February Media

Movies, Shows, Etc.

The Night Manager, season 2
Five years ago this show’s first season confused me a bit, as I struggled with its presentation and pacing. I found season two to be silly and uneven. There was some plot stuff that was flat-out strange and perhaps unnecessary. And I was annoyed when nothing was resolved but rather it all sets up a hypothetical season three.

B-

Miracle: The Boys of ’80
You’re telling me there’s a new documentary about one of the foundational moments in my relationship with sports, a mythical event that even 46 years later still does not make sense? Hell yes I’m going to watch.

Ponies
You’re telling me there’s a new show about spies during the Cold War that features fantastic fashion, lots of sex, and incredible needle drops? Hell yes I’m going to watch.

OK, this ain’t quite The Americans. In fact, by the end, it couldn’t have been more different. It falls into a similar place, though. In this case two CIA agents are killed in Moscow in late 1976 and their wives convince the agency to allow them to return to Russia as agents in hopes of discovering what happened to their husbands. It is goofy, almost campy at times. Lots of odd choices in where the story went. Some real head-scratching moments in there. And the finale straight up flummoxed me. It was a fun ride, though, which is what really matters. I felt a little bad about thinking Emilia Clarke was so dazzling, assuming she was like 23, then I learned she was 39 and feel a lot more comfortable sharing that.

B+

Shrinking, season 3
Five episodes into the new season. The cuteness knob might be turned one notch too far, so far. They also need to quit dicking around getting Jimmy and Sofi together. That has to happen, right?

In progress.

Scrubs, season 10
Bill Lawrence ruling my world the last week of the month. Soooo glad this is back. Like the reviews I checked suggested, it does not reach the peaks of the show’s first three years, but no one expected that. It felt warm and familiar and was funny and touching. And that was just in two episodes where the groundwork is just being laid for the rest of the season.

In progress to my brain, A+ to my heart

The Princess Bride
After our full-family dinner Saturday, S wanted to watch a movie together. As there were no recommendations from the girls, she landed on this. I think everyone “watched” while staring at their own screens and L even bailed after about 45 minutes. But I stuck with it and was reminded what a great flick this is. C was surprised and pleased to discover it is a Rob Reiner film.

Tasting Switzerland’s Mountain Culture | Alpine Cheese, Snowboarding & Foraging | DIRT Switzerland
Cooking on the Edge of the World | Tasting the Wild Food of Newfoundland
Maybe I’ve said this before, but while taking a different angle, these pieces are the closest thing we have currently to what Anthony Bourdain did.