The Fortunate Son

Venus is, at it’s peak, 5 times brighter than any fixed star in heaven. During it’s Solar transit it’s just a big black spot which some Christians take as a metaphor.

Me? It’s a big ball of hot gas with a rocky core that can be described as ‘hellish’ if you believe in metaphors which I don’t.

But I do like fiction. It feeds the wolf I need.

Among my recent addictions is Lucifer, pretty as an angel and unlike Yondu he actually is one.

But not that kind.

The core conceit is that he’s tired of reigning and serving and chooses a different path, a fourth one (well, you can sit under a fig tree and let people come to you, that’s also a path). He’s a cocky asshole who’s convinced he’s invulnerable despite all evidence to the contrary, humanity is infecting him and instead of inflicting punishment he seems to be more and more interested in dispensing justice.

Kind of a reverse Milgram.

The details hardly matter because unless you are captured by the concept it’s really just another rather dull police procedural and badly acted to boot. What I am attracted to about it is the theme of self discovery through therapy which is very Sopranos like that way. Lucifer’s therapist is betraying him on levels he barely comprehends. Meanwhile he’s openly abusive of what should be a professional relationship.

Oh, did I mention I’m still working on my issues? Dispensing with a course of treatment ought not feel like a breakup, yet it does. My fiance left me over 15 years ago and I was happy, happy I tell you, that she dumped me; but the alternate future remains like a haunting phantom limb to this day.

This week’s big revelation is that Lucifer, who is convinced that Jesus is God’s favorite son, is probably entirely wrong in that perception. He leads a charmed life-

Well, my life is like that. I’m genuinely sympathetic if yours isn’t but I’m not going to indulge in a pissing contest about what sucks more. I think a hangnail is a hardship. You win.

But I should be more grateful and one of the things I will miss is that’s the exercise we used to end each session.