I subscribed to Apple TV just to watch Severance. I'll continue subscribing to Apple TV until Severance sees its end.
I'm a huge Adam Scott fan to begin with, so no one had to twist my arm to watch him as the show's lead actor. But as time went on, you could say I came for Adam but stayed for a magnificently executed show. Everything (in my opinion) is perfection - from set to wardrobe, casting to writing, concept to delivery. It's really brilliant. The overall concept on its own is quite intriguing. Without giving too much away, the premise of this show depicts what it would be like if we could completely sever our work lives from our personal lives, and vice versa. To the point where you exist separately in each life as if you are two different people. The two lives do not interact in any way, tangibly or intangibly. Details of Adam Scott's severed work and personal lives slowly reveal themselves. There are depictions of a tormented and moody personal life contrasted against a structured and fluorescently lit work life. I have to say the characters and events that exist/take place in the work setting are my favorite. Kooky incentives, puzzling job responsibilities, and spontaneous dance parties are just a few of the things that charmed me immediately. As of right now, this show has been nominated for 14 Emmys, including Best Drama Series. I can confidently say it deserves every accolade it gets. It is refreshing when new ideas like Severance come along - artistic, sci-fi, thought provoking, and in a way, in a genre all its own. Food for Thought: Making the decision to "sever" is a personal one, with each person having their own unique reasoning for taking such a drastic leap. If you had the chance to live two completely separate lives simultaneously - one at home, one at work - would you? Happy binging!
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The show may have given me a complex, but I’d watch it all over again! I’m way behind in watching the series Dexter. We haven’t had cable in years, so it wasn’t until the show popped up as an option on Netflix that I even remembered it was a thing. I had heard it was good. I tried starting it a couple of times but was scared I’d get scared (which happened). I couldn’t stomach the violence. Then finally it took. I tell you what, Michael C. Hall just has the gift of reeling you right in. (I was a huge fan of his before watching Dexter because of the show Six Feet Under on HBO if you remember that.) If you don’t know what this show is about – it is centered on a vigilante serial killer named Dexter. His father, a cop, knew at a very young age that Dexter had psychopathic tendencies, and in order to help him have the most normal life possible, developed a “code” for him to live by. That code includes only killing people who deserve it. An eye for an eye basically. Dexter himself is in law enforcement as a renowned blood spatter analyst with the Miami Metro Homicide Department. This gives him an upper hand in a lot of ways. He can get inside details on people who are on his radar. He can either place or remove people from the radar of Miami Metro. And if needed, he can tamper with evidence to change the outcome of a case. As the seasons progress, Dexter gets closer and closer to being able to have a truly “normal” life with a family and routine and all of the things we often take for granted. When things get really good, I found myself yelling at him to just stop while he was ahead! But, sadly, that never happens. But there wouldn’t be a show if he lived responsibly now would there? I, and I assume others who watched, got really attached to Dexter and also to his sister, Debra. Weird fact that I found out while researching them – the actors who play these characters were actually married to each other in real life for a period of time! Anyway – the cast is great and the show introduces new characters each season depending on the main plot. One of the hardest episodes for me to watch (I was sobbing in the middle of the night by myself in the dark) is when Dexter’s wife passes away (I won’t say how). The other was the very end of the final episode of the series. The closing scenes focused on Dexter’s and Deb’s relationship. It’s brutal. For being a serial killer, there’s just something about Dexter that I fell in love with. He was trying to navigate being a good human like we all are – just on a different plane than most of us are familiar with. And because he’s killing “bad guys” and technically doing good, the vibe of the show is a lot different than one that focuses on a serial killer just killing for the sport of it. Overall, this series gets a 10/10 in my book. Lots of action and cliffhangers that make it very binge worthy. I’m actually glad I got to watch it on Netflix so I didn’t have to wait for the next episode! People obviously get killed but most of the time the scenes aren’t terribly gory. I will warn you – you may start to look at people around you differently. I’m talking specifically about strangers. There was a period of time (and still a little bit now) that I thought everyone was a serial killer and everyone I loved was going to die at the hand of a serial killer in a totally bizarre way. Including myself! But I’m here to write a review about Dexter – so far, so good! We all have our guilty pleasures, right? Well, mine is Jeffree Star. I’m somewhat obsessed with him (along with millions of others). He’s a YouTube personality, best known for his work in the beauty, modeling, and song worlds. He’s become such a public figure and mogul that he has his own make-up and merch line! What makes me an odd, and maybe surprising, fan of Jeffree’s is the fact that I am not that into make-up. I don’t wear much. I don’t watch tutorials. I don’t pay attention to the latest trends. But, I like Jeffree. He makes me happy! The way he presents himself, his life, and his reviews are thoughtful and entertaining. You don’t have to be a make-up lover to love him. My favorite parts about him are that he is completely over-the-top in everything he does and has such a good heart. You can tell very quickly that because of his hard work, we has gotten pretty darn RICH! Lambos, Gucci, Birkin…he has the best of the best. I am normally disgusted by this type of behavior and “reckless spending,” but for some reason the way Jeffree presents it is different. He’s not rubbing his wealth in anyone’s face. He works hard and plays hard and is SO generous to those around him. He pays it forward tenfold. You can tell giving back to his fans and those he trusts is truly what brings him the most joy. In getting to know Jeffree, I’ve also gotten to know about another YouTube personality named Shane Dawson. Side Note: I am probably SO behind in discovering these guys because they’ve been around forever, but oh well, I’m a 34 year-old woman! Jeffree and Shane have such a beautiful friendship with each other. I’ve watched their relationship and bond grow stronger through their videos and it is heartwarming. They bring a lot to each other’s’ lives. The reason I mention Shane is because he filmed a YouTube series following Jeffree and himself as he becomes curious about the beauty industry. Both want to expose some beauty world secrets (Shane is really into conspiracy theories) as they work to develop a special line of make-up and merch for Shane (which is ultimately Jeffree’s way to support Shane. Another Side Note: I’ve been keeping up with the success of Shane’s merch, which just launched in October, and he SOLD OUT on the first day. Below is a link to the kick-off video in their series about the beauty industry. If you need something to make you laugh, I recommend looking these two up on YouTube and diving into their work. I dare you to not let them win your heart! OK, this one may seem like it’s out of left field, but I really enjoyed watching the show “Lunatics” on Netflix. It is a “mockumentary” following the “peculiar lives” of six characters, all played by Chris Lilley. When they say peculiar lives, they mean it. The characters are so bizarre they’re endearing. They each make you laugh and cringe simultaneously. As the episodes progress, you really start to understand and empathize with them to a certain extent. I will even go as far as to say that you begin to see yourself and others you know in the characters, even though they are seemingly one of a kind. My personal favorite character was Becky. An abnormally tall college girl with a heart of pure gold. She’s a DIY girl, so I related with her on that level. I fell for her immediately and her story was especially hard to watch, but thankfully ended positively! Going in, I thought this show was simply an eccentric comedy, one of a kind itself. But when it came to the end, I was completely shocked to realize all along the show was celebrating differences. Uniqueness. The beauty of being yourself – even if you are marching completely and solely to your own drum. You are special because of it. You are loved because of it. Maybe not by everyone, but by someone, and that’s all that matters. The series wraps up on a high note, and I never expected this, but I was crying! The message was just so good. So even though it looks and sounds a little whacky, and it certainly is, I recommend this show. It will surely lift your spirits, make you feel good that you aren’t like the characters to start, and then make you feel good that you are indeed at least a little bit like the characters by the end. It has been awhile since I've watched a documentary. I'm a Buzzfeed junkie (I had to delete the app from my phone because I was on it too much...) so I thought I'd check their new docuseries out. It did not disappoint! The series features a number of different Buzzfeed reporters as they "probe topics ranging from quirky internet crazes to safe injection spaces for opioid users." They have episodes on ASMR, survivalists, the intersex community, tech addiction, plastic surgery, video game pranksters, and other unique topics. Every episode was really well done. The reporters are thoughtful and empathetic, curious and thorough - looking at as many sides of each topic in 15-20 minutes as they can. I appreciated their professionalism and genuine interest in each subject they covered. My favorite part of this series is how thought provoking it is. I couldn't help but think through my own stance on each topic after the episode ended. I was glad to have both sides of the story to analyze so I could form an opinion of my own regarding social issues I wasn't aware of before this series. If you're looking for a documentary series to watch that covers current events, does it in less than 20 minutes, and makes you think - this one's a winner! My latest television series indulgence is also doubling as my new favorite book! I was late to The Handmaid’s Tale bandwagon because I’m not a bandwagon person. The instant something is super popular I’m normally not interested. I suppose that is the hipster in me. Anyway, this story is worth all of the praise! The most intriguing thing to me is that the book was published in 1985, written by Margaret Atwood, and the scenarios she includes are eerily relevant today. I feel that the world she created amplifies what is subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) happening in our current political climate and country. The handmaid sharing her story is named Offred (Of Fred, her Commander). In the story’s setting, handmaids are simultaneously revered and looked down upon. In this new totalitarian world, fertility is a challenge. Handmaids are the answer to this problem. And although many times they give the gift of life, it can’t be overlooked that in their life before the country changed, they were adulterers, “whores,” “gender traitors” – women who had “sinned.” Their bodies are no longer theirs, but their Commander’s and their Wife. Frequent “ceremonies” occur where essentially the handmaids are raped in an effort to conceive a baby. It is dark and twisted and will take your breath away if you choose to watch the series. Atwood’s world is built on religion. Those who revolted against and attacked the United States government have created a new era based on The Bible. Everyone is expected to live and breathe the words in The Bible. Any past transgressions or current day actions that that fall outside of the Holy Word result in severe punishment, and in most cases, death. Freedom as we know it is non-existent. Women are forbidden from reading or writing or working. They must obey their Commander or other men. Free thinking is beaten down. Uniforms are implemented to help others identify your status. Love is arranged. Money is no longer. “Guardians” are omnipresent, guns in hand, ready to shoot you down. Public hangings on “the wall” are the punishment of choice. The outlook is bleak. BUT, hope resides. Some people were able to escape to Canada before being captured and forced to live the Gilead way of life. Secret messages are exchanged. Revolution bubbles beneath the surface. Stories of what is truly going on are leaked to countries who could potentially help. People exist within Gilead with enough power that they can attempt to assist people in getting out. It’s the hope that keeps the characters going. Memories of how life used to be. A yearning to eventually get back to “normal.” Although, most of the men in power have no interest in this because they’ve “got it made” in their opinions. So, it might be a long road. If there’s one thing this story is teaching me is that we have it good. Really good. Today freedom reigns, but in a blink of an eye it could all be taken away from us. So squeeze your family tight. Appreciate your right to share your opinions, thoughts, feelings. Stand up for what you believe. Don’t allow basic rights to be taken from you. Read. Write. EXPRESS YOURSELF. Don’t take it for granted. If you enjoy strong, female leads in the shows you watch – check out Broad City – you’ll get two for one! I’m embarrassed and disappointed in myself to say that it took me around five tries to get into this show. I must have been in a different head space and taking life a little too seriously during my previous attempts. It’s a shame I didn’t latch onto it earlier, but am glad I eventually did because it lives up to all of the hype. The show was created by and stars Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson. I’ve expressed my love for Ilana in a previous post. She’s actually the reason why I gave this show so many tries. But I’ve come to equally admire Abbi. Here’s a recent interview she did with another of my favorite females, Courtney Barnett. Abbi and Ilana are 1) the perfect pair, 2) funny as hell, 3) boundary pushers, and 4) extremely charming. They are two very relatable women getting through life the best way they know how – together. Although some of the shenanigans they get into are completely off the wall, it only makes you like them more. For their brutal honesty. For their ability to laugh through the most terrible situations. For their dedication to each other as friends. The list goes on. There are currently four seasons of this show available on Hulu. I flew through them too fast, but each episode is so brilliant and funny, I am already re-watching them over time. Season five will be their last according to the internet…which is so sad…but I can’t wait to see what else these ladies do together and as individuals. Check it out and let me know what you think! If you burn through the episodes like I did, they have a mobile app full of Broad City themed games that brought me some comfort when I was missing the girls! This show won my heart immediately! I happened upon it while searching for a new series to watch when I got ready in the morning and I'm so glad I took a chance on it. I ended up watching it in the morning, on lunch break, and at night - whenever I had the chance! The show follows a teenage boy, Sam, who is on the Autism spectrum, and his family. It presents a very honest reflection of the joys and challenges that come with having a child with Autism, along with other complications that exist within families. I felt the storylines were very well done, complex, and the ending of each episode left me anxious for the next one. "Charming" is the word I'd use to describe this show. The actor that plays Sam does a great job, as do the actors that play his family members. Autism is a sensitive topic, but they managed to navigate it respectfully and in a way that provided a form of education about this condition. I did not know much about Autism before watching this show, so appreciated gaining insight on what it is and its affects. This series is a Netflix original and is available for watching now. Binge away! I know this show is "old news" but I took a brief hiatus from it a few years back and just recently started watching it again. I'm unsure why I stopped watching it, but am kind of glad I did because I get to catch up on old seasons until the next one comes out! The show begins by focusing on a single inmate, Piper, but as the seasons advance, broadens to include story lines featuring the many different characters around her. The show is actually based on the real experience of a woman named Piper who spent a year in prison for money-laundering and wrote a book about it. One of my favorite parts of the show are flashbacks they do on each character, showing how they ended up in prison. They feature one to two flashback story lines on a different inmate in each episode, so you get to know them better over time. The flashbacks make me think about criminals in general in a slightly different way because it humanizes them. You're forced to remember they had/have real lives with real experiences and real people in them. It also forces you to think about the prison system and how things are run. Yes, these are criminals, but they are people, too. Where's the line? Should there be a line? There are currently five seasons on Netflix. If you watched before and stopped like I did, it's worth going back for. If you have never watched, let the binge begin! Don't be alarmed by the video thumbnail image at the bottom of this post! Really, I hope it entices you. I think a lot of us want to communicate our feelings with this gesture on a frequent basis. I know I do. If you are looking for a smart, honest television series to binge on - choose "HAPPYish." It's a Showtime series, but I indulged on Hulu. It is hands down one of the best TV series I have watched...EVER. To start, I related to the main character in so many different ways - even though he is a middle aged male. He works in advertising administration like I do. His professional world and the concerns he carried about what he does mirror my experiences and thoughts exactly. He put into words and actions things I only dream of saying and doing. Next comes this wonderfully complex man's family. His wife and son. Their family unit made my heart melt. Again, I related to them. And when I picture Joel and I as a family that potentially includes a child, it looks just like them. Real. No bullshit. Living life. Holding on with the tips of their fingers at some points. Most points. But don't we all? This is a series that I will soon re-watch because it was that good. There were moments in each episode that I thought about later and related back to my own life in some way. This may sound funny, but I learned from it. To me, it was a series of lessons on how to deal with life. To draw from one of the episodes, life is compared to a series of the following: "Fuck. Yay! Fuck. Yay!" How true is that? Anyways - I'm going to stop blabbing about this show in hopes you watch and enjoy it as much as I did. Watch the trailer below: |
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