Paul Levinson
Bio
Novels The Silk Code, The Plot To Save Socrates, It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles; LPs Twice Upon A Rhyme & Welcome Up; nonfiction The Soft Edge & Digital McLuhan, translated into 15 languages. Prof, Fordham Univ.
Stories (742)
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Review of Westworld 1.8
Much revealed in this excellent episode 1.8 of Westworld. Probably the most important: there are two kinds of programs afoot in Westworld, two kinds of stories (or two kinds of kinds of stories, to be more precise): Ford's and Arnold's. Ford's we pretty much know—though not the new story he keeps talking about—and Arnold's not much or any of it at all.
By Paul Levinson8 years ago in Futurism
Review of Westworld 1.7
"I don't wanna be in a story," Dolores says to William, who later provides the best possible Westworld answer, telling Dolores the life he's been living outside is a lie, and the most truth he's ever known is in Westworld with her. (Note that in this sentence, the italics denote the series, and the name Westworld denotes the place in the series.)
By Paul Levinson8 years ago in Futurism
Review of Twin Peaks: The Return 1.11
Well, Agent Cooper finally got a piece of cherry pie in Twin Peaks: The Return 1.11 last night -- in fact, two slices! -- as well as his life being spared by Jim Belushi's character and his dream. But, alas, even this double cherry pie is not enough to rouse Cooper out of his stupor. He needs to "wake up!" as that little man from the other dimension told him now some number of episodes ago.
By Paul Levinson8 years ago in Futurism
Review of Westworld 1.6
An outstanding Westworld 1.6 -- the series gets better and better, Isaac Asimov (author of the three later four laws of robotics would've loved it) -- and in this episode jumps into some of the real paradoxes and ethical quandaries of artificial intelligence.
By Paul Levinson8 years ago in Futurism
Review of Westworld 1.4
"Vacation" — it was the name of a Connie Francis song in the early 1960s (Wikipedia says 1962, and that it was Connie's last big hit, and I remember hearing and singing it in high school), and it was probably the most important word spoken in Westworld 1.4.
By Paul Levinson8 years ago in Futurism
Review of Twin Peaks: The Return 1.10
Twin Peaks: The Return 1.10 last night ended with a better than usual song, which is saying a lot, since those concluding songs are often the best part of the episode. Last night's song, sung by Rebekah Del Rio—who, I don't know, reminds me a little of Monica Lewinsky—was entitled "No Stars," a nice touch, since the episode has even more stars than usual, but who's counting.
By Paul Levinson8 years ago in Futurism
Review of Game of Thrones 7.1
Game of Thrones, as everyone knows, was back last night with the start of its seventh season. It was an altogether excellent episode, satisfying in that every major character was given some time, but one thread I especially liked was Sam in the library.
By Paul Levinson8 years ago in Geeks
