My last job felt exactly like that.

Actually, that quiet intensity was the whole point. Worthington played Perseus as a man forced into a role he never wanted, so his flatness makes sense. The script gave him a clear arc from reluctant fisherman to a leader who accepts his fate. That final scene where he refuses godhood shows a quiet resolve, not boredom.

What about the finish line stuff? I've heard their paste is pretty solid for wet rides. That park tool one is good but can wash out.

Yeah, that jacket weave makes a huge difference. I had a cable get totally chewed up on some old steel last season, switched to one with a smoother cover and it was like night and day. I get why @the_margaret swears by Samson for rope, that same focus on the outer layer really matters. For me, it's been the Yale Cordage stuff that's held up, the sheath just doesn't seem to grab onto every sharp edge down there.

Watched a buddy try that on a stuck glow plug in his old Mercedes diesel. He got the torch out, heated the thing up, and it snapped clean off. Spent the next three days drilling out the remains. Sometimes the heat makes the metal brittle, especially on older stuff. I stick to the penetrant and patience method now.