What I’ve Been Watching

It is no secret that I’ve been in a bit of reading slump for this last month or so. It sucks, but at the end of the day, the most effective method of getting over this slump is to power through it. However, there is one benefit to this slump because as I’m looking for other ways to occupy my time I end up binge watching. I have said this so many times, but my mood has a huge influence on what I read and watch. Here is a list of the shows/films I’ve been watching.

Television

Mr. Robot (Series 2)

It only took me a year, but I have finally finished the second series of Mr. Robot. It was just as twisted as the first one as we deal with the fallout of the fsociety’s cyber attack. Elliot has gone off the grid, and Darlene has taken up the mantle as leader of fsociety. However, with the FBI now on their tail, the stakes are higher than ever. Characters take even darker turns, and nothing is ever as it seems. It took a while to build up, and it might seem stagnant at times, but it pays off in the end.

Supernatural (Series 12)

I’ll be the first to admit that the show is not perfect especially with its treatment of female characters, but I love this show. I get excited about every series. I know that we’re already on the 13th series, but since it airs in the UK on nights I’m usually working, I tend to wait for the DVD release. Series 12 was impressive. I love how this show keeps surprising me. The core elements are still there, but they manage to add a fresh twist to the ongoing plot. This time around, Sam and Dean take on the British Men of Letters, and I must ask, why are we always the bad guys? On top of that, they have to deal with the return of the person they love most, and Lucifer is busy creating havoc everywhere he goes. There’s a lot going on in this series, but at its core is always the brotherhood between Sam, Dean, and Castiel as well. In particular, Jensen Ackles delivered in some incredibly moving moments. 

Howards End

A 4 episode, BBC period drama based on the novel by E. M. Forster. I had high hopes for this show, but ultimately it fell flat. Hayley Atwell was great, but the execution of the plot just didn’t pan out. My main problem with this adaptation was the lack of tension. There were so many moments that, in theory, was tense, but you never felt it. Even in the final episode when we had this big showdown fell flat because there was no tension in its build-up. Howards End had the potential to be amazing, but ultimately it was lackluster and forgettable.

Blue Planet 2

My most anticipated show of the year. I love exploring our natural world and learning more about it. Blue Planet 2 takes us back to the water. As always, we meet some amusing and exotic creatures, and I love how we get to visually see a personality in these creatures in the ways they communicate, adapt, and survive. Visually, this show is a masterpiece. However, beyond the visuals, the tension, and the humour, we also get to witness the decline of our oceans, and the cause behind a lot of that rests on humanity. This show, especially the series finale, highlights just how crucial we are to the destruction and preservation of the oceans. It was disheartening to see the damage we’ve caused, but also inspiring to see the effort that is going into protecting them. I urge everyone to watch this programme.

Films

Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2

I’ve been wanting to watch this film for so long now and I am so happy to finally cross it off the list. Guardians vol. 2 was just as fun as the first one. The stellar cast of characters delivers a fabulous performance that finds the perfect balance between humour, heart, and action. This franchise has the best one-liners, but beyond the humour, we have an emphasis on core human emotion.

Logan

Another of my most anticipated films. As the final in Wolverine’s saga, I was curious to see how we’d close this chapter. I have mixed feelings about this one. The highlight of this film was the bond between Charles Xavier and Logan. Patrick Stweart and Hugh Jackman have a great dynamic, and they’ve really taken the time to develop this father/son like relationship between their characters. Logan takes place in a world where Professor X is losing his mind and Logan’s abilities are diminishing. In what will serve as their final stand, Logan is reluctantly forced to protect a new generation of mutants. This cross-country journey provides all the action and violence you come to expect in superhero films. However, while Logan shines in providing some emotional and moving performances from Jackman and Stuart, I do feel like there were a lot of elements missing. It’s like we skipped the build up and jumped straight into the finale. I feel like, if we were given more context to the decline of the mutants, and to Charles/Logan’s deteriorations, then the events of the film would have been a lot more impacting. However, there is no denying that Hugh Jackman’s legacy in bringing this iconic character to life will be etched in history. His performance brought out the humanity in Wolverine, and that’s what made Logan so memorable.

Kimi no Na wa

To finish, let’s talk about this gem of a film. Kimi No Na Wa (Your Name) had been recommended to me by Summer and Marie. I’ve not watched a lot of anime, but the ones I have seen have been impressive. I had high hopes for this film, and let me tell you it delivered. This film is incredible and the accompanying soundtrack made the experience all the more euphoric. I love how this film explores the idea of fate and time and the connection between our characters was humourous, emotional, and believable. I implore you to watch this film. 

Have you seen any of these shows/films?
What’s your favourite TV programme/film?
What are you looking forward to watching?