Television
Severance – S2E5 (AppleTV+)
OKay here are my thoughts/theories/etc:
- What is an obligement session? Are they related to what the MDR folks are doing? Or is this another department? I assume it is a balancing of the tempers of some sort.
- Is Ms. Huang is aging faster than normal? I think there was a concentrated effort to make her look more pre-teen than childlike this episode. Her hairstyle changed, her voice deepened a bit (IMO), and I see the beginnings of acne.
- Or else I am just having flashbacks to how season 1 of Mad Men tricked me with Peggy
- ”I don’t give three dry fucks about his outtie.” – Dylan
- Earlier in the series, he said something about “wet fucks.” Love to see the variety.
- Irving “lived” from Quarter 870 to 882. How long is a quarter? Do we think they are normal business quarters?
- The Irving watermelon was a Black Beauty from Malaysia.
- Unsanctioned Erotic Entanglement
- Who is Irving calling?
- I want to think it’s Milchik or Cobell or someone.
- If Adam Scott doesn’t win an Emmy for this role, there is no justice.
Mythic Quest – S4E4 (AppleTV+)
This was one of the best episodes of this series. I do not know why this series doesn’t get more attention.
Oh, wait, I do.
Apple doesn’t know how to promote the amazingly high-quality television it consistently produces. It is the best bang for your buck when it comes to a streaming service.
I am a true student of Megan Ganz, the showrunner, so I was able to figure out a big part of the plot very near the beginning.
It didn’t make it any less enjoyable… and still surprised me.
I love a good murder mystery party on a TV show, y’all.
The Traitors – S3E8 (Peacock)
Rob is gone. Now we gotta get Danielle outta here. Let’s see if they can do it:
- Oh, in person murder. I forgot!
- plz protect Tom Sandoval
- and Gabby
- I agree, Sam, there is power in always listening
- Gabby is SAFE!
- SO IS TOM SANDOVAL.
- Also, it is funny that Carolyn is just a non-competitor. No one is worried about her leaving.
- Is Sam super smart, or is that just a normal detection?! Also, I would NOT recall what Alan was wearing. I have no visual memory!
- I’d rather Crishelle leave than Dylan.
- Good.
- I don’t know if I like the in-person banishment.
- I need Brennan Lee Mulligan to be on the next season, plz.
- YES, Chrishelle, Carolyn IS playing the best game,
- Dylan’s sweater is aces.
- Okay, I think Gabby is a good choice to recruit for Traitors, but maybe they need a dood.
- But I’d rather girl power it all.
- Sam is very observant and would make an excellent Traitor, though.
- I think Tom Sandoval (he’s a two name human for some reason. Some people just are.) would be a messy traitor.
- Danielle is one of my least favorite players of this game in any season. She annoys me.
- I would have so much fun at this challenge.
- Tom Sandoval is cracking me up. He is so into this. I think this might be where he wants to live, but he is too afraid of what people think of him to be this free and silly all the time. I’m definitely doing a Tom Sandoval deep dive after this season.
- So glad Ciara got the sheild.
- I honestly love this challenge. It’s teamwork but separate, and it works really well. It feels like an old-school Mole game.
- Again, I enjoy the games more than the drama here. That is why I liked The Mole. People weren’t voting each other out. It wasn’t as MEAN, you know?
- I’m here for the fashion and the games and Carolyn. And Tom Sandoval. And Gabby, I guess.
- Ooh, what happens if Danielle goes? Does Carolyn Trait by herself?!
- I think the voting takes too long, what do you think?
- Bah, Ciara is gone.
- My brain kind of zones out during the scheming.
The White Lotus S1&2 (Rewatch)
You know, I had to do this to get hype for season 3.
These are two of the most tightly written, insightful seasons of television I’ve ever watched. The work season 2 does on the cycle of masculinity is breathtaking.
I’m so looking forward to season 3 and will probably write a post for each episode the day after it comes out. If I remember, I’ll link it here, too.
I am most hype to see how the theme song morphs. I cried when I heard the season 2 version the first time. It was perfect.
I will want to be in the middle of a club when and when this theme song comes on. I bet the energy is insane.
High Potential (Hulu)
Good episode as always, but I have one question: When did we start teaching 9 & 3 instead of 10 & 2? Or did I learn driving wrong?
Abbott Elementary (Hulu)
Good episode. This is just a solid comedy that doesn’t let me down ever.
Pop Culture Jeopardy (Amazon Prime)
I took notes when I watched this week, but I can’t make much sense of them now. Maybe you can help:
- Game 1 = no nonsense
- Game 2 = The Gilded Age
- Game 3 = Harry Potter cats
- Colin!
- Krampus?
Dimension 20: Fantasy High (Dropout TV)
This is my first time watching folks play D&D. I’ve listened before, when I was in my Harmontown phase, cause they played a bit at the end of each episode.
I honestly didn’t know if I would like it, especially since I am unable to picture things in my head. That has not been an issue so far.
We’re three episodes in and my only complaint so far is how long each one is.
BLeeM is so fucking talented.
Very Important People (Dropout TV)
This week’s guest in this incredible interview show was Paul F. Tompkins, aka Mr. Peanutbutter from Bojack Horseman.
Where in the Eff is Sarah Cincinnati? (Dropout TV)
Y’all, this was SO FUN. I wish there was another season. Hosted by Rekha Shankar, this show is Dropout’s answer to Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, except Christine Madrano’s Sarah Cincinnati is not so much trying to teach viewers geography, but just figure out where the heck she is.
Official description from Dropout:
In this Carmen Sandiego send-up, everyone’s flakiest friend, Sarah Cincinnati, asks for geography trivia help as she travels the world, getting lost and buzzed.
We watched the whole thing. It has the bones of a game show. The trivia question answer options are my favorite part. They are truly some of the best-written options I’ve seen, in that they could each be plausible answers.
Heist Night (Dropout TV)
This was a quick, silly bop—Dropout’s version of Ocean’s 11. The episodes are short. I think we finished the whole series in less than half an hour. Dropout is good for that.
The Purge (Dropout TV)
See above, but their version of the Purge.
Sock or Hat (Dropout TV)
This is a three episode series where celebrities are challenged to answer the very difficult question, “Sock or Hat?”
Kingpin Katie (Dropout TV)
I have a lot to say about this, so it’s getting a post of its own. Read it?
SNL 50 (Peacock)
We watched the music doc, the concert and the anniversary special. There was too much to say here, so I gave it it’s own post. Read it here.
Movies
Problemista (MAX)
Read my review here.
Other
BAFTAs (BritBox)
Sometimes, the timing works out, and I get to watch the BAFTAs live. This year was one of those times.
In case you do not know the BAFTAs are like the British version of the Oscars and a good precursor to what might be happening at the Oscars proper in the coming weeks.
I love how much they show of the nominees. The US awards shows are so slickly produced that this seems like an afterthought.
There is such a weight placed on efficiency in America. I hate it.
Here are some awards reactions:
- I want Flow to win everything possible.
- I gotta see Kneecap. I HAVE TO.
- Original Screenplay: A Real Pain
- Adapted Screenplay: Conclave, bitches.
- “Thank you for letting us take your beautiful book and turn it into ‘Mean Girls’” This is the most accurate description of this movie, I’ve seen. The screenwriter gets it.
- This stage is incredible. I love how many physical items there are onstage – not just relying on screens.
- Animated feature: Wallace and Gromit
- The writing on the presenter bits is so good. US Awards shows, take note.
- Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin
- Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldana
- Another thing I am noticing: NO FUCKING COMMERCIALS.
- Look into MediCinema – is there something similar in the US?
- Best Score: The Brutalist – YECH
- Best Editing: Conclave WOOOOO
- What is Bird? What is The Outrun?
- Best British Film: Conclave
- Jeff Goldblum playing a grand piano and singing. Maybe not singing. I like that it looks like he is depending on the sheet music.
- It looks like Letitia Wright’s dress is inside out.
- Best Director: Brady Corbet The Brutalist – bullshit.
- Jacob Burns Film Center (Ron Howards hat – to research)
- Warwick Davis was 11 in Star Wars. Learning this made watching the BAFTAs worth it.
- I don’t like how much The Brutalist is winning
- Leading Actor: Adrien Brody
- There are so many strong performances in this category. Adrien’s was the weakest by a long shot for me.
- Pamela Anderson is glowing.
- I wonder how many AI-written speeches I am hearing.
- I hate Adrien Brody’s eyebrows.
- Nothing about that speech felt sincere.
- Leading Actress: Mikey Madison I am happy with this, but want Demi to win the Oscar
- Best Film: Conclave
