July & Early August
Is it ok to recommend TV shows during the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike? I'm doin it.
Hello new subscribers! This is really exciting that I have followers that aren’t my close friends and family! I hope you enjoy it.
HOT:
The Lake Season 2 (Prime Video): Anyone in need of a heart-warming summer at the lake tv show to binge? Check out The Lake. I’ve mentioned it in a previous newsletter, but season 2 is now streaming and it’s a good one, a natural progression from the first season. If a light, summer, comedy that begins with a runaway groom is of interest, check this series out. Fingers crossed it gets a 3rd season (who knows when that would be released though).
Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix): The entirety of Season 2 is now released! I highly recommend this series for anyone who likes law drama and crime mixed with some humor. Defense lawyer Mickey is the perfect charming lead working one big high-profile murder case per season. The defendants/alleged murderers are suspicious and the writing on this show is very clever.
Heartstopper (Netflix): Season 2 released! I’m only two episodes in, yet it is already living up to the high standard the first season set. It is a true heart-warming, modern high-school romance. First of all, the two leads are so smushy and adorable, and the feeling of young love and the heartbreaks, excitement, and newness that accompanies it is palpable. Thank goodness this one came out pre-strike! Side note: the added graphics used to emphasize times of emotions are genius.
Paint The Town Red, Doja Cat (Spotify): Doja really doesn’t give a flying fuck about what any of us think and she’s let that very known. For those of you who don’t know, Doja Cat is constantly under fire for her absurd statements like how she doesn’t care about her fans. As she’s risen to fame she’s become more and more outrageous and outspoken, which is very entertaining until it turns problematic. Anyway, her latest release is so well done and is hilarious in the context of her fans’ outrage re: her dissing her fans. Let me give you a little teaser: “bitch, I said what I said, I’d rather be famous instead.” Go give it a listen. Don’t watch the music video if you don’t like satanic references and blood, though. I’m promoting the song, not the music video, to be clear.
The Age of Pleasure, Janelle Monáe (Spotify): I first listened to Call Her Daddy’s interview with Monáe before listening to her album and it was so much better after hearing about her personal journey and identity. The album is made up of anthems calling for the prioritization and appreciation of pleasure. It is obvious that Monae is in an accepting, fun, loving space in her life and I am vicariously living through it! My personal favorite: Float (feat. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80).
What’s NOT:
The Big Studios: Despite the wonderful 3 series I highlighted above, I am beginning to notice the lack of new TV shows and seasons on all streaming services. To that, I say: big studios and TV executives, get your head out of your ass and give the writers and actors what they demand! It’s not like these demands are out of left field, they are simply demanding their basic needs to be met and for the creators of content to see the results of the massive success so many TV shows see these days. I’m sure these big execs wouldn’t even notice if a few hundred thousand were taken out of their regular income so that the people that actually bring the joy of stories to life can live and enjoy the success they have created. It’s really quite simple and absurd how studios have responded to the demands in a manner that really shows their lack of humanity and the out-of-touch reality these TV industry billionaires live in.
Here are some ways to support the WGA & SAG-AFTRA strike.
Let’s hope the big studios succumb to the demands or crumble under the pressure soon otherwise, we’re in for a long bout of foreign and reality TV, which is great, but I see it becoming tiring very quickly.
My anxiety and depression: These fraternal twins have been acting up, bumping around causing havoc in my mind basically all summer and I’m so tired of it. I’ve begun to really focus my efforts on combatting them and I thought I’d share what I’ve done.
Building a Mental Health Toolkit: This concept is taken from Wondermind, a website and newsletter focused on mental health, and I’ve begun to use this idea to gather all the coping mechanisms I’ve learned in one place. My personal toolkit includes: listening to my favorite podcast to get out of my head, box breathing, working out, journaling, finding my fidget spinner, calling mom, and therapy (something I’m currently not doing but need to revisit).
This builds off of the previous point, but I’ve begun working out every day in a workout class environment so I am both moving my body and focusing on something else as well as getting around people. This also eliminates more time in the day when I otherwise could be spiraling into my internal well of despair.
If you’ve made it all the way to the end, thank you! Let me know what you watch and what your thoughts are in the comments! See you next month. ALSO, I’m beginning work on a new creative writing project and in order to keep myself accountable I’ll be publishing it in pieces on my Substack and would love feedback. It will be behind a paywall as I am scared to do this and currently my only paid subscriber is my mom so right now it feels less intimidating to put creative writing out here. If you want to come on this journey with me, send me some money through Substack! No pressure, though.
XOXO! See you soon.