Hi it’s me!
I just returned from a whirlwind week of traveling to the Bay Area and Seattle. Two unrelentingly frigid climates. I shivered all the live long day!
I observed the people of these two metropolitan areas- in the East Bay there was a sense of hurry- go as fast as you can to the grocery store, if someone tries to walk past you in the aisle, block them with your cart because you are better than them. And then go as fast as you can home and cut off as many cars as possible.
In Seattle there was a somber/ chilly energy (not just the weather amirite?). I got many approving looks because I was wearing my dad’s tan Patagonia jacket. I fit in perfectly. They don’t have to know I despise hiking and don’t know how to compost.
Seattle made me want to rewatch The Killing. The best shows take place in Seattle if you think about it: Frasier, The Killing, Grey’s Anatomy, other serial killer shows that I can’t remember.
I could give full recaps of both trips but this isn’t a travel blog. It’s C-Ritically Acclaimed, pop culture monthly newsletter (plz forward to your friends lol).
Anyway, here’s what I watched and read.
So Help Me Todd (CBS)- Psych + Monk + CBS procedural + mother/ millennial child humor = a perfect combination. It helped my mom and I through a hard week last week! 5/5
Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)- The finale was impeccable. I hate to brag but I guessed the twist. I can’t believe how fast she knitted that scarf though… it’s taken me about six weeks to get halfway through my current scarf. 5/5
Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)- um….not for the faint of heart. I couldn’t stop watching and I was so scared I felt my spine tingling for days!! I was addicted to the plot lines, though, so I couldn’t stop! Young Nell had a line that was so heartbreaking I think about it once a day “I was right here the whole time, and nobody could see me." 5/5
Abbott Elementary (Hulu)- my favorite character from Curb’s most recent season, Maria Sofia Estrada, is a new character on Abbott and she makes me lol. I also respect Ava’s Poshmark operation. 5/5
Inside Man (Netflix) - Hello David Tenant! Hello Stanley Tucci (@claire)! Hello British mystery that spans across the pond! I’m going to give this 4/5 stars not because it wasn’t amahzing but because it was too scary for my mom to finish! She had to leave the room and I had to recap the ending to her and she’s a seasoned British mystery and David Tenant fan!! 4/5
All Rise (HBO Max) - another procedural, this time legal and in my home of Los Angeles. It stars Wade from Hart of Dixie. Need I say more? 3/5 stars because I kept wanting to fall asleep mid episode.
Amy Schumer (Paramount+)- I enjoyed many of the sketches. There was one about a reality TV producer recording wild lines that hit a lil too close to home. Larry David AND Jerry Seinfeld’s daughters are both writer/ actresses on the series which is a lil much but do what you gotta do! 3/5
The Mole (Netflix)- Move over Survivor, there’s a new game play show in town (just kidding Survivor, I love you don’t leave)! The Mole is IN-CRE-IBLE!! Perfect casting, perfect twists, perfect challenges and LOL funny. 5/5
Survivor (CBS)- Post merge is my favorite time. I’m one episode behind so don’t tell me anything!! 4/5
My Mind and Me (Apple TV+)- Like most pop star documentaries, this left more questions than answers. It was relatable and heartbreaking in the anxiety Selena felt about performing and confounding in the choices of friends and entourage! My biggest takeaway is that Sel and I have the same sweater. 3.5/5
Winter House (Bravo)- my most beloved appointment television. Sandoval and Schwartz from Vanderpump Rules arrived last week and were a real breath of fresh LA air. I coincidentally went to the opening of Schwartz and Sandy’s with Bri last week. We got gatorade blue cocktails with shark gummies and had fun banter with our waiter- he’s from NH and moved here just three weeks ago! No VPR cast member to be seen, though. Oh well. 5/5
Now for the BOOKS!!! I’m going to do rapid fire reviews because I read too many books this month.
Anon Pls. by Deux Moi- written as though it’s 2005 Devil Wears Prada era but it’s supposed to take place today… hmm… but it’s fun to read nonetheless. Gossipy and soapy. 3.5/5
One Of The Girls by Lucy Clarke- whodunnit on a hen weekend!! British/ hen weekend mysteries will lit-erally never get old no matter how many times they’re written. 5/5
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult- Serial podcast meets small town cozy. I was hooked by the story but the platitudes and preachiness made it drag onnnnn. 3/5
The Resemblance by Lauren Nosett- Dark academia alert!! This was a very solid Dark Academia situation. It was described as The Likeness meets The Secret History (my two favorite books), so it had a lot to live up to.
I enjoyed the mystery and twists but there were some loose ends that were hastily tied! 3.5/5
The Good Lie by A.R. Torre- I listened to this on 1.5 speed on the plane and enjoyed every .5 second of it! A psychiatrist and a grieving father caught in a web of lies, romance, and deceit! 4/5
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry -
Friends is the show that means the most to me in the world (real original, Charlotte). It was my comfort when my parents got divorced when I was 13 and I watched it on my mini DVD player almost every night for four years in boarding school. It informed the way I speak and act and it will never get old for me.
This book is a fascinating look behind the scenes of the show, fame, and addiction. It is heartbreaking in the loneliness that Matthew Perry feels every day and the addiction he can’t control. It is very disappointing, however, the way he views and speaks about women. As though they are props that he discards or even “mud” in one case. I wish that his reflections about life expanded to his love life and his view of women. It’s hard to get to know your heroes I suppose! 2.5/5
Ok TTYL TTFN!! Follow my newsletter instagram @c_ritically_acclaimed
Charlotte, have you ever seen The Other Two in HBO? I feel like it’s right up your alley!