It’s been a bit of a dry spell on the ole boob tube lately. Yes, I called it the boob tube because I’m an old fart. But I’m an old fart that cut the cord 10 years ago and doesn’t miss a thing. I’m a Netflix/Prime/”streaming from one of those websites you’re not supposed to go to with all the ads but you go watch alll the movies on” kind of old fart..
There’s a bit of a dry spell in viewing selections right now. None of the shows I watch with regularity have current seasons to consume. I’m currently watching a Prime series with Julia Roberts called Homecoming. It’s ok. Before this, I’ve watched:
Documentaries
Crack Cocaine Corruption & Conspiracy is a real eye opening look into why the War on Drugs has destroyed an entire population of people.
The Cuba Libre Story is an interesting historical documentary on Cuba, has nothing to do with the drink. I understand the point the director was trying to convey which admittedly left me questioning a lot of things about my people’s history as I’ve been told. This is a much heavier topic for another conversation, though.
The Miami Showband Massacre is a riveting documentary about an Irish showband caught up in the political strife between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic in the 70s. I’m old enough to remember when Irish car bombs were a thing and it always seemed pretty scary that someone would indiscriminately do such a thing. (then I remember Oklahoma and, yeah, moving on…)
The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel is a sad story about a young girl trying to break away from her family who ends up in the water tank of the seediest hotel in Los Angeles. It was a compelling crime doc until the very end. I feel like the satanic music dude did not get the apologies he most certainly deserves after he was trashed and had his life destroyed by the internet vigilantes who’d come together to solve a stranger’s murder. These people didn’t know her at all and they were speaking for her as if they did and all of that bullshit really ruined the doc overall.
Foreign Films
SLIM PICKINGS in foreign films the past few months.
Sweet Home is Korean horror, my favorite…but this one fell short for me after the middle of the season. The monsters of the film are presented in the art style of a video game character. It was a little over the top for my taste. Especially when one of the ghouls is Slenderman. I got bored with it because the story went nowhere-they managed to make a monster series boring.
Kingdom, K-horror again! Zombies set in ancient times of monarchs and dynasties. LOVED this one. Great dialogue, GORY AS FUCK, lots of action.
Comedy
Top of the list are Chappelle’s Show and the new Brian Regan special. Chappelle’s Show is legendary. I laugh/cried through the entire Charlie Murphy/Rick James stuff. There are several Bill Burr specials; all good. One of my favorites was The Degenerates. I didn’t know a single comic and they all had me howling, especially Ms. Pat, who I came to learn is an Indy native. If you are sensitive, I don’t recommend it.
Animation
Wolfwalkers. I cannot stress enough how perfect of a movie this is. It has all the elements of one. It’s well-written. The animation is above and beyond stunning. The theme of the movie overall is family and the power of love. It hits all the feels in all the right ways. It’s currently on Apple TV, last I checked. And on those websites that you’re not supposed to know about.
Disenchanment is a Matt Groening project that eventually grew on me. At first, I wanted to hate it for no logical reason whatsoever. By the third episode, I was feeling Princess Tiabeanie deep in my soul. By the end of the first season, it had evolved into everything awesome I expect from the Simpsons guy.
We Bare Bears is a household favorite. We each, correctly, identify with each bear. Husband-Ice Bear, Kidlet-Panda, and I’m Grizzly. It’s charming, it’s funny, and it’s adorable. The auxiliary characters are awkward and charming, albeit annoying sometimes. But each one of them, annoying or not, contributes to the overall premise of the show. I’ve laughed my ass off and I’ve ugly cried my ass off watching the bears over the years. Very human show.
Big Mouth. It’s vulgar as fuck and I know a LOT of people that have wayyyyy too much of a problem with it. These are people who probably did not have a good puberty and the show probably strikes a little too close too home. Moreover, it’s clearly rated TV-MA so if your minor children watch it, that’s on you. The animation is awful. Has to be intentional, right?
Re-Runs & Returns
When I have nothing else to watch, and while I wait for next seasons of many shows, I go back to familiar binges. Stranger Things. Black Mirror. The Magicians. Schitt’s Creek. Orphan Black. Gotham. X-files. Looking forward to another season of Locke & Key, Ozark, Servant(really creepy M. Night. Shyamalan series. Love it) and hopefully Lost in Space?
While I wait, my next binge is the stack of books on my nightstand.
What are you watching? Looking forward to? Sound off below?