutlass blade is plain, slightly curved and widening before the tip. Marked below shoulder with apparent Hounslow “wolf.” Flat guard in two parts: front down-turned, engraved with 4 divergent lines; rear up-turned, with same decoration—the whole presenting a shell appearance. Rear quillon is short and down-turned. Knuckle guard is formed from the rear shell and simply decorated with four incised lines forming two downward-facing chevrons at mid-center face. Pommel is a simple, flattened disk. Grip is plain maple without covering.
I love that thing, and I want one.
Church is another Tier One Badass. I am sorely tempted to hit the trail of King Philip’s War as we slide into autumn and the woods and swamps of New England loom in the Frontier Partisans consciousness. What say ye all? A foray into the old frontier sound of interest?
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Rick Schwertfeger is as besotted with folklore as I am. he shared this quote with me, which I quite like:
Making the past present. Continuity & Persistence.
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Speaking of folklore… Here’s one for Lane:
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A horrific incident of gang rape has cast a spotlight on the phenomenon of illegal “artisanal mining” on the South African Witwatersrand. From The Mail & Guardian:
Illegal and unregulated artisanal gold mining on the Witwatersrand Basin is an increasing threat to the security of people, industry and the state. Reports on turf wars between rival gangs and shootouts between illegal miners and security officers are commonplace.
But recent incidents point to a spike in the scale of illegal activity, conflict and criminality.
In October 2021, about 300 illegal miners attacked and shot at police officers and security guards when they tried to prevent the zama zamas from delivering food parcels to miners underground. In June this year, about 150 illegal miners stormed Sibanye-Stillwater’s mothballed Cooke shaft near Randfontein in an attempt to gain control. And more than 80 illegal miners have been arrested and charged with being in the country illegally after a video film crew at a mine dump close to West Village, a suburb of Krugersdorp on the West Rand, was robbed and gang raped last week.
West Village residents have since spoken out about being “prisoners in their own homes”. They attribute rampant crime in the area over the past few years to illegal mining, a situation that law enforcement officials seem unable or unwilling to control…
South Africa’s Witwatersrand goldfields have produced more than 30% of all the gold ever mined. But in recent decades, large-scale gold mining has declined precipitously. Between 2012 and 2019 the industry shed 42 000 jobs.
In this context, an illegal and unregulated gold mining industry, among the most lucrative and violent on the African continent, has taken root.
The frontier remains wild. And if I read the sign correctly, the whole world is in for more wild times. Keep your powder dry and watch your top-knot.
Matthew says
As in South Africa, illegal miners of Brazil are known to be trouble.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-environment-mining/brazilians-toil-for-gold-in-illegal-amazon-mines-idUSKCN1BP269
I found out about garrimpeiros from a Japanese comic of all places.
On another note, I have not read The Terminal List or watch the series so I have no opinion on it, but I find it interesting that there is such a divide between critics and viewers. It is probably political in nature to some degree, but the divide between the two is probably deeper than that. I’ve often try to figure out why. Some works lauded by critics I’m not particularly fond of like The Great Gatsby or Citizen Kane. On the other hand, there are popular works that I care not for either like James Patterson or Lee Child. I guess I am just ornery and opinionated about fiction.
Rick+Schwertfeger says
I’m with you on Citizen Kane. My reaction basically has been, “So? What’s the big deal?”
Matthew says
Well, it probably doesn’t help that everyone knows rosebud was his sleigh, but yeah.
lane batot says
Thanks for the hairy bipedal(?) giant primate art(?). Looks more like a South African Boer scene(the trees, etc.), than a depiction of American Sasquatchery. I have recently stopped titling windmills on Bigfoot sites I WAS INVITED to join, the inviters KNOWING ahead of the invite that I was a blunt skeptic. The decision came after constantly having my laborious hunting-and-pecking harangues DELETED when they did not agree with the Dogma of The Believers–why waste my time where I am not wanted? I’m all about folklore, mind you, and there are often some sort of truths in the development of various traditional tales, but I have little patience or tolerance for blatantly ignoring the FACTS(or lack thereof) or refuting basic knowledge on a subject–especially when that subject involves critters and wood’s lore!! I still LOVE and am fascinated with the whole Bigfoot phenom, even how it has evolved(RAPIDLY!) beyond being just folklore into something akin to a RELIGION with some people, that ye DARE NOT contradict, or you are labeled a BLASPHEMOUS troll! Kinda like American politics!
JimC says
Kinda exactly like American politics.
As for folklore, I believe it can and should live right alongside history — and that’s what I pursue here. It’s important, though, to identify which is which. In many cases with frontier history, the two are intertwined to the point where they can’t be separated, and you just have to recognize that fact and sort of triangulate the most plausible option.
lane batot says
Yes, Jim, and sometimes folklore can lead one to actual truths and history! And responding to the other Bigfoot commentary(since I’m not tilting windmills on that Bigfoot site anymore–I gotta find some sorta outlet here….), though purty much NOT a “Believer”, a teeny, teeny tiny flicker of desire would really like to eat crow on this subject, because I certainly wish there were such critters. So I reserve a microscopic hope that maybe somewhere, in some very remote wilderness areas of the Pacific Northwest(the actual traditional Sasquatch home in North America), or some remote valleys in the Himalayas(for the Yeti), or bumfook know-wear in Siberia(for the Alma), there might be a remnant population, or once was, not so long ago, of such creatures. But 99% of the hogwash out there now is complete bunkum! According to so many eager Bigfoot Believers, the creatures have been seen in just about every suburban woodlot in the country(and I hear they have spread to the UK now…..sheesh!), and of course this stuff is being reported by #1–liars, or #2–people with almost no real woods lore or understanding, that couldn’t track their way out of a wet paper bag! No doubt, these days Big Foot is Big Money, so folks gotta keep making up crap to keep the dollars flowing(and okay–hypocrite here–I HAVE bought a few Bigfoot toys, and not a few Bigfoot :”Research” books over the years!). But I highly doubt I’m gonna need that recipe for crow……
Quixotic Mainer says
I’m continually fascinated by the subject of the big hairy guy purportedly lurking in the woods, but can’t call myself a “believer”. Though occasionally someone like Les Stroud will vouch that they’re out there, I find it telling that most people who spot them are almost complete tenderfeet in the outdoors.
Common qualifying statements like; “it couldn’t have been a bear, I’ve seen bears before on TV and at the zoo once” reveal an opposite truth from what they were intended to.
Matthew says
I’m continually fascinated by the subject of the big hairy guy purportedly lurking in the woods, but can’t call myself a “believer”.—
There’s something archetypal about the big hairy guys: ogres, troll, bigfoot. Maybe it has something to do with early encounters with neanderthals. Maybe not.
JimC says
I’m getting kinda self-conscious about all the “big hairy guys in the woods” comments.
Matthew says
So all those bigfoot sightings were just you? 🙂
Quixotic Mainer says
Yes! The “orc” lurking in the dark wild places of the world is in every culture in some form or another. Anthropology will probably lead to the truth faster than casting about for spoor.
Mike says
I couldn’t help but think of Tolkien when you referenced autumn: “He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.”
I enjoyed Weidensaul’s ‘First Frontier’ as an overview of stories I hadn’t heard before from that part of the country. Follow the trail if that’s where it leads you!
JimC says
Perfect.
Travis S. says
King Philip’s War? YES, PLEASE! I can heartily recommend “The Skulking Way of War: Technology and Tactics Among the New England Indians.” By Patrick M. Malone as one solid resource.
JimC says
Outstanding. Thank you.
Joe says
I’ve only just started learning about King Phillip’s War. Certainly a period that deserves more spotlight in history classes. Like most conflicts between settlers and native peoples, much tragedy all around, but what truly stands out is how it was, I believe, the Colonials ever came (as far as per capita numbers go) to total defeat and being driven into the sea. Church’s sword looks like it would do a decent job doubling as a ranging tool in forests of the Northeast.
Quixotic Mainer says
A hearty yay in favor of anything Metacomet related! Church was definitely a hard dude. Anyone that would hike and canoe from Boston to Castine just to get in a shooting scrape isn’t to be trifled with. You can tell a lot about a man by a sword; that’s a very practical fighting blade.
One character from King Phillip’s War I always look for is Captain Daniel Henchman. I find him fascinating because was a successful Captain of dragoons, and had a falling out with Plymouth and Rhode Island, over what he considered to be unfair treatment of the tribes. Horseman, warrior, ethicist and man of letters. What’s not to like? Then you’ve got Captain Moseley, who is like an unholy combination of Wetzel and Solomon Kane…
That picture is amazing too, but the guys they have assigned to outer perimeter ought to be ashamed. Their line got porous, and now they have wookiees washing their nether regions in the stream they’re going to make coffee out of later! The cholera will get you even if they don’t.
JimC says
Thanks for that vote. Just reading the comment has me fired up.
Matthew says
A movie about Magellan is apparently coming with Danny Trejo in the lead.
https://www.cbr.com/danny-trejo-ferdinand-magellan-action-film-1521/
JimC says
Thanks for the heads up.