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Showing posts with label top 15 post. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top 15 post. Show all posts

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Jenn’s Pick: My 15 Favorite TV Shows in 2023 [Contributor: Jenn]

The end of the year is always the perfect opportunity to reflect on lots of things — achievements, goals, heartbreaks, dreams... and all of the media you consumed! As someone who watches a whole lot of television, this year I thought I would sit down and write about some of my favorite shows from 2023. 

They’re in no particular order, and you’ll notice an array of genres here but they all have one thing in common: they captivated me, made me feel something deeply, and also entertained me. And in (another) year of chaos and darkness, that’s exactly what I want out of my media.

Spoilers for these series will be included below so read at your own risk!

The Last of Us (HBO Max)

I’d stayed away from watching The Last of Us live on HBO Max for a few reasons: one is that I wanted to see if the show lived up to the hype by the end of the season (because adaptations of things don’t always) and the second is that I wanted to see if I could handle any of the gore or jumpscares the show had in store for me. And after hearing unanimous, effusive praise for “Long, Long Time,” I knew I’d eventually check out the series.

So this summer I sat down to binge watch it and quickly realized that while the series is incredible, it’s one that I had to pace myself for. Make no mistake: The Last of Us is definitely worth the hype (see: it being on nearly every “best of” list this year) but it is dark. It, after all, is set in the midst of a post-apocalyptic world. 

But the storyline is captivating. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are truly incredible, versatile actors — equally at home conveying their characters’ pains as they do their comedic charms and witty banter. Pedro expertly conveys the reluctance of a man who has lost so much to get emotionally attached to anyone or anything. And Bella’s portrayal of Ellie as a young person grappling with trauma (Bella’s performance in “When We Are In Need” in particular is award-worthy) and also wanting love, acceptance, and friendship like any teenager is so compelling. Together, they represent everything you could want from co-leads of a series.

The show tackles everything you’d expect it to: grief, morality, love, survival, and found family. If you haven’t yet watched The Last of Us, I highly recommend doing so as soon as possible. You won’t regret it!

Starstruck (HBO Max)

Rose Matafeo’s hilarious rom-com, Starstruck, came back this year. While Starstruck strayed more into somber themes in its third season, it remained one of the most charming shows on television that not enough people are watching and/or talking about online. The series begins with a normal woman named Jessie (played by Rose Matafeo) meeting and sleeping with a famous actor named Tom (Nikesh Patel) on New Year’s Eve. The rest of the show has depicted the highs and lows of their relationship across various holidays, and the newest season is no exception. 

Even though I cried at the season three finale, the new season has no shortage of laughs either. Most importantly, watching Jessie’s trajectory has been so rewarding. Rose is an incredible comedic actress but she’s also so powerful this season whenever she is doing dramatic scenes — whether confronting love, loss, or failed expectations in herself, her relationships, and her friendships. The season specifically feels especially relatable as Jessie watches the people she loves most slip into new phases of their lives with seeming ease, and they appear to be growing away from her. Nikesh Patel continues to be such a great romantic lead too, balancing subtle humor and genuinely heartbreaking moments this season alongside her.

Literally the only complaint I ever have about Starstruck is that it’s too short. And as the show seems to be winding down (cue me crying), I’m more confident than ever that it will continue to be a frequent comfort rewatch for me.

Good Omens (Amazon Prime)

When it was announced that Good Omens was coming back for a second season, I knew I would need to rewatch season one because anything that aired before the pandemic has essentially evaporated from my brain. Good Omens debuted in 2019 and it came back this year — stronger than ever, in my personal opinion.

The show is based on the novel of the same name in which an angel named Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and a demon named Crowley (David Tennant), who have been longtime friends and allies, try to stop the apocalypse from happening. But the second season gives us a stronger, deeper — and more romantic — connection between these two characters as they try to keep Archangel Michael (Jon Hamm) away from both heaven and hell. 

I really love Good Omens; it’s a wild, weird little series that hinges on the fantastic chemistry between David and Michael. The world around them is fantastical, but the connection between Aziraphale and Crowley is about as true and grounded as it gets. 

It’s so heartbreaking to watch the end of the season after all of the growth that Crowley had, but at the same time I really love the depth and complexity of their relationship, which is really what makes this series as compelling as it is. Crowley is ready to break ties with hell and the other demons to be with Aziraphale, but Aziraphale can’t do the same thing. He believes the whole spiritual realm system can be improved if he is reinstated as an angel in heaven, while Crowley is not optimistic. The themes of religion and morality run deep in Good Omens, and the way the series depicts struggles with faith, free will, and love is so great.

With the news that Good Omens has been renewed for a third and final season, it’s time for you all to watch it if you haven’t yet!

Doctor Who (Disney+)

I’ve been a fan of Doctor Who for so many years. In fact, a long-standing tradition with my best friend has been to watch the show together every Christmas Day whenever the new holiday special drops. So imagine my joy when the show returned and, most excitingly, on a streaming service I already had! A minor qualm of my Doctor Who-watching days has been that I could not keep up with the series simply because it aired on BBC America and I cut the ties with cable TV years ago. An unfortunate consequence of the show not being available to (easily) watch weekly for me was that I missed out on part of Thirteen’s (Jodie Whittaker) era. 

So when her regeneration dropped online and it revealed the return of David Tennant, I was surprised. And then when it was revealed that Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) would be returning alongside David for a few specials, I was overjoyed. Ten/Donna’s dynamic was one of the most lovely ones — they had an incredible friendship and comedic rapport — but also Donna’s exit was, arguably, one of the series’ most heartbreaking.

Doctor Who returned with three specials (all of which were stellar, navigating Doctor Who lore and also giving us some new twists and old villains) leading up to our new Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) this year. It was such a joy and delight to see David and Catherine return to Doctor Who, specifically because their chemistry is so strong, whether they are bantering or having a gut-wrenching moment of honesty between them. But perhaps the most satisfying was how the specials wrapped up the Fourteenth Doctor’s journey: he is able to find freedom from all of the darkness and trauma that has happened to him since the last time we saw The Doctor with David Tennant’s face. Ultimately this leads to a bi-generation where a more emotionally-evolved Fifteenth Doctor splits from Fourteen and continues their journey throughout time and space.

The return of Ncuti in this year’s Christmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road,” that kicks off his new era really proved how great he is going to be as The Doctor. He is hilarious (leaping along the rooftop, singing an improvised verse or two to the Goblin King, defending the new sonic, etc.) and also heartbreaking (anyone else tear up when Fifteen listened to Ruby (Millie Gibson) talk about family and adoption?). There is so much promise with this new era of Doctor Who and I cannot wait to see all of the adventures that The Doctor gets up to in 2024.

Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+)

It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me that I love musical theatre. So when Schmigadoon! premiered in 2021, I was enamored by the cleverly-written, tongue-in-cheek Apple TV+ show that referenced classic musicals (and parodied them/their archetypical characters). And when I heard the show was coming back with “Schmicago,” I was even more excited. The show’s plot in the first season was about two doctors — Melissa (Cecily Strong) and Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) — who were struggling in their relationship and stumbled upon a magical, musical town called Schmigadoon. There, they met an array of characters, eventually rekindled their romance, and left. 

In season two, Melissa and Josh are struggling again. But this time, their relationship is solid — it’s the rest of their life that has begun to feel mundane. Additionally, the couple is struggling to have a child. So they decide to embark on an adventure to find the quaint little town of Schmigadoon which they know will make them feel hopeful again. Unfortunately, Schmigadoon is gone and in its place is Schmicago — a nod to a darker, grittier period of musicals. Melissa and Josh must now adjust to a new town with familiar faces (since the actors from season one all mostly return to play new characters in season two) and try to solve a murder.

Schmigadoon! is worth watching for so many reasons: the cast is immensely talented (in addition to Cecily and Keegan, the series also stars Dove Cameron, Aaron Tveit, Ariana DeBose, Jane Krakowski, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, etc.), and we get the new additions of Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page in the second season too. The musical theatre homages are fantastic and funny — season two features parodies of Chicago, Sweeney Todd, Hair, and more. And the songs are incredibly catchy too!

If you love musical theatre and are looking for a comedy series to immerse yourself in, then Schmigadoon! is right up your alley.

Shrinking (Apple TV+)

Are you looking for a series from Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel that is equal parts funny and heart-wrenching and also stars Harrison Ford as a curmudgeonly mentor? Then Shrinking is the show for you! Jason Segel plays Jimmy, a therapist who recently lost his wife and is struggling — both as a therapist and as a dad to his teenage daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell). In a pretty dramatic move, Jimmy decides to tell his clients what he actually thinks instead of merely listening to their issues or approaching them in ethical, compassionate ways. This radical development is meant to unnerve us. And that’s what I love about Shrinking so far — the characters are complex and you don’t always root for Jimmy. He’s messy and trying to shove the pain and grief he’s feeling away. It’s hurting his daughter and his relationships with others. And Jason Segel is a perfect choice to play this immensely complex character, as someone who is equally at home with shenanigans but also can really deliver a dramatic moment with simplicity and gravitas.

Additionally, it wouldn’t be a Bill Lawrence show without the hilarious and talented Christa Miller as Jimmy’s neighbor and Alice’s pseudo-guardian. Christa’s dynamic with everyone in the cast is just perfect, and her storyline with Harrison Ford in one particular episode is hilarious. Jessica Williams is, however, my favorite performer in the show — witty, sharp, and deftly navigating both drama and comedy, Jessica is Shrinking’s MVP and if it were up to me, she would win Best Supporting Actress awards.

The writing of the series is stellar, weaving together humor and tragedy — all while able to find the humanity within each character and situation. The show has a bit more bite than Ted Lasso does, as the main character is supposed to be far less likable than Ted, but it’s also what makes Shrinking stand out. I kind of like when shows give us characters we do not want to root for at the beginning and, by the end, we see a little bit of growth. Plus, the final moments of the Shrinking finale deliver a jaw-dropping twist and I am really interested to see how it is handled in season two.

If you’re able to emotionally handle a show about grief and all its messiness, be sure to check out Shrinking on Apple TV+.

Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

If someone were to ask me how to summarize Mrs. Davis, I wouldn’t quite know how without spoiling the show for them. So instead, I’ve told people: “It’s the wildest, most absurd, wonderful show you’ll watch this year.” The Peacock series stars Betty Gilpin as a nun named Simone who’s determined to destroy the A.I. interface (Mrs. Davis) that has taken over the world, and is tasked with locating The Holy Grail in order to complete this mission. In the process, she reconnects with her ex-boyfriend Wiley (Jake McDorman) who has been helping lead a resistance against Mrs. Davis. I won’t say more about the show’s plot for risk of spoiling some of the best TV twists this year, but suffice it to say that Mrs. Davis was an incredible series that tackled all kinds of topics — faith, love, trauma, our life’s purpose, family — in fresh ways.

And while the writing was fantastic, this show would not have worked without Betty Gilpin leading it. She is so compelling to watch — hilarious (see: her delivery of a specific plot twist in the finale) and nuanced, she embodied all of the complexities that made Simone who she was. Whether Simone was grappling with her evolving faith, her relationship with her mother, her dynamic with Wiley, or her complex feelings about Mrs. Davis, Betty truly made you feel all of the emotions in a scene. She deserves all of the accolades for the way she led this show with such force, always able to find exactly the right way to emotionally compel us. Jake McDorman too is such a great actor — he deserves to be in more things, honestly, and I am always rooting for that — and he and Betty had such delightful chemistry and rapport. Jake is hilarious (please go watch the tragically cancelled Limitless on Paramount+ for more evidence of his physical comedy) and has always been great at banter, but he excelled at the dramatic moments too, as Wiley grappled with what his life was truly worth and what he believed he deserved. The season finale is a tour de force for him, and I wish both he and Betty nothing but accolades for their performances anchoring this series.

I loved Mrs. Davis so much and truly believe it’s one of the most unique shows to have debuted this year. If you weren’t watching it when it aired and have access to Peacock, do yourself a favor and watch all of this limited series soon. You won’t regret the weird, wonderful ride.

Jury Duty (Amazon Prime/Freevee)

I heard everyone singing the praises of Jury Duty and then decided to binge watch it to see if it held up to the hype. Spoiler alert, it did! I was a little worried, given the premise of the show, that I’d have secondhand embarrassment for Ronald or that I’d be subjected to some mean-spirited pranks. But Jury Duty is not even remotely mean-spirited or intentionally trying to be cringe-comedy. It is, instead, a show about a genuinely decent guy who is thrust into a chaotic little experiment (unbeknownst to him) and handles all of the characters he meets — including James Marsden playing an exaggerated version of himself — with such grace and kindness. The premise of the show is simple: Ronald thinks he got called for a normal jury duty assignment, but the whole jury duty experience is fake, filled with improv actors, and there is no real trial. All of the actors are following a loose script that they use as a foundation for their interactions with Ronald.

The star of the series, of course, is Ronald, who is not an actor. He’s the one we’re really watching for to see if, at any point, he begins to suspect that things aren’t what they seem and exposes the ruse. Because we live in a world saturated with reality television, we might expect Ronald to snap — yelling about the absurd behavior of his fellow jurors or questioning why he’s even there. But even though wild things happen around him every single episode, Ronald keeps his composure. He tries to find solutions to truly absurd issues that arise. He forms connections with people, even though he finds some behaviors weird. And while he’s not perfect because he, like all of us, is human, the way he acted throughout the whole show was so charming to watch! All of the actors adored him and we, the audience, did too. 

And because he is nominated for awards this season, I have to mention how utterly perfect James Marsden is in Jury Duty. He, is consistently hilarious, utterly charming, delivers some truly fantastic lines and scenes, and he should truly be in all of our TV shows and films. Why is James Marsden not in all of the things we are watching?! (Aside: I also love that he and Ronald are still close after the show!)

So if you want a quick, light-hearted binge that will actually make you have faith in humanity, Jury Duty is the show for you.

Mythic Quest (Apple TV+)

I’ve talked many, many times about how much I love Mythic Quest. If you have not yet watched this Apple TV+ show, just stop reading this article, go binge-watch it, and then come back. 

Unsurprisingly, I loved season three of the series. (You can listen to And A Rewatch’s coverage of the show, which includes special guests like Megan Ganz talking about the beautiful, heartbreaking standalone episode this season, “Sarian.”) One of the show’s continued strengths is the ability to mix and match character pairings and correctly assume that the dynamics will just work. Because they always do! The cast is so incredibly talented, but also genuinely enjoy one another and that comes through in the chemistry on screen.

This season, we got more of Dana (Imani Hakim) and Ian (Rob McElhenney) interacting (which I loved), as well as the unexpected trio of Rachel (Ashly Burch), Brad (Danny Pudi), and Carol (Naomi Ekperigen). Plus, David (David Hornsby) is starting to come into his own as a leader! While the show is still, at its heart, about the complex dynamics and relationship between Ian and Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao), it’s been really fun to see the other characters — especially Jo (Jessie Ennis) — shine over the last two seasons. (Can we get an Emmy for Jessie Ennis interacting with Joe Manganiello please?) 

Whether the season was tackling the dynamic of brunches, leadership issues, creativity, or highlighting the bittersweet backstories of Ian and Poppy, Mythic Quest remained one of the most consistently well-done comedies on television.

If you haven’t checked out the series yet, use your Apple TV+ subscription (or free trial if you got a new device during the holidays!) to binge it. You won’t regret it.

Poker Face (Peacock)

In the era of “whodunnits,” Poker Face was Peacock’s “howcatchem” series that compels you from the very first episode. Created by Rian Johnson (if you loved Knives Out and Glass Onion, you’ll definitely like this show), Poker Face follows the story of Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) who is a waitress at a casino but is also basically a human lie detector. When her best friend is murdered, Charlie begins investigating — and unfortunately lands herself into hot water. The rest of the season is Charlie running away from the people hunting her down and, as she arrives in various places, solving murders. Unlike a “whodunnit,” the audience sees at the beginning of each episode, exactly what crime happened and who committed it. The fun of a “howcatchem,” then, is for us as an audience to see Charlie piece the clues together. We wonder if she’ll figure out who the bad guy is in time or if her curiosity will land her into precarious situations.

Natasha Lyonne was really born for the kind of detective role she gets to inhabit with Poker Face. Because even though this series is chock full of big name guest stars each episode — Adrien Brody, Hong Chau, Judith Light, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Rhea Perlman just to name a few — the whole series is really about Charlie. If we don’t care about her, the episodes don’t matter as much. But we do care about Charlie. We want to see her succeed and we root for her to outwit those who are tracking her.

Poker Face is a really fun series that works well as a binge watch or, when it returns to Peacock next season, as a week-to-week show.

Somebody Somewhere (HBO Max)

I heard quiet murmurings of how Somebody Somewhere was a great show and I finally decided to check it out this year when season two dropped. The show is just as great as everyone said it was, and I think what makes it so wonderful is just how unassuming it is. Unlike a lot of shows on this list, there are no fantastical elements — no demons or angels, no sci-fi, no crimes to solve. It’s a show about a woman in Kansas named Sam (Bridgett Everett) who moved back to her hometown and is dealing with the death of her sister. Sam is trying to figure out what makes her happy and how to be okay with a town she doesn’t feel like she fits into anymore. She reconnects with a friend from high school, Joel (Jeff Hiller), who introduces her to people who also don’t fit the typical mold.

Somebody Somewhere is a lovely little show about figuring out who you are, loving yourself, struggling with grief, and developing relationships in adulthood. It’s a deceptively simple show that packs an emotional punch through its storylines. You truly feel all of the emotions that Sam does when she and Joel get into a fight or when she and her sister don’t see eye-to-eye. You ache because she’s trying to figure out her life while trying to hold everyone together — including her parents.

But when Sam is in her element — when she’s singing on stage — you watch her come alive and you see, clearly, her passion and love for music. In the second season, the scenes between Sam and her old music teacher are so subtle and yet so emotionally poignant. Season two of Somebody Somewhere walks the tightrope between drama and comedy; Sam’s relationship with her sister Trish is rife with both, for example. If you, like me, have only heard about this show but haven’t watched it, be sure to catch up as soon as you can.

The Bear (Hulu)

Much has been said and written about The Bear and I’m not sure if anything I say will convince you to watch the show but I’ll try: this series is consistently one of the most tense, character-centric shows — and season two has, perhaps, the most prime example of that (“Fishes” will have you feeling like you are watching the most intense drama). Even though things aren’t really life-and-death stakes in The Bear, the way that the series is written, shot, and acted would beg to differ. It centers on Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), a chef who was once in the high-dining world and comes back to Chicago in order to run his late brother’s small restaurant. There, he begins a quasi-mentorship with a promising young chef named Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and continues to struggle with his relationships — including his friend, Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). I am so glad that this year Ayo is in a leading actor category because she and Jeremy are truly the anchors of the show. It would not work if it was just Carmy leading the restaurant; Ayo depicts the passion, creativity, and leadership that Sydney has in a way that parallels and yet perfectly contrasts Carmy. Her scenes in the finale with Ebon were incredibly moving too, and you really root for Sydney and her journey.

The Bear, like I said, is rather low stakes in the grand scheme of things: one of the biggest sources of conflict in the second season involves re-opening the restaurant and all the things that go wrong prior to, and up until, the opening night. But I cannot emphasize just how frantic and tense this show manages to make everything feel. I’m on edge, and sometimes in a way that unsettles me. Make no mistake, though: even though The Bear is labeled as a comedy in awards shows (because of the rule that half-hour series are “comedies” and hour-longs series are “dramas”), there are difficult topics that the show tackles — with grief and trauma being at the forefront.

The series has some of the most compelling characters and dynamics (whether you ship them romantically or not, the Carmy/Sydney relationship is fascinating, thanks to the writing and chemistry between the actors), and had some of the best episodes of television this year (the aforementioned “Fishes” but “Forks” is an incredible episode focused on Richie as well that deserves to be in award conversations). 

So if you are looking for a TV binge this winter break and are fascinated by the fast-paced, tense, dramatic world of dysfunctional family dynamics, then The Bear is for you.

Queen Charlotte (Netflix)

While we’re all waiting for a new Bridgerton installment, Netflix gave us a self-contained Bridgerton story this year: Queen Charlotte. The series is a Bridgerton prequel, taking place as a young Charlotte (India Amarteifio) meets and marries a young King George III (Corey Mylchreest). She realizes upon marrying George that he is struggling with a mental illness, and the rest of the series is about their partnership, family, and love. The series also flashes to the present-day queen (Golda Rosheuvel) who is dealing with the death of Princess Charlotte and putting the pressure on her sons to marry so that there will be a legitimate heir. Charlotte is not the only character we get to see in both flashbacks and present-day though — Violet and Agatha also woven throughout the season’s storylines and we get a clearer understanding of who both women are in the present by understanding their pasts. Arsema Thomas, in particular, does a fantastic job depicting the strength and heartbreak of young Agatha.

What I loved about Queen Charlotte as a series was that it focused on how Charlotte became the queen we saw in the first and second seasons of Bridgerton. We know, of course, about George’s mental state but seeing the young Charlotte navigate all of the emotions that come with being a wife and caretaker — her frustration, sadness, and love for George — is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. India did an absolutely stellar job and I was captivated by her performance. India and Corey, meanwhile, had incredible chemistry together. Their love story was so beautiful to watch (and I’ll be thinking about the final scene with them for a while).

If you’re a Bridgerton fan who didn’t watch Queen Charlotte, check it out on Netflix!

Daisy Jones & the Six (Amazon Prime)

This summer, music from Daisy Jones & the Six was stuck in my head (particularly “Look At Us Now”) because it was so catchy and so good. The Taylor Jenkins Reid adaptation exceeded my expectations — particularly in regards to the chemistry between Billy (Sam Claflin) and Daisy (Riley Keough). Both the book and series are constructed like a “behind the music”-style interview about the rise and fall of the titular band, Daisy Jones & the Six. 

What makes this show so compelling is, of course, Daisy herself — an immensely talented, free spirit singer-songwriter. Daisy, however, has her own darknesses from her childhood and the way she’s been treated by people. She self-medicates with drugs and alcohol, much to the disappointment of Billy who’s sober by the time he meets Daisy. But Daisy is a force to be reckoned with — and Riley is just so talented, inhabiting this messy, complex character and making us fall in love with her. Her vocal performances are stellar, and her dynamic with Sam is the kind of chemistry that producers can only dream of finding. 

Speaking of: Sam Claflin really deserves to be in more things. Not only does he deliver some heartbreaking moments in the series (specifically the end of “Looks Like We Made It”), but he’s also such a compelling romantic lead, able to communicate longing and heartbreak and love. The rest of the cast is so great too — particularly Camila Marrone who plays Billy’s wife, Camila. She’s navigating her love for Billy, her disappointment with his choices, her fierce desire to be loved the way she deserves, and much more. Camila navigates all of these emotions with such grace and vulnerability. Additionally we get way more time with Simone (Nabiyah Be) in the show than we do in the book. We get the opportunity to see the trajectory of her career and personal life as a Black queer woman in the 70s, and Nabiyah does a fantastic job depicting all of the highs and lows, as well as her complex friendship (and often codependency) with Daisy.

Daisy Jones & the Six is only 10 episodes, and by the time you finish binge-watching the series, you’ll be ready to listen to the soundtrack on repeat!

Ghosts (Paramount+)

I love this CBS sitcom and have been singing its praises ever since my friend Alicia introduced me to it. If you’re in the market for a really charming ensemble comedy with a bunch of talented actors, then watch Ghosts! The series follows Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), a couple who inherit a bed and breakfast. The only problem: it’s inhabited by ghosts. And after a near-death experience, Sam can see all of them. The rest of the show is about the dynamics between Sam, Jay, and the ghosts —and it’s so much fun to watch. 

The lighthearted, found family-centric ensemble comedy is just that: an ensemble. It’s the kind of show where you can put any two actors together and it just works. The ghosts all also get their own arcs and stories. This season, we got more backstory of what happened to Alberta (Danielle Pinnock) and also learn how she died. We get a really fun, unexpected dynamic between Hetty (Rebecca Wisocky) and Trevor (Asher Grodman), and a sweet relationship between Flower (Sheila Carrasco) and Thor (Devan Chandler Long). Plus this season we also got perfect running commentary from Sass (Román Zaragoza), some truly great moments for Pete (Richie Moriarty), and growth for Isaac (Brandon Scott Jones).

Ghosts, more often than not, stays pretty light in terms of the drama, but when they choose to focus on emotional beats, the show really knocks it out of the park. With Ghosts returning for season three soon, be sure to catch up on this delightful little series!

Honorable mentions: Reservation Dogs (Hulu), Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+), What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu), and The Afterparty (Apple TV+)

What were some of your favorite television shows this year?

Friday, December 20, 2019

Jenn’s Pick: 15 of My Favorite TV Characters in 2019 [Contributor: Jenn]

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2019 felt like a really long year and I’m not even entirely sure why, but I feel like I’m not alone in that feeling. Options for television shows have become eve more overwhelming in the wake of new streaming platforms like Disney+ and Apple TV+. In the new year, NBC will launch their own streaming service which will just add to the ever-growing list of services that people will have to pay for.

Nevertheless, since there are so many shows out there (and not enough time to watch them all in), I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite television characters this year. You’ll notice a pretty wide range of streaming services and platforms, and if you haven’t watched some of these, I recommend you do so in 2020!

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15. Emily Dickinson (Dickinson | Apple TV+)


Dickinson is a wild ride. It’s equal parts confounding and compelling, and a large part of that compelling part is Hailee Steinfeld’s portrayal of Emily Dickinson. She does such a wonderful job of balancing the modern-day slang and humor with genuinely heartbreaking moments. Even if I’m confused by what Dickinson was trying to accomplish, I know one thing for sure: the portrayal of Emily Dickinson as an eccentric, deeply loving, funny young author who wanted to make an impact on a world that didn’t welcome her was refreshing.

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14. Dex Parios (Stumptown | ABC)


I decided that when I heard Jake Johnson and Cobie Smulders would be cast in a television show together that I needed to watch it ASAP. Stumptown is a good fit for both actors but Cobie Smulders truly leans into the complexities of Dex Parios. Cobie’s got a knack for playing very subtle vulnerability, and while Dex has a tough exterior, we get to see cracks in her armor. She’s incredibly sweet and protective of her brother, whom she’d do anything for. She’s smart, but she’s been through a whole lot in her life and while she tries to keep the darkness at bay through distractions, she can’t always successfully do that. But Cobie Smulders conveys this complex, incredibly strong and stubborn woman.

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13. Casey Gardner (Atypical | Netflix)


Netflix recommended that I watch Atypical, and I managed to binge its three seasons quicker than I thought I would. The story follows Sam Gardner, a high-school student who’s on the spectrum, and his family. And while I’ve loved watching Sam’s growth over the years as he’s learned how to cope with change, fall in love, and grow, the character I’ve really been drawn to is Casey, Sam’s older sister. Casey initially comes across as brash and rude, sarcastic to her mom but way closer to her dad. She makes fun of Sam, takes food from him, and shoves him. But she also fights people who dare to make fun of his autism.

Over the seasons, what’s been most impressive is seeing Casey grow into who SHE is as a person. She’s spent so much of her life looking after Sam that she gets the opportunity to take care of herself. She’s fallen in love, and gets caught between feelings for her then-boyfriend and best girl friend. She goes to a new school and we see that Casey’s tough, but she’s a human just like the rest of us — afraid of people rejecting her, scared to be alone. I love Casey so much, especially in the moments where we see her love for her family and others on display (the soft side of Casey is one she hates showing but it’s there!), and can’t wait to see her grow more.

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12. Lexi (Modern Love | Amazon Prime)


Lexi was played brilliantly in Modern Love by Anne Hathaway, which is partly why I love this character so much. But I also really enjoyed how complex and real Lexi is. She wants love. She loves life. And then some days, she cannot move from her bed because of her bipolar disorder. She’s a deep, feeling, beautiful human being who — on those high-energy days — imagines musical numbers in grocery stores. Anne Hathaway’s depiction of Lexi breaking down in a diner though is by far the most compelling scene in her episode. Your heart aches for her to find someone to trust with her story and when she does, you feel relief. By the episode’s end, we get to see the hope that there is for Lexi: hope to journey toward healing, day by day.

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11. Susie Myerson (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Amazon Prime)


Admittedly, season three of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel bored me. But the one bright spot in the season was the character development of Susie Myerson. I love that the show relies on Alex Borstein’s impeccable comedic delivery to continue to evolve Susie’s personality. The reason why she’s one of my favorite characters this year isn’t because of her biting wit (though she does keep everyone in line), but because of the emotional development we saw in Susie’s character this year. She loves Midge, obviously, but Susie has her own battles to fight. She loses Midge’s money gambling. She has high hopes for Sophie Lennon (Jane Lynch), who utterly disappoints her. She tries to protect Midge, tries to be a good manager, and tries to be someone people can rely on. But Susie’s breakdowns in the last few episodes really and truly made her so endearing and compelling. Your heart ached for her because beneath all the snark and sarcasm is a woman who truly cares about others and is trying her best.

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10. Steve Harrington (Stranger Things | Netflix)


Let’s talk about how Stranger Things managed to take the teenage antagonist from season one and turn him into the endearing, wonderful character he is in season three. After Steve spent so much of his time mothering Will and his friends, we got the chance to see the softer side of Steve — the one who mentors Dustin before he goes into the dance, and the one who spends most of his storyline in season three also with Dustin (and Erica). One of the great things though this season was Steve and Robin’s friendship. We had the opportunity to see Steve be his sarcastic self while also softening in honest conversations with her. Steve Harrington is just such a wonderful, fun, quotable TV character and I’m so glad he graced my TV again this summer.

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9. Ruth Wilder (GLOW | Netflix)


I’ll always love Alison Brie, and in GLOW she plays Ruth Wilder. Ruth is an ambitious actress and someone who genuinely loves her family of female performers. One of the most wonderful things about Ruth though is that she’s genuine. She makes mistakes and doesn’t always say or do the right thing, but she cares. She genuinely cares about the people around her. She cares about silly things too, like hotel hot chocolate with whipped cream. She cares about Sam. But she also has learned, over the course of the seasons, to care about herself. GLOW season three ends with Ruth doing the bold thing we haven’t seen her do yet — bet on herself. She doesn’t want to give up her dream of being an actress; she doesn’t want to settle for just “okay” or “good enough.” Debbie’s dreams aren’t her dreams and Ruth is courageous enough this year to walk away. That’s why I love her.

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8. Aziraphale and Crowley (Good Omens | Amazon Prime)


Was there a better duo on television this year than Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and Crowley (David Tennant) in Good Omens? I don’t think so. I couldn’t separate these characters from each other because while Sheen and Tennant are incredibly talented, the best parts of Good Omens featured them working together. Crowley is a snarky, cynical demon and Aziraphale is an optimistic angel. But, of course, these two characters become way more than their archetypes. Crowley has goodness and softness in him, and Aziraphale defies orders when he believes justice isn’t being served. Their friendship is so comedic but also endearing, as they clearly care about each other (and saving the world).

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7. Rainbow “Bow” Johnson (blackish and mixedish | ABC)


I’ve watched blackish for a while now, and was excited when ABC announced a prequel of sorts to that comedy, focusing on Rainbow Johnson’s childhood. The show, mixedish, shows what life is like for Bow and her siblings as they grew up mixed-race kids in the 80s. The show has the same kind of comedy, voiceover narration, and feel as blackish does which is why it works so well for me. And seeing how Rainbow grew up in the 80s makes me appreciate the character that we see in blackish in the present-day. I love Bow: she’s incredibly smart, a little weird, energetic, and a great mother. But watching Bow as a teenager (played wonderfully by Arica Himmel) gives me even more of an appreciation for her. We sympathize with her struggles at home and in school. Bow is so driven, optimistic, and hopeful and even when the world disappoints her, she chooses to get back up and try again. That’s what makes her so strong and important, as a teenager and as an adult.

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6. Rory, Emma, Amy, Sophie, and Graham (Single Parents | ABC)


As much as I love all of the adults on Single Parents, a “best of” character list this year wouldn’t be complete without the kids from the show. Each one brings something unique and hilarious to this ABC sitcom. Graham is just so quirky and fun, and his panic (specifically over Titanic being based on real-life events) moments are hilarious. Rory is just so great. His comedic beats, eccentric personality, and showstopping ensembles are great. Sophie is a bit of a wildcard, which is what I love about her. She’s often quiet and unassuming, the typical “good girl.” But she has moments where she’s more mature than some of the adults and some where she’s hyped up on sugar like the child she is. And then there are Amy and Emma, hilariously dry twins who love construction and snark at the adults in the most commendable way.

Single Parents is an absolute gem of a show, but it wouldn’t work as well as it did if the kids weren’t as great. Each of these child actors portraying the characters above does an incredible job of nailing comedic timing and emotional moments. Seriously, watch this show.

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5. Chidi Anagonye (The Good Place | NBC)


Chidi is so wonderful. This past year he chose to sacrifice himself for the sake of the neighborhood experiment, knowing there was no other way that the Soul Squad could have a chance at succeeding. That led to some incredibly emotional and heartfelt goodbyes (why doesn’t William Jackson Harper have awards?!), including an incredibly sad and romantic montage of moments between Eleanor and Chidi. Even though his weakness is his indecision, Chidi has grown so much over the course of the last few seasons. He’s become more confident, fell in love, and made decisions — including arguably one of the hardest anyone, even a good decision-maker would have to make. Chidi is just such an endearing character to watch grow and develop, and I can’t wait to see what the final episodes of The Good Place bring us.

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4. Alexis Rose (Schitt’s Creek | Pop TV)


One of the best parts of 2019 was everyone, including myself, getting into the delightful comedy Schitt’s Creek. Everywhere I turn, friends seem to be talking about how delightful the series is — and I agree! Though I love every character on this show (Patrick might be one of my favorites ever), Alexis holds a special place in my heart because of her growth. People underestimate her constantly. She’s always trying to prove that she belongs, even when she feels like she doesn’t. And she’s grown so much — in expressing vulnerability, in finding her place, in getting closer to her family and friends. Alexis is so underrated but she’s had an amazing character arc (and she’s just so fun too) that she deserved a place on my list this year.

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3. Fleabag (Fleabag | Amazon Prime)


When I heard the buzz around Fleabag, I had to check it out. The titular character is the very definition of complex — snarky, dark, and desperate for something. We don’t really get a sense of who Fleabag is or what she wants until the mystery surrounding her grief gets explored. But what brings this character and show to the top of everyone’s must-watch lists is how amazingly well Phoebe Waller-Bridge portrays a very deep, dark, dimensional character. I liked Fleabag in season one but the growth that her character displays in season two is just incredible. We watch Fleabag come to grips with guilt, process her emotions and responses, exhibit self-control, and fall in love. It’s a really satisfying journey to see unfold and she’s a dynamic character who deserves to be recognized for all of the intricacies and growth that make her Fleabag.

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2. The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda (The Mandalorian | Disney+)


I could talk for a few hundred words about how adorable Baby Yoda is (yes, I know, its name is “The Child” but we’re going with “Baby Yoda” throughout this piece), with his little coos and playing with buttons on a ship and sipping broth with the same level of intensity that Kermit sips tea. But I won’t do that. Instead, I’ll talk about how The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda are two of my favorite new characters this year because they work as a pair. Mando decided to rebel against orders and save Baby Yoda, which says a lot about him as a character. And even though we’ve never seen his face, Mando emotes in such a very tangible way that you feel what he’s feeling — fear, confliction, affection. It shouldn’t work but it does, mostly because of Pedro Pascal’s voice acting. Baby Yoda is already great because he’s adorable and powerful, and because he tries to protect Mando too! The Mandalorian is a series that’s a bit slower-paced than your traditional Star Wars fare, but it’s proving to be an emotional, dramatic ride with these characters.

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1. Rebecca Bunch (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend | The CW)


One of my absolute favorite character arcs this year was that of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Rebecca Bunch. In the show’s first season, Rebecca is obsessive and manipulative, lying to everyone around her in order to get what she wants: Josh Chan. But as the series unfolds, we learn that there’s a lot more that’s going on in Rebecca’s mind and life than we initially assume. In addition, as she begins to form close relationships with people around her, she starts to recognize patterns in her own life and behavior. It isn’t until Rebecca hits rock bottom though (a place of darkness and desperation that Rachel Bloom deserved all the awards for conveying) that we truly see her character arc start to swing upward permanently.

Rebecca begins taking medication for her borderline personality disorder (BPD). She goes to group therapy. She does workbooks. And while she occasionally slips into old patterns and routines, Rebecca’s commitment to her own personal growth and self-discovery is so beautiful. The series’ finale focuses on Rebecca answering the question of who she is. She’s spent so much of her life devoted to finding love and filling whatever is missing within her that she really hasn’t stopped to figure out exactly who she is. And when she finds her voice, literally and figuratively, there is nothing more satisfying or lovely.

Who were some of your favorite TV characters this year? Let us know in the comments below!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

15 Things We Learned From the "Pretty Little Liars" Special [Contributor: Megan Mann]


It seems like it was forever ago that we finally found out the answer to the biggest question of all: Who is "A"? While most of us were disappointed to learn that it was, in fact Cece (a dark horse in the pool of candidates), it was even more disappointing to know that we had witnessed the summer finale of Pretty Little Liars and would have to wait until 2016 in order to find out more about our favorite Rosewood residents.

Thankfully, I. Marlene King understands that we can’t just sit and wait until the winter finale for our fix of our favorite Liars. We’ve been given Halloween episodes in previous years, and last year we were treated to a Christmas episode. But this time around, we get a look at the future of Rosewood’s most infamous group of gal pals. Here’s what we learned:

High school love... is not forever, apparently.

Hanna and Caleb move to New York, but because of her new career in fashion, things don’t work out between the two. And when she comes back to Rosewood, she’s engaged! Even Ashley Benson is sad that Caleb and Hanna are not together after the time-jump. I mean, really though: who wouldn’t be sad to split from Rosewood’s reigning Disney prince? #Haleb4Eva

And, as to be expected, Spencer and Toby fell apart when she left Rosewood and he stayed there. He’s a cop, remember?

Toby is movin' out.

Do you guys remember that time that Toby’s house blew up? Because honestly at that point in the series, the destruction kept piling up and it was hard to keep it straight. As a result of all of the chaos that ensued, Toby took the large sum of money and moved just outside of Rosewood. When he witnesses a robbery, he apparently meets a very important woman. Well, who is she? I need answers.

Bros before Rose(wood).

Oh my God. Toby and Caleb go fishing on the weekends. It is adorable.

Emily is not having the best five years.

Apparently, Emily drops out of school because her dad dies. DID YOU READ THAT? HER DAD DIES. This is not okay. I’m not okay. Are you okay?

And to add to all of this suspense and drama, it looks like Emily has a secret. Because, well, of course she does. And of course we don’t know what that secret is. The new episodes of this show haven’t even started airing yet and already there’s this intrigue. Go figure.

Sibling bonding time!... Or not.

We see a clip of Jason and Ali visiting Cece three months after the events at the prom. The visitations continue throughout the next five years. It’s through visiting Cece that Ali meets her fancy doctor husband, Dr. Rollins. In true Ali fashion, due to the nature of their meeting, it’s all secrets and white lies.

Ugh.

Goodbye, my teacher/lover.

Aria has gotten over Ezra and I, for one, don’t like that. She leaves Georgia and photography behind, trading them in for Boston and writing, which finally lands her a career in publishing. \

Ah, don't you just love how television makes getting your work published look so easy? Interestingly enough, it’s her career that brings Aria back to Ezra... only in a working capacity.

Down the rabbit hole, Ezra goes.

Ezra has had a rough five years. He follows Nicole, from Habitat for Humanity, but that was apparently taken away from him really violently. He returns to Rosewood, broken and drowning in alcohol. It’s definitely a different kind of Ezra we’ll be meeting in the flash-forward than the one we were used to seeing.

Welcome bAck, Cece Drake.

Cece, now going again by the name Charlotte, is getting better and hoping to soon come home. Ali reaches out to the Liars and asks them to come back to Rosewood and help her create a safe setting for Cece/Charlotte.

The clothes maketh the (wo)man.

The hair, makeup, costume, and music composing departments all wanted to give the show a more sophisticated vibe, as the girls are now five years older and no longer teenagers or children. I love this idea.


BUT WHERE ARE THE MOMS?

Okay, guys. Remember how the moms were trapped in a basement at the end of the summer finale? Yeah... how they escaped is still a mystery. The actresses themselves don’t even know what happened! You’d think that through all of this, the show could have at least told us how the moms got out of that stupid basement. Sigh.

Enjoy your stay at the Radley Hotel... 

Radley has become... a hotel. Wait, seriously? Yeah. Okay, sure. Who wouldn't want to stay in a place that used to be a mental institution?

Whatever. That’s a choice. We do the girls sitting in the bar at the hotel together and I really hope that that’s going to play an important part in the new episodes.

The Hastings women conquer the world.

Spencer is living in the barn while she helps her mom run for a seat in the Senate (Spencer, having also become involved in a political career herself.)

YEAH, YOU GO, MAMA HASTINGS. YOU TEAR CAPITOL HILL UP.

Farewell, "A."

The girls saying goodbye to each other before they went their separate ways was also the writers saying goodbye to the "A" storyline. But the real question is: what will Rosewood even be like without "A" constantly tormenting the girls?

It's Ali vs. Mona

Another scene that bridges the gap between the past and present is Ali teaching at Rosewood High School. (Did she go to college for that? What are her credentials?)

Anyway, when the students leave, Mona is sitting in the back row. The two catch up on everything and everyone before Ali says exactly why Mona really is there: Mona wanted to work at the hospital in the same ward Charlotte is in, but Ali blocked her application.

Apart from that, we learn more about Mona, which raises questions: what’s Mona’s job in the public eye? I need to know. Is she an actress? She’s always been so good at that. 

Nevertheless, Mona wants to see Charlotte and Ali won’t let her. She lurks in the corner while Ali makes a phone call and it makes me think that Mona is going to be up to something this season.


A new Big Bad is looming...

Ali brings the girls back and she needs their help, but there’s something that happens that makes them all stay. Because of that, that’s where a new “Big Bad” comes about. There’s apparently something very dark and twisted about this one that’s much different than "A."

You all know what this means... we're about to get back to our sleuthing ways! But this time, the Liars will be dealing with a brand new threat and a bigger threat than anything they have dealt with thus far. After the events of last season, I can’t imagine what could be worse, but apparently that’s what we’re going to be coming up against.

What could possibly be worse than Mona and Cece? What could have happened to prompt someone to go after the Liars in such a way? Why do I have more questions than answers before season 6B has even started? 

We’re so close to the winter premiere and with all of this new information, we’re just going to have to sit and contemplate everything that could have happened in those five years that we missed. 

I’ll see you in January, my little Liars.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Lynnie's Listicles: 15 Netflix Movies Worth Watching [Contributor: Lynnie Purcell]


Wading through Netflix can be a chore. Here’s a list of fifteen movies currently on instant streaming worth checking out. This is not a comprehensive list, but it’s a good place to start. I hope it helps you weed through the choices, and happy viewing!

Hector and the Search for Happiness


I talked about this movie a lot in the last Summer Lovin’ series post. Starring Simon Pegg, it is about one man’s journey to find personal and everlasting happiness. He travels the world in his search, meets lots of interesting people, and discovers that happiness was closer to him than he had thought.

The Fifth Element


Corbin Dallas has been working through a string of really bad luck. His bad luck culminates when a nearly naked woman falls through the roof of his cab. His bad day takes a turn, however, when he sees the woman and instantly feels a connection that will eventually send him on an adventure across the galaxy. Together, he and the woman, Leeloo, save the world and each other. It’s a science fiction classic that has everything you could ever want in an adventure film.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off


“Never had one lesson!”

Ferris Bueller came out in height of the eighties and has all the corny lines, big hairdos, and high school hijinks you can stand. It’s an iconic movie, with real heart at the core. Ferris and his friends are at the turning point in their lives. They are firmly between adulthood and adolescence, and the terror of everything changing forever is the undercurrent that drives Ferris’s need to spend one final day playing hooky. The movie is charming, quirky, and is currently the king of Netflix.

The Burbs


The suburbs are home to all sorts of weirdness. This is showcased in Tom Hanks’s movie, The Burbs. Living in close proximity to someone is always a little awkward. It’s worse when that someone happens to be a raging sociopath who murders people. The mystery of what’s really going on the basement of his neighbor’s house drives the comedy, absurdity, and darkness of one man’s need to understand it all.

Odd Thomas


Odd Thomas has always had a gift for seeing the spirits of those who have passed on. He helps bring the restless closure through his visions. His gift comes with a drawback though – the ability to see monsters that could kill him if they were aware of his talent. The monsters are attracted to death, and there is a large swarm gathering in his hometown. Darkness is coming, and he’s the only one who can stop it. If you sit down to see this without reading the books or without knowing anything beforehand, just know that you will need tissues. Lots and lots of tissues.

Jumanji


Robin Williams. That’s all you need to know.

Forrest Gump


I’m not certain I’ve actually met anyone who hasn’t seen this movie, but I’m sure they exist somewhere in the wilds of Madagascar. [Jenn's Note: Literally watching this as I edit Lynnie's post because it's on ABC Family.] If you haven’t seen it, Forrest Gump is the story of a man with below average intelligence who lives his life with above average results. If you have seen it, re-watching it always worth the nineties nostalgia.

The Nightmare Before Christmas


Tim Burton brings Halloween to Christmas in The Nightmare Before Christmas. The Pumpkin King, Jack, is bored with his duties and wants to understand the magic of Christmas. He orders his people to begin building toys for the holiday and has Santa Claus kidnapped. What follows is absolute chaos. The songs are iconic, the story is suitably frightening, heartwarming, and the resolution brings Jack new hope.

Mulan


Mulan is a boss. She does everything she sets her mind to with grace and intelligence. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy her story, but if you do have kids, it’s a story worth sharing with them. It teaches self-worth, fighting for what’s right, and the need to have a Mushu wherever you go in life.

Lilo And Stitch


Ohana means family. Ohana is the current that directs Lilo and Stitch throughout the craziness of adopting a tiny blue alien, dealing with the people who have come to kill him, and Lilo’s unlikely friendship with Stitch. Stitch learns to love, Lilo learns to let go, and Lilo’s sister is the single most awesome sister on the face of the planet.

Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil


Two rednecks are in search of the perfect vacation, only to have it ruined by murder and mayhem. The pair of dirty, overall-wearing, beer-drinking, good ol’ boys go out to a recently purchased vacation home on a quiet, remote lake. There, a murderous yuppie complicates everything. Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil turns all of the survival horror clichés on their heads, subtly pointing out that looks are deceiving and sociopaths, more often than not, wear polos. It’s funny, it’s gross, and Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are wonderful, charismatic, and deserve all the awards.

Bridget Jones’s Diary


Need a reimaging of Pride and Prejudice without all the dancing? Look no further than Bridget Jones’s Diary. Rene Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant bring the charm, flirtation, and romance in a love story that transcends time.

Stardust


Originally written by Neil Gaiman and adapted for the big screen by Matthew Vaughn, Stardust is the story of a boy becoming a man, falling in love, and taking his rightful place beyond the wall that separates boring England from magical England. Young Tristan goes in search of a star. Instead he finds the love of his life and an adventure that will change him forever.

(Bonus: Charlie Cox!)

Silver Linings Playbook


Jennifer Lawrence plays a widow haunted by her husband’s death, and Bradley Cooper has just been released from a psychiatric facility after attacking the man his wife was sleeping with while married to him. They are both a little screwed up, but, somehow, they work. Through a dance competition, the pair grow closer, face the demons of their respective pasts, and learn that love is better when it’s a little weird.

Those are my top picks right now for what’s currently playing on Netflix. If you have any you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below. :)