Shows for December 2020

The Wilds ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So good. Literally the best show I've seen this year. If there is one show you watch on this list make it this one. I had to reflect after every episode. It is an easy bingewatch. 

All Rise⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can never get into doctor shows but I love to watch lawyer shows like its my job. This show is very thoughtful and purposeful with their weekly storylines and have characters that you can't help but root for them. Emily Lopez has my heart. 

Catfish⭐️⭐️⭐️

I get too invested in these people's lives but its helps to build caution especially with people online. The lesson almost always is if they wont meet or vidoes chat then its a catfish. 

A Teacher⭐️⭐️

Not my favourite because the episodes release once a week and are often very short. Otherwise, its eerily relatable in that I was the same age as the "student" in 2013. 

The Flight Attendant ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pretty good but the main character was too annoying to be likeable. Even when it was explained why she does what she does I was not convinced. I still liked the plot and hope there is a second season. 

The Ripper ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The retelling of this story was great. Really made me think about those who get a chance to shape a narrative and those who are left with the reprecussions. After you watch the four episode show; google "the ripper" to find out what happened in the end. 

Selena ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It was a big mistake watching this show during finals. I could not get Selena's story out of my head. I needed atleast a week to recouver. I had to watch the movie to get thr full story but I cannot wait for part 2. 

Trickster ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great show! One that I highly recommend. 

Dash and Lily ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I very much enjoyed watching this show. It teally pit my in a chrismissy mood. 

Bachelorette ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tashia's season was fun to watch. I was wayyyy to invested in her love life but she made it worth it. Glad I stuck around after those awful first 3-4 episodes. Ugh. 

double movie feature on a november night

The New Mutant

Really nice. 

Holidate

Emma roberts does well with cheesy rom com. Remember the movie with the  romeo and juliet rival pizza shop. Which was clearly set in toronto but they called it new york. 

what i learned in quarantine

I've been quarantined sing March 13, 2020. Thats a total of 5 months, almost half a year. And even though it felt like I accomplished nothing. I have come to realize that I learned and tried out many little things.

1) How to grow tomatoes from seed taken out of a grocery store tomato; not a seedling I brought from a garden center. A SEED! 

2) How to use google apps for learning. I made a Google website and completely customized it with graphic and such. And I scheduled posts and created lessons for virtual learners. What a thrill and learning curve!

3) How to make petty cash from making and selling online resources! Granted I only sold $20 worth of materials but I cannot describe the feeling I got when I received a notification that someone purchased an online resource from me! 

4) How to identify Bird calls. Yes, it is true; I am offically a birder. I just need a pair of binoculars to complete my starter pack. What does that include? 

• Pointing at the sky everytime you see a bird
• Listening to the sounds they make in the morning.
• Talking and whistling at them
• Telling your parent which birds you saw while tending the garden
• Giving them names
• Taking descriptive notes on the birds apperance so I can google them to find out more

I have spotted Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, canary birds. Not to mention the frequent small animal visitors we had like the family of Raccoons, Branches the squirrel, Chippy the Chipmunk and the newest critter: the skunk!

Until next time yall!

something new, something old.

New: Palm Springs

The newest Andy Samberg movie! I dont want to ruin this movie by providing a synopsis so this review is spoiler free. It's  a RomCom and it does lean towards the comedy as Samberg is  comical. It begins like any other boy meets girl but takes a strange turn. And by the time you realise that you are confused by what you are seeing you get to invested in the story. 

the chain of events.

Sometimes finding movies and tv shows to watch can be hard. With so many options and suggestion from friends and co workers, its hard to know which ones I should give a chance. I was about to watch New Girl or Friends for the 50th time when I remembered a twitter trend of connecting celebs that dated. For example start with jlo and go to ben affleck to ana de armas creating a chainlink of seemingly random people together. So I created my own chainlink of entertainment by deciding what to see next using a cast member of the current show im watching! I decided to starting with B99 as it was the last show I watch when I began this quest. Join along with your own chainlink.

Brooklyn 99: Andy Samberg

Palm Springs: Christina M

A to Z: Ben Feldman

Superstore: America Ferrera

Ugly Betty:

Devious Maids: Ana Ortiz

the ghost of tv shows past

This time im watching shows from the past. Some were abandon shows that i forgot to finish and some i just didnt get around to watching because I had a life and no free time due to social distancing. So here we go:

1) The O.C.: I got to episode two and quit. Those size 0 bodies and rich people throwing money at things made me queasy. Not for me. But I hear Seth Cohen is worth sticking around for. Maybe a couple youtube videos will suffice.

2) Suburgatory: I was a fan when it aired on tv but didnt finish the show because i thought it was cancelled. But it actually has quite a few season. However, watching it now made me realize it wasnt worth finishing as i barely remember the first season plot nor characters. 

Teen Wolf: This show was at peak when I was in highschool but i never got to watch it because my parents refused to pay for the exclusive channel MTV. Truth be told, I'm not too keen on werewolf and all especially after twilight so i stayed away. The show was pretty decent the first season (mainly due to stiles) but the snore fest ensued almost quickly. Honestly, I couldn't explain the show or the plot. Im kinda glad I didnt get engrossed in this show in highschool. 

Ugly Betty: soo good! This one surprised me as I didnt think it would be fun but it is really taking me back to the late 2000s. Its a solid good 4 seasons to binge! 

quarantine quests

Sooo things have become kinda crazy, right? I know we all are trying to do our best to flatten the curve. Even though it seems like the number of cases are ever increasing. My family has been practicing social distancing for 8 days now and the only time we stepped out was to replenish our grocery items.

Some things I'm doing during this time includes reading. In addition to reading children's literature, I'm more interested in reading magazines. Using an app called Overdrive. Give it a go with a library card to borrow unlimited magazines. I've been mostly reading fashion and food articles. In hopes of getting better at both things.

As expected I'm also watching a lot of tv shows and movies. Just last night I saw The Invisible Man, The Hunt and Spies in Disguise. All three were fun (and suspenseful) to watch. 

And when thing get really boring, I bring out the iPad and play Temple Run. Like it's 2010 again. On the hobbies front, I want to get more into creating art & re-purposing my clothes. 

Stay safe at home, everyone! Ciao

RomComs in Quarantine

There's something about being trapped at home that bring out the romantic side from me. 

1) Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging 

2) The Wrong Missy

3) Me before You

4) Little Black Book

5) 2 Weeks Notice

6) Clueless

7) The Best of Me

8) The Proposal

9) Chasing Liberty

TV Talk: June 2020

Valeria: I'm binging this for my spanish comprehension. So far its not hooking me in but I'm sticking with it to see how it goes. 

Edit: I never got past ep 1. I just got bored of all the characters. 😬

La Casa De Las Flores: This show is so dramatic and funny but it is Paulina's accent keeps me watching. Especially good if you are learning Mexican Spanish.

Sweet Magnolia: this show makes me long to be a white suburban mom that has just found freedom after a divorce. But seriously, the show is better than expected; just hang in there for the first episode. The various storylines pick up and get very interesting; particularly the way the "side" character stories unfold (even sometimes without the main characters present) I'm hoping for a second season. 👍🏽

Central Park: fans of Bobs Burgers have to watch this cartoon. Not the same charm as BB characters but the song as catchy and fun. 

TV Talk: April + May 2020

Normal people: Just give into the hype and watch it. It's good. Watch it for the plot AKA Paul Mescal. I do think that some things went over my head since I'm not Irish or maybe some things were just clearer in the book than the show. I just don't understand how Marianne was considered ugly and unlikeable! Is it just me that thinks that wasn't plausible?! 

Dead to me: oooohh I almost forgot that this show got another season. And somehow it was even better than the first. this was a quick Netflix binge as I just had to see it though. 

90 Day Fiance: I almost never watch reality TV but I got hooked last season and had to continue. Although now I'm pretty sure the whole world knows about Ed and Rose as they went viral on Tiktok.  

All Rise: So after hearing that "For The People" got cancelled, I needed a new lawyer drama and #AllRise makes the cut. Compelling stories, diverse cast and character development are just some of the attributes thatdescribe this show. Don't even get me started on that last episode that was remotely shot at home during the Covid-19 quarantine. Highly recommend! 

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: I was really surprised by how good this show was. I'm not one for musicals but man this show is sooooo much more than cheesy singing and dancing. I couldn't recommend this show enough! 

Good Girls: I no longer know where this show is going with the plot. The characters do the same stuff expecting different results. Some episodes were better than others. But I hope the show finds its way back next season. 

Making the Cut: I alomst forgot to include this show because of how disappointing the finale was. The hosts and judges were tired choices but some of the designers were so memorable and pleasant to watch. 

Blood and Water: Another take on teen drama this time from South Africa. A great quick binge and I am hoping for a new season. 

Control Z: I reviewed this show at length. Overall, it was a pass.

Masked Singer: this season was bad. So many great voices were unmasked too early in the season. Makes me think the show is somwhat rigged. 

Little Fires Everywhere: a hulu original and based on a book I really wanted to read. Great storytelling and acting by my all time fave Reese Witherspoon. 

Vida: I was so sad to hear about the series finale. This show deserved better. It had representation, diverse stories and some greatly flawed characters. Give it a try; you will not be disappointed. 

Control Z: a review

Netflix has unleashed its arsenal of teen drama this quarantine to keep us occupied; including Mexican drama #ControlZ released on May 22, 2020.

Plot: Follows the story of Sofía, a socially isolated and deranged student (according to classmates) who tries to uncover the identity of a hacker that begins releasing students' secrets to the entire high school (very Gossip Girl). This is gold for teen drama and the story could have been great but it falls short. Netflix loves shows that have an element of mystery and investigation (see: Elite). The show plays into every stereotypes of a Wattpad fanfic. We have the:
~"I'm not like other girls" protagonist
~bad boy love interest

~love triangle with the good guy, the bad guy and a girl that has to choose one

~the victim of bulling falls in love with the bully

~new kid befriends the weird kid (even though he clearly is seen to be a 'cool' kid

Raul Repping the 2019 NBA Champions
Toronto Raptors

Characters: Now on to the characters. Sofia and all her classmates are blah. Even though this is a teen drama, I kept forgetting this facts just due to the fact that these people look so old and like they should know better. No redeeming qualities, no character arcs, nothing. Ironically, the best characters are the ones we don't pay much attention to because they were just representing a singular stereotype like Javier, Isabela and Luis. Then, we also have Raul repping the Toronto Raptors like he is Drake (or me!) 

Spoilers: Of course the 'losers'  secrets get unveiled too. Because the school supposedly cares about them too?! Anyways, Sofía is not exempt from the drama. Her secret is revealed towards the end with no further details or explanation. Like, how does no one know about her dad? He doesn't disguise himself or hide. The hacker found him so easily by just following Sofia. The hacker did not have much of a villain origin story to make his motivations plausible.  

Verdict: If you need to pass time or practice your Spanish, it's a quick binge. Don't expect much in terms of plot and script; you will be disappointed.

Warning: the show has depictions of self harm. Because well, Netflix loves to glamorize it (see 13RW) 

TV Talk: Jan 2020

Gentefied- Such a fun watch. I didn't follow all the convos because I'm trying to train my brain to translate what I am listening to. But the characters, storyline are great. Hope it gets a second season! 

I am not okay with this- decent watch but didnt really care much about the protagonist; her friends were much more fun and entertaining. 

Love is blind- trash reality tv. Concept seems interest but the totally ruin the sanctity of marriage with their "dumping the other at the alter" strategy. Some couples are more loveable (Cameron & Lauren) Also, it made me realize how 'fake' people can be on dates (my looking at you, Jessica and Carlton)

On My Block S3

Uhhhhh.... Not much to say about this season. It follows much of the crazyness that happens last season. Except it is even more unbelievable. Asking the kids to find a grown man that even the police can't track down seems sketchy. The only characters I cared about was Jasmine, Jamal and Spooky. Every one else just annoyed me (Monse and Ceasar--stop trying to make this happen 👎🏼) 

All About Books

I haven't read for fun since the summer. Last year I only managed to read 4 books. Which really should be more considering all the free time I have. 

2019:

1) The Silent Wife📖

2) Someone we Know📖

3) Wenjack 📖📖📖📖

4) The Giver📖📖📖📖

This year I will do better. I'll travel with my iPad, borrow more from the library and read to and from work. My particular interest is in Children's literature. 

2020:

1) The Westing Game📖📖📖

2) Holes 📖📖

On my reading list is the following:

1) The 7 husbands of Everlyn Hugo

2 Ayesha at Last

This week on my screen

This week on my screen

FROZEN II ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A fun adventure as always but not as good as the first one. Songs were not as memorable, not many new characters were introduced.

DORA THE EXPLORER: lost city of gold⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Better than what you would expect. A little basic with the story line but still interesting to watch.

DELICIOUS MISS BROWN: season 2⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
One of my favourite cooking shows that has heart and good energy. Having never been to the south of USA I find myself wanting to take a food tour of Louisiana

LUCIFER ⭐️⭐️/5
Soooooo I started watching this just before the new year began and was instantly hooked. But I got bored by season 2. Tom Ellis saying "detective" is probably the highlight of every episode.

SERVANT ???/5
Still watching... But so creepy.

My 2020 NY Resolutions

1) Learn Spanish; fluency level will probably conversational but I'm okay with that.

2) Exercise for 5 minutes a day. I know that is not a lot of time but I'm trying to start small and increase the time by 5 minutes each month. 

3) Read more books. I'm hoping to read atleast twenty books this year even though last year I only read 7. 

4) Take a trip somewhere. I haven't left the country in years so this decade may be the start of something new. 

5) Blog more. Not because anyone actually reads this space but for myself.

My 2020 Watch List (ongoing)

TV Shows

Lucifer: I binged watched the first season. It has an interesting plot and a nice cast. It currently has 4 season completed so we shall see how long it will take me to complete.