Movie and TV Reviews - April 2026

Short reviews of movies and TV shows I watched in April. Now that we're watching the Blue Jays, there won't be as much here.

Movies

• Anaconda: A remake of the original big snake movie. It has some funny bits but otherwise not much to recommend it. (Crave)
• The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: This is a series of four made-for-TV movies originally broadcast by the BBC between 2011 and 2014 and  based on a novel by Kate Summerscale about Jack Whicher, a "private inquiry agent" in Victorian England. They were all quite good with one of the better evocations of that period that I've seen coupled with interesting stories and first-rate acting.  (BritBox and Hoopla)
• Kingsman: A rewatch. Silly but fun. (Disney+)

TV Shows

• Young Sherlock. I wasn't interested in this until I found out that it was directed by Guy Ritchie. It's well made and entertaining. I can't comment on how it fits into the Sherlock Holmes canon. (Amazon Prime)
• Saint-Pierre (season 2). This is a Canadian-made crime drama set on the French island of Saint Pierre off the south coast of Newfoundland. A light detective drama with some good actors and a slightly exotic setting. The second season is better than the first. (CBD Gem)
• Cross (season 2): The first season was OK but the the first couple of episodes of the 2nd season left me completely cold. It did get better later on. (Amazon Prime)
• The Nature of Things: Wild, Wild, Weather. A very good documentary on how climate change is affecting worldwide weather systems.  (CBC Gem)
• Hope Street (season 5): It's a pleasant enough show but I think it's gone on past its best before date. (BritBox)
• Reboot (season 1): The classic 1990s animated series is back. By modern standards, the animation, which was pioneering for the time, is primitive, but the show is still quite watchable for both kids and adults. 

The US Versus Canada 14

It's time for another article abut the ongoing cultural and economic conflct between Canada and the United States. 

How the US will get it's booze back into Canadian liquor stores

Expect Donald Trump to try to punish Canada for not bending the knee (gift link). "It’s now clear the Americans aren’t even willing to sit down until Canada coughs up what’s being described as an “entry fee” — unilateral concessions on a range of issues in return for the privilege of getting to the table and facing, no doubt, demands for even more concessions."

How much does Trump hate Canada? (gift link) "Five charts help illustrate the U.S. President’s obsession with his northern neighbour."

Why Did So Many Canadians Keep Doing Business with Epstein? "The predator’s network reached into this country’s financial, science, and cultural elite."

A network of YouTube accounts is promoting U.S. annexation to Albertans, researchers say. It has 40 million views (gift link). "Flagged as a “potential covert influence operation” in a new report, those behind the network are tough to trace."

 Mark Carney Officially Put A Bullet In Canada's Relationship With Trump's America. "Mark Carney simply never misses. This morning, he kindly put our relationship with Trump's America in a body bag while reminding us who we are."

Can Alberta Protect Its Secession Vote from Trump? "If we’re being honest, probably not."

Washington demanding 'entry fee' from Ottawa before trade talks: sources. "Trump administration demanding concessions before formally launching CUSMA talks, sources tell Radio-Canada."

Featured Links - April 29, 2026

Links to things I found interesting but didn't want to do a full blog post about.

A calm day on the lake

• A Tale of Two Countries. "Two superpowers, one behaving pathetically." The contrast between China and the U.S. is stark. 
• Comrade Trump. The unintended consequences of Trump's policies are not what he intended. 
• Certain Nap Patterns in Older Adults Could Be a Warning Sign, Study Find. "Taking a lot of daytime naps, especially in the morning, is associated with higher mortality rates for older adults, researchers in the US found. This "excessive" napping may signal underlying or developing health problems, they note, and could represent a trackable metric for early detection."
• The new iPhones have a problem turning back on after the battery runs out. If you have an iPhone 17, you should read this. 
• This pitching robot has been a ‘game changer’ for the Blue Jays and its inventors. It all started in a Toronto classroom (gift link). "Twenty-eight MLB teams and many more around the world lease the Trajekt Arc, a baseball training machine that recreates a pitcher’s delivery."
• This exotic particle could finally explain why matter has mass. "A newly spotted exotic particle state could finally expose how the universe gives matter its mass."
• Linus Inside a PDF. Really. Some people have too much time on their hands. 
• The MAHA-MAGA Breakup. "The political marriage brokered by RFK Jr. was doomed from the get-go. And Republicans may pay a steep electoral price in November."
• Where to get the 2026 Hugo finalists. Links to all of the 2026 Hugo Awards finalists. Most of the short fiction and some of the other categroies are free to read online. 
• Peptides, explained: Answers to your top questions. "Catching you up on the flood online information." Reiable information on the latest wellness buzz.
• More Surveillance Demands to Come?: Government Admits Bill C-22’s Lawful Access Provisions Could Be Expanded. Canadians should be aware of what the govrenment is doing here. 
• Galileo’s handwritten notes found in ancient astronomy text. "Discovery sheds new light on how famed astronomer came to lead a scientific revolution."
• The Slopaganda War. "The Iran war isn’t over yet, but on the online battlefield, Trump has lost decisively.."

Photo of the Week - April 26, 2026

I took this week's photo while walking along the new walkway along the lake on the east side of Frenchman's Bay. I just happened to notice the boats out on the lake and waited until one was passing behind the tree. Lucky timing. This was taken with my Pixel 10 Pro and adjusted slightly in Google Photos to bring out some detail in the trees.

Boats on the lake

Saturday Sounds - Tedeschi Trucks Band - Future Soul

This week's musical treat is Future Soul, the latest album from the Tedeschi Trucks Band. I've featured them several times here and will probably continue to do so if they keep putting out albums of this quality. It's a tighter, more focused production than 2022's I Am the Moon with velvety smooth sound that begs to be cranked loud. I have been trying to think of a favourite track or two, but I can't. I like them all. Enjoy. 

2026 Aurora Awards Finalists

The finalists for the 2026 Aurora Awards have been announced by the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFSSA). The awards are nominated and voted on by members of CFSSA. Winners will be announced during a ceremony to be streamed on YouTube on August 9.

These are the finalists for Best Novel.

The Bewitching, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Del Rey

Blight, Rachel A. Rosen, The BumblePuppy Press

Direct Descendant, Tanya Huff, DAW Books

The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine, Robert J. Sawyer, Audible Originals/Shadowpaw Press

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales, Heather Fawcett, Del Rey

A Shift of Time, Julie E. Czerneda, DAW Books

Written on the Dark, Guy Gavriel Kay, Viking Canada

2026 Hugo, Lodestar and Astounding Award Finalists

The finalists for the 2026 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards have been announced. The winners will be announced at LAcon V, the 84th World Science Fiction Convention over the last weekend in August. 

These are  the finalists for best novel.

• A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (Del Rey; Hodderscape)
• Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow; Gollancz)
• Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor UK; Orbit US)
• The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (Tor US; Tor UK)
• The Incandescent by Emily Tesh (Tor US; Orbit UK)
• The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson (Orbit US; Hodderscape)

I've not read any of them, though there are two or three that might end up on my iPad one of these days. I was glad to see "Automatic Noodle" by Annalee Newitz, which I have read, is a finalist for the Best Novella award.