The Tony Awards
Cole (Escola) won (for playing Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!), and that’s really what was important to me. I know I said it in last week’s post, too, but y’all, I’m so happy it deserves repeating.
The Bear
This is up next for Logan and me on the podcast. We’re re-watching seasons 1-3 in anticipation of the new season, which will force us to watch one episode per week. It’s gonna be a challenge, y’all. We’re getting started on June 25 with a recap of Seasons 1-3 over on Twitch. See you there? 2 pm EST-ish.
Resident Alien
We busted through this, y’all. It’s *that* good.
Wanna know what it’s about? Ask the experts, I’ll just tell you nonsense about how the show makes me feel and why I think it is important.
Here’s what the experts say:
”A crash-landed alien takes on the identity of a small-town Colorado doctor and slowly begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his secret mission on Earth.”
Now that the official stuff is out of the way, it’s time for me to babble about this fabulous show.
There is very little I don’t like about it, and I think the main reason for that is that there are very few characters I do not like. In fact, I can’t even think of a single character in Resident Alien that I am not fully invested in.
Alan Tudyk as Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle is on Earth to (*kind of a spoiler alert, but not really; they get to this part really fast*) destroy humankind. And, surprisingly, I ain’t mad at him for it. Watching him navigate the world feels familiar to me. His misunderstanding of social cues and tendency to take things at face value feels like the neurodivergent parts of my brain. He’s curious, but selfish, but the selfishness works for his character, because it comes from a place of non-understanding. His growth is relatable and natural. And I simply love his speech pattern and have found myself adopting it a bit.
Sara Tomko as Asta Twelvetrees is perfect for what she is – the tie that keeps Harry from killing all of humanity. Great character, but my fun fact about her is from a different television show: The Leftovers. This is probably my favorite show that I am unable to recommend to people. You simply have to look at it and decide for yourself that you are ready. It is also probably the show that changed my life in a positive way for no real discernible reason other than it made me look at everything differently, including myself. Sara Tomko is the first thing we see in episode 1 of season 2. I nearly lost my shit (in a good way) when Mickey casually told me, “Oh, she was in Season 2 of The Leftovers.” I knew it was her immediately. The brave woman who started off Season 2 in a way that showed that the creators and writers of this show truly trust their audience enough to take them on a real journey.
D’arcy Bloom (played by Alice Wetterlund) is the ultimate best friend. A former Olympic skier whose career was cut short by an injury. Now she’s a brash bartender at the local watering hole. When I say ultimate best friend, I don’t mean someone who loses themselves in order to be your friend. I mean someone strong of both head and heart who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I love her. I love how strong she is, but she can also be vulnerable. Two great tastes that taste great together.
Deputy Liv Baker (played by Elizabeth Bowen) is IT. I have fallen in love with her gentleness. I stayed for her ability to speak up for herself in the awkwardness of situations. Like so many of these characters, in the hands of a lesser writer, Liv would be a cliche: a small town deputy who doesn’t get taken seriously, but is quirky or whateve,r and the town loves her. Yes, the town loves her. Yes, Liv is quirky, but also, Liv is one of the most human characters I’ve seen on television since Community and Somebody, Somewhere.
Gracelyn Alwad Rinke plays Sahar, who is now one of my favorite female characters of all time. I love her, and I know so many of my friends who haven’t met her yet will also love her. She’s a classmate of Max and, honestly, she’s the smartest and most emotionally intelligent character in the entire show. She is a true friend, and the actress who plays her is incredibly talented. I want to be Sahar when I grow up, please.
Dan Twelvetrees is played by Gary Farmer. He’s Asta’s adopted dad and runs the diner in town. He’s the calmest presence on the show. His wisdom is undeniable, but he doles it out in such an approachable way that one can’t help but listen to him. I would linger over pie just to be in his aura.
Other characters I am not as wordy about:
- Judy Cooper, played by Jenna Lamia
- I adore Judy. A goofy girl who doesn’t give a fuck.
- Jenna Lamia plays her with such care, keeping her grounded and human, but still ridiculous as hell.
- Sheriff Mike Thompson played by Corey Reynolds
- He’s fine, but he’s a cop, and I already really like one of those in this show.
- He has a great way of using the English Language that I find to be quite delightful.
- Mayor Ben Hawthorne, played by Levi Fielher
- Again, fine, but there are so many other characters worth talking about.
- We have created a timeline where he is the direct descendant of Pierce Hawthorne of Greendale Community College Fame.
- Max Hawthorne played by Judah Prehn
- Now, I love Max; he’s a fantastic child foil for our main alien
- He’s the mayor’s son and the only human in town who can see Harry’s true form.
- BUT he pales in comparison to Sahar, whom I’ve already talked so much about.
This is simply a great show. It’s not too anything. The drama is not too dramatic. The comedy is not too ridiculous. The Sci-fi is digestible.
And most importantly to me… there’s not a huge focus on romance. Sure, there are relationships and flirtations, but they are 10% of the show, tops.
Normally, shows like this tend towards at least 50% romance, where… in the end, you’re 99% sure the two main characters are going to end up in a romantic relationship, because that’s the lazy way to deal with male and female characters.
I don’t fear that Asta and Harry will get together in the end of this show. We’re finished with Season 3 and will watch Season 4 in one big burst once it is complete. DOn’t spoil anything, y’all.
Oh, Linda Hamilton is in this too – she’s FANTASTIC and has aged incredibly.
Andor (Disney +)
Okay, so a few things:
- Apparently, we started this last year, watched two episodes, and promptly peaced out.
- I do not recall this.
- I thought Andor was the name of the planet, not a person.
- THE ROBOT IS NAMED B2EMO?! on the nose, much?
Okay, I slacked on writing my TV blog this week and have now finished Andor, and I have some thoughts so I’m just saying them here:
I wasn’t surprised about what happened to the Gormans.
Like, at all.
And now I’m stuck thinking about why.
Autism & Pattern-Spotting (aka My Brain’s Default Mode)
Andor is full of systems. Rules. Bureaucracy. Procedures.
But like… weaponized.
People say the Empire is evil. And yeah, it is. But mostly it’s efficient.
That’s the part that hit.
Not the blasters. Not the uniforms.
The paperwork.
If you’re autistic (hi), the idea that the system is designed exactly to screw you over? Not new.
I’ve seen this movie. I’ve read this PDF.
I’ve filled out this form 14 different ways and still gotten denied.
Missent messages and people not paying attention will be the death of many things (and people, too).
Ego (Not the Bad Kind)
So much of this show is about people giving stuff up.
Time. Sleep. Family. The ability to look in a mirror without wincing.
All of it. Gone. For the cause.
And you know what? That hits.
Because when you’re neurodivergent, you already spend most of your energy trying to be “palatable.”
Now imagine also trying to save the galaxy??
No thank you.
Actually… maybe? If I get a cool cloak and a dramatic monologue?
Anyway… ego. Sometimes it’s the only thing left.
Sometimes ego is survival. Ego isn’t always terrible (a thing I have to constantly remind myself).
Government (A Spreadsheet That Can Kill You)
This one’s easy.
The Empire isn’t a sci-fi monster.
It’s a call center.
It’s a waiting room.
It’s a “you missed the deadline by 3 minutes” email.
It’s the rules that only apply to you and never to them.
That’s what makes Andor work.
It’s not lasers and space magic.
It’s policies and memos.
And the scary part?
It all felt possible.
So yeah. I wasn’t surprised.
But maybe that says more about the world than it does about me.
Or maybe I’ve just been paying attention too long.
Movies
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (VOD Purchase)(worth it)
Y’all, this was FUN. I knew going in that it wasn’t a true biopic, but I didn’t know I was in for one of my favorite niche comedy genres: a fictional retelling of a real story. Most recently, I saw this unfold on stage in Oh, Mary! in spectacular fashion.
This movie had that same delightful, “OMG I can’t believe they are going there!” vibe. I am in love with what Daniel Radcliffe is doing with his post-wizard career. Maybe he’ll be a future Mary? One could only dream.
The cameos are just as ridiculous as the story.
Rogue One
It seemed fitting to follow up Andor with this, so we did! I remember seeing it in the theater and very much enjoying it. I had that same experience here. Except, I got way more out of this viewing and understood much more about what is going on.
One of the things I LOVE about the “Star Wars” television shows is that we get to spend time with the characters, the story, and it gives my brain time to process what is actually happening. Not just what the action is.
Then, when I go back to watch movies, I understand them on a whole new level. Good stuff.
