5 Things On My Mind: 'Daredevil' finale review, Blues encounter Jets, and writer's block
Let's parcel out a few things that are rumbling around the brain.
Sometimes, there isn’t enough material for a whole article about one topic, which is why these potpourri articles are created: a little of this, some of that, and a few other things. So, here are some things that could leave a dent in your mind and will take a weight off my brain.
#5 Daredevil finishes with a half-bang and some teasing excitement
Out of the nine episodes released, about half were solid. The rest were fluff, drawn-out subplots, and featured a moopy Matt Murdock wrestling with the idea of being a vigilante. Wilson Fisk became Mayor, and promptly went back to gangster tactics with his motions and decisions. Jon Bernthal’s Punisher came back briefly for some rampaging assistance. The final episode set up something for a possible second season, but the latest episodes proved that little has changed.
Granted, it’s a decent and entertaining series, but it didn’t do much differently with its time that wasn’t pursued in the original series. There were highs, lows, and alright moments. Much time was spent on the indecision of Murdock’s nighttime crime-fighter, and he still won’t be a killer like his buddy, Frank. It’s the same crap they rummaged over during the original series. I’m still unpacking it, but I wanted more from what was given.
#4 Blues get the Jets
Don’t panic yet. Winnipeg hasn’t done much in the postseason, and the Blues have a better record over their past 30 games. They won 20 out of 24 games before the end of the season was reached, a mark that should count for something when the puck drops tomorrow night. I won’t sit here and tell you a playoff berth is nice enough, but appreciating the next stage reached is paramount, especially for a St. Louis sports fan. Jordan Binnington is a stud this time of year, and the team has scoring power up and down their four lines. Let’s see what happens. The Jets had the most points in the Western Conference in the NHL, but that doesn’t matter when the playoffs start. Ask the Blues team that won the President’s Trophy 25 years ago, but came away with nothing else to show for a stellar regular season.
#3 More parking, STL restaurants
This town has many good places to eat—all kinds of food for any foodie fanatic. However, the ability to find a place to park can be the most challenging part, even more complicated than choosing between tacos and nachos. A Mexican restaurant near my house has six spots in its parking lot. While they aren’t marked VIP or for heavy drinkers only, I feel like they’re always taken when I eat there. This is the same for a nearby restaurant and several others. It doesn’t have to be a Walmart-sized lot, but more runs than the Cardinals can put up in a game would be nice.
#2 Cards score big or leave their bats at home
The Cardinals can score 5-9 runs one night, and then come up cold the next night. They need Willson Contreras to get going, and could use Masyn Winn back swinging as well. The shortstop was getting hot before hitting the Injured list. This team has failed to communicate with their lumber team right now. Brendan Donovan is red hot, and Lars Nootbaar remains effective, but parts of their lineup aren’t clicking. They play their 20th game today, so there’s time. St. Louis isn’t as bad as some thought they would be, but their true identity is yet to be revealed.
#1 Writer’s block hits us all
That list includes me. Yesterday, I was sitting in my usual writing spot at lunch, and nothing was pouring out of my brain. I started by composing a lengthy Daredevil review, but the thrill disappeared quickly. Sometimes, writing about baseball alone is too much weight, and composing something about movies isn’t in the brain. When a writer has a block like that, one can only step back and walk away for the day. The gun was empty after composing an article every day since March, sometimes even two in a day. Slowly but surely, the output for today’s post came back.
Moving forward, I don’t know if I will be writing as prolifically as I have been for the past few months. Some days, I may get in front of the microphone or stay away altogether. The good thing about operating a blog is that you can determine how much output there is.
Stay tuned, and have a good weekend. Life constantly throws punches, but one must continue to take them and push forward.