So I’m gonna do this differently and make a list of what I’ve watched and read. Except I’m going to break it into 3 categories. YES. Mid. And Just No. I was talking to my friends about shows and how most things are Mid. Like they are just fine entertainment to pass the time. It’s what TV is for. The idea that everything should be this high-end prestige production is strange to me. I’m also taking my time with the shows I really enjoy. I’m not binge-watching stuff I love because I want to savor it. There are some exceptions, of course.
YES.
Stuff I have absolutely really really enjoyed. In no particular order except the very first thing.
- Bust Down (Peacock) – this is about 4 friends that work low-level jobs in a casino in St. Louis. It’s 6 episodes and it is HELLA BLACK and I absolutely love it. I think I’m on my third or fourth viewing. i paid the five for Peacock just to watch it and it is worth all the pennies.
- Peacemaker (HBO) – absurd and violent and fanstic. James Gunn can give you superhero content. Very happy it got renewed for S2 but they better not change that theme song.
- Party of Two (Jasmine Guillory) – this is another in her set of The Wedding Date books but it’s actually the best of the 5 that I’ve read. (I’ll get to six eventually.) Just her standard straight up interracial romance.
- Billions – S1 (Showtime) – me and Brownlee are watching this when the mood strikes. Holy balls S1 is amazing. The problem I have with shows like this is that the “good guys” are so unlikeable you want the criminals to get away scott free.
- Witcher – S2 (Netflix) – I mean Henry Cavill. You’re not new here.
- Killing Eve – S1 & S2 (AMC? BBC America? I watch on HULU) – like I said I like the characters that you are supposed to hate. Don Draper, Rick Sanchez, Tyler Durden (Not Walter White). I am borderline obsessed with the contract killer Villanelle. She is a perfect psychopath and Eve ain’t too far behind her.
- Free Guy (2021) – Ryan Reynolds is a Non Playable Character in a video game and Jodie Comer (Villanelle) is trying to get him to help her save the game. It’s a perfect escape from this <gestures broadly>
- Love Is Blind – S2 (Netflix) – I LOVE MESS
Mid
- The Righteous Gemstones – S2 (HBO)
- Matrix Ressurections (2021)
- The Morning Show – S2 (Apple+)
- Too Hot To Handle – S3 (Netflix)
- Encanto (2021) – I still don’t see if for Lin-Manuel
- Filthy Animals – Brandon Taylor – I love Brandon’s writing but his writing is depressing. And this was a short story collection of loosely connected people except it’s just like his other book Real Life.
- Good On Paper (2021)
- Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021) – exactly more of the same from Hitman’s Bodyguard. If they made 10 of these I’d watch all 10.
- The Atmospherians – Alex McElroy – This is a “alternate reality” where men are a danger to society and this girl and her friend start a cult to correct it. It gives me early Chuck Palahunik vibes.
- Tinder Swindler (Netflix) – scams abound. what memes may come.
- Inventing Anna (Netflix) – like. Why was it so many episodes? Why did I stay up so late watching all of them?
- The It Crowd (Netflix / Channel 4) – okay so this is an old British comedy (2006) that’s like 4 seasons and maybe 6 episodes a season and it is…you just have to know British comedy? It’s completely absurd and at first I was like “this is terrible” but it’s not. It’s just British comedy. Then I proceeded to shove the whole thing down my throat.
- The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You – Maurice Carlos Ruffin – A short story collection from various lives in various times in New Orleans. Mostly tragic cause, Black lives in New Orleans. Some were too short though.
- Space Force – S2 (Netflix)
- Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021) – a cute cautionary tale about cell phone dependency
- Turning Red (2022) – it is surprisingly not about periods.
- Marry Me (2021) – because I got Peacock I figured I’d watch Rom-Com Queen Jennifer Lopez in all her glory. This movie is exactly 100% what you expect.
- Young, Famous, and African – S1 (Netflix). This is like South African Laguna Beach. Look, if Netflix makes a reality series, I’m gonna watch it. Also “young” is doing some heavy lifting in this title.
- Grand Crew – S1 (NBC) – I really, really, really hope this gets and S2.
- Fit, Tames, and Sated – Rebekah Washington. A trilogy of romance novellas. Perfect for a beach weekend. (Also BDSM, so tread lightly).
Just No
- Finlay Donavan Is Killing It – Elle Casamano. This is one of the books I think influencers just get paid to promote and didn’t read. Finlay is too plucky to be likeable. I quit 100 pages in.
- Our Flag Means Death – S1E1 (HBO) – On paper this should be a show I love. But I didn’t like E1. Twitter people I trust say it is funny so I might give it another go. Maybe.
- Human Resources – S1E1 (Netflix) – It literally says in the first episode they pitched it as Big Mouth meets The Office. And again I love all the people involved but E1 did not do it for me.
I’m still actively watching the following:
- Killing Eve – S3
- Resident Alien – S2 (Syfy)
- The Dropout (Hulu) – yes I fully support the crime → podcast → documentary → scripted show pipeline
- Atlanta – S3 (FX) – I am not ready to discuss at this time
- Bridgerton – S2 (Netflix) – slow going because no Duke. But yay for more brown people this season.
- Upload – S2 (Prime) – I mean I absolutely love this show. I wish Amazon did better promotion for their original series but this one is dystopia lite.
- Winning Time (HBO) – it is quirky and looks like an old polaroid the whole time. I enjoy it but I don’t know if this show is good enough to be the thing that ended the WIll Ferrel / Adam McKay dynasty. And 10 episodes seems like a bunch to get to how the Lakers got good. We’re on E4 and they haven’t played a single game. I get it but we’re supposed to get all the way to Magic announcing he has HIV so they have some decades to cover.
- Moon Knight – S1 (Disney+) – Disney was like “you know what Bre would like? Oscar Isaac as a superhero.” E1 just premiered and yes give me people who can’t control their alter ego. GIVE ME ANCIENT EGYPT. GIVE ME LONDON!!!!!!!
And finally my Watchlist:
- Watchout for the Big Grrrls (Prime Video) – I can not wait to watch Lizzo do things on TV but I have to get through a show or two first. Maybe.
- American Auto – S1 (NBC) – I accidentally watched an episode before Grand Crew and it is funny.
- Dollface – S2 (Hulu) – I loved S1. Truly.
WHEW! Don’t give me another thing to watch. But I’ll talk to you about any of these things.
Best thing on the internet this week:
Definitely agree with the idea that every show should be a high-end prestige production is strange – will add every book too. People out there wanting every book they read to be high caliber mind blowing. Stop it
😂 @ the bit about Atlanta. Whew. I still not ready.