This Week’s Binge | August 2021
Here’s a review of all the entertainment I binged in August 2021.
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Watch | Series
Truth Be Told
Apple TV+
I don’t know how I missed the series premiere of Truth Be Told in 2019, but when I saw the trailer for the second season I knew it was for me.
And I was right.
I binged the entire first season in one weekend and am now live with season two.
Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer is a true-crime podcast host. We, as the viewer, follow along as she creates the podcast season, see her personal story unfold, and watch as she tries to solve said true crime.
As someone who really started listening to podcasts with the arrival of Serial, it’s no wonder I’m hooked.
I am: Obsessed
Modern Love | Season 2
Amazon Prime Video
Since I was obsessed with the first season of Modern Love, I was very excited to see season 2 come out in August.
Based on the New York Times column telling of all sorts of different types of love stories, the beauty in the stories is the simplicity. And that no two are alike.
Unfortunately, season 2 did not live up to season 1. Although they still have an A-list cast in many episodes and they are easy to digest at 30 minutes long, the stories this go-round weren’t quite as captivating.
Still, I love the concept and I’ll be watching if there is a season 3.
I am: Entertained
Nine Perfect Strangers
Hulu
If I read the book and it gets made into a series or movie you can bet I’m going to watch it, even if I didn’t love the book.
Which is the case with Nine Perfect Strangers.
I liked the book for a while when I was reading it, but by the end, it was kind of just OK. Hearing it was getting adapted into a limited series starring an all-star cast made me think things would improve, and I would enjoy it for all its potential. However, I’m pretty sure it’s leaving me wanting more, like the book.
The premise is great! Nine people get accepted into an uber-exclusive wellness spa but things aren’t as straightforward as they seem. Learning everyone’s background story is interesting, including the goddess-like founder, played by Nicole Kidman, but what happens at the spa…meh.
I am: Entertained
Watch | Movies
Brittany Runs a Marathon
Amazon Prime Video
Although Brittany Runs a Marathon is two years old, I watched it as part of my research for the Most Entertaining Amazon Movies post. Spoiler, it makes the list.
Brittany lives in NYC, is out of shape, trying to figure out what she is doing with her career and in spite of, nay, because of this she decides to train for the New York City Marathon.
I enjoyed this movie so much more than I thought. It strikes the difficult balance between being funny and heartwarming and inspirational. It’s an inside look into how women are viewed by the world, and sometimes how they view themselves.
What I used to consider an airplane movie (god how I miss airplanes) I now say the next time it’s raining, pour yourself a glass of wine, curl up on the sofa, and watch this movie.
I am: Entertained
The Suicide Squad
HBO Max
Note: I streamed this on HBO Max but it’s only available until 9/5.
I was annoyed with Suicide Squad but decided to give The Suicide Squad a second chance.
Did it disappoint? No, because I wasn’t expecting much.
Here are the cliff notes, a superhero movie with a plotline that is beyond absurd and unnecessarily gory.
Now, I think if you go into the movie knowing that it’s supposed to be this way, then you can take it for what it is and appreciate the kitsch that it is.
I am: Annoyed
What Else I Binged…
Here’s a quick review of what else I binged this month
- Flipside: A Journey into the Afterlife | Intrigued by this documentary because of the book with a similar theory, made in 2012 but looks like it was made in 1972, v boring | Annoyed
- Gossip Girl | Story is bad, casting, fashion, and the city are good | Entertained
- Late Night | Think Devil Wears Prada meets Newsroom, like everything Mindy Kaling does it’s cute | Entertained
- Grace and Frankie | Season 7 | The first 4 episodes dropped with the remaining of the final season to drop TBD (impact from covid delay), while I still love the series I’m eager to see how they close it out | Entertained
Looking for more to binge? Check out:
- Best Netflix Originals Comedy Series
- Binge-Worthy Netflix Originals Drama Series
- Best Netflix Originals Movies
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