Hi it’s me!
I’m very excited to announce the new C-Ritically Acclaimed rating system.
Introducing….
I’m going to dive right in. Not much is new except that I’m home in Montana, turned 30 (no need for pity, I was born to be 30+), and left sweet Poppy in the hands of Tony the Westside Cat Whisperer in my absence which I’m being super chill about. I love being home except for everyone telling me that I “need to bring my laundry upstairs” or that I “used too many water glasses” or “left my window open during the day when you’re supposed to only have windows open at night time.” Enough!
Ok, here are the shows and books! Buckle up because this rating system has changed the game.
TV
Would It Kill You To Laugh (Peacock)- Kate Berlant and John Early’s comedy special is OOC in the best way. I guffawed and did one of those lurching laughs that moves your chair many times throughout. It’s the new I Think You Should Leave and I was devastated to find out it was just a special and not a whole series.
Girls 5ever (Peacock)- A very strange yet fun show. It feels like you’re watching 30 Rock because it’s a Tina Fey production and the score is the same, but I wasn’t LOLing. Crazy-Ex Girlfriend meets Smash meets Kimmy Schmidt.
FBI International (CBS) - Follows the FBI Fly Team in Europe. I had a very intense work month so this was this was the best comfort food a gal could ask for- a new European city each episode, hot people with blossoming romances, and crossover and flirtations with the original FBI (CBS) team.
Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime) - Y/A teen romance. I didn’t have quite so many boyfriends the summer I turned pretty myself, so kudos to this girl. I don’t think it’s great to be in love with two guys that are brothers but the heart wants what it wants!!
Chloe (Amazon Prime) - a British thriller!! Glossy, posh friend group with SECRETS, a ~weird~ girl who somehow has three men in love with her trying to solve the mystery of her best friend’s death. As I’m typing this I realize it’s the same plot as Veronica Mars season 1. I loved it and am only giving it a “pretty good” because the ending was a little disappointing.
God’s Favorite Idiot (Netflix) - Melissa McCarthy and her husband’s new show about a guy who glows and is God? Not sure yet but it did not hook me and I left with more questions than answers.
The Clique (Hulu) - AN IRISH DARK ACADEMIA THRILLER NEED I SAY MORE.
OK so basicallyyyyy…. as an update…. I have reached the email length limit with these cute lil emojis so, I guess I’ll just rate everything else out of 7, my favorite number.
Unscripted
Love Island (Hulu)- Love Island is back baby. The theme song automatically soothes me. The two months in 2019 that I was unemployed, I watched five seasons (39 episodes per season lol) of Love Island and played candy crush to reset my brain (self care alert). My friend Rach who is a LI sommelier and I aren’t QUITE hooked with this cast but they have a lot of potential and are good on paper. 6/7
Kardashians (Hulu) - I watched one episode of the Kardashians new Hulu show and I’ve gotta say it’s more charming and fun than the previous! I like seeing what these long-nailed BBL (or maybe slightly deflated BBL now) gals are up to. 5/7
Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip (Peacock)- Why do I like Brandi??? All signs point to me not liking her but it’s impossible not to. I think this RHUGT is superb. Phaedra is the star, Tamra is likeable (?), Eva is the voice of reason, Vicki is terrible, and Dorinda is fun but needs to cool it. Even Taylor Armstrong is thriving. 5.5/7
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (Bravo) - As Garcelle wisely said, Diana does not want to spend a second with these women. It doesn’t make sense why she’s there. She’s uptight, judgey, and has sinister connections that you can look up on your own. I think Garcelle should be a producer on some of the shows I’m working on because she’s great at keeping the convo going. 4/7
Keep Sweet (Netflix)- YIKES this series is heavy and damning. Fundamentalist LDS under Warren Jeffs seems like a terrifying life. It paired well with Under The Banner Of Heaven which unfortunately fizzled for me :( . I can’t give this one a rating because it’s so dark!!
BOOKS
Notes on An Execution by Danya Kukafka - This book takes place in Essex, New York where my dad grew up and a very special place for my family. It’s on all the critic lists for the summer because of the beautiful prose (which are sometimes a little too flourishy for my liking but oh well). I was worried it would be too dark, and it is, but it follows the lives of three women affected by the man on death row. It is suspenseful, emotional, and gripping! I sound like an NPR critic. 6.5/7
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson- The back of the book says it’s the new Gone Girl but it reminds me more of the movie Red Eye where Rachel McAdams meets that guy on the plane and ends up stabbing him with a pen. A movie that I love! Also, remember that one year in like 2009 where every movie was a thriller on a plane? 6/7
So Happy For You by Celia Lasky- Close but no cigar. This takes place in a slightly altered world where the government does a whole ad campaign for marriage and people get really into it by casting spells and doing strange little rituals. The main character is very holier than thou and anti- marriage. It’s hard to understand why she’s even in her friend’s wedding because they seem to hate each other. 4.5/7
The No Show by Beth O’Leary - a classic rom com centered around a classic mix up, written by the author of the Flat Share (!!). I can’t tell you much about it other as to not give away the TWIST. 5/7
The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark- Omg this is by the same author of my favorite book from last year, The Last Flight, and it does not disappoint! Scams! Los Angeles! Teaching the bad guys a lesson! 7/7
Ok, so the new rating system didn’t work out but live and learn! See you guys l8r!
"Good as it gets"
Love this! I learned a new vocabulary for keeps "guffawed" I've been doing this but had no idea that's the term! Love it!😍🌸