ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE

© by Gerald So | 7:30 AM

The Asian-led Netflix Original romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe premieres today on Netflix. Sasha Tran and Marcus Kim (stars and co-writers Ali Wong and Randall Park) were neighbors growing up in San Francisco. While Sasha's parents were workaholics who left her to herself much of the time, Marcus's warm parents treated her like a daughter.

Years later, Sasha returns to San Francisco as a celebrity chef and finds Marcus working with his father's HVAC business, concerned about his father years after losing his mother. While their personalities naturally complement each other, they have trouble recognizing they would be right to grow old together.

My life as an Asian American is dramatic and comedic enough I watch little Asian American drama or comedy in my free time. The trailer for Always Be My Maybe appealed to me because I had a similar dynamic with a college friend.

I'm pleased to say the movie is neither a case of Marcus carrying a torch unnoticed by Sasha, nor one of Sasha realizing the boy next door was Mr. Right all along. The characters are deeper than that and the resolution less fairy tale, more satisfying for it.

I saw the dramatic high point of #AlwaysBeMyMaybe developing, the moment the writers want the audience crying. Usually w/ that much notice, I don't cry, and yet I did. That is great writing expertly staged.

— Gerald So (@g_so) May 31, 2019

Sandra Seamans, RIP

© by Gerald So | 2:00 AM

Michael Bracken forwarded the sad news that Sandra Seamans, longtime member and 2010–12 president of the Short Mystery Fiction Society, died May 23, aged 68.

I had the pleasure of editing Sandra's 2008 story "Starlight" at Thrilling Detective and encouraged her succeeding me as SMFS president.

According to our friend Patti Abbott, the 2015 deaths of Sandra's husband and mother stopped her writing, but she remained committed to blogging short story market information until days of her death.

I think it would be a tribute to her if someone else were inspired to track markets as enthusiastically as she did. I also hope her example of SMFS service inspires new members to ensure the Society's future.

NCIS Los Angeles: "The Guardian", "False Flag"

© by Gerald So | 4:30 AM

The multi-part tenth season finale was of special interest to me as a JAG fan. NCIS: L.A. showrunner R. Scott Gemmill, a producer on JAG Seasons 2–4, was able to bring David James Elliott and Catherine Bell aboard for a Tom Clancy-esque plot in which Callen and Sam needed help from Harm and Mac.

It was also a chance to resolve the open ending of JAG's final episode. Part 1 found Harm as the executive officer of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Allegiance, where Callen and Sam had tracked multiple conspirators in a attack against Saudi Arabia and Israel. But Harm was still a captain, implying he retired for a time. In Part 2, Mac, Marine liaison to the Secretary of State, ruefully told Hetty Harm lost the coin toss and moved to San Diego with her. After five years, he itched to get back in the fight.

While I'm not entirely happy with these developments, they are true to the strong-willed characters Harm and Mac are. Overall it was one of the most satisfying series reunion updates.