A show on Paramount Plus about Parsons, his involvement with Aleister Crowley, O.T.O., and Cal Tech.
Never thought I'd see Thelema in a series like this! Really cool stuff!
It's too bad this ended after only two seasons. I believe the last scene of Season Two was of L. Ron Hubbard coming to the door. And perhaps that explains the cancellation.
I really enjoyed this a lot-and was looking forward to where it could have gone.
@kidneyhawk We just subscribed to Paramount +, so we only just started watching this, but from what little I've seen, I really like it.
Love the performances of Jack Raynor and Rupert Friend after the first episode! It is good to see Aleister Crowley, and his Law of Thelema, broadcast so wide and far, with such remarkable writing and performers.
from what little I've seen, I really like it.
It is VERY well done, IMO. You will love every episode going forward, I would imagine. It's just sad to see the series end before telling the "whole story."
A short, but interesting, little article from 2018:
Interesting, I think, as it mentions expectation of disapproval-and possible opposition-from The Church of Scientology.
I have not dug about extensively to look into the why of its cancellation but what I HAVE found sounds less than forthcoming. Most sites addressing the end of the series have this quote:
“The series brought new meaning to the idea that the truth is stranger than fiction and we are incredibly thankful to the creative team of Mark Heyman, David DiGilio, Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker for their vision, as well as the fantastic cast for bringing the bizarre story of Jack Parsons to life,” said Julie McNamara, exec vp originals at CBS All Access.
That's it.
Well, if Scientology could beat the IRS then I suppose "CBS All Access" would be small potatoes.
Does anyone here remember Mojo Nixon's "Elvis is Everywhere?"
That's the classic tune where Mojo informs us that EVERYONE has a little Elvis in them...except for the "Evil Anti-Elvis."
"Evil Anti-Elvis" is declared to be Michael J. Fox (with a tip of the hat to Joan Rivers).
It's a fun song.
But Mojo was wrong.
Even Michael J. Fox has a little Elvis in him.
The "Evil Anti-Elvis" is...
...L. Ron Hubbard.
There is NO Elvis in L. Ron Hubbard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpTUhN__FRk&list=PLSoYU4Rz9Q6w_YOpMlfEB7jAAUHR-hec7&index=153
OMG, that was so much worse even than one would have imagined. Truly, as you say, totally devoid of Elvis.
It is startling that musical backing can actually sound like Scientology, even more so than the stunningly bad vocals. So peppy, so upbeat, so cheerful, so empty.
Thank you for posting that startling piece of very bad art. Makes Boyd Rice look like the amateur hack that he is.
OMG, that was so much worse even than one would have imagined. Truly, as you say, totally devoid of Elvis.
I almost didn't post it for this very reason. I believe the operative word here is "cringe." It is worse than the most mainstream of "Contemporary Christian" Praise Music from the 80's-which could also be aptly described in your words:
So peppy, so upbeat, so cheerful, so empty.
But this little song is quite relevant to the thread, I think. Strange Angel ends with a cocky maverick arriving on the scene and meeting Jack Parsons for the first time. I am reminded of the final scene in the film ENGLAND IS MINE where one Steven Morrissey knocks at the door of Johnny Marr. These are "fateful meetings." Only they end quite differently.
Spoiler warning. This is the final scene of Strange Angel-and (I would suspect-but have no proof for my suspicion) the moment where a certain tax-deductible organization MAY have made displeasure known to certain individuals at a TV network).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Fem_yh26g
Strange Angel ends with a cocky maverick arriving on the scene and meeting Jack Parsons for the first time.
What a delightful place/point to end the public release of the true story that the Church of S would do anything to suppress. Pay no attention to that lawyer behind the curtain, making legal threats.
What a delightful place/point to end the public release of the true story that the Church of S would do anything to suppress
I brought up the film ENGLAND IS MINE because the ending has so much of the same tenor of this scene-and it ends the film very well. For those of us who know a bit about Mr. Parsons, this sudden end to the series can be viewed in a similar fashion.
BUT-!
It is more than obvious that this is NOT where the series was supposed to end. Strange Angel should have taken us to end of Jack's life...and even had a final episode where we behold his work and influence in our modern world.
Isn't it funny (and not in a "ha-ha" way) that the insipid offerings of Scientology command so much temporal power as to (presumably) squelch the daring and artful content of Strange Angel? But this WAS the Vision of L. Ron...he saw that religion was the game to get ahead-and he didn't want to be a hack writer forever. He knew how to manipulate, control, extort and advance. But if his organization remains in fear of the truth being exposed, they remain cracked to pieces at the foundation.
Not that this will trouble them. Scientology seems like the "religious" equivalent of politics. Disingenuous, conniving, cunning, devoid of heart. Ignant hit it with the word "empty."
I don't mean to derail Alesterion's original post too much (but Hubbard IS a big part of the tale that was not allowed to be totally told). The series is really great (and the Crowley scenes are also wonderful).
But if his organization remains in fear of the truth being exposed, they remain cracked to pieces at the foundation.
We don't know the reason Angel got terminated, we're just ruminating there. but I distinctly, f fuzzily, in 2 or 3 instances, that the church did move in to squash/deny the Elron-OTO connection. That was a long time ago, so yeah their foundation is cracked.
Ignant hit it with the word "empty."
Hhow can something filled with Shinola be "empty?"
The "Evil Anti-Elvis" is...
...L. Ron Hubbard.
There is NO Elvis in L. Ron Hubbard.
For a moment, I thought that link was going to go to some music by Scientology band The Jive Aces
Hhow can something filled with Shinola be "empty?"
Well, Zen Master, Yunmen, was once asked "What is the Buddha?"
He replied:
"A dried shit-stick."
I think that might cover both bases.
Strange Angel is not listed in his Filmography for Television, on the wikipedia page about the American actor, comedian and impressionist, Jim Meskimen, or James Ross Meskimen.
"He [= James Ross Meskimen] is a Scientologist."
( Source: James Meskimen From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - - - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Meskimen )
But at "Jim Meskimen at IMDb", Strange Angel season 2, episode 7[,] Aeon, is there listed in his Filmography for Television.
( Source:Jim Meskimen - - - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002350/ )
"Since the founding of the Church of Scientology in 1954 by L. Ron Hubbard, the relationship between Scientology and psychiatry has been dominated by strong opposition by the organization against the medical specialty of psychiatry and of psychology with themes relating to this opposition occurring repeatedly throughout Scientology literature and doctrine."
( Source: Scientology and psychiatry From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - - - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_psychiatry )
In the final episode of Strange Angel, Jack Parsons needs to get a psychiatric evaluation, as a condition to remain a part of the JPL, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which he was one of the principal founders of. Jim Meskimen is the actor playing "Dr. Grisby", the military psychiatrist evaluating Jack Parsons.
TELEVISION STRANGE ANGEL Guest Star CBS
( Source: actors access JIM MESKIMEN - SAG-AFTRA - - - https://resumes.actorsaccess.com//one_page_resume.cfm?custom_link=jimmeskimen )
"Strange Angel on CBS All Access: Cancelled or Renewed for Season Three? [...] What do you think? Should the Strange Angel TV show have been renewed for a third season? Are you sorry that CBS All Access cancelled this TV series, instead? [...] [First of] 8 COMMENTS[:] [...]"
"Jim Meskimen June 30, 2019 9:47 pm[:] I think it should definitely be cancelled."
( source: "TV Series Finale Cancelled & Renewed TV Shows" - - - https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/strange-angel-cbs-all-access-cancelled-renewed-season-three/ )