I've been happy to see the return of Severance and White Lotus (I'm less crazy about the latter, but it's still compelling enough). Any shows back soon or recently you're wanting to see?
Oscar season was a bit delayed (twice) and is now set a couple weeks from now. Anything jump out at you this year? I think I've seen exactly one movie with any nominations this year (and just a supporting one at that), so I might not have much to add in that regard.
What's been on your screens, big or small?
Been awhile since we've done one of these. Plenty of time to watch shows and movies this week. Any plans to go to the movies with the fam? Any particular traditions you enjoy watching together during the holiday?
And what else have you been watching?
Another Oscars has come and gone. I don't believe I'd seen any of the films, so I was enjoying a book instead. Still, I know some people are into this kind of thing. Anything you liked? Anything that was missing? Any bits that bit the dust hard?
Also, what other non-Oscar worthy content have you been watching?
Looks like there was a big, fancy statue give away thingie last night, which reminds me we haven't done one of these in awhile. What have you been watching?
Hey, we haven't done one of these in awhile. Not sure if it can quite be considered a summer blockbuster, but I watched Chris Pine doing his best Jason Bateman impression in the new D&D movie. Wasn't bad. What big summer movies were you able to go out and see? What have you been watching in general?
I don't keep up with too many shows, but a month or so ago, three shows I was watching (Succession, Barry, and Ted Lasso) all ended within a couple days of each other. And that was shortly after I finished my first Mad Men go through. It's weird as I don't watch that many shows, let alone have numerous ones end at the same time. Made me a little sad.
If you liked the ending, or even if you didn't, what's a show that left you feeling a little empty once it was over?
As I mentioned in the Cup the other day, I managed to get caught up with and watch the Ted Lasso series finale the day it was released. That's just big for me, since I haven't seen a finale on the day of release in a long time. I was a little ways behind on Game of Thrones and The Good Place, and other than that, we probably have to go back a decade. For some reason, I really wanted to do that with Ted - I think because, at least in my little middle-aged white male bubble, this show really seems to have been so much of an antidote to the current zeitgeist.
It was a show about connection in a time when we were all distanced from each other. A show about people from all over the world coming together when so many are caught up in nationalism. A show about forgiveness when so many are quick to judge and condemn.
I saw a number of headlines/first paragraphs of articles as this season was going that made it clear the trendy thing to do was to be upset with this season. And, admittedly, there were a few problems (namely the bloated episode length - a little bit of editing would have gone a long way). But those problems weren't the main thrust of these articles - they were hating on Ted Lasso because they were Nathan Shelley at the end of Season 2. This show made them feel everything warm and happy, even when bad things were happening, they just felt so spoken to. But Season 3? It didn't start that way. It was messy and followed lots of other people and things weren't so great, and then Zava shows up, and we don't care about that guy at all, and wasn't Ted going to work his magic on Zava, but no, that's not the way it really works. It wasn't what we wanted it to be.
At least, not yet. And maybe it was just hearing that this was the end of the series, but for some reason - even with my little complaints - I trusted the writers. And the criticism really bothered me. Ultimately, I feel like the writers knew what they were doing. Wandering around for a little while really helped those last 3 or 4 episodes nail what Ted had been and could be. I left feeling very satisfied. And I appreciated that they left most characters at a beginning, not an end. Yes, a few things got left on the table (couldn't you just see Ted wishing he had been able to help Rupert? Man, that would be some juicy conflict!). But in the end, I think the writers brought it home.
Trust the writers. Or, rather... believe.
Anything you were happy to see? What's your biggest snub? Or, are you like me and didn't see any of the movies to begin with?
We haven't done one of these for awhile. Discuss your Oscar picks and anything else you've been watching.
Continue reading Fourth Wednesday Movie Day: And The Nominees Are…
What's a movie or show that you knew little or nothing of before walking in, and it still was nothing like you expected? I recently had this happen with The Cabin In The Woods. I knew it was this cool, little horror movie that everyone seemed to love, but I definitely wasn't expecting that.
What else have you been watching?
