Confession:
I haven’t been feeling very writery this month, as you can tell by my lack of blog posts. I have a few half-written titles in my drafts, but I haven’t had it in me to finish them. I can’t really put my finger on why, but assume it is some mishmash of seasonal depression, world troubles, and a full brain.
If my brain gets too full with tasks, chores, worries, etc, there is no room for it to be creative enough to write. Heck, I just finished my yearly holiday tree, and it is December 23 (at the time of this writing). My brain doesn’t have space.
If I were rich, I could free up space by hiring a driver, hiring a cleaner, hiring a yard person, hiring someone to do the food prep and cleanup, and planning… You get the idea. I’d love to outsource all the things that take up space in my brain that aren’t creative. Why can’t AI do THOSE things for me?
Also, this is a full year of writing for work. And my work has increased, so… it makes sense that there’s not as much room in my brain for casual writing.
Also, it’s cold, so I’m spending a lot less time outside with my squirrel buds, except today. It is 50 whole degrees for some reason.
Stranger Things (Netflix)
This show has devolved into the following:
- Nostalgia
- Product placement
- Merch Machine
- Too long scenes for no reason
- Scenes that feel like they were created just for a Halloween Horror Nights house.
It’s not great, Bob. I did not enjoy it. I did, however, enjoy our first hate-watch in a very long time.
Here are my thoughts after the Christmas and other episodes:
I mean, they did what they set out to do. They hit the correct emotional moments, but it felt kind of hollow.
The Pitt (HBOMax)
Absolutely deserves all the hype. I will die on a hill (my highest compliment) for almost every single character on this show. As I am watching this, Aubrey and I have near-daily conversations about how there are no unlikable characters on this show, just human ones.
Death By Lightning
Watched this all in one night and it was spectacular.
Norsemen (Netflix)
Always fun.
Captain Fall (Netflix)
This was super-fun. An animated series by the creator of Norsemen. Should have gotten more than a season. It’s a solid concept, well-executed.
Platonic (Apple TV)
Fine. I like spending time with these people, but this show isn’t anything spectacular.
The OA (Netflix)
So mad for two reasons:
- That I didn’t watch this sooner
- That there isn’t more of it.
Someone, anyone, please make the next three seasons of this. kthxbai
Minx (Netflix)
This was a season 1 rewatch and a brand new viewing of Season 2. There should be more of this show too, plz.
Altered Carbon (Netflix)
Ed Baldwin is tolerable in this.
Palm Royale (Apple TV)
Solid. Ricky Martin is killing it, and Carol Burnett is incredible.
The Man in High Castle (Amazon Prime)
GREAT SHOW. I love an alternate reality premise, and this show really delivered. Season 4 had me wishing for more seasons, but then the last scene had me all, “woaaaaah?”
House of Dragons (HBOMax)
You know? It’s a show.
SNL (Peacock)
Melissa McCarthy
It was fine. The Cousin song was a highlight.
Josh O’Connor (there had better be a Challengers sketch)
There was not (but it was still a fun episode). I did rewatch Challengers a few days later, tho.
Ariana Grande
She should be a full-time cast member. She’s so great in sketch comedy and unafraid to go wild. Bowen’s final sketch was a masterpiece.
I Love LA (HBOMax)
Yes, please give me all of this. I love them all, and I hate it. I hate them all, and I love it. It’s perfect.
Boys Go to Jupiter (VOD)
I was counting the days down until this movie was streaming, and the creativity made me cry with happiness. Worth spending money on. So inventive. It was made by a human in a room with their friend,s and it is obvious.
Wedding Crashers (VOD)
Watched this so I could write an article. Everyone is mean to each other, and no one really likes themselves. It makes me sad. But I still love Vince Vaughn.
Challengers (Amazon Prime)
Turned off the lights, turned on the soundbar, and enjoyed the fuck out of this movie for the one millionth time.
Materialists (HBOMax)
This was fine. Solid movie, nothing earth-shattering. I like Dakota Johnson.
One Battle After Another (HBOMax)
Like, it was good, but not great. I hope it doesn’t win too many Oscars, because there are way better films this year. Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti both deserve all the flowers, tho. They were fantastic.
Marty Supreme (MJR Theaters)
There is very little I would change about this movie. It was pretty perfect, and I don’t say that lightly. Gotta watch it a couple more times to be sure, though.
I will say this: Only Timothée Chalamet deserves an acting nod for this movie. The only other acceptable nominee is Odessa A’Zion, who stole the screen every time she was on it. I gotta watch the other potential nominees in her category to be sure.
That’s not to say that all of the performances weren’t spectacular, though.
Logan liked this movie; he thought we should podcast about it, so we did. It’s not up yet, though. And it might never be because it was just a phone call with probably terrible audio.
