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- january:
- fresh off the boat ➀ ★★★✩✩ funny, sweet, but misses the mark on several fronts. the first episode is most similar to the real eddie's actual autobiography, and goes downhill from there. as the author himself has said, a more grounded undertone would have gone a long way for the show, without removing the comedy. the comedy would hit even harder if it was balanced with more lows.
- it's always sunny in philadelphia ➀ ★★★★★ my goodness. i have sat with my mouth agape for almost entire episodes.
- february:
- fresh off the boat ➁ ★★★✩✩
- it's always sunny in philadelphia ➁ ★★★★✩
- and just like that... ➀ ★½☆☆☆ what the hell is this.
- march:
- and just like that... ➁ ★½☆☆☆ save me. get me out of here. what have they done to my girls. what are the writers thinking? they flatten beloved characters and don't properly incorporate new ones. the storylines are a complete mess. every joke is painfully juvenile, poorly crafted, and hurts the soul.
- white lotus ➀ ★★★★✩ interesting, uncomfortable, and very memorable. i'm talking to you, armond.
- white lotus ➁ ★★★★✩ fascinating dynamics between everyone, not just the main four. many people don't seem to discuss the sa aspect between harper and cameron's situation, but it feels very intentional to me. overall, mike white truly captures that these are real people, with real flaws, and ellicits empathy in and from unexpected places.
- april:
- the l word ➀ this is the way, is the way that we live! oh, early 2000s television, how i've missed you. shane is everything to me. but, what the hell was that last arc for bette? moreover, what the HELL was that last episode.
- white lotus ➂ ★★★★✩ while i've rated all of the white lotus seasons the same four stars, i think they excel in different ways. this one is funny and memorable. it has the most bizarre pacing (white lotus has quite odd pacing overall, which adds to the tone), but that alone does not detract from the season. white lotus has always had a sort of nagging, incomplete feeling in a great way, which forces us to confront our own human nature and what really is a 'choice.' for example, rachel 'chooses' to stay with her emotionally abusive husband in season one. we as the audience feel a sense of defeat for her. however, considering her circumstances, his threats to her career, the surmounting pressure—there wasn't much room for another 'choice.' we see similar arcs with other characters. but here, the incompleteness does not always add to the narrative and emotional undercurrents of the show. rather, it makes the show winding and confusing. this makes more sense when considering that hours upon hours of filming were excluded from the final cut. perhaps these threads would have lead somewhere if so much wasn't cut. still, a memorable watch.
- yellowjackets ➂ i have mixed feelings. so many mixed feelings. nothing beats season one. i couldn't help but feel the utmost joy for natalie in the last episode.
- may:
- the o.c. ➀ ★★★★½ peak. oh yeah, this is peak. i was pleasantly surprised how layered this show is. the characters are so incredibly charming, and their dynamics are even better. very comforting to watch. you go! california gossip girl!
- the o.c. ➁ ★★★★☆
- the o.c. ➂ ★★★½☆ marissa my girl :(
- june:
- the o.c. ➃ ★★½☆☆ definitely the worst season. it seemed like they had no idea what else to do with the characters, which is strange because there was so much yet to be explored between them.
- you ➄ what a bounce back from season 4! however, "you" cannot decide on what tone it wants to have. this results in funny and light moments falling flat, and 'deep' and dark moments feeling shallow. lots of great moments, but far more cringey ones.
- and just like that... ➂ ★☆☆☆☆ god help me. after getting just halfway through the first episode, i had to take a break of about three weeks. it was just too much. how did it somehow get worse? a mockery and an embarrassment.
dec 22 2024 ∞
jul 9 2025 +
jul 9 2025 +