CULTURE | DIGEST
FAILING UPWARD The last image many of us will have of Mike Leach will be the former WSU football coach’s temper tantrum after losing yet another Apple Cup (his seventh straight loss to rival UW), calling the SpokesmanReview’s John Blanchette a “sanctimonious troll” while refusing to answer reporters’ questions at a press conference. For those who bothered to watch the Cheez-It Bowl, maybe their last memory is the Cougs getting run over by Air Force to secure a losing season. The repercussions for the state of Washington’s highest-paid employee? An even bigger paycheck from Mississippi State University, where Leach will make $5 million a year, with incentives for more. Ugh. (DAN NAILEN)
Mr. Robot’s human connection
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BY JOSH KELETY
t’s natural to be skeptical when a television show returns after a long hiatus. Will there be continuity in the writing and cinematic style? Or will it be so warped that fans find it unrecognizable? So when the fourth and final season of Mr. Robot — creator Sam Esmail’s edgy thriller about a young, mentally unstable vigilante hacker who takes on a corrupt corporation by trying to erase all debt — aired last fall after a two-year hiatus, I was apprehensive. The previous three seasons were a big draw. There was the phenomenal acting of Rami Malek, who plays the hacker Elliot; the bold and creative cinematography and music; and the show’s nuanced treatment of mental illness, trauma and drug use. It didn’t shy away from criticisms of corporate power, greed and its corrupting influence on democracy and society in general. The
THE BUZZ BIN
THIS WEEK’S PLAYLIST Some noteworthy new music hits online and in stores Jan. 17. To wit: PINEGROVE, Marigold. The slightly twangy indie-rockers return after a lengthy hiatus. DELLA MAE, Headlight. The Grammy-nominated band includes Spokane’s own Kimber Ludiker, and pushes beyond bluegrass on their new set. … AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD, X: The Godless Void and Other Stories. We will also know you for the album title nearly as long and nonsensical as the band name. (But seriously, folks, this crew rocks). (DAN NAILEN)
show doesn’t ever invoke Karl Marx, it still channels a leftist-anarchist critique of contemporary capitalism. It’s a bleak and fascinating ride that feels current. Fast forward to season four, now streaming on Amazon Prime: Elliot’s past attempts to bring down the world’s most powerful corporation — which he calls “Evil Corp” — have largely failed. A Chinese government minister who leads a double life as White Rose, the trans leader of a shadowy hacker-terrorist group, is actually pulling the strings at Evil Corp and Elliot is on the warpath to take them down. At first, the season doesn’t seem to take great effort to either explore Elliot’s complex mental state or any substantive political ideas. But, thankfully, I was mistaken. The latest season skillfully uses superbly acted one-on-one dialogue scenes with intense and varied emotional range as a way to discuss the vital role that social connection and community play in enriching the human experience. A climactic scene between Elliot and White Rose spells out how the absence of human connection and acceptance has, at least partially, motivated White Rose’s psychotic and violent tendencies. Elliot, meanwhile, who has projected an antisocial and nihilistic personality throughout the show, articulates how his personal relationships, however flawed, are what keep him going. It’s a heartwarming moment and out of character for the show, but it works. There was no high-minded screed on class consciousness and the ills of private property at the end of the series, as I’m sure some lefty viewers hoped for. As it turns out, many of the characters’ most important struggles were figuring out how to connect with other people. n
BOULEVARD ON THE MOVE Five years after opening its doors in a historic building at the corner of Monroe and Northwest Boulevard, popular local vintage and home decor shop Boulevard Mercantile is on the move. Owners Dan Webb and David and Joellen Jeffers recently announced that the shop is soon moving to a new, completely renovated space at 1012 N. Washington St. Shoppers can find their favorite vendors at the store’s current home, 1905 N. Monroe St., until Feb. 22. A grand reopening celebration at the new location is set for Friday, March 6, from 5-9 pm. (CHEY SCOTT)
LEGENDARY NIGHT Who can fill the Fox to the rafters on a cold, snowy Monday evening? None other than virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, with sparks seeming to fly off his Stradivarius violin. A production of Connoisseur Concerts arranged by music director Zuill Bailey, the crowd was treated to sonatas by Beethoven, Grieg and Dvorak, but the highlight was when Perlman, accompanied by pianist Rohan de Silva, leafed through his pile of music and played little nuggets of musical genius, culminating with the haunting theme from Schindler’s List by John Williams. Bravo! (TED S. McGREGOR JR.)
SPOKANE AT SUNDANCE The Deepest Hole, the latest from local documentarian and Gonzaga professor Matt McCormick, has been accepted into the Sundance Film Festival, one of the most prestigious and longest-running independent film events in the country. The 12-minute short details a bizarre urban legend surrounding a Cold War-era drilling project, during which Russian scientists were rumored to have discovered the underworld. It’s possible The Deepest Hole will show up at the upcoming Spokane International Film Festival, so keep an eye out. Sundance kicks off Jan. 23 in Park City, Utah. (NATHAN WEINBENDER)
JANUARY 16, 2020 INLANDER 39