Hello it’s me!
Happy Spy September (I’ve been watching a lot of Jack Ryan/ The Americans/ Special Ops: Lioness/ et al)! It has made me more suspicious and more nutritious. I’ve also been traveling across the globe (continental US) since we last spoke. I was in beautiful Montana with more-annoying-than-usual family members. Gotta love em! Then my dad and I went to Philly and New York and had the time of our lives! We walked miles and miles and drank bloody marys and breezed through museums like we were being timed for The Amazing Race and only had 30 minutes to see the whole thing.
Now I’m back and have decided to become an open water swimmer. I walked into the surf shop wearing my fancy lady frilly dress and asked for help finding a wetsuit. The guy at the store said “you’re buying this for a friend or relative?” I said “no, I’m buying this for myself” and he said “oh ok. If it doesn’t work out you can always return it.” Um…. Ok bye!!! What type of vibes am I giving off??
I’m feeling a little bit of a content drought but I do have an interesting hodgepodge of shows to discuss.
Special Ops: Lioness (Paramount+)- The girl version and better version of Jack Ryan with a fun Taylor Sheridan/ right wing propaganda twist! Nicole Kidman wears a wig, Zoe Saldana is a mean mom and complicated boss, and DOUG from House of Cards plays a role he was born for (and has played before) head of the CIA. To know me is to know that I love Doug from House of Cards. I really wish there were more episodes out because I would watch 14 seasons of this show. 5/5
Jack Ryan (Amazon)- My Special Ops journey led me back to the familiar and loving arms of Jack Ryan. I rewatched the entire series as though it was new to me. I think I didn’t pay attention to the plot at all the first time around. Can I just say how quintessentially DC his girlfriend, Cathy is? Spot on casting. Guess who’s also in Jack Ryan? Doug from House of Cards.
Jack Ryan led me back to The Americans and that led to this month being Spy September.
Welcome to Plathville (TLC)- I put off the large family shows for as long as I could. I didn’t watch the Duggars, I barely watched Chrisley. But Plathville hooked me and I can’t stop thinking about this concerning family of 11. Each season feels like whiplash. They started three years ago as this insular family on a farm. They didn’t wear shoes, didn’t watch tv, and didn’t eat sugar. The 21 year old drank a Coke for the first time ever! Three short years later, we’re five seasons in, the parents are divorced, and the mom has a DUI! I am reeling. 5/5
Sister Wives (TLC) - Speaking of large family shows, Sister Wives is back for season 18. They are so fractured I can’t help but think that going on television may have damaged their mental health permanently. Hmm. The best part of this show is the stunning Utah accents. They are the rill dill. “I hope Cody doesn’t go to jell.” Is my favorite line.
Southern Charm (Bravo) - This season looks JUICY. Why do I love Austen and Craig so much despite it all? I did think that Taylor and Austen would be a good match when I saw them in last season’s reunion… I guess we’ll see if a relationship between them would work. I love a good scandalous cliff hanger. New episode tonight!
BOOKS
Under The Influence by Noelle Crooks- I chose this book on cover alone and it was juicy as ever! It’s basically the BlogSnark reddit thread in book form. A young woman goes to work for a Nashville influencer who is a thinly veiled version of Rachel Hollis meets Danielle Bernstein. It’s a Devil Wears Prada situation. I loved the drama but it wen’t a little off course. 3.5/5
The Hike by Lucy Clarke- You know I love a horror story about hiking because I’m sometimes anti hiking. This was very Agatha Christie whodunnit in the woods and I thought it resolved very nicely! Their hike sounded like hell before all the thrillery stuff happened. 4/5
This Is How We End Things by R.J. Jacobs- DARK ACADEMIA ALERT!! Murders amongst Phd psychology students at UNC. There are twists and turns galore and I enjoyed the characters. It’s no Secret History but what is? 4/5
Ok bye! TTFN TTYL!
I can't wait for you to write your own thriller pilot!