Television
Severance – S2E2 (AppleTV+ – Rewatch)
First off… what do we think of Helena’s bodyguard (?), Mr. Drummond? He feels comforting, which is what a bodyguard should be for the person they are guarding. Mr. Drummond is also quite intimidating, which is also what a bodyguard should be.
What do we think his “frolic” tattoo means? I assume it is something in the vein of showing his loyalty to the company based on the “frolic-a-holic” poster in the new breakroom. I hope we get to see a Lumen-inspired frolic this year. I imagine it will be as unsettling as the May Queen Dance at the end of Midsommar, and I cannot wait.
What do we think about MIlkshake’s motorcycle? (I’m only calling Milchick “Milkshake” from now on. It is a nickname that was given to him, and I like it, so it is permanent. I hope to see him drinking a milkshake at one point this season. Pistachio, because I relate the color green to him.)
I like it, and in my notes, I have been keeping track of any license plates we see. Milkshake’s motorcycle reads LFS 159.
I wrote down a license plate from S1E9, but didn’t write down who it belongs to. I’m 99% sure it’s Mark S., but here it is: HDR 559.
I wonder if the “59” is relative to their department in the company. We shall see.
Some other things to note:
- Balloons mean something more than just celebration, I think.
- I am normally against new opening credits when it’s a new season, but these work. The song stayed the same, and the images are interesting and very similar to season one, so I am happy.
- “Lenora Lake Apartments” – so far, every neighborhood or apartment building we’ve seen the name of has been named after a former Lumen CEO.
- Mark S.’s employee code: 08-927
- 5X was the former location of Bob Balaban’s character, he obviously moved to where the location we’re watching is. As he was leaving after getting let go, he said that he “lost a deposit on an apartment in Grand Rapids” or something similar. That leads me to believe that PE (the ‘state’ where the show takes place) might just be a new US state, and we’re not in an alternative universe. There is also the possibility that they are living in a small insular society not connected to the country at all. We shall see.
- The license plates also read “remedium hominibus,” which is Latin for “cure for men.” Interpret that however you wish.
The Traitors – S3E5 (Peacock)
Bob Harper with the Bambis! YES
The fashion is my number one reason for watching this show. Alan Cumming’s Statue of Liberty suit is impeccable. The headdress is a perfect final touch.
I am unusual in this opinion, I think: I prefer the challenges to the drama.
OMG Danielle is being so obvious in this challenge. She annoys me, Boston Rob’s “better than everyone else” attitude is annoying the piss out of me. The only Traitor I like is Carolyn, and from the get-go, I’ve been rooting on her.
I’m also team Gabby and team Bob Harper. And Derrick is growing on me. He seems pretty shrewd.
I am mostly disappointed in this season, though. I remember past seasons, being excited about what was happening. This season, I am simply mad.
A friend suggested watching UK Traitors, so I might do that next.
Search Party – rewatch (MAX)
Do I say this every week?
If there was one show or movie I could forget everything about and watch with a completely fresh brain that remembered nothing about it at all… just like I did the first time, it would be this one.
You have no idea what will happen from one season to the next, one episode to the next. Hell, one moment to the next. And the guest star surprises?!!
Each season is a different genre. Not like announced or obvious or anything, just the vibes of the season are completely different than the one before it. One season is a courtroom drama, one’s a cult story, one’s a missing persons story, one’s a psychological thriller. At the beginning of each one, you’re like, “How is this gonna work? how is this gonna translate to these characters I love to hate or hate to love?”
And it does. And it’s laugh-out-loud funny every single time. This show is audacious and over the top and the characters are all people I would not want to be friends with. Except I know I would because I can see myself in them, and it really makes me uncomfortable.
But in a good way.
I can’t explain it.
And the FASHION?! I painted one of my “hard gang” Snoopy’s jackets to look like Elliot’s raincoat in one of the episodes. It’s all impeccable. The costumer on this show has such a clear vision of who these people are and I love it.
This is “Elliott Snoopy” AKA Detective Snoopy.
The Simpsons (Disney +)
I don’t think we watched this week?!
SNL – Timothee Chalamet (Peacock)
He’s a host that’s so good he should be a cast member.
Pop Culture Jeopardy (Amazon Prime)
This was a fun week of solid teams and solid shows.
I want to be on this show quite badly I think.
I’d have to get my teeth fixed first, though. Any dentists out there wanna do an exchange of goods? New website for new teeth? Yes?!
Rank Room (Dropout TV)
Katie Marovitch is incredible. This show is like reaching into my brain and putting a dream out on a table (and later into a briefcase).
Basically, Katie sits with three of her friends and posits a random question like, “what’s the sexiest way to die?”
Then they each make their case for two options, and then pick a top three, and then rank them.
It’s simple, it’s hysterical, it works and I wish there were more of them. I whipped through them all so fast.
Very Important People (Dropout TV)
This was probably my least favorite of the series so far. It just didn’t hit right for me.
Game Changer (Dropout TV)
This is a rewatch, and it’s neat because we know and love these people this time. Last time, they were strangers.
Australian Survivor Heroes Vs. Villains Episode 16 (YouTube)
woohoo, we are back! We are in such a good stretch of episodes here. It’s nice to be back at this, for sure.
Movies
Nickel Boys (Film Independent Membership)
This was based on a book with an important and moving story. The movie was shot entirely in first person and my brain wasn’t prepared for that and could not get past it. I would love to see a version of this shot differently. I’m serious – keep the actors, keep the quality of light and cinematography, just change the camera angle.
I applaud trying something new, but this something new didn’t work for my brain at all.
Then this happened:
Okay, so full disclosure, I finished rewatching Challengers, where I’d last paused it when I realized WHY the first person in this movie bothered me so much. It’s because Challengers does it so well: We get first-person shots of both fellas, Zendaya, and the fucking ball, y’all. And it’s so well done. When the camera lapses into first person, it is seamless and looks as it should.
Okay that’s it. Also, I didn’t want to list Challengers here again because I felt embarrassed to be watching it again. It truly is my favorite movie of the year, and I’m high-key pissed that it did not get a single Oscar nomination. ESPECIALLY SCORE.
Gladiator II (Paramount Plus)
Read my review here.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Paramount Plus)
This was a movie and it is kind of cute.
