September?????? 2020
Dear Kelsey,
Anyone who has ever worked in higher education knows that July/August/September are notoriously brutal months, and we were thoroughly unprepared for the toll starting the semester during a pandemic would take on both of us (Kelsey as staff, myself as a graduate student). Thus, along the way, I lost all ability to form coherent thoughts about the disaster that is the Twilight Saga. Thankfully, Kelsey has graciously shared her thought-dump with all of us, and what is really left to be said after that?
I thought I would try something new this month—instead of picking one thing to write in depth about (not my strong suit, although it is very much Kelsey’s), I chose to do a brief update of what I’ve been watching lately. This update is best enjoyed with a cup of tea, on the couch, under a blanket—all the best things that autumn has to offer us.
My mood in the fall shifts from bright and upbeat to VERY melancholy, but like, deliciously so? And I think my taste in television over the last few months certainly reflects that.
I would also like to offer a brief shoutout to Thirst Aid Kit, who very sadly wrapped up the end of their podcast. Most of the shows/movies below have been inspired by a TAK episode recommendation. So, without further ado, my extremely eclectic recommendations for autumn viewing:
Death Comes to Pemberley
image: Matthew Rhys and Anna Maxwell Martin in Regency period clothing standing at the top of the stairs in a Regency mansion in Death Comes to Pemberley
This, of course, had to be my first recommendation. It is haunted, it is Matthew Rhys, it is dark and mysterious with lots of scary scenes in the woods, and it’s about death! Perfect for your October, the spookiest and sexiest of the Pride and Prejudice Extended Universe Films™. Matthew Rhys plays a very passionate Darcy, which I personally greatly enjoy! Highly recommend!
New Girl
gif: Jake Johnson and Zooey Deschanel sitting next to each other in New Girl. Jake is holding a bag of frozen peas to the side of Zooey’s head and saying “You should be with someone who’s crazy about you.”
Everyone is rewatching New Girl this year, and I understand why. New Girl is a hug in the form of a TV show. The coziest and most pleasant TV comedy that I have a newfound appreciation for in this late quarantine season. It is both goofy and, in my opinion, one of the most sexy of the 30-minute sitcoms (have you SEEN the way Jake Johnson can kiss?!!?!?!), which in this particular quarantine moment has been one of the criteria for everything I’ve watched in the past month. It has no connection to Halloween, I just couldn’t leave it out because again, have you SEEN how Jake Johnson can kiss? If you haven’t, may I just offer this:
gif: Zooey Deschanel and Jake Johnson kissing in New Girl
PHEW.
A Simple Favor
gif: Blake Lively walking through a park wearing a black suit and red gloves, putting one red glove in her pocket, in A Simple Favor
This movie is like if you ordered a Bloody Mary and received a shot of tequila and a strawberry instead. Possibly the most chaotic movie I have ever seen? Blake Lively’s suits give me very goth autumn vibes in the best possible way. Please, if you have never seen this movie, I beg of you, watch it immediately and then listen to A Simple Podcast, which is an absolutely incredible breakdown of every aspect of this movie that I could possibly think of. This movie is both Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick at their best.
Penelope
gif: Christina Ricci in Penelope taking off a scarf to reveal a pig-like nose
This is for all the movie-watchers who wish for their Halloween to have less spooky and more whimsy. This movie has enormous mid-00s vibes, from Reese Witherspoon playing a quirky oddball to James McAvoy as our handsome but misunderstood protagonist. And the Schuyler Fisk soundtrack alone is enough to teleport me immediately back to 2007. When I’m looking for an autumn vibe that is less creepy and more melancholy, this movie takes me right back. It even ends with a scene that takes place on Halloween, which in my opinion makes this movie canonically a Halloween film. Don’t @ me.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
gif: Ash Fox in Fantastic Mr. Fox wearing white clothes and a white cape that’s blowing in the wind
I don’t think I’ve ever recommended a Wes Anderson movie to…...anyone? But if I had to pick, Fantastic Mr. Fox would be my favorite. And the autumn vibes in this movie, from the color palette to the animals vs. humans rivalry that marks a number of autumn/Halloween films. (My extremely hot take: Chicken Run walked so that Fantastic Mr. Fox could run.) This movie is the perfect blend of humor and quirk, perfect for autumn viewing. Just don’t forget your ginger apple snaps.
gif: two claymation foxes in clothes and face-masks eating a pile of cookies
Have a very merry, spooky, nostalgic, Halloween season,
Hannah
Dear Hannah,
My brain…….what is it. I have a word document that has 3468 words about The Twilight Saga in it and I’m not even halfway through Midnight Sun so who even knows what’s going to happen.
As we know, my watching of things tends to be fairly spread out, sometimes on purpose, sometimes because I just don’t care for the marathon watch and get overwhelmed, which is how I am stuck halfway through The Morning Show, a show that is much longer than it has the right to be but also significantly more enjoyable than I anticipated???
gif: Jennifer Aniston in The Morning show sitting in a dark room, wearing a red coat, and saying, “And therefore, I own America.”
also I am Jen Aniston hive now, it’s irrevocable, she could do things to me
Other things I have been watching and/or would recommend:
Bones/The Bones Zone
Two-thirds of my favorite podcast, Appointment Television, have formed a spin-off podcast called The Bones Zone, on which they discuss various episodes of the television show Bones (2005 - 2017) and try to figure out why it was such a long-lasting show both literally and for them personally. I didn’t really have any feelings about the show Bones before I started watching along, but now I would die for pretty much any of the characters (excluding the cannibal) and have a LOT of feelings specifically about David Boreanaz.
gif: David Boreanaz in Bones driving a car and saying “I have faith in you,” while pointing at Emily Deschanel in the passenger seat
Unpregnant
I already wrote about this movie (sans spoilers) for Twin Cities Geek so I won’t say much more here but it dropped on HBOMax a couple weeks ago and is just an utter delight that I would like to watch 7 to 10 more times.
gif: Barbie Ferreira in Unpregnant on a rollercoaster yelling “Hell yeah!”
The Baby-Sitters Club
I doubt y’all will make it much longer before I pressure Hannah into us making a BSC edition entirely but I love love LOVED the Netflix adaptation of the beloved book series and would give all of my life’s blood for anywhere from 2 to 7 more seasons of it.
What We Do in the Shadows
Everyone told me this was great, and guess what — it is!
gif: Natasia Demetriou in What We Do In the Shadows sitting in a dark room saying, “He died tripping on his cape at a wooden stake sale at the garden center.”
I May Destroy You
Michaela Coel’s experimental limited series grappling with consent and sexual assault has been one of the most-discussed series’ of the summer and it is worth all the discussion and attention. I didn’t quite end up agreeing with all the points of view the show took, but I’ll be thinking about it for a long time and the ending absolutely blew me away.
gif: Michaela Coel and Weruche Opia in I May Destroy You fist-bumping
The Departed
I realize this is kind of a chaotic addition to this list because a Scorsese mob movie from 2006 is generally…..not our beat? But I watched it for the first time last week and hot take: it’s a good movie! Even though it’s the most disrespectful length, 2 and a half hours. From time to time during the day I will just say “the depahted” like Matt Damon does out loud to myself just to hear it again, which I suppose is more indicative of where I am At, personally, than the movie’s quality, but whatever. (p.s. one of my other favorite podcasts, Overinvested, has a great episode about this movie)
gif: Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed saying “Cranberry juice” while sitting down at a bar
Ready or Not
A movie that is THEE most respectful length, 90 minutes! Last year’s horror-comedy Ready or Not, which is explicitly about eating the rich and is a rollicking good time and also has Adam Brody being hot, drunk, and sad in it.
gif: Adam Brody in Ready or Not saying “I just came to get a drink” in a dark room
Scream
I have only seen movies 1 and 2 so far but these movies fuckn slap. I watched the second one during the first presidential debate and had a ball. Two more movies in the series, two more presidential debates…..really makes you think…...
gif: someone dressed up as the Scream killer from the Scream movies running through the hallways of a high school scaring people
Other things I’ve been working on, that have perhaps led me to feel as if my brain is soup whenever I try to focus on one given thing:
A newsletter about my ongoing The Americans rewatch called The Great The Americans Rewatch (the next season’s issues will be shorter you have my WORD)
Two friends and I started a podcast called The English Corner, which is about book to screen adaptations and is a pretty good time if you ask me. Our first episode just came out, and our first series is about Romeo and Juliet and several of its most prominent adaptations. (The podcast is currently on Anchor and Spotify and making its way to the other places.)
May your pop culture, your drinks, and your relationships be warming this season, in whatever way is helpful.
Kelsey
coming soon[ish]: a longlist of unhinged thoughts Kelsey had about The Twilight Saga