This Week’s Binge 8.14.20

Finished a book and a couple of series I had been working for a while.  It’s a long list, but I’ll keep them brief.

Watch | Series

Selling Sunset

Netflix

As a huge Bravo fan I cannot believe it’s taken me 3 seasons to watch Selling Sunset.  It is so good in the worst way possible.  If Million Dollar Listing and Real Housewives had a baby it would be Selling Sunset.  All the drama of housewives with a sprinkling of mansions.

The first season is good, the second season gets better and by the third season it’s an obsession.  With only 8 episodes a  season and each episode around 30 minutes this series is an easy binge.

I am: Obsessed

Last Chance U

Netflix

Last Chance U always signifies the kickoff of football season to me and I definitely felt it when I watched.  I forgot how much I miss sports.

Season 5 is a new school located in Oakland and it’s unlike the other two schools they’ve followed in the past.  The west coast is a nice change of pace and the coach is very different (in a good way) as well.

I am: Entertained

Perry Mason

HBO

I keep seeing ads on Twitter for Perry Mason and it says something about “the most beautiful series ever shot”.  I’m not sure I would go that far but it is visually compelling.

In this reboot of a 1950’s TV show, you get to see the origin story of Perry Mason which was really interesting.  What is also different is the original series had a new case every episode but the new series covers one case for the full season.

For being a weekly show, Perry Mason and the storyline kept me entertained week over week.  I thought the last episode was great and I’m excited that it got picked up for a second season.

I am: Entertained

Watch | Movies

David Foster: Off the Record

Netflix

I’m not ashamed to admit that I first heard of David Foster as Yolanda Hadid’s husband while she was on RHOBH.   They then went on to divorce as she was battling Lyme disease, but that’s a topic for a different format…

This is a documentary about David Foster because he is, apparently, an iconic music producer.  I thought it was interesting to hear the background of artists and songs that you know really well, but I’m not so sure about David Foster as a person.  If you watch, I’m sure you’ll form your own opinion.

I am: Entertained

An American Pickle

HBO Max

I thought this would be a light-hearted, potentially slapstick comedy.  And maybe it is but I’ll never know since I didn’t finish it.

Seth Rogan plays 2 characters, one is a present-day character and the other is said present day’s characters ancestor.  There was a minimal plot, the story moved slowly and it felt like they were relying on the gimmick of him playing two characters to carry the film.  Something innovative should add to the film, it shouldn’t be the whole thing (right Kimmy?)

I stopped an hour in, just couldn’t spend any more time watching.  If you made it through let me know if it gets any better.

I am: Annoyed

Read

The Secret History

Donna Tartt

It sounded so interesting to me initially, a secret society of college students and what happens within.  Honestly, it wasn’t the sit on the edge of my seat thriller I was expecting.  The action kind of ebbed and flowed.

Overall the book was entertaining, but it was long and more drug out than needed.  And honestly the vocabulary (I hadn’t realized the secret society centered around classical Greek) seemed unnecessarily pretentious.

I liked the story, but could have done with a little less of the academic flair.

I am: Entertained