Fuck Hbo Max For Canceling Genera+ion

Emily in Paris is tres terrible

If for some reason you decided to check out the new Netflix show Emily In Paris, DON’T. Go watch The Devil Wears Prada instead. It’s practically the same thing, only in the latter you actually get good performances and character depth.

Coming into this show I was expecting a cute heart-warming story. 10 minutes in I thought how great it would be to watch a show about a woman figuring out herself and her work life in a new country. And then all my hopes went down the steaming bidet once Gabriel opened his door.

Emily in Paris truly tested my gag reflex, and here’s why.

First of all, the premise of somebody going to Paris – “a perfect romantic city” – is so overused and unrealistic. Paris sure is pretty but it’s also dirty, polluted, and has more than 29 thousand people sleeping in the streets. But of course Emily lives in some parallel universe where Paris is apparently Paradise. Idolization of anything, even a city is harmful. So this “perfect” Paris is not apreciated.

The Instagram followers ridiculousness. There’re actual people whose job is to promote Instagram accounts, you don’t become an influencer overnight by posting a pic of you eating un pain au chocolat (which is just bread with chocolate, stop creaming your pants, Emily).

On top of that, the abundance of French stereotypes is exhausting. Too hard to write complex characters and present actual reasoning for their actions? Don’t bother, just put every French cliche you’ve ever heard of.

And that chambre de bonne is just ridiculous. Who knew that maids used to have such big apartments? (By the way, you can see a more realistic room that you could get in Paris in the movie Monte Carlo. Ah, such a good movie.) The creators were going for an aesthetic, thus missed an opportunity to show Emily struggling to adjust to her new life. It’s quite impossible to believe that Emily’s going through a rough time when her life is seemingly perfect, and any inconvenience doesn’t affect her at all.

The ex. It’s very typical to introduce a romantic partner of the protagonist at the start of your story and not give them enough depth, so that the audience doesn’t get attached to them and the inevitable break up brings relief. Now they can root for the protagonist to get together with the planned love interest. Yay. 

However, this structure might work for a movie, but when you have 10 episodes to flash out your story and therefore the protagonist, wouldn’t it be better to use this opportunity to develop the secondary characters? Not for their own sake but to develop the main character through them. 

Every character you spend some time on should play some important role, right? Otherwise why should we  bother watching their scenes. Shouldn’t the current boyfriend of the main lead tell us something about the protagonist? Like, why did the main character choose to be in this relationship, what do they see in their partner and therefore what qualities do they value in people? How do they act in personal relationships? What role does their partner play in their life?

The main character is dull and unrelatable with zero character development. A conventionally attractive privileged white woman whose biggest struggle to overcome is her coworkers not being nice to her straight away. We’re constantly told that it’s hard for Emily to adjust but it’s never shown. In fact everything solves itself rather smoothly, carrying no repercussions for her.

With such an unlikable selfish protagonist you find yourself more interested in secondary characters. It actually feels like we get to know Mindy and Camille more. Compared to them, we know nothing about Emily’s family relationships or literally any backstory on her. Who is Emily? Why are we following her? Why should we care? What is her inner conflict? Oh right, she has none. Because by the end of the show she stays the same exact character that we met in the beginning. If Emily’s experience does not influence her at all, why should it matter to the audience? And what is the point of telling this story?

Feminism: the lost potential [episode 3]. “Non, Antoine. Sexism isn’t sexy. Shut the f*ck up.” That’d be enough for me from such a bland show. But no, we’re left with an ambiguous conclusion, when Emily doesn’t disagree with Antoine’s perception that women enjoy men’s unsolicited attention. And then this topic is not discussed again. Thanks for that, Emily in Paris. How about next time (which will hopefully never happen) you either have the bravery to actually speak on the issue and educate people or at least do not cause more damage.

Finally, the most annoying plotline that decidedly ruined the show. Did you ever watch a movie, and there’s a couple that you love, but you feel like something’s missing? So, you just think “I wish some cheating was involved”. If you actually do think that sometimes, media content has tricked you into thinking that cheating is sexy and exciting, when it’s actually destructive and disgusting. THE CHEATING. Stop normalizing it!!! Enough. It always takes away from a relationship. And we’re tired of seeing it. Give us some healthy couples. And if you think they’re boring, you just don’t know how to write them. If you get rid of the cheating plotline, the show becomes slightly bearable. It’s still boring and irritating, but at least it’s not as problematic.

Anyway. Similarly, to how “Enola Holmes” should’ve been a series, this show should’ve been a movie. There was no point of dragging out this – I want to say – story. Because nothing happened. Was there a big revelation in the finale, that we were led up to? No. Did Emily learn anything thanks to her “journey”? Nope. Was it just 5 hours of her hooking up with unremarkable men who all look the same, while being a terribly arrogant person? You decide.

5 underrated teen «plotting» dramas on Netflix

1. Blood & Water (2020) - South Africa

a teenage girl enrolls into a private school to prove that the queen bee is her long lost sister that was abducted at birth.

2. Get even (2020) - UK

four students from different cliques join their forces to anonymously fight the injustice in their elite british school.

3. Dare me (2019) - USA

the show explores the power dynamics of female relationships in a ruthless team of competitive cheerleaders from a small suburban town that ultimately bring them to their doom.

4. Rebelde (2022) - Mexico

the new students at the most prestigious art school in latin america are being threatened by a secret society that is set to preserve the “purity” among its ranks.

5. Love 101 (2020) - Turkey

a group of delinquents are trying to set up their teachers in order not to get expelled.

it's not your fault, they're identical.. look at them.

TOP 10 TV SHOWS I WATCHED IN 2022

1. PANIC on amazon prime

i watched ‘panic’ at the very beginning of 2022, and have since rewatched it twice. i’m still surprised how it stuck with me and became one of my favorite shows, because typically i prefer more light-hearted stories. 

the idea of teenagers playing this high stakes life-threatening game is so intriguing. the mystery behind who started and runs this tradition adds so much suspense. there’s also the additional layer of poverty and family issues that’s pushing the main character. it’s so interesting to explore the characters’ motivations, their reactions to pressure. it makes for a colorful complex story. and, of course, what sells it is the main romance. the chemistry between the characters is off the charts!! (not me thinking i wouldn’t ship them before seeing the show phaha). 

even though ‘panic’ was cancelled after season 1 (which, sadly, is true for most of my favorite tv shows), i believe there’s a satisfying finality to the season that makes it work as a stand alone story.

2. QUEER AS FOLK on peacock

pure queer joy is what this show is. i’ve only experienced this level of happiness while watching “genera+ion” (which is my favorite show ever). and yes, “queer as folk” is more adult because - duh - it’s about adults, and one teen character. in a lot of ways it’s about forming your community and keeping it safe. it takes on serious issues, the characters are messy and make mistakes, yet it feels so warm and comfortable, like a home.

i’ve never seen the original show so i’m judging this show from a non-reboot perspective (which i’m pretty sure it is anyway, even though you can make parallels between some characters, it’s a new different story).  

trigger warning: there’s a mass sh**ting scene in the first episode (it’s not very graphic).

3. HEARTBREAK HIGH on netflix

the new aussie it show, move over h2o just add water! okay i’m joking, but heartbreak high really took over the world as it should have! it’s a diverse well-written gen z teen drama with amazing fashion. 

what you can expect: a lot of dramaaa, secrets & unexpected twists, sex scenes that don’t sexualize teenagers, actual ace representation (i’ve only seen it done this well in “genera+ion”), probably the best autistic representation i’ve ever seen, exploration of some dark themes (assault, police brutality) that are unfortunately a part of reality for a lot of teenagers, beautiful friendships and romantic relationships, teen angst and rebellion.

i fell in love with these characters and their dynamics, i can’t wait for season 2! plus, it turns out there was a lot of australian things i didn’t know about, so it was very cool to see australian culture represented in this fun bright series. 

4. REBELDE on netflix

look at all these pretty faces and tell me you don’t want to know more about them. this show is one hell of a fun ride. it’s like elite mixed with violetta. there’s so much colorful potential in almost (looking at you esteban) all of these characters. they fight, they perform, they’re friends, rivals and lovers, and for the big moments they’re each other’s family. they’re rebelde. i want to steal their wardrobe and be their groupie.

5. WEDNESDAY on netflix

not suprised this show became such a hit, but i’m glad i watched it when it came out without any preconceived expectations. the style of this show is amazing and it’s an entertaining watch. there can’t be enough praise for jenna ortega’s performance. she’s outstanding in everything she does, and she carried this show.

6. HEARTSTOPPER on netflix

this is a fluffy warm ball of sunshine. comfort at its finest. i’m so happy this show exists and people talk about it. i just want to give every character a hug. oh, and i want those cute doodles in my life. 

7. THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY on amazon prime

such a cute summer show. i think the creators did a great job of adapting the book for the modern young audience. it could’ve easily turned into another kissing booth with a “not like other girls” protagonist. even though you can see the original outline of the characters, they feel more evoled in the show. and that’s what i hope will happen to the story later on as well. i like when adaptations improve on given material and find their own identity. 

i did’t really like nor understood the ending so i’m kinda tense about season 2. if it’s gonna turn into a belly x conrad love show, i’m gonna have to head out, and demand a jeremiah spin off (#teamjeremiah). 

8. SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE on freeform

so this is one of the more underrated shows on this list. it’s a dramedy that follows a young woman battling her addiction in a town full of people who are right there to remind her why she drinks. sam makes quite an appealing lead character. she’s messy, she’s selfish, she’s confrontational, but she longs for real meaningful connections, even though she’s afraid of them. there’s a diverse array of characters who go on this journey with her, and i love every single one of them. i think this show has a very good trailer actually, helps get the feel of the show and what it’s about.

9. DOLLFACE on hulu

such a beautiful entertaining show about female friendship and finding yourself outside of a relationship. the cast is incredible, including kat dennings as the jilted ex, brenda song and shay mitchell as her estranged besties, matthew gray goobler as a love interest, and brianne howey and lilly singh as a nice bonus on the side. 

the part that makes this show so unique is the daydream sequences that follow the main character. it shifts the rules of the world, makes it more fantastic and unpredictable. makes me wish i could get on a bus with the cat lady that would take me to my friends.

10. HEATHERS on amazon prime

no matter how much you like the original movie, THIS heather squad is way more memorable and charismatic. who wouldn’t want to watch an edgy dark comedy about teen phychopaths whose whole identity is “i’m not like the other people, i’m weird, i’m a weirdo”, toxic friendships, murderous romance & tumblr fashion circa 2016? maybe i’m just build different if it’s my jam and not yours. 

seriously though, i unapologetically loved it. kinda reminds me of “the scream queens” (which is outstanding) and “insatiable” (which i couldn’t get into). 

thanks for giving this a read <3 hopefully i convinced you to watch some of these!  

Reasons Why Ani’s Character Failed

     Season 3 of «13 reasons why» has been out for a long while, but with the 4th and final season approaching my thoughts circle back to one drawback that last season had. Now, this show is badmouthed enough as it is, and it’s not my intention here. I love «13 reasons why», that’s why I care so much about the subject. I’d also like to point out that there’s no hate towards the actress who portrayed Ani. If anything, this is directed at the writers as feedback from a fan of the show.

     The reasons why Ani’s character was brought into the story are understandable. Yes, she’s a plot device for Bryce’s storyline, and she’s the new narrator. On top of that, she’s supposed to be the audience surrogate. She’s the new girl coming into this group of kids, and just like us she tries to figure out Bryce’s murder and all the personal drama that comes along. However, this concept obviously fails (seriously, after season 3 all people could talk about was how much they hated Ani). So where did it all go wrong, exactly?

    The biggest problem with Ani’s character is by far her annoying personality. She’s nosy, spying on everyone and interfering with their lives. Surprisingly this reserved group of teenagers actually opens up to her. After everything that went on you would expect them to be more picky with who they trust. Characters don’t just confide in her, they feel obligated to justify themselves in her eyes. Like she’s some sort of angel.

Ani’s the one demanding the truth from everyone, yet she’s the one who keeps secrets. Her relationship with Bryce was meant to paint Bryce as a human being. In no way did Bryce deserve any redemption for his crimes, but it was essential to recognize him as a human, not a monster. Because once we see somebody as a monster, it becomes impossible to destroy them, they start to seem stronger than we are.

No matter how important it was to send this message, it didn’t do any favors to Ani’s character. She sleeps with Bryce knowing that he’s a rapist. She defends him in front of Clay, like a true rapist apologist. Ani with her hero complex wants to fix everyone, that’s why she’s all up in their business, that’s why she gets involved with Bryce. Unfortunately, she refuses to admit her own imperfection. She is a hypocrite. Even though at the end she acknowledges that sleeping with Bryce was the worst thing she’d ever done, it doesn’t excuse her actions.

   Introducing a new character into an existing dynamic is quite tricky. Over the seasons the audience grew to love the established characters. So when you let someone new share screen time with the beloved cast, the newbie should be captivating enough. Moreover, it is unfair for a new character to take away too much screen time from the numerous preexisting cast. It is especially irritating when this character is condescending towards the ones who’ve been there since day one and comes with no character development. That again raises the question: why would you make such a dislikable character (not presented as an antagonist) a main one?

    The significant part of Ani’s character is the narration of the season. It’s one of the reasons for introducing her character at all… But was narration even necessary in season 3?

Season 1 had Hannah’s voiceover via tapes because the plot revolved around her, we were seeing life through her eyes. She was the one telling the story. The plot couldn’t go on without it. Narration in season 2 could’ve been avoided, however that season already had a different feel to it, so the writers didn’t want to shock the audience completely by the absence of a voiceover. The narration helped to concentrate on particular parts of the story, and ramifications that the tapes left on each character. We got to see events from different perspectives, not just Clay and Hannah’s.

Nevertheless, narration in season 3 was unnecessary and poorly done. It is annoying as it is, when somebody tells the audience everything that’s going on when we can clearly see that for ourselves, but when it comes from a dislikable character it is twice as bad. Narration brings something to the story when it makes the story more interesting, when it’s revealing something new. (That’s why inner monologues actually work, when written well). On the contrary, Ani’s never-ending story, full of lies and vague pretentious phrases, is boring and distracting from the plot.

    Finally, let’s touch upon the whole – Ani being Clay’s love interest – thing. Since Hannah’s gone (and her ghost manifested by Clay as well) the main character needs another sidekick who’ll follow him around, because the audience needs Clay to communicate his feelings and theories at all times (which could be avoided, were Clay the narrator), and apparently Justin and Tony weren’t worthy enough to fit the part of his confidant.

Anyway, Clay and Ani being friends was fine, but where did this forceful romantic plotline come from? Dear writers, your main character does not always have to be in a relationship! We won’t respect Clay less just because he doesn’t get the girl. Honestly, most people will relate to him even more. Furthermore, it is important to show viewers, especially younger ones, that it is normal not to have a crush or date. The majority of teens doesn’t date in high school, and it’s frustrating to see characters always end up with somebody, like without that they can’t be complete or happy.

To be candid, Clay and Ani didn’t seem to have any chemistry. Both, their kiss and Ani telling her mom they’re dating, were unanticipated and out of place. There was no natural progression for them to be together at the end. After Clay finally sees Ani the way the viewers did all this time (ep 7), it’s difficult to find the moment where he starts to like her again or forgives her… Just because Ani comes up with the plan to save Alex from jail, it means Clay is in love with her? Clay? Angsty Clay who holds grudges and wants to take revenge on people (e.g. see season 1)? It’s hard to buy it.

    There was a theory that S3 was actually supposed to be narrated by Sheri. Unfortunately, Ajiona Alexus left the show. But could you imagine how much better would Sheri be instead of Ani. Sheri is a well developed character since season 1, who is liked by a lot of viewers. She has preexisting relationships with all the main characters, so it would be natural of them to confide in her. Not to mention her and Clay already had a thing in S1, so them ending up together in S3 would be logical and satisfying. Even if the concept of Sheri being the narrator couldn’t be brought to life, the next choice for that role would certainly be Clay aka the main character, not just a random new girl.

     Taking into account the upcoming season 4, what can there be done to repair the damage? Even though some may argue it’s the easiest decision, I doubt that Ani’s character will be just written off (no matter how much I want it). I see only two possible outcomes. Either her character gets way less screen time, or she gets outstanding character development, although I have no idea what there could be done for the audience to like her. At last, it is vital that the writers get rid of her narration.

I hope the flaws of the last season will be fixed, because I’m excited to see where the story takes us next, and I don’t want to suffer through Ani’s character to find out.

ELITE S3

SPOILER WARNING

Okay, was this season the best or am I so addicted to this show that every time it comes back I love it even more?

First and foremost. Polo deserved to rot in jail for the rest of his life, not to escape his agony by dying and get forgiveness from Guzmán. Just because he‘s dead he’s not any less of a murderer. Polo apologists can F off. You can like him as a character but do not excuse his actions. Marina’s murder was not an accident. Polo made a choice, and we saw how he wanted to hurt Ander the same way in S2. He could kill again... Well, at least now he won’t.

Now on to my favorite characters.

Rebeka continues to be the best. I’m glad she got more of a storyline this season. She’s definitely a character who you’d want to be best friends with. The scenes of her supporting Ander and coming out to him were beautiful. A lot of people - me included - wanted Rebe to be non-straight. When she admitted her feelings for Carla, I couldn’t believe we actually got the possibility of Rebeka and Carla ditching Samuel to be together. Sadly, I was right not to believe it. These «feelings» sank into oblivion just after they were revealed. We got no interaction (besides Rebe giving Carla drugs and apologizing about it), no longing looks, no development (even one-sided). Instead Rebeka was stuck in a forced romance with no chemistry, showcasing only jealousy over Samu towards Carla. As for Samu, he seemed to love Rebe as a friend, much like Marina loved him in S1. After all, Rebeka truly deserves someone who will reciprocate her feelings and a better crimeless life, which I really hope she will get in S4.

Samuel has done the impossible in S2 by becoming my favorite character. He used to embody “the good guy” trope which I hate, but he developed from this perfect-innocent-annoying character to a protagonist you can actually cheer for. Some people may argue that he’s still irritating and doesn’t deserve Carla. Nonetheless, I believe he balances off La Marquesa very well and I totally supported him on his quest for justice over two seasons.

Guzmán didn’t really shine that much in this season, yet he managed to returne into my top favorite characters. He still struggles to control his anger and grief, but he’s already more mature than he ever was, which is mostly visible in his behavior towards Nadia and Lucrecia.

Guzmán’s friendship with Samuel was the best this season, alongside Lú and Nadia’s, and I hope to see more of it next season.

Carla. The character I didn’t care about in S1, didn’t trust in S2, and finally loved in S3. Her story this season was heartbreaking, and getting more of her family dynamic helped to understand how her mind works. She’s used to being a kid acting as an adult, manipulating, simulating feelings, taking care of business and people who threaten her family’s image, because that’s the only model of behavior she’s ever had. That’s why her obtaining freedom from drugs, parents, and social expectations at the end couldn’t be more satisfying.

Lú and Ander. The only characters that made me cry this season. Two characters I like a lot, each with one flaw that I can’t forgive. Lú’s one being incest which is a choice not a part of love-is-love formula, and I hate the show for romanticizing it. And Ander’s - being friends with Polo.

Lú has always been an interesting character for me (resembling Blair from Gossip Girl). She obviously hid all her insecurities under a bitchy exterior, and I wanted to see more of her emotional side, which was given in her beautiful friendship with Nadia. Lú and Nadia are two sides of the same coin, and them becoming frenemies was long-overdue. Them supporting, comforting each other, and going to study abroad together was a dream come true. (Their friendship reminds me of Santana&Rachel from Glee, let’s hope this one’ll work out).

Lú was expected to be a hbic when the show came out, but eventually that slot was taken by Carla. Lú wasn’t really involved in the main plot until this season. That’s why her killing Polo was unexpected to say the least. Towards the end of the last episode I thought that whoever killed Polo must be someone who you wouldn’t even think of. Sweeping aside the obvious Guzmán and Samuel, I determined Ander, Nadia and Lú as my suspects. Still when Lú went after Polo with the bottle until the very killing I thought it was a decoy. Lú becoming a murderer was in fact an accident even though she probably went in with an intention to hurt him. Her feeling remorse was truly heartbreaking, and I hope we’ll see more of the aftermath this all had on her.

In such a murderous show it‘s valuable to have a different perspective on life and death through Ander’s character. His journey this season made the concepts of justice and resentment shine in another light.

The part of Ander’s story that I didn’t like was his romantic relationship and it wasn’t even his fault. That’s why we’re moving on to the character who disappointed me the most.

THE DOWNFALL OF OMAR

By this point Omar has collected so many flaws that I hate his character.

Let’s start from S2 when him being friendly with Lú was cute and all but also meant betraying his sister, who shall I mention has never done any harm to him, only helped and supported him.

Then he certainly crossed the line this season by cheating on Ander with Nadia’s boyfriend. Continuously. Nadia was quick to forgive Omar which was so infuriating. Not only did he not prevent his sister from falling for a liar, but he also kept sleeping with him. Furthermore, when confronted about it instead of apologizing he turned the situation on Nadia.

Needless to say, Ander did not deserve to be cheated on AND being lied to. Omar still hasn’t told he cheated. When Ander pushed him away by lying that he cheated, Omar seemed more concerned with where would he live now rather than the break up itself.

At this point Omar and Ander didn’t seem like a good match, and I was begging for them to break up. How happy was I when they actually did. It felt necessary and realistic for this relationship to come to an end. Unfortunately, I was early to celebrate. They had to go and ruin this perfect ending. I am mad Omar went back to Ander. I can’t believe this relationship will be dragged on for another season. I hate the fact that Omar will go to Las Encinas now. May I ask how could Omar even get a scholarship with his low grades???

There’re a few relationships left to discuss.

There was a lot of everybody-sleeping-with-everybody going on, but not much deep connections.

Guznadia and Carmuel didn’t get a lot of screen time, even though the few scenes they got were sweet.

Carla’s enslavement of a relationship was truly toxic and appalling.

Malick and Nadia’s relationship was hard to get on board with since the beginning and of course disappointing by the end in both the ship and Malick’s character.

Malick and Yeray were not captivating nor charming. Overall, S3 failed to introduce new characters especially compared to S2.

It was cool to see that the show didn’t abandon polyamory representation. Valerio, Polo and Cayetana getting together was unpredictable. I expected Valerio to get with Rebeka, and even her mom, but those rendezvous blew over like they never happened, and left Valerio to the psychos.

Do you know what would be even cooler than this threesome? A thruple consisting of actually likable characters. When will we get Rebeka with Samu and Carla? That would be quality representation.

With all my impressions laid out I have to say that this show is amazing. It keeps the audience in suspense with an intriguing plot while also developing numerous multidimensional characters and tackling serious societal issues and philosophical questions.

TOP 10 TV SHOWS I watched in 2021

I’m like two months late with this wrap-up but here we go!

1.     Genera+ion (2021) on HBO MAX

it’s about a group of gen z kids exploring their identity and finding family amongst friends.

my favorite show ever! “genera+ion” is the kind of story i dreamed of for years but never expected to actually get. 

“genera+ion” went there and did that. multiple poc and queer characters! the different povs storytelling! the found family trope! teenagers talking and looking like teenagers! it’s not overdramatized, there’s no unnecessary trauma dumping, and no sexualizing teenagers. it is refreshing, relatable, and authentic. this is the best show recipe for me.

it was unfairly canceled by hbo max, but I believe it still works as a stand alone story and is worth checking out.  

2.     Daybreak (2019) on NETFLIX

it’s a post-apocalyptic reality where all adults had turned into zombies and the teenagers are left to fend for themselves. the main character sets on a quest to find his girlfriend with the help of his sidekicks, while trying to avoid getting eaten.

it’s a shame I overlooked this show when it first came out because it turned out to be a perfect fit for me. I’m usually not a fan of dystopian stories BUT this show has my favorite type of humor and way of storytelling. I’m talking breaking the fourth wall, insertion of animated scenes, absurdity and chaos all around.

I must admit, the main character wasn’t that compelling to me (perhaps that’s the reason why I didn’t pick up the show when it was premiering). same goes for his love interest. although I did like the unmasking of the manic pixie dream girl archetype. [slight spoilers] for most of the show the audience sees Sam and their relationship only from Josh’s perspective. but Josh turns out to be an unreliable narrator, when Sam becomes an actual person instead of the idiolized version created in josh’s head. I don’t think we get to see shows exposing their main male characters as “the nice guy” very often, so that’s the part of their story arc that I liked. [spoilers over]

for the most part I was much more invested in the secondary characters (wesley, turbo, kj, eli & mona lisa are my favorite). and I think the cast really is an ensemble, even though there’s a designated main character. other characters also get to exist on their own and even take over the narration.  

i also much preferred the love story ivolving secondary characters. it came as a huge plot-twist surprise, and embodied some of my favorite tropes.

I watched this show twice and it goes on my all time favorites list for sure, along with genera+ion.

3.     I know what you did last summer (2021) on AMAZON PRIME

if you’ve seen the 1997 cult classic you already know the premise. a group of friends cover up a murder, and a year later start getting threats from an anonymous who claims to “know what they did last summer”. however, apart from the familiar concept, the show is quite different from the movie, with a new setting and new characters.

most reviews i’ve seen of this show were negative, but I LOVED IT. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that the plot twists, and all the clues, and foreshadowings worked for me, and the finale gave me everything I wanted. it was so twisted and toxic and didn’t shy away from it, but it was also funny and entertaining. plus, I’m obsessed with the sapphic love storyline and the characters involved in it (almost as obsessed as they’re with each other but I’m not that unhealthy).

I feel like I can’t rationally explain why I love this show so much, maybe the writers and I are just on the same wavelength. I think if you’re gen z and you like messy characters (and thrillers, duh) you have a higher chance of enjoying this series.

4.     Young royals (2021) on NETFLIX

it’s a series about a swedish prince struggling to balance the matters of the heart with the responsibility of the crown, after his parents sent him off to a boarding school.

this show manages to stay relatable and grounded even though we’re following a literal royal in a prestigious school. it’s real, vulnerable, and cleverly written. and it’s a beautiful heartbreaking love story. it’s been compared to “skam” so if you’re a fan of it (and good television), this one’s for you.

5.     Betty (2020) on HBO MAX

a remake of the 2018 movie skate kitchen. it follows a diverse group of young women navigating the predominantly male oriented world of skateboarding.

it’s always great to see stories about strong female friendships, and this one also feels like a “found family” trope (which I love! and I mean, who doesn’t?). it feels very real as well, like we’re just watching people’s lives without them being overdramatized. it’s beautifully styled, and it makes you want to learn how to skate.

6.     Cruel summer (2021) on FREEFORM, HULU & AMAZON PRIME

the action simultaneously takes place over 3 summers during the 90s. after it-girl kate mysteriously goes missing, another girl takes her place as the popular one, along with her friends and boyfriend. the narrative switches between two girls, while we try to uncover who’s telling the truth about what happened.

i’ve seen people compare it to “pretty little liars”. it doesn’t give me the same feeling, but I guess it does have similar themes. like, a popular girl disappears, only this one isn’t the embodiment of evil, there’s a teacher-student relationship but here it’s not treated like something romantic or desirable, and the lying - which is a big part of both shows - but here the build-up actually pays off.

some of the acting and dialogue can be a bit awkward, but olivia holt’s performance makes up for all of it. she carried this show. this is by far her best acting performance (with “cloak&dagger” being second).

7.     The lying game (2011) on AMAZON PRIME 

Emma finds out she has an identical twin sister Sutton, from whom she was separated at birth. Sutton asks Emma to take her place for a couple days to go look for their birth mother. However, things get messy when Emma discovers that Sutton has more secrets than she led on.

this might seem like an outlier on this list, being made over a decade ago and all. however, this is the third show with an “identity theft” theme here, so it’s very on brand for me.

as gen z, the only nostalgia I get is for the 2010s and back then I used to watch a ton of teen dramas that nobody cared about: “the secret circle”, “twisted”, “switched at birth”, “make it or break it”, “10 things I hate about you”, etc. the only show that escaped my attention was “the lying game”. I decided to fix that.

I missed the vibe of those shows that I used to watch as a kid. if you’re like me, you will enjoy this. just don’t come in expecting great writing, thought-out storylines, or high-level production. it’s full of missed opportunities, unanswered questions, cartoonish villains, and characters that come, disappear, and are never brought up again. (if anything, this show is like “pretty little liars”!) but it also has entertaining love storyline(s), and a likeable cast of characters. not counting Sutton of course, she’s a disaster. I know this is based on a book, but I feel like the success of “the vampire diaries” inspired the show’s twin sisters. the actress looks like Nina Dobrev, and they went with the nice sister vs evil sister. only here the mean one is underdeveloped to the point of her being completely unsympathetic. she just becomes an annoying villain with no real motive.

beware! the show leaves off on a cliffhanger so don’t look forward to getting the mystery solved, just enjoy the ride of a 2011 teen messy drama.

8.     Shadow & bone (2021) on NETFLIX

based on the worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels, “shadow and bone” follows an orphan Alina Starkov in a fantasy world full of magic, darkness and danger.

not being a fantasy fan, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this. I don’t have anything negative to say. it seems like a great book adaptation. the level of production that went into this is incredible, the world-building and the characters are captivating. i’m looking forward to season 2.

9.     Chucky (2021) on SYFY

the continuation of the “child’s play” movie franchise. a Chucky doll turns up at a suburban yard sale, and thus begins a series of horrifying murders in the town of Hackensack.

this show turned a bit too cheesy and far-fetched for my taste by the end. but i’ve been told that it kept the same tone from the movies (i’ve never seen one, this was my first introduction to chucky), so that must be good for the original fans. overall, I still enjoyed it. it’s gay, campy, and very disturbing. it’s also always great to see teenagers playing teenagers. safe to say, i’m never buying a vintage doll.

10.     The girl in the woods (2021) on PEACOCK

Tasha and Nolan meet a mysterious girl who escaped from a colony that guards a secret door in the woods.

so, i’m not into watching scary stuff, which you probably wouldn’t think looking at this list. but somehow, despite being very creepy, this show manages to feel warm and safe. most of it comes from the relationships between the three main characters. this series also has the best portrayal of a non-binary character that i’ve ever seen. they get to explore their identity and face the issues that come with it, without it coming off as a trauma story. also, they’re the best effing character. 

it’s a cute short thriller. bonus point, it has Sofia Bryant from “I am not okay with it”.

 phew! this was fun! and here’s top 4 worst shows I watched last year: 1. bridgerton 2. ginny and georgia 3. one of us is lying 4. gossip girl (2021)

i did trin lovell’s list, and thought i’d post it. 

tbh i was debating to put tvd in the death row bc i hate sm about it, but it was one of the first shows i ever watched and seasons 2&3 are genuinely good.

 regarding the 100, i actually think the show itself is pretty great (seasons 1-4) but i just have too much pent up hatred towards it bc of bellarke (they literally made me wait 7 years for nothing) and b*liza (clarke and bellamy were my favorite characters and i can’t look at their faces anymore).

some of these rankings are probably gonna be surprising but i stand by them.

The Half of It (2020)

what I did like

This movie was very refreshing because it didn’t have the same cheesy glossy Netflix vibe. We all remember such “masterpieces” as Tall Girl and The Kissing Booth, and it’s nice to see that The Half of It was actually a genuine story.

I really liked the way Ellie’s culture and her family was represented in the movie. We don’t usually see families whose first language isn’t English having conversations in their native language on screen, even though it’s unrealistic. And here it wasn’t even a big deal, it just came naturally.

The meaning behind the title and the story was beautiful. In the last scene when Ellie observes other passengers on the train who are sitting alone, the realization hits that all people are a half of somebody’s story. In friendships, romantic and family relationships there’re always two halves, two people who make them up. People aren’t perfect, you can’t just meet someone who will fit you. Relationships blossom from the work that both people put in. [“Love, it’s not finding your perfect half. It’s the trying, and reaching, and falling.”]

Also having an Asian lead and lesbian representation in a mainstream movie was pretty great.

things that weren’t that great

The whole movie felt authentic but at the same time I was left with a lot of questions. Maybe the things I found problems with are nitpicks or they were meant to be that way. And honestly I might have not even noticed them, if only the movie hadn’t left me unfulfilled. You see, once I finished it, I understood that it was lacking something to make a long-lasting impression. That’s what made me go back and think about what didn’t work for me in the movie.

It was hard to understand the school dynamics. The world of the movie felt limited. And people who were on the outside of Ellie’s life — faceless. With such a tiny world, that revolved around three main characters, the football games and talent shows felt out of place because the school life wasn’t established well. I didn’t understand why those guys bullied Ellie and sabotaged her performance. Just to be mean and because they were racist I guess, but they were so absent from the story, that it felt like a plot device and nothing more. Who were those two blonde ladies Ellie kept looking at during the talent show and in church? Just some random judging women? Did I miss something? All these questions just put me out of the story and left me puzzled.

The characters were closed books as well. I didn’t feel connected to any of them.

Aster’s presented like a ‘dream girl’ type of character that we see through Ellie’s eyes. Her boredom and struggle to choose between what she should do and actually wants were mentioned but her emotions and thoughts were still an enigma. Besides, she was cheating on her boyfriend with Paul and everyone was okay with that? It’s not even addressed in the movie.

Ellie was not relatable for me because, again, we didn’t see much of her feelings. If the movie is already including a voice over, why not use it to help the audience understand the main character better? We only see what she’s going through, but we don’t see how.

While Ellie didn’t seem to play an active part in her own life, it was Paul who was moving the story forward. Usually, I enjoy a good-hearted dense jock, but not here. Trying to kiss Ellie even though he was still with Aster, and then not even caring that Aster saw them but instead saying that Ellie’s gonna end up in hell for being gay (and never apologizing for it). Where did the homophobia come from? The fact that he was religious wasn’t that focused on to expect this turn of events. Just as well, it was hard to figure out what was happening inside his head. His character just like everyone else’s felt flat.

Probably the worst scene of the movie happened in the said church. With twenty minutes left, the movie, that so cautiously avoided and reinvented romcom clichés up to this point, suddenly slips into an unrealistic and awkward speech in front of everybody (everybody being the characters that weren’t well developed nor established, so for us they’re just nobody). Can we please stop making the scenes, where characters finally have a revelation or admit their feelings, so damn public? How often is it actually considered cute? Why can’t characters just talk to each other and be open and genuine, without having an audience to clap for them at the end?

Anyway, the premise itself wasn’t groundbreaking (what is it about Netflix making movies about asian girls writing letters?). However, I enjoyed a calm tone this movie had. I wish they’d just made the plot more exciting? or not as confusing?

After watching the trailer I was under an impression that Paul was going to find out sooner that Ellie liked Aster, and the movie would be about him helping her instead, which I still think would make for a more interesting story. It’s a shame we spent so much time on a relationship between Paul and Aster, that was obviously not going to last.

In conclusion, The Half of It won’t become something I’d like to rewatch or contemplate about. With all its good parts the movie was unsatisfying for me. It felt like we weren’t following an arc but were rather seeing a chain of events in a character’s life. That sure is realistic but doesn’t make for a very entertaining story. Nonetheless, I think it was a nice refresher from all the quirky unrealistic romcoms that we’re flooded with.

6/10

my favorite films i watched for the first time in 2022 ♥️