(Cue "It's the end of the world as we know it" by R.E.M. while distant screaming persists in the background.)
SO.
It's been a bad year. (And it's only September.)
All of us right now are absolutely going through it, which is understandable because there's a global pandemic ravaging the world as we know it. I hope everyone out there is doing okay.
Personally, I've taken this time to work on my mental health (to some modicum of success) and to basically ignore the trash fire going on around me by watching movies and TV shows that make me happy. I've decided to make a list of things that I found enjoyable, so that I can share them with you. Maybe then we can bond over our favorite movies and TV shows while the world burns around us.
(This list is in no particular order, by the way)
10. Hamilton (on Disney+)
Now, if you haven't seen the Broadway musical Hamilton yet, I have to say that you're missing out. I can't explain to you why this show is so amazing, but I can tell you that no matter how you feel about American history (especially right now), this show is bound to captivate you and trick you into caring about America's founding fathers. The music is impeccable, the acting is unparalleled, and the casting is just... (chef's kiss). If you haven't watched it yet, please give it a shot (no pun intended), and if you have, go listen to the soundtrack again on Spotify. You know you want to.
9. Normal People (on Hulu)
Normal People was a limited series based on the book by Sally Rooney, produced by the BBC and distributed through Hulu. The overall show is about two Irish people who fall in and out of love over the course of several years, and it's great. If you have Hulu and are able to watch it, I suggest you give the show a chance. It's a romantic show, but it's about much more than that, if you ask me. 10/10 would recommend.
8. Little Fires Everywhere (on Hulu)
Can you say, "all-star cast?" Can you say, "relevant social themes?" This show was amazing. Little Fires Everywhere had all of the things you want out of a good mini series: thoughtful commentary about the "white savior" narrative, drama between Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon, LGBT+ representation, etc. We live for it, honestly. I definitely didn't think this show was perfect, but it tackled some issues that aren't usually talked about in this particular format- such as how systemic racism affects white people much differently than people of color. Just like the gif says, "[White people] didn't make good choices [in life]. [They] had good choices." You love to see it.
7. Work It (on Netflix)
Now this movie may be a little controversial for some of you. Was Work It a good movie? Well, that depends on what your definition of good is. If you're looking for something light, in the vein of a Disney Channel original movie with some fun dance moves thrown in, then you won't be disappointed. Sure the movie is predictable and silly (with some major plot points that are just completely dropped for the sake of moving the story along), but it's a good time to watch. Have a viewing party with some friends over Discord and laugh at how silly it is if you feel so inclined.
6. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (on Netflix)
If you haven't seen this movie yet, I don't think I can associate with you in public. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is probably the best (yes, I said BEST) Spider-Man movie out to date, and that's including the Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire ones. The plot is more interesting and complex than many of the other Spider-Man movies, and the animation and music in this movie is absolutely stunning. It is definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it already.
5. Booksmart (on Hulu)
I love this movie. I'm not sure what it is about it that appeals to me, but I think the realism really gets me. I really enjoyed the whole premise of the film, and the way it was executed also really worked for me. Booksmart is relatable for those kids who would kiss up to their English teacher in class, and then never do anything outside of their college approved extracurriculars. I think it speaks to my inner nerd, and that's why I love it. Check it out.
4. Carole & Tuesday (on Netflix)
This one is a little more personal to me, because I absolutely adore this show and all of the music in it. Carole & Tuesday is an anime that focuses on two girls who want to become famous on Mars. It is... problematic, to say the least, especially when it comes to LGBT+ representation, so I'll just put that out there up front. However, I still think that it's worth watching, if only for their friendship and the music. I unironically have like eight of the songs from this show on several different Spotify playlists. Watch it if you want a lighthearted anime with good music.
3. Cobra Kai (on Netflix)
I only recently finished this series, because it was just released to Netflix this past weekend. I knew it used to be a YouTube original (one of the only good ones, so I heard), but I had never taken the time to actually watch it until it hit Netflix. After binging it all in a couple of days, I have to say... I get the hype. Cobra Kai follows the story of the original Karate Kid franchise by telling the story of Johnny Lawrence, the former bully in the original Karate Kid. After losing the biggest karate tournament of his life almost 35 years ago, he decides to reopen the Cobra Kai dojo in spite of his rival, Daniel LaRusso. This show is good, even if you haven't seen the original Karate Kid. It provides just enough context for old and new viewers alike to enjoy.
2. Sorry to Bother You (on Hulu)
I'm just gonna just say it: this movie is WEIRD. It might not start off that way, but trust me, it gets there. Despite that, though, I liked it a lot. Sorry to Bother You is the kind of movie that gets you thinking about the system, and how it's inherently built to oppress those who are disadvantaged. You may or may not remember the advertising for this movie years ago when it mentioned having a "white-voice?" Well, that was honestly just the beginning of how bizarre and macabre this movie gets. I can guarantee you won't see the twist coming.
1. I Am Not an Easy Man (on Netflix)
This one is probably my most controversial on the list, because not only is this movie a French film, but it is also a film about the patriarchy and how much it sucks. This movie is meant to be a romantic comedy, and for the most part it delivers, up until the ending which I didn't particularly care for at all. Nonetheless, I Am Not an Easy Man (translated from the original French title) followed a male chauvinist as he is transported into a world in which females have all of the power instead of men. This movie is a little touchy because I know that some men will be offended by this concept, even, but I found it to be remarkably refreshing to see all of the things that women have to go through on the daily pointed out so blatantly in a film. By flipping the script, it highlights how ridiculously sexist society truly is overall. I would recommend watching it if you like subtitles, but even if you don't- Netflix has a dubbed version in English.
Alrighty. So there's my list of movies and shows to watch that will (hopefully) lift you out of the funk that is currently 2020. On the bright side, there's only three months left in the year, and then it'll be over. Hopefully by 2021 we can all collectively forget that 2020 was such a horrendous shit storm and we can all get vaccinated and go outside again.
Let me know if you've seen any of these shows/ movies already, and what you think. And feel free to recommend some more content for me to watch, because God knows I need something to distract myself from the chaos of the world right now.
Stay safe out there, everybody.