Ronen Landa (Paul T. Goldman)

How do you write the score to someone else's self-mythology? That's the challenge this week's guest, composer Ronen Landa, faced for one of the year's most idiosyncratic, difficult-to-describe shows, Peacock's Paul T. Goldman. A strange mix of documentary comedy and wish fulfillment, the show follows the titular man, a nebbishy middle-aged guy who turned his hellish marriage to his second ex-wife into a grand quest for justice in the form of a bestselling self-published novel (and subsequent script adaptation).   These, with the help of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm director Jason Woliner, take the form of compellingly straight-laced reenactments of Paul's life as he saw them, with the man playing himself, surrounded by professional actors at once bewildered and fascinated by his presence.   It's a wild, weird mix of true-crime and true-crime satire, a needle that Landa was very careful to thread. In fact, he constructed his score much like a concept album, bringing in an intimate ensemble with strings and piano to record a lend Paul's own search for truth -- as blinkered as it may or may not be -- a sense of grand, personal tragedy. Then there's its ominous main title theme, with harsh, lurching low piano chords surrounded by mysterious strings and building brass.   Together, Landa and I speak about building the score for Paul T. Goldman without seeing much of the finished product, folding the theme on top of that, and embracing the enigma of its strange, compelling central figure. And Ronen also talks us through two of the show's biggest cues, including its mysterious title theme. Plus, we end up chatting about his own upcoming musical dip into the world of Star Trek.   You can find Ronen Landa at his official website.   Paul T. Goldman is currently streaming on Peacock. You can also listen to the score on your preferred music streaming service courtesy of Lionsgate Entertainment.