"All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
It comes from the first of thirteen chapters, ranging from instructions on paying for warfare to the moral implications and responsibility of going to war.
Needless to say, though this may be often referenced in MBA programs and television shows (Tony Soprano commented that he really was getting some nice advice from it in an episode of "The Sopranos"), I find it to be completely frustrating when applied in this way, as Bruno is encouraging Sam to remember that everything could be a threat, everyone could be an enemy, and it's that mindset that's probably contributed to the current state of affairs, which I've taken to calling "a bucket of melted democracy." Everything's still there, but not in any recognizable form.
Anyhow, on to the meat of the episode.
As the title cleverly suggests, CJ goes dress shopping with her niece, Hogan, and tries on... you guessed it- a Black Vera Wang:
First of all, buy that dress, CJ- you look great- something I felt better typing until I remembered that's what the guy who's trying to kill her said in his last email to her. Yucky.
It's worth noting that Hogan, is clearly an early version of a Host in WESTWORLD...
Yup, it's Evan Rachel Wood.
Anyhow, on to the meat of the episode.
As the title cleverly suggests, CJ goes dress shopping with her niece, Hogan, and tries on... you guessed it- a Black Vera Wang:
First of all, buy that dress, CJ- you look great- something I felt better typing until I remembered that's what the guy who's trying to kill her said in his last email to her. Yucky.
It's worth noting that Hogan, is clearly an early version of a Host in WESTWORLD...
Yup, it's Evan Rachel Wood.
Second of all, I really appreciate the lengths to which they went to really get that product placement in there...
OOOOOHHHH... so that's a rack of Vera Wang dresses?
Yeah. It's a Black Vera Wang. Thanks, Sherri Wexler.
So, that plotline is still in motion. Newly set into motion is the rather ominous notion of the Qumari Defense Minister ordering an attack on the Golden Gate Bridge. He was supposed to be helping the US with intelligence from the middle east, so apparently, he's also read The Art of War.
Toby manhandles some network executives, but I have a question- he had four people in the meeting, and I want to know where the fourth network news president works. NBC, ABC, CBS and who? They didn't read The Art of War, because they made the planning for their attack far too obvious.
Some intern, who may or may not be the first example of putting a Millennial character on television, got some moose meat from Donna, who got it from Josh, who got it from the Finnish Office of Protocol, and put it on eBay. Though it turns into a nice lesson on the dwindling intern corps, in the end, it's just an opportunity to talk about moose meat.
I thought this must be a joke, but then I visited a site maintained by Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Department for Communications. There I found an article entitled "Close Encounters with the Mighty Moose"
Notice the chilling headline:
Um, excuse me?
That's right, the Finnish people are so crazy to eat Moose (Meese?), that there are petting zoos where you can pet, feed, and then eat a moose. I'm all about the circle of life, but this makes "The Hunger Games" look like a May Day carnival.
Or, maybe, they're just training the Finnish people in The Art of War, to appear friendly before attacking the Moose. It's all about deception, after all.
What's Next? S3e20-We Killed Yamamoto
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