this is us: season 2

As so many of you probably know, This Is Us started it's second season a few weeks ago.

Since I'm not a fan of spoilers it's hard to really talk about a show that is currently on air. So, all I can say is that I don't think anything they've alluded to this season is going to be the cause of Jack's death. Ultimately I think it's going to go back a few seasons and have something to do with a car accident. They've segued so many times and shown so many cliff hangers or serious moments in the car. AND his supposed 'personal effects' in the car with Rebecca are all in tact and not burnt. Can't tell if their cinematic story telling tricks have me hung up or not.

I don't know. When it was clear they weren't going to show anything in last night's episode Brendon simply said, "I hope they show his death before this show gets canceled." And I can totally see it being like that Pretty Little Liar's show where they keep pulling plot ideas and twists out of a hat and keep the show going and going. I mean I HOPE they don't because I enjoy this show and don't want it to get stupid.

*sits through 40 TJ Maxx commercials*
Leia

netflix originals

Netflix definitely isn't new territory for me, but I have been absolutely blown away by their original series'. The last few shows that I have started and completed have been Netflix Originals and I am in love. And I'm trying to be patient for renewal updates or new season premiers but it is so hard. On the off chance that you've followed along with my sedentary lifestyle, you'll have heard me rant about some of these before.

Search 'originals' on Netflix and so many of my picks will come up:

Orange is the New Black (5 Seasons, renewed for seasons 6 and 7)
The entire season takes place in just three days time and started immediately where they left off in season four. The death of a beloved character was still very fresh in everyone's mind and Litchfield was an absolute scene of chaos. I was left in tears during the finale, but nothing compared to Lolly's fate.


House of Cards (5 seasons, pending renewal)
CLAIRE, CLAIRE, CLAIRE! As per usual, the Underwoods are out to fuck shit up and get to the top any way that they see fit. Scandals and ongoing investigations galore this season! This series is one that never disappoints and season 5 was no exception. Probably time to rewatch from the beginning to tie any loose details together.


Narcos (2 seasons, season 3 premiering on September 1, 2017)
Action, violence, and cocaine! What's not to love in a tv show?! And it's not a completely scripted drama since it's based on real inviduals! Pablo Escobar ain't no match for Murphy and Pena!


The OA (1 season, supposedly renewed. No new info from February's season 2 teaser)
If this show does not get at least one more season I will be upset. Supernatural, fantasy, life-after-death. If these three ideas do not intrigue you I wouldn't bother. Prairie Johnson, 'The OA' is back after being missing for 7 years. She was recruited by a good/evil man along with others who have endured similar circumstances to complete his scientific work.


Stranger Things (1 season, season 2 premiering October 27, 2017!!!!!)
If you don't understand rating things on a scale of 1-11, you're going to need dive into this show right away. Winona Ryder was AMAZING; this show deserved every award it was nominated for and won. Terrifying and mystical this show had me hooked from the first episode. Barb, Eggo waffles, and the Upside Down.


Santa Clarita Diet (1 season, renewed for season 2)
Drew Barrymore has already shown preparations for season 2 on her Instagram and I am so incredibly excited. I couldn't wait for this show to come out after seeing all the strange promotions for it and I was so impressed when I finally got to watch it. The cast was spot on and it was so unexpectedly hilarious. The 'monster' was different than what I was expecting and I'm glad. Maybe I didn't pay well enough attention to the trailers. Definitely add this to your list if you are into multiple forms of humor (dry, awkward, quick and witty; this show offers them all).


Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (miniseries)
If you enjoyed the movie you will enjoy the show. The cast is the same. The humor is the same. The camp is the same. Origins of key characters are revealed.


13 Reasons Why (1 season, renewed)
Sad. Upsetting. Eye opening. A great view into mental illness and how to be aware of others and how you may be affecting them. I watched the show after reading the book. They switched a lot of things up, but for the show I think it really worked and was still impressed. I see both sides of a lot of the reviews that I read and can totally understand how it brings both awareness while simultaneously glamorizing suicide. Not sure what season 2 is going to bring.. it doesn't look good for Tyler.


GLOW (1 season, renewed)
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. I felt like this show was all over the place with so many plot ideas firing off at once. Amateur actors trying to find their way to stardom in Los Angeles mixed in with some personal drama and side stories. Overall it was worth a watch and I'd be excited to see what a follow-up season would consist of.


Ozark (1 season, pending renewal)
Jason Bateman with a straight face? He should have done work like this sooner! I mean, maybe he has.. he did get his start on Little House on the Prairie after all. This show was amazing and I've been recommending it left and right. I would say if you combined Breaking Bad with The Wolf of Wall Street it might come out looking something like Ozark. Drug lords and money launderers just trying to get by and live their lives but BAM, shit gets fucked up real quick and I guess you'll just have to tune in to get the rest.


Friends from College (1 season, pending renewal)
Netflix categorizes this as a comedy and I was fully expecting it to be one with the cast at hand. Would I classify it as a comedy? Nope. But, in no way was I disappointed. It was a solid, solid show. It was dramatic and also a little depressing. The laughs were not constant and they were used more as comic relief.


Girlboss (1 season hitter quitter)
Oh Sophia, you selfish bitch. No, this is not me tearing other women down, just an observation. Did she set out and reach her goals? You bet she did! Did she let anyone stand in her way? Nope! And she almost ruined every relationship she had in the process which I don't think is healthy. Did it make for a kickass docuseries? YEPP. I've promptly added her biography to my list of books but after learning more about how she lost her company I'm like ehhhhhhh. The series is definitely worth a watch though. It has a bit of everything.


Originals that I've started:
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
Atypical

Originals that I want to start:
The Ranch
The Crown
Bloodline
Sense8

Reading, going to the movies, and indulging in a couple hours of tv before bed are definitely things I enjoy for ME TIME and I don't feel guilty for even a second of it. Sure, maybe I could spend this time exercising or meal prepping or something other cool, hip and happenin' blogging mothers do but this is my jam. In a few weeks you can plan on a Hulu Originals post too because I've just started diving into those and it's a gold mine, people. A GOLD MINE.

I'm not that great at reviews; too nervous about spoiling!

Leia

recent television

Over the past few months I have been in such a sweet spot for television. I've started and finished so many amazing series.

First and foremost one of my most beloved shows came to an end and in a way I never imagined it would. It really showcased how each of the girls changed (or didn't) and how all their decisions were leading up to their 'fate'. So often I had different mood swings of emotions with all the girls individually. From absolutely loathing them to cheering them on when they were down on their luck. I'm so sad to see this series go but I'm so happy it ended before it ever had a chance to turn tacky and unfamiliar.

Netflix for the win with this one. The Santa Clarita Diet had me in STITCHES. So many fucks and other curse words that I saw coming out of Drew Barrymore's mouth! It was so unexpected and it truly added to my enjoyment. If you like dry humor and unpredictable weirdness I HIGHLY recommend this short series for you.

Shameless. A show I just wanted to try out to fill a void in my television cycle. Everyone is constantly talking about Lip Gallagher this, fucking Frank Gallagher that and I finally had to see what all the buzz was about. Poor, white trash America at it's finest. At times it seems a little too far fetched but nevertheless it is extremely entertaining.

After Shameless came Bates Motel. It was always just lingering under "shows you might like". Brendon had previously watched it when I worked evenings, but never religiously. We started that up and I was so, so, happy we did. Creepy as hell, sketch, dramatic and you never know who to take at face value. Romero is my dude. And no spoilers because I don't have access to the final season!

Then I had full intentions of watching Thirteen Reasons Why after I read the book. Brendon had started watching Sons of Anarchy and I was literally like "ew, I'm not watching that." Somewhere in the middle of season three I caught about half an episode and by the end of it I was in tears; mind you I hadn't even gotten attached to any of the characters yet. I was literally asking names as I'm crying about them. I have yet to watch the beginning seasons but have watched diligently through the rest of the series and finished it off last night literally sobbing my eyes out. About halfway through the episode my mind saw where things were going and I could not control my emotions. It was all too sad for me. So many notable deaths and the amount of tears I shed is on the verge of embarrassing. Side note, I never saw the full on attraction for Jax. He was nasty, greasy, completely absent and had no sense of reality when it came to his loved ones (for the most part). Nice face and bod? Sure, I'll give him that.

Intermittently I have watched some of Bill Nye's new show. The format is different than what I expected, but I like it! I only wish that the episodes were longer and the people who should be watching it were; but they aren't. Ya know the ones that somehow think that a mass population of people are making science up? The show is definitely aimed at the younger generation but the topics discussed are important ones. So far they have ranged from climate change to GMOs to alternative medicine.

Shows I still need to watch include but are not limited to: Thirteen Reasons Why, the new season of House of Cards, and Girl Boss. And there are probably others that I have forgotten about.

Other shows that I've recommended this week? Westworld (still seething that we won't be blessed with season two until 2018), Spoils of Babylon (the most underrated show and was only given two seasons), and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp.



Binge watching powers, activate!
Leia

y u do dis

Fall television, I'm officially upset with you; and no I'm not singling (this looks horribly misspelled) out any one network.

As I may have mentioned before Westworld had it's season one finale this past Sunday.. okay we all knew it was going to come to an end after just 10 episodes. What I didn't know was that I'd have to wait more than a year for the season two premier.

YEAH. 2018.

Then, on top of that. The This Is Us fall finale was on Tuesday. And COME ON. WE ARE ALL WATCHING. WE ALL LOVE THE SHOW. YOU DIDN'T NEED A HUGE CLIFFHANGER TO KEEP US ON THE HOOK. JESUS!

In the fetal position.

Leia