It’s time to recap everything I’ve watched this month! I’m adding a few podcasts too. I originally planned to write podcast posts every month, but for awhile there I was really just listening to the same handful of shows over and over again and how much can I really say about them? But I found a few new good ones this month I want to share. But first, tv!
TV – Alone (spoilers probable!)
Quantico
I’m not sure what it is about this show, but I still really like it. Even though it feels super cliche with the main characters constantly falling for each other and just switching it up in different seasons. I don’t buy the whole Ryan/Shelby marriage, but of course Alex conveniently just falls for the new guy! Though I do have to say he’s a much hotter choice. 🙂
Young & Hungry
This is really the most ridiculous show. And Gabby might possibly be one of the most annoying tv characters I have ever seen. And yet, I’m still rooting for her. Josh is pretty dumb too, but he’s cute and the show is mildly funny overall. I wish they didn’t have the live studio audience laughter to make it feel a bit more authentic. But hey, it’s something light to watch in between the heavier things.
The Bachelorette
I started watching this so I could follow along better with The Popcast’s Patreon recaps of each episode. I never expected to actually feel so invested in it! Especially now that Becca is down to the final two guys – and they’re the two guys I liked the most from the very beginning! I almost don’t even want to watch the finale because it’s going to be so heartbreaking. I wanted her to be with Blake from the beginning, but he’s been freaking out so much lately – which feels like a valid response in this whole crazy plan to find love. But it does make me like him a little less. And Garrett has really grown on me, despite how much The Popcast hates him. Who will she choose?! Why is she so happy to have narrowed it down to two? Why isn’t she totally flipping out yet that she has to choose JUST ONE? What a show.
Lovesick
I binged this in a couple of days at the recommendation of my sister-in-law. It was a fun and cute little British show. I have to say that I didn’t much care for Dylan. I liked the other guy much more. So much more interesting. And it was weird seeing Evvie as her British self (I had no idea!). I love her in The Good Doctor, though, so it was cool seeing her in something else.
Younger
I still love this show so, so, so much. Much like The Bachelorette, both Josh and Charles have always seemed so perfect! I’ve always been team Charles, but Josh is just adorable and sweet and just so lovely. I was happy he was kind of out of the picture, except now he’s back. And maybe still wants Liza? I just don’t understand how they can work around the kid issue, though, when he wants them so badly. But Charles! HE KNOWS!!! And if you saw the most recent episode, he finally got over his big whiny fit about Liza’s whole secret and HE DOESN’T CARE ANYMORE. I was so happy!!!!!! I just don’t know where this show could go, though, at this point. Almost everyone knows Liza’s real age now. Does that mean it’s almost over?
Anne with An E
I’ve heard a lot of criticism about this rendition of Anne of Green Gables. I rather like it, though. It’s uplifting, nostalgic, and full of positive messages. I do have to say that Anne cried WAY too much in the second season. It got a bit old by the end.
Sugar Rush
Out of regular shows to watch, I gave this one a shot and binged it in the last few days while working. It was good! I don’t like the whole rush to beat the clock aspect in the first two rounds, but I always love a good baking show. It’s very much like Cupcake Wars, which I was a huge fan of. I’m definitely going to be checking out some more Netflix baking shows in the next few weeks!
TV- Together
Better Call Saul
I’m still really enjoying this one. We just watched the episode where Jimmy finally calls himself Saul Goodman. It was really intriguing to obviously see that Saul is just a persona he plays, not who he really is, like you only saw in Breaking Bad. I really like Jimmy. I’m curious to see where this goes. I see the newest season starts in just a few days!
Prison Break
We heard a long time ago that they were going to do a reboot of Prison Break, a show we loved way back when it was on. And then we never heard anything about it again – never a good sign! I realized we had just plain missed it, so now we’re checking out this newer season. It’s kind of stupid and ridiculous that Michael is yet again in a prison he needs to break out of. But it’s kind of nostalgic watching Lincoln and Michael together again (and not in their weird Legends of Tomorrow characters). Even if the entire premise is super unbelievable. You DIED, Michael. You were terminally ill and you died. But – never addressed.
Sharp Objects
I generally prefer to read the book before I see a tv or movie adaptation, but I didn’t have a chance for this one. It’s…interesting. Slow. Amy Adams is so mumbly it kind of drives me nuts. I also only ever want to see Chris Messina as Danny in The Mindy Project. He will always only ever be Danny. But, I’m intrigued by the show, curious to see who the killer is. I definitely have my suspect in mind!
Movies
Father Figures
This was pretty dumb. I watched it on a night I was alone, hoping to just have a lighthearted comedy to entertain me. I don’t really recommend wasting your time on it.
Buddymoon
Another odd one. It was especially weird because David Giuntoli and Flula Borg where kind of playing themselves, but not really? I like both the actors, but all they do is walk through the forest in the entire movie. It was okay.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
We saw this in the theater right when it came out, with the boys. It was kind of hard to concentrate because Shepard was bored and kept demanding that we leave. I liked it, but not as much as the first one. I’m always up for a Paul Rudd film, though!
Ready Player One
I think if you go into this movie expecting it to be just like the book, you’ll be very disappointed. If you think of it as a standalone movie, it’s entertaining enough. They really missed major portions of the book, speeding character relationships along so quickly. I actually fell asleep during the biggest battle scene and we had to finish it on a different day. I didn’t hate, but not my favorite, for sure.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
I saw this in the theater a few days ago with a friend and I loved it! I had no expectations going into it, other than musicals are fun and I just wanted a night out. But Lily James was so delightful in it! The music was super entertaining. I’ve actually been listening to the soundtrack all week. I highly recommend this one!
I Feel Pretty
I really wanted to like this movie. The trailers made it look so hilarious I actually really wanted to see it in the theater, but never had the chance. Probably a good thing because it was NOT worth it. There were a few funny parts, but most of it was just every single person looking at Amy Schumer and thinking or saying bad things about her because she’s too fat to be that confident. She’s not fat!! I don’t know, I think the whole movie was sending very mixed signals. It was okay.
Cinderella
I really wanted some more Lily James in my life, so I watched this the other day. It was so boring!! Almost no singing, which seemed odd. And Cinderella was just so dull. Quite a disappointment.
Mamma Mia!
I wish I had watched this before seeing the second one, just to get a refresher on all the characters. I spent the entire second movie wondering who the actual dad was and I just finished watching the first one only to realize they never did figure it out. (My bet’s on Harry.) Anyway, after seeing them both this week I like the second one SO much more.
PODCASTS
Well, I’m still listening to my old standbys every week – The Popcast, The Popcast Friend of the Show patreon feed, Front Porch with the Fitzes, Spilled Milk, and Happier with Gretchen Rubin. When the mood strikes I also like to listen to The Lazy Genius, The Bible Binge, What Should I Read Next, and The Next Right Thing. I’m constantly looking for new podcasts, but have a hard time committing to them if they’ve been on the air for a long time. I’m really preferring the experience of starting with a show as its born – or recently birthed – so I can decide from the start if it’s for me. Which maybe doesn’t make sense. But it’s a lot less overwhelming than seeing a podcast that has 100+ episodes and trying to figure out where to jump in. Anyway! I found three new ones this month that I really liked and want to recommend.
Rise Together Podcast with Rachel and Dave Hollis
Guys, I am obsessed with Rachel Hollis right now. Actually, I really like Dave too because he’s just as active on social media – maybe even more so than Rachel. I read her book last month and loved it and now I stalk all of their instagram posts and stories and live streams that they do every single morning. Rachel has her own podcast called Rise (up until recently it was called Dias), and I’ve listened to two or three episodes. But they just started this couples podcast together and I’m really enjoying it. They definitely have an extremely admirable marriage and they’re not shy about explaining how hard they work to keep that relationship a priority and the steps they take to make it happen. The podcast is really just them having conversations about what works for them. It’s interesting. And worthwhile.
Sandra
I’m not sure what to call this type of podcast – a drama? It’s a story format, I believe just six or eight episodes. It’s about an artificial intelligence machine, similar to amazon’s Alexa, called Sandra. Except you find out that the intelligence behind Sandra is actually a company of people that will answer everyone’s questions, based on the key words they use. Anyway, it was very entertaining and a little bit creepy. I liked it a lot.
Penpals with Rory Scovel and Daniel Van Kirk
I just discovered this a few days ago and I already know it’s going to be one of my favorites. I was delighted to realize that Rory Scovel is actually the love interest from I Feel Pretty. I had no idea that was his name, but of course immediately recognized his voice. He used to be in a short lived show called Ground Floor that I loved. Anyway, both men are comedians and all they do is answer questions from their “penpals” – anybody who wants to send them a message. There are only a few episodes, but they’re willing to talk about anything. I laughed out loud in those few episodes more than I have in ages from some sort of media. I’m actually saving up the last few episodes I have for my long drives next week and it’s killing me not to just jump right in. I love it!
And that’s it for July! Any good recommendations for me?? I could really use some more binge-worthy shows to watch while I’m working. I’m much more apt to sit down and work when I have something I’m desperate to watch at the same time!
