Fancy Falls: Race Condition

In which I'm distracted by a show from 2014, and buy a domain too early

Here is my single resolution for 2026.

I will write six episodes of ‘Fancy Falls TV’ (title TBC) by the end of this year

Thanks to my new TV obsession Halt and Catch Fire, and I suppose my day job of software engineering, I can see my current brain state in coding terms.

Halt and Catch Fire is "an early computer command that sent a machine into a race condition, forcing all instructions to compete for superiority at once. Control of the computer could not be regained."

Source

I don’t think I’ve lost control,I’m just unable to force the outcome I’m most excited about. The title of this post is a term I was more familiar with, and fits the situation a little better.

A race condition or race hazard is the condition of an electronics, software, or other system where the system's substantive behavior is dependent on the sequence or timing of other uncontrollable events, leading to unexpected or inconsistent results. It becomes a bug when one or more of the possible behaviors is undesirable.

So basically, too many competing things in my life leading to outcomes that might not be exactly as hoped. You may now read the details below.

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The World of Fancy Falls

Make it Admin and It’ll Get Done! - Mon 4th

I’ve spent three hours tonight constructing a spreadsheet of research and gathering all the information I could into one place. Unfortunately it is not Fancy Falls plot, but Disneyland Paris holiday research. But it is proof that if I make a start, I stick at the tedious tasks for eventual reward!

So, get writing.

Philip Pullman on Writing - Tue 5th

Daemon Voices - On Stories and Storytelling

I restarted this last night and I’d forgotten how clear and insightful Phillip Pullman’s essays are. I don’t always agree fully, but they’re brilliant for clarifying my own thoughts. I’ll stick with this as my bedtime book as I try to focus on writing.

He made great points on Blake and the types of ‘vision’

Fourfold vision is a state of ecstatic or mystical bliss. Threefold vision arises naturally from…the place of poetic inspiration and dreams, ‘where Contrarieties are equally True’ (Blake, Milton). Twofold vision is seeing not only with the eye, but through it, seeing contexts, associations, emotional meanings, connections. Single vision is the literal, rational, dissociated, uninflected view of the world… But no symphony, no painting, no poem, no art at all was ever reasoned into existence, and I knew from my youth that art of some kind was going to be the preoccupation of my life. Single vision would not do.

and on fantasy as a genre…

This, finally, is what I think the value of fantasy is: that it’s a great vehicle when it serves the purposes of realism, and a lot of old cobblers when it doesn’t.

Substack is My New Diary - Thu 7th

I’ve realised this week that having a space to gather my thoughts and process for Fancy Falls is very helpful, and would in years gone by have been a personal diary for no-one but me.

It’s helped me feel better about very stagnant post views and subscribers - having anyone engaging with these thoughts is lovely, particularly those found online friends who are at least a little invested in what I’m up to.

So that’s a healthy attitude! Phew!

FancyFalls.com - Fri 8th

I was genuinely updating writing notes last night, and considering character mood boards (as a useful shareable thing for Substack to let people in to the characters) and then ended up buying a new domain to set up a website. It’s probably a little early, but the mood took me, and having somewhere to tinker and update is hopefully not too much of a distraction.

More Pullman - Sat 9th

I’m getting inspired every night as I fall asleep at the moment.

It’s a question of finding the grain of your own talent and going with it, not against it. You have to observe yourself closely and honestly, and see what you’re good at, and what you enjoy, and what you can do with the imagination you have.

I already did that by moving away from stand up, the tricks and styles to get general audiences on board are just not my interest. I could never write material to play to the weekend crowd, as it doesn’t interest me.

The Televigion Wife has often said I don’t need to write a sitcom...or have to be funny. Fancy Falls might be more narrative based with comedy at its core. But the only way I’ll know is to start writing it.

Sloth - Sun 10th

That’s my sin this evening. I had almost three hours to myself and I ate ice cream mochi, liquorice and peanuts to two and a most¹ episodes of Halt and Catch Fire - it’s great, but occasionally feels like it is stuck in the formats and expectations of prestige TV. But then again, it wasn’t built for a bingeing, and was probably doing this stuff before/alongside everything I’m thinking of.

For the first few endless ad breaks I resorted to social media, and by the mid of my evening I was staring longingly at my Lego Notebook, willing myself to get up and fill in more of my character mood boards. But I’m tired. A big weekend. But in the end, I either want to do the work to make something I care about, or I don’t. I wish I’d decide either way.

My Head is a Mess - Mon 11th

Yep, just that. Full of Open Studios (which went very well), The Televigion Wife’s birthday, upcoming Gala for The Televigion Daughter, future holiday booking, unbuilt bookcases, ceilings that need to be sanded, passport renewals, jury citations and so much more. Some of which are the TV shows I’m currently loving and being distracted by.

Fancy Falls is in there too, just tucked away and occasionally waving frantically.

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Televigion Update

Rooster Ep9 Ludlow’s Fourth Hottest Professor (HBO Max) - Tue 5th

It feels more emotionally real than Shrinking, which has too magical a view of trauma and therapy. And Katie’s decision at the end is motivated, if not squirm inducing.

When it ends next week, I’ve suggested we replace it with Ted Lasso, which I believe the Televigion Wife has never seen, and which I left in season 2 when we got rid of Apple TV at some point? Given it has a season 4 incoming, it feels like a good point to jump in.

Gary (Disney+) - Wed 6th

A surprise episode of The Bear!

Reading reviews afterwards, I found out this is a story we’ve heard in passing a few times, expanded out over a meandering hour. It was a little indulgent, but well played. And heartbreaking in the final scenes, showing how broken Mikey actually is. And how lost Richie is with how to deal with it.

Daredevil Born Again S2 Ep8 The Southern Cross (Disney+) - Thu 7th

I had a decision to make as the Televigion Wife, Daughter and Bonus Mum all left for a swimming lesson - what should I watch? The show I’m more excited about, Widow’s Bay, or the finale of a show I’ve enjoyed but not loved in recent episodes…

I made exactly the right choice, it was a blistering finale, playing out roughly as expected, but in a satisfying way rather than feeling predictable. And full of real consequences, for everyone. I’ve enjoyed this renewal for Daredevil, so glad to see Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio back in the roles they were born to play.

Also, Widow’s Bay will definitely be better later and alone when everyone has gone to bed...

Widow’s Bay Ep3: The Inaugural Swim (AppleTV) - Thu 7th

Once again, five minutes in, and three genuine out loud laughs². This show is amazing.

Halt and Catch Fire S1 Ep1 (ITVX) - Fri 8th

Thanks to a recommendation through her excellent review of Widow’s Bay, Beth Lisogorsky on Substack put me on to a show I had often heard the name of and never understood.

Horror-Comedy-Life is my Jam These Days

The show started in 2014, ran for four seaons and is about the birth of the PC and the rise of the internet. It’s full of confidence from episode 1. Intriguing and smart, with interesting dimensions to every character. I’ve got four seasons to watch, all on ITVX!

And I’ll read this look back review from it hitting streaming in 2021 when I’m done, or these ones from when it ended in 2017.

SNL UK S1 Ep7 Hannah Waddingham (Sky One) - Sat 9th

Probably a less interesting host overall, certainly talented in the specific arenas of accents, singing and being an attractive older woman. The show was not to my taste this week, but I am not the general audience³. I’ll take some joy from a Peter Serafinowicz cameo⁴, Triplets Birthday⁵, and a stronger Weekend Update overall.

• Cold Open - A nice way to avoid direct discussion of the election results with a time travel sketch. Was that Peter Serafinowicz as Nigel Farage? They’re really copying the “get big names to do guest spots” thing too? It was fun, but needed an ending. And I expected more anti-Reform bite from this lot (compared to how weak the SNL US satire is)

• Monologue - What was the shoe thing?? And I assumed there was going to be a bit related to her wide-open top too, but I guess she just wanted to show herself off? The monologue is playing as very written, with not much personality. From what I remember she’s good in Ted Lasso, playing exactly her type (it seems). But a good actor does not necessarily make a good host. Also, being able to do accents doesn’t make a character does it?

• Sunburnt Lawyers - Erm.... Sure... Why? I mean, they even said it in the voiceover. It’s really that simple. It’s not like there’s a million legal dramas? Police procedurals maybe? Needed to get weirder.

• Year 11 Teachers End of Year Musical - Seeing Annabel playing an actual character is good. There’s no evolution of the idea. And it’s lazy musical comedy.

• Speed Awareness Course - Again I say, being able to do accents doesn’t make a character does it? Northern stereotypes a go-go, eh? Dull.

• Triplets Birthday - There’s some nice and weird lines in it, but I didn’t laugh out loud. It’s hard to know if that’s a good Daniel Day Lewis impression, because who would know?

• Weekend Update - They’re going more all in on the election now, this is better. Shy Reform Voter was fun. Too many jokes just end in an insult and an over the top laugh from the audience though. Scrimpch was tedious, but that’s probably my personal dislike of Jack Shep. Rhino Vs Attenborough was great.

• Foot Locker - Love Al Nash as The (low-key) Phantom. It’s a little predictable of course.

Ok, where’s my extra weird sketch, really need it tonight, it’s been a bit bland so far…

• Wine Bar - More singing...about a well-worn observation. I mean, play to the host’s strengths but this is getting boring. Ok, Celeste’s drunk acting and breaking the fourth wall has saved it. A bit.

Halt and Catch Fire S1 (ITVX) - Sun 10th

After a disappointing SNL UK, I had ten minutes left on episode 2. I’m glad they undercut Joe’s big speech and didn’t leave it as a predictable finale - it’s a sign they know about nuance of character and TV tropes, even as they built Joe up as a mystery to be revealed later.

And I’m enjoying it so much I watched the first ten minutes of episode 3 until the ads kicked in on ITVX, despite knowing I’d be up around 7am for The Televigion Daughter’s singing. A sure sign of a new obsession.

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Footnotes

1. This phrasing really tickled me, I hope you like it too.

2. If you’re interested, the intro video in the museum, the headless statue and the Mayor’s description of the inaugural swim.

3. In fact, I’m an overinvested comedy snob.

4. Though I wanted more from the sketch.

5. Though I wanted more from the sketch.