OMG, I fell in love with EVERYONE on INDUSTRY! But another friend similarly said it wasn't for them, so it is definitely something that just appeals to me and my thing for television that depicts ceaseless stress, lol. Great picks and insights all around, though—always love reading your pop culture perspective, so I hope you do get to have that critic job one day!
Clearly I am in the minority re: Industry!!! I'm sure if I gave it more time it would have grown on me. I also couldn't hang with Succession which is maybe telling of what kinds of ceaseless stress I do/don't like (The Bear, Anora, Uncut Gems - yes; corporate stress, no??). And thank you!!! :)
I think my partner would've kept watching too, but he reserves his "shows to watch when Raechel isn't home because she doesn't like them" for his scifi/fantasy stuff. Industry wouldn't make the limited time cut lol
Love this list, and not just because Waxahatchee. I too thought immediately of Uncut Gems while watching Anora, which I loved (I kind of had to, since it features Armenians so heavily). Can't wait to explore all of your new-to-me recommendations, Raechel.
I'm glad to hear it landed culturally! It seems like they did their due diligence achieving believable representation across the board (sex workers, Armenians, rich 20 year old idiots....).
Karren Karagulian and Baker are close friends, and he's been in nearly every movie he's made, so it's no surprise he'd get the details right on the Armenian angle. (He played the cab driver in Tangerine and it's similar there.)
Oh right of course! I hadn’t made that connection that he was the cab driver. Yeah, I think Baker has earned trust in a number of communities, which is good given the subjects he makes films about.
This is the third time in as many weeks that I’ve seen praise for English Teacher, I have to watch it. Also - have you listened to Haunted Mountain by Buck Meek? Another Big Thief solo act, I had a major moment with it this summer.
Ahhh, I have been (im)patiently waiting for your end-of-year round-up and it was a treat!! So much to watch/read/listen throughout winter break now thanks to your thoughtful review. TY ❤️🔥
Loved An Honest Woman! (And read it on a park bench in DC, which felt atmospherically correct.)
Another 2024 triumph, for me, was Model Home by Rivers Solomon— a slow burn horror novel about trauma, abuse, white supremacy, and mental health but make it a haunted house. And I cannot forget The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy— what a gift to all young (and old!) queer witches.
I have *opinions* on the timing and some of the framing of Nobody Wants This, but Kristen Bell and Adam Brody have Chemistry. It was a fun romp and offered a glimpse into the vulnerability that relationships require, done with a realistic level of messiness. Also, the Jewish family dynamics brought me back to holiday gatherings as a kid.
Not a whole album, but I’m still regularly playing Yoke by Julien Baker and Medium Build. Can’t resist a moody autumnal prayer.
Oh wow, Honest Woman in DC, yes well done lol. I almost included Nobody Wants This but the creator is a straight-up Zionist (I did an IG deep dive and found some terrible shit) which is a major bummer. I did enjoy the show quite a bit. :( I'm so embarrassed to have still not read The Sapling Cage, perhaps it can be my birthday month treat....And thanks for the Model Home rec, but I'll have to ask you how scary it is, I'm not sure I could handle it!
My spidey senses proved spot on RE: Nobody Wants This. Ugh. Thank you for sharing about the creator.
The Sapling Cage would be such a wholesome winter read!
And I’m reluctant to give a scary rating since horror is my default reading genre lol But I would say that using the house as a conduit for unearthing childhood trauma provided some needed distance from the trauma itself, though still incredibly unnerving.
OMG, I fell in love with EVERYONE on INDUSTRY! But another friend similarly said it wasn't for them, so it is definitely something that just appeals to me and my thing for television that depicts ceaseless stress, lol. Great picks and insights all around, though—always love reading your pop culture perspective, so I hope you do get to have that critic job one day!
Clearly I am in the minority re: Industry!!! I'm sure if I gave it more time it would have grown on me. I also couldn't hang with Succession which is maybe telling of what kinds of ceaseless stress I do/don't like (The Bear, Anora, Uncut Gems - yes; corporate stress, no??). And thank you!!! :)
I think I probably would have been into Industry, but my wife said she was done after two episodes.
I think my partner would've kept watching too, but he reserves his "shows to watch when Raechel isn't home because she doesn't like them" for his scifi/fantasy stuff. Industry wouldn't make the limited time cut lol
Love this list, and not just because Waxahatchee. I too thought immediately of Uncut Gems while watching Anora, which I loved (I kind of had to, since it features Armenians so heavily). Can't wait to explore all of your new-to-me recommendations, Raechel.
I'm glad to hear it landed culturally! It seems like they did their due diligence achieving believable representation across the board (sex workers, Armenians, rich 20 year old idiots....).
Karren Karagulian and Baker are close friends, and he's been in nearly every movie he's made, so it's no surprise he'd get the details right on the Armenian angle. (He played the cab driver in Tangerine and it's similar there.)
Oh right of course! I hadn’t made that connection that he was the cab driver. Yeah, I think Baker has earned trust in a number of communities, which is good given the subjects he makes films about.
This is the third time in as many weeks that I’ve seen praise for English Teacher, I have to watch it. Also - have you listened to Haunted Mountain by Buck Meek? Another Big Thief solo act, I had a major moment with it this summer.
I have not listened to Buck Meek yet! Ty for the rec! And enjoy the English teacher !!!
Ahhh, I have been (im)patiently waiting for your end-of-year round-up and it was a treat!! So much to watch/read/listen throughout winter break now thanks to your thoughtful review. TY ❤️🔥
Loved An Honest Woman! (And read it on a park bench in DC, which felt atmospherically correct.)
Another 2024 triumph, for me, was Model Home by Rivers Solomon— a slow burn horror novel about trauma, abuse, white supremacy, and mental health but make it a haunted house. And I cannot forget The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy— what a gift to all young (and old!) queer witches.
I have *opinions* on the timing and some of the framing of Nobody Wants This, but Kristen Bell and Adam Brody have Chemistry. It was a fun romp and offered a glimpse into the vulnerability that relationships require, done with a realistic level of messiness. Also, the Jewish family dynamics brought me back to holiday gatherings as a kid.
Not a whole album, but I’m still regularly playing Yoke by Julien Baker and Medium Build. Can’t resist a moody autumnal prayer.
Oh wow, Honest Woman in DC, yes well done lol. I almost included Nobody Wants This but the creator is a straight-up Zionist (I did an IG deep dive and found some terrible shit) which is a major bummer. I did enjoy the show quite a bit. :( I'm so embarrassed to have still not read The Sapling Cage, perhaps it can be my birthday month treat....And thanks for the Model Home rec, but I'll have to ask you how scary it is, I'm not sure I could handle it!
My spidey senses proved spot on RE: Nobody Wants This. Ugh. Thank you for sharing about the creator.
The Sapling Cage would be such a wholesome winter read!
And I’m reluctant to give a scary rating since horror is my default reading genre lol But I would say that using the house as a conduit for unearthing childhood trauma provided some needed distance from the trauma itself, though still incredibly unnerving.
Can’t wait to talk with you about Anora, especially the ending. So so many feels 🖤
Yes can’t wait to discuss!!!!