The Great 2023 Retrospective: Books

My goal for the past two years has been to slow down and actually absorb the books I read, and while I’m not sure I achieved that goal this year I did beat my personal record of total books read, clocking in at 164 full-length books (prior record 157 in 2021). Among that number are new entries in favorite series, intriguing historical fiction, exciting new releases, and (as ever) lots of romance. Here are some of my favorites in the order I read them, with a very lengthy list of honorable mentions at the bottom:

Hell Bent

The much-anticipated sequel to Bardugo’s adult fantasy debut Ninth House (which ended on a GIANT cliffhanger) we finally get to see what happens with Alex’s quest to retrieve Darlington from hell. Full of more magic, ghosts, secret societies, and clever world building, this story keeps you on your toes just as much as the first installment and is a worthy entry in this planned series. While it was more than worth the wait, we can only hope that we won’t have to wait another three years for the next installment.

Happy Place

One of the perks of my bookstore job is getting my grubby little hands on advance reader copies of highly anticipated new releases, and Happy Place was one of the ones I was most excited about having access to. Emily Henry is the current queen of the contemporary rom com, but her work is far from overhyped. Not only are they satisfying romances, often turning the conventions of the genre on its head in a way that pays homage to well-loved tropes, but also intimate character studies that dig into her characters’ insecurities and backstories in a way that feels grounded and real. Happy Place is no exception to this rule, and protagonist Harriet’s anxieties of being left behind by those she holds the closest resonated with me deeply.

The Whalebone Theatre

The final straggler in the Great Fall of 2022 Historical Fiction New Release Kick I went on, The Whalebone Theatre was advertised as a story of British siblings acting as spies in WWII France. It very much is that, but the story starts much earlier, on New Year’s Eve 1919, with the arrival of a new stepmother for toddler Cristabel. What follows is the saga of a family over the course of the next 25ish years, culminating in the promised spying, and I for one enjoyed the sprawling nature of the narrative as it unfolded. The supporting characters are interesting, but it was the bonds forged by Cristabel and her two younger half siblings (well, one is technically her cousin, but is also the half sibling of her half sibling; I promise it makes sense in the narrative) that I found the most compelling.

Killers of a Certain Age

After binging the Thursday Murder Club series last year I got into a cozy mystery groove, and the latest from Deanna Raybourn was one of my favorites. Following a group of female former assassins on what’s supposed to be their retirement cruise, they soon find out that someone from their former organization has put a hit out on them. What follows is a pacey and engaging mystery, with just enough thrills to keep you entertained while still very much being a book about unassuming old ladies who pack a punch. For the best in both a thriller and “an elderly woman gets into mischief” style fiction, look no further.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Everyone, and I mean everyone, told me how good this book was, and I did not believe them. I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, Zevin’s other well-known work, and I know next to nothing about video games. “You don’t need to,” these persistent acquaintances insisted, “it’s about the people.” And reader, they were right. Not just a compelling story, it’s the execution that really shines, making the rise and fall of a home-grown game design studio and the core friendships that started it a riveting read.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

The newest from Daevabad Trilogy author Shannon Chakraborty, this first in a new series follows the titular pirate captain as she’s pulled out of retirement for “just one more job.” It’s never that simple though, and what follows is a tale of magical objects, mistaken identities, and adventure that kept me enthralled from start to finish. I fell in love with all the characters, but primarily with Amina’s straightforward narration and dry sense of humor.

Cassandra in Reverse

What if you had the ability to do over small moments of your life? That’s the ability Cassandra Dankworth discovers she has on a very rough day, and she decides to use it to undo getting fired, falling out with her roommates, and being broken up with by (she’s convinced) the love of her life. Things don’t turn out quite the way she thinks, however, and what follows is a wonderful tale of self-discovery and acceptance. Oh, and did I mention she’s autistic? The representation here is spot on, and Cassandra encapsulates the “difficult” nature many autistic women are labeled with while effectively showing how misunderstood autistic women are.

I Have Some Questions for You

Very similar in tone to another of this year’s reads, If We Were Villains, Rebecca Makkai’s tale of murder and memory is gripping from start to finish. Both a moody thriller with dark academia vibes and an examination of true crime podcasting and the mining of real people’s pain for content, this novel edged out as my favorite of the two.

Business or Pleasure

Both Rachel Lynn Solomon’s previous romances have been delightful, but it’s her latest release, Business or Pleasure, that takes the prize for my favorite so far. A ghost writer and a former teen heartthrob actor have a one night stand, and let’s just say it doesn’t go well. Cut to the next morning and our heroine discovers that the celebrity whose memoir she’ll be writing and the guy who was really bad in bed the night before are one and the same. As their relationship develops, she agrees to give him some, ahem, pointers, with the intention of never developing feelings. Which of course goes exactly as planned.

Tom Lake

Much has been said about Ann Patchett’s latest, set in a cherry orchard outside of Traverse City, Michigan during the summer of 2020 and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. As Lara’s three grown daughters are stuck at home with their parents, they ask their mother to tell them the story of that One Magical Summer™️ when she dated a now-famous actor while playing Emily in Our Town at Tom Lake, a summer stock theatre company most likely based on Interlochen Center for the Arts. A meditation on what could have been, as well as an exploration of the relationships between women, this novel kicked off a bit of a Patchett era for both me and my best friend.

The Summer Before the War

Riding the line between a cozy historical novel and delving into some serious subjects, this book takes place in the months leading up to WWI. Beatrice Nash arrives in the small town of Rye in the summer of 1914 to replace the old Latin master and is met with several different opinions on whether it’s a job for a woman. But with the looming specter of war hanging over the country, it soon becomes apparent that it’s community rather than intolerance that will see them through the dark days ahead. With enough substance to make you think but not quite so dark you can’t give it to your Downton Abbey-loving mom (as I did), this was the perfect summer read.

Small Island

After hearing great things about Black Cake and enjoying it, I finally got around to reading one of the novels that inspired it: Andrea Levy’s Small Island. I’d seen the pro shot of the West End adaptation (which is excellent btw), but I’d never actually read the book. Full of beautiful writing and well drawn characters, this story of colonialism, immigration, class, and race has a compelling beating heart in its four POV characters, two Jamaican and two English. Andrea Levy was an astonishing talent, and Small Island may just be her masterpiece.

Watership Down

I’d read this classic novel at some point as a child, but when Dimension 20 announced their Watership-inspired campaign Burrow’s End I knew it was time for a reread. This tale of the search for a new home was even more exciting and detailed than I remembered, and I got fully sucked into the world that Adams created for these rabbits. Adams maintained that this story was not an allegory, but considering elements such as sexism and a warren that’s a literal fascist state, I think there’s much more here than just a story about rabbits for children.

Honorable Mentions: Inciting Joy, Once There Were Wolves, Pride and Protest, Lessons in Chemistry, The League of Gentlewomen Witches, Unmasking Autism, The Late Mrs. Willoughby, Lessons in Chemistry, A Long Petal of the Sea, The Secret Service of Tea and Treason, To Swoon and to Spar, Transcription, A Kind of Spark, Legends & Lattes, The Farewell Tour, Artfully Yours, Still Life, The School for Good Mothers, Portrait of a Thief, The Marlow Murder Club, The Gallows Pole, The Vaster Wilds, The Blond Identity, Mortal Follies, Funny You Should Ask, Once More With Feeling, Slightly Married, Thornhedge, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, The Patron Saint of Liars, Learned by Heart, Black Cake, The Last Devil to Die, Normal Rules Don’t Apply, Foe, Killers of the Flower Moon, Learning to Talk, The Truth, Blankets, The Color Purple, The Gentleman’s Gambit, Monstrous Regiment

The Great 2023 Retrospective: TV

There was just too much good TV this year, from exciting new shows to highly anticipated second seasons, with beautifully crafted final bows and satisfying re-dos in between. Here’s just a glimpse of some of my favorites:

The Last of Us

I’m not a video game person, so I really didn’t have much of an idea of what I was in for when my friends and I tuned in weekly to HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama. I absolutely was not prepared for people turned into zombies by mutant fungi (the special effects was a little too good in this regard), but what really impressed me was the casting and the chemistry between characters. Much has rightfully been said about the central duo, but an under appreciated tour de force is Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, the slightly dictatioral leader Joel and Ellie encounter midseason. What can I say? I support women’s rights, but more importantly I support women‘s wrongs.

Transatlantic

A historical drama quietly dropped on Netflix and starring Britta from Community (Gillian Jacobs, did you know she went to Juilliard??), Transatlantic is based on the book The Flight Portfolio, which in turn is based on the true story of the Emergency Rescue Commitee. As tensions rise in Europe before the outbreak of WWII, a group of dedicated government workers, plus an heiress, work tirelessly to evacuate as many Jewish refugees and anti-Nazi intellectuals and artists from the French port of Marseilles. Not only does this miniseries boast excellent set design and costuming (half the characters are avant-garde artists, after all), it also does not shy away from the complicity of the French and American governments in abandoning refugees to their doom and the lengths the ERC had to go to in order to circumvent bureaucracy.

Tom Jones

PBS’ adaptation of the classic novel is a delightful romp with a perfect cast, and while it preserves the title character’s exploits the real strength of this adaptation is its focus on Sophia’s perspective, here played by Sophie Wilde. The lush pastoral scenery and costumes are still in full force, but this version leans into an exploration of class, gender, sex, and race that gives the jaunty story substance.

Jury Duty

Perhaps the most surprising breakout hit of the year, this Amazon Freevee original follows the ups and downs of a Los Angeles jury as they deliberate a case. The catch? Literally everyone but one of the jurors, from the plaintiff, defendent, lawyers, judge, bailiff, and other jurors, are actors. The cast of characters is hilariously brought to life by mostly unknown comedic actors (with one notable exception: James Marsden plays a heightened version of himself), with most of the series’ gags planned but fleshed out with a healthy amount of brilliant improv. The show succeeds with its wacky premise and proves that people are often just straight up weird enough that the subject of a hoax reality show just goes along with their antics, but it’s the kindness and accepting attitude of that person that really makes it shine.

A Kind of Spark

Based on a middle grade novel of the same name, A Kind of Spark follows eleven-year-old Addie, an autistic girl living in England (Scotland in the book) who learns about her small town’s history of witch trials and feels a kinship with the victims who were punished for just being different. Parallels between the town’s history and present attitude of intolerance are very easily drawn, and Addie’s mission of erecting a memorial to the victims of the trials is met with both support and opposition by those around her. The series balances serious subject matter with a tone appropriate for a children’s show, and is notable for its casting of autistic actors in both autistic and non-autistic roles (the lead actress, Lola Blue, who is autistic, played the young version of Eliza Scarlet in Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 1, an established favorite of mine). The rise in authenticity in portrayals of autism and autistic individuals gives me hope for future representations in media.

Good Omens Season 2

The “soft, gentle romance in the filling of the sandwich” between Season 1 and the recently confirmed Season 3, this season wasn’t just a continuation of the 2019 adaptation of the Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett-penned book and initial miniseries, but the manifestation of the sequel Gaiman and Pratchett plotted but never got around to writing. Or, I guess, more accurately, what happens before the events of that sequel. The stakes aren’t as fate of the world involved this time around but more personal, and Michael Sheen and David Tennant once again prove that they were the perfect actors to play the central pair. Especially considering that this season ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, I’m incredibly excited to see what’s in store in the next and final installment of the series.

Reservation Dogs: The Final Season

The final season of this excellent comedy series went out on a high, digging even deeper into the character’s backstories and personal lives to create a rich depiction of loss, hope, and community. With the dynamics between the titular Rez Dogs firmly established by the first two seasons, this time around the show takes the opportunity to delve further into the backstories and personal lives of the adult characters, with one full episode set in the 70’s and featuring a new cast playing the young versions of elders we’re already familiar with. And of course, as always, it was just really, really funny. Full of stellar performances all around, Devery Jacobs particularly stands out in Episode 9 “Elora’s Dad,” and her directorial debut with Episode 4 “Wahoo!” solidifies her status as a young talent to watch.

Our Flag Means Death Season 2

Speaking of being really, really funny: the highly anticipated season of Our Flag Means Death came out this summer, with even more piracy, real historical figures (They finally introduced Anne Bonny and Mary Read), hijinks, and excellent character work from the ensemble cast. If the finale of the first season broke each of the lead characters, the second spends most of its time building them back up again, resulting in a worthy follow-up for this breakout hit.

Dimension 20: Burrow’s End

As previously mentioned, my partner and I watched a lot of Dimension 20 this year, and while there are other seasons I could have put on this list (hell, I could make a whole post on just this subject, let’s see if my focus stays long enough for me to actually do that), it was Burrow’s End that most captured my attention. Aabria Iyengar is an excellent DM whose imagination keeps pushing further and further into more ambitious territory. When my boyfriend and I saw the trailer we were like “oh, so it’s Watership Down but with stoats”-and while that’s technically correct this series ended up being so much more. There are so many standout moments and fun character traits, but it was the chemistry between the players as a believable family unit that made this campaign truly special.

The Artful Dodger

I was initially confused when I saw the trailer for this follow up to Oliver Twist, in which the Artful Dodger (real name Jack Dawson) has grown up, moved to Australia, and become a surgeon, but I’d watch Thomas Brodie-Sangster just wiggle his extremely expressive eyebrows, so I sat down and gave it a shot. What I was met with was a smart, funny, engaging show full of interesting characters and entertaining plots that was way better than I was expecting. Sure the lead female protagonist, Lady Belle, has a serious case of Not Like Other Girls™-itis, but her interest in medicine provides a complimentary element to Jack’s own approach to healing, class, and justice. Whether or not there’ll be a second season remains very much in the air, but I would certainly watch more if given the chance.

The Gilded Age Season 2

The much-anticipated follow-up to Julian Fellowes’ newest historical juggernaut (he also created Downton Abbey), the second season builds on the foundation of the first and pushes the characters in new directions, with even more real historical figures and issues making appearances. As in the first season, a good part of the appeal is watching the uber-rich in their beautiful dresses stress over who they can be seen talking to or whether it’s acceptable to teach young ladies painting (jury’s out on that last one), but this time larger and thornier issues of the working class and marginalized communities also figure in the story, making the series feel more grounded. I enjoyed the first season, but this time around the show has really found its footing.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians

Much has been said about how disappointing the less-than-faithfully-adapted movies were, but this time around author Rick Riordan is in the creator’s seat, with a large Disney+ budget and a decade’s worth of CGI advancements at his disposal. The casting is also excellent, with actual children being tapped to play the lead roles instead of post-pubescent near adults. As of this posting only the first three episodes have been released, but they indicate a promising start full of the fun, wit, and clever Greek mythology references that are abundant in the books.

Honorable Mentions: All Creatures Great and Small Season 3, Dimension 20: A Court of Fey and Flowers, Sanditon: The Final Season, The Bear Season 2, The Power, Grantchester Season 8, Heartstopper Season 2, Dimension 20: Dungeons and Drag Queens, Only Murders in the Building Season 3, The Wheel of Time Season 2, Sex Education: The Final Season, Lupin Part 3, Our Flag Means Death Season 2, Annika Season 2, Dimension 20: Mentopolis, The Flatshare

The Great 2023 Retrospective: Film

Well, it’s that time of year. Specifically that time of year where we become inundated by yearly retrospectives, from current events to the best in media, and I dust off my trusty blog site and try to remember all the things I watched and read, starting with movies. This year I actually managed to keep a pretty comprehensive list, memorialized for your reading pleasure below:

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Do I actually know that much about Dungeons & Dragons (the tabletop roleplaying game)? No, not really. Thanks to watching copious amounts of Dimension 20 with my boyfriend this year I’ve been able to grasp the basics, but thankfully you don’t need to know all the ins and outs of the game to enjoy this movie. It’s incredibly easy to tell that it was made by people who love the game and that everyone had a ridiculous amount of fun making it. I certainly had a lot of fun watching it, and look forward to repeat viewings during which I will (hopefully) catch more inside jokes and Easter eggs.

Polite Society

From the same mind that created We Are Lady Parts, one of my all-time favorite shows (where, oh where, is season 2???), comes this fantastic coming of age/comedy/martial arts movie about a British-Pakistani teen who dreams of becoming a stuntwoman and harbors suspicions about her sister’s new fiancé. Made with the same whip-smart line delivery and camera work that makes Lady Parts so engaging, Nida Manzoor’s feature directorial debut signals the beginning of what I hope will be a very long career.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

It’s been just over 50 years since the seminal coming-of-age (and perennially controversial) children’s book was published, and the first film adaptation of the classic absolutely does it justice. Still set in the 70’s, the movie is just as timeless in its depiction of navigating moving, family, friendships, growing up, and religion. The casting is fantastic, featuring heavyweights like Kathy Bates and Rachel McAdams, but it’s Abby Ryder Fortson (the original Cassie Lang from all those Ant-Man movies) that really steals the show in the titular role.

Asteroid City

Listen, if Wes Anderson releases a new movie I am seated in that movie theatre, and his latest outing was just as full of whimsy, venerated actors, miniature sets, and carefully planned shots as the rest of his work. A truly ensemble cast of characters, Anderson’s classic style and dry sense of humor is complemented by an undercurrent of grief and the search for meaning: whether that search involves literal, actual aliens or not.

Barbie

Truly the movie event of the summer-nay, the year-Greta Gerwig’s third outing as a director (and her first without Saoirse Ronan, alas) was even more of a hit than the plentiful amount of pre-release memes indicated. Gerwig’s first true comedy film, Barbie provided many hilarious moments and detailed references to the many iterations of the classic doll, but it balances these moods well with a moving and deeply felt exploration of womanhood and the expectations placed on women by society. I laughed, I cried, I immediately preordered the fuzzy “I am Kennough” pullover for my boyfriend’s birthday gift.

Oppenheimer

The summer’s other blockbuster juggernaut, releasing on the same day as Barbie and inspiring many “Barbenheimer” memes, frequent Christopher Nolan acting troupe member Cillian Murphy (hard “C,” btw) finally gets his moment as Nolan’s leading man, delivery a blistering performance as the person integral to the creation of the atomic bomb-who then spent the rest of his life campaigning for the results of his discoveries to not be used. “American Prometheus,” the subtitle of the biography on which the film is based, is right, and both Nolan and Murphy navigate his journey from scientist to conscientious objector to disgraced public figure with a deft hand.

Bottoms

I went in expecting a summer teen romp and I got a summer teen romp, with so much more. Starring frequent collaborators Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott and helmed by Emma Seligman (who directed Shiva Baby, also starring Sennott), this coming-of-age comedy about two queer best friends who start a fight club in their high school in the hopes of getting with the popular girls takes familiar teen comedy tropes and turns them on their heads. Costar Ruby Cruz (who also starred in the TV show Willow, RIP), turns in an excellent feature film debut, frequently stealing scenes and providing a foil for the main character’s antics.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Scorcese’s highly anticipated adaptation of the David Grann book of the same name (while also taking inspiration from A Pipe for February by Charles Red Corn, a member of the Osage Nation), this masterfully crafted film about the exploitation of a people and the disintegration of a marriage was beautifully acted by its core cast. Relative newcomer Lily Gladstone (who almost quit acting before being contacted by Scorsese for the part) absolutely gives the standout performance as Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman whose family’s murders were orchestrated by her uncle-in-law, played by Robert DeNiro, in a far-reaching conspiracy that encapsulates American greed and exploitation. Mollie’s story is one of many from that time, and it is to be hoped that the success of this film enables more Native American stories to be told.

The Marvels

I’ll say it now: this is the best Marvel movie ever made. I don’t care about fidelity to the comics, or how impactful it is to the overall cinematic universe. I’ve enjoyed other Marvel movies in the past, but this is the one that balanced deep character moments, an intriguing premise, gorgeous special effects, and a sense of humor that actually lands. There is a scene about halfway through the film during which our heroes, for story reasons, find themselves literally herding cats to the tune of “Memory” from the musical Cats. I’d already decided this was my favorite Marvel movie ever, but as I literally cried laughing in the theatre, that scene clinched it for me. Furthermore, in its execution and tone, it fulfills the promise of previous female-led movies Captain Marvel and Black Widow in a way that doesn’t indulge in girlboss feminism or copious amounts of male gaze. The Marvels is a Marvel movie made by women for women. Finally: a Marvel movie that’s truly for the girls.

Next Goal Wins

Taika Waititi’s adaptation of the documentary of the same name, this story of the American Samoa national soccer team’s quest to win literally just one game is both a heartfelt sports movie, an ode to a culture, and a deeply felt depiction of gender. With Waititi’s trademark balance of sadness and humor, this was a worthier vessel of his talents than that one disappointing Thor movie. The trans character, by the way, was not created for the movie, but is a depiction of real-life soccer player Jaiyah Saelua, a fa’afafine (third gender) and the first openly trans and non-binary woman to compete in a World Cup qualifier. Waititi actually considered casting Saelua to play herself, but ultimately decided on fellow fa’fafine actress Kaimana to play the part.

The Color Purple

A film adaptation of the Broadway musical, which is in turn an adaptation of the 1985 movie and 1982 book, this new re-imagining of a timeless classic features an all-star cast (many of whom starred in the original 2005 Broadway run and the 2015 revival), and most of the people behind the original movie in creative roles. The direction, cinematography, and costuming help create a lived-in world, while the choreography and staging of the musical numbers provides a sense of wonder and vitality in a story that’s been criticized for its depiction of difficult subjects. My only complaint is that I wish there were more of these musical numbers, an astonishing 13 were cut from the original Broadway soundtrack listing, but with Hollywood really unsure of how to treat movie musicals these days, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Nevertheless, I found this to be a vibrant adaptation of a classic story and a celebration of joy and sisterhood through adversity, particularly the joy and sisterhood of Black women.

Honorary Mentions: Women Talking, Hello Bookstore, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Seven Kings Must Die, Bullet Train, Cocaine Bear, The Quiet Girl, Theatre Camp, David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, The Boy and the Heron, A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

The Great 2022 Retrospective: Books

Even with my goal of slowing down and actually enjoying the books I read instead of tearing through them as fast as possible, I still read 120+ books this year. Historical fiction in many forms continued to be my top genre, but I also made plenty of time for exploring new releases. My entire 2022 year in books is here, and below are my favorites, in the order I read them:

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

This magical tale follows a young woman who discovers she can make things occur by writing them down, and also that there are Doors between worlds (that’s Door with a capital D, as the opening paragraph makes clear). Harrow’s writing is beautiful, and the dual storylines weave together well to create an impactful impression.

The Heart Principle

I loved this entire romance series from Helen Hoang, in which at least one main character in each pairing is autistic, but it was the third entry that had the greatest effect on me. Not only is the protagonist named Anna, but her experiences as an adult-diagnosed autistic woman most closely mirror my own. Autistic representation and acceptance is slowly making headway, and this book is one of the most notable that made me feel like my experiences were understood.

Sea of Tranquility

Emily St. John Mandel announced this novel last year on my birthday, and I was able to get my hands on a special signed indie bookstore edition this spring. Once again she accomplished a beautifully written meditation on what the world could look like while speaking to the current moment, this time involving time travel, colonies on the moon, and a novelist on a book tour during a pandemic outbreak.

Once Upon a River

I initially DNFed this historical novel a couple years ago, but I decided to pick it up again this summer and am very happy to have done so. An injured man and a seemingly dead young girl show up at an inn on the river Thames, with no idea of who they are or how they got there. The girl comes back to life, however, and in the coming days multiple families come forward to claim her. With prose that flows, well, like a river, this book has become one of my new favorites.

Nettle & Bone

Speaking of new favorites, I very much enjoyed this fantasy novel from T. Kingfisher, in which a princess who’s been living as a nun who teams up with a grave witch, a subpar fairy godmother, a disgraced former knight, a demon possessed chicken, and a dog made of reanimated bones in order to save her sister from an evil prince.

Temeraire

It really is Master and Commander but with dragons, but it’s, dare I say it, far more entertaining than the aforementioned series. The first book starts off with a bang (somewhat literally), but it was the way the series expanded and showcased how different nations treated their dragons that especially fascinated me.

Haven

Emma Donoghue is a master of the slow burn, and her latest novel, in which three monks in 7th century Ireland attempt to leave the sinful world behind. Their different viewpoints and priorities are what make this story riveting, and while the plot is deceptively simple, there’s a lot to mull over.

Shrines of Gaiety

Good for fans of Peaky Blinders, Atkinson’s newest features a host of interesting characters: 1920’s nightclub owner Nellie Coker, her various children and their pursuits, the police inspector determined to bring her down, and a Yorkshire librarian turned undercover agent searching for a pair of missing girls.

The Sentence

Part ode to indie bookstores, part pandemic novel, and part ghost story, Louise Erdrich perfectly captures what it felt like to live through the early days of the pandemic with her unique perspective as an Indigenous small business owner.

The Thursday Murder Club

Four nursing home residents get together each week to look over old unsolved murders, then a real murder happens and they decide to put their investigative skills to use. Funny, charming, and well-plotted, I enjoyed each of these delightful mysteries.

Great Circle

A gorgeously written account of the life of a fictional female pilot who disappears over the Arctic in 1950, interspersed with chapters from the point of view of an actress playing her in a movie biopic, this wonderful novel is part adventure and part meditation on what pieces of history and a real person’s life get left behind on the cutting room floor.

Gilded Mountain

This one was initially pretty daunting to me, but while this story of a young woman coming of age in an 1800s Colorado mining town could at times be a little bleak, it also spoke truth to power in ways that are important in a historical sense but also have bearing on events of our time.

The Book of Dust Volumes One & Two

After rereading His Dark Materials in preparation for the final season of the TV show, I decided to continue on with the short stories and follow-up trilogy set in Lyra’s world. Normally when an author announces a prequel or sequel (Volumes I and II, respectively) to a beloved series I get a bit nervous, but thankfully we are safe in Philip Pullman’s more than capable hands. The story of the original trilogy is expanded upon beautifully, and Michael Sheen’s narration of the audiobooks is nothing short of masterful. Book Three is reportedly about half written, and I for one can’t wait to get my hands on it.

Honorable Mentions: Life After Life, Ninth House, Firekeeper’s Daughter, Wives and Daughters, Heartstopper, Middlemarch, Deacon King Kong, The Revolutionists, Front Desk, Paper Girls, Book Lovers, I’m Glad My Mom Died, Every Summer After, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting, Things in Jars, Small Things Like These, Magpie Murders, The Night Ship, Ship Wrecked, The Murder of Mr. Wickham, A Very Merry Bromance

The Great 2022 Retrospective: TV

2022 brought a lot of great TV, from new series to second installments of recent standouts to emotional finales of some of my absolute favorite shows. I also did plenty of rewatching this year, but here’s the list of things I enjoyed watching for the first time:

Around the World in 80 Days

I will watch David Tennant in pretty much anything, but the trailer for this PBS series in which it was made clear that his Phileas Fogg would be a much more comedic take (his line delivery of “there’s a fly in my ACTUAL eye” gets me every time) had me even more intrigued. There’s a lot more about this series to love, but my favorite has to be what they did with all three of the main characters: including Fogg’s reinterpretation as a hapless explorer stuck in a rut, Passepartout’s dry wit and charm, and especially the creation of Abigail Fix, a female reporter I wouldn’t be shocked to discover is partly based on Nellie Bly, a journalist who completed Fogg’s journey in less than 80 days in 1888.

Abbott Elementary 

This network sitcom is a hit for a reason, the main two being the solid ensemble cast and the pitch-perfect writing from creator and star Quinta Brunson. Shot in a mockumentary style a la Parks and Recreation, this comedy set in an underfunded Philadelphia school showcases one of our nation’s most glaring issues with nuance and heart. The show’s second season has brilliantly built on the success of the first, and I for one cannot wait for more episodes to air after the new year.

Bridgerton Season 2

Though I enjoyed the first season of Netflix’s smash hit Bridgerton, I still had my issues with some of the character’s actions and the way they were portrayed. The second book is by far my favorite of the series, and I’m happy to say that the corresponding second season was a worthy adaptation that wasn’t afraid to make changes and go in a more interesting direction. The casting of Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma was truly inspired, and Jonathan Bailey continued his excellent portrayal as oldest son Anthony, though alas without his infamous sideburns. Nevertheless, the chemistry between the two leads made up for any small disappointments, and is some of the best I’ve ever seen on screen.

The Last Kingdom Season 5

Probably my all-time favorite television series, I’m thankful that if it had to go out it went out on top (plus there is the follow-up movie to look forward to next year). Truly cementing itself as a masterclass in plot and character development, not to mention incredibly well-crafted action sequences, I will never shut up about how good this show is. Destiny is indeed all.

Our Flag Means Death

Yes, this is the gay pirate show, and it’s just as good as everyone says it is. I was part of the smaller population that watched from the beginning, then got to witness its popularity skyrocket after it was confirmed we were not, as has happened too many times before, being queerbaited. This show ticks off a lot of boxes when it comes to representation, but it’s also just really fun.

The Bear

Both riveting and kinda stressful (particularly that one online order scene at the end of the penultimate episode), it was the way the show built out the different characters, their goals and approach to food, and their relationships with each other that hooked me on this excellent drama. Jeremy Allen White is great as main character Carmy, but it’s Ayo Edebiri’s scene-stealing turn as Sydney that’s the true standout performance.

Paper Girls

An adaptation of the popular graphic novel series, this is a more sci-fi cousin to Stranger Things (that, for the record, was published first). A group of girls delivering papers in the 1980’s get caught up in an inter-dimensional war, complete with time travel and strange technology. The young cast anchors the series, but unlike the residents of Hawkins we won’t get to see them grow up: Amazon cancelled the series after one season.

The Sandman

Neil Gaiman’s groundbreaking graphic novel series was long considered unadaptable (and he spent a couple decades shooting down subpar attempts), so when it was announced that it would be a series on Netflix I was hopeful but still skeptical. I’m happy to report that my fears were unfounded, and that not only is it an excellent adaptation of the source material, it expands on it in ways only possible now.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power 

I’m not really an expert on Tolkien lore, so I can’t comment on how faithful this show is or isn’t to the source material. But I honestly don’t care, because as far as I’m concerned it’s faithful to the spirit of Tolkien’s work, which I think is much more important. With memorable performances, stunning visuals, and an excellent score from Bear McCreary, I can’t wait to see the series expand in further seasons.

Derry Girls: The Final Season 

The Derry Girls came back for one last ride this year, and they went out in style. This was always a show that knew when to be ridiculously hilarious and when to get serious, and this season was no exception. The hour long special that wrapped everything up was also a comprehensive depiction of the Good Friday Agreement, and showcases an important moment in modern Irish history too few people understand.

Bad Sisters 

This dark comedy/thriller show created and starring Sharon Horgan, co-creator and star of the excellent Catastrophe, follows the increasingly bonkers attempts of four sisters to kill their abusive brother-in-law. Two half-brothers trying to save their late father’s insurance business by avoiding the life insurance payout form the other perspective on siblings and family solidarity. This cast is really a who’s who of Irish talent, and each of the siblings is given the space to fully form as a character.

Miss Scarlet and the Duke Seasons 2 & 3

After waiting almost two years for the next season of this excellent PBS mystery, fans were rewarded with not one but two follow-up installments in quick succession. They saw Eliza attempting to establish herself and her detective agency on her own merit, and introduce new friends, new rivals, and new possibilities for both Eliza and William. Their relationship continues to be the slowest of slow burns, but with season four confirmed fans hopefully don’t have to wait too long to have a resolution to the will-they-or-won’t they attraction.

His Dark Materials Season 3 

The final season in the excellent adaptation of Philip Pullman’s groundbreaking work, this season found Lyra and Will venturing into the world of the dead, fighting in the war against the Authority, and getting some well-earned R&R in a new Garden of Eden. There’s so much to praise, but I think my favorite thing was how well the relationship between the two main characters was developed. Romance between teens can sometimes feel forced, but the connection between Lyra and Will was sold by excellent performances, solid chemistry, and the script taking the time to develop their bond.

Honorable Mentions: All Creatures Great and Small Season 2, The Gilded Age, Starstruck Season 2, Russian Doll, A Discovery of Witches Season 3, Only Murders in the Building Season 2, What We Do In The Shadows Season 4, Reservation Dogs Season 2, Gordita Chronicles, Dickinson, Ms. Marvel, Kenobi, A League of Their Own, Magpie Murders, Reboot, Young Royals Season 2, Barbarians Season 2, Andor, Willow, Harry & Meghan

The Great 2022 Retrospective: Film

I was able to see quite a few more movies in theaters as opposed to 2021, and between group outings with friends and date nights with my partner, as well as plenty of time spent snuggled on the couch with my cat, I managed to see plenty of wonderful films. Here are my favorites, in the approximate order of viewing:

CODA

There may be a dearth of heartwarming coming-of-age films where a teen who doesn’t quite fit in pursues their passion and finds their own voice, but CODA stands out from the crowd by its inclusion of deaf culture and a largely deaf cast. Main character Ruby is the titular Child of Deaf Adults, whose passion for music is not understood by her family. This central conflict is set apart by other similar plots by the difference in ability between Ruby and her family, and also by their dependence on her in order to interact with the hearing world. It may have been an upset Best Picture winner, but a deserving one nonetheless.

The Lost City

There were some excellent new rom-coms this year, but The Lost City was by far my favorite. A romance author is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (played to gleeful perfection by Daniel Radcliffe) who’s convinced she holds the knowledge he needs to discover an ancient treasure. Her himboistic cover model launches a rescue mission, and delightful hijinks ensue.

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Rightfully lauded as one of the absolute best films of the year, this oft-talked about labor of love is a rumination on family, duty, and what it means to live a fulfilled life. Every frame of this film oozes dedication and passion for storytelling, and the twisty plot lends itself to repeat viewing. Whether or not it receives plenty of awards this season (as it should), it’s sure to be a classic.

Downton Abbey: A New Era

Once again I took my mom to see a Downton Abbey movie, this time as a belated Mother’s Day present. This installment managed to make us both laugh and cry, with more stunning costumes and sets as well as a moving goodbye to a favorite character. Listen, if they keep making Downton Abbey movies I will keep bringing my mom to the theatre to watch them.

Mr. Malcolm’s List

This one goes out to all the Austen girlies. Back in 2019, the short film version drummed up interest in both the originally self-published novel and an eventual full-length film adaptation. Released this past summer, with most of the same production team and cast, this is a delightful Regency romance with all of the features (House parties! Fake dating! Oh no they fell in love for real! Costume balls!) that make the genre so fun.

RRR

Everything you’ve heard about this being the ultimate action blockbuster is true. Based on true Indian history (though maybe don’t take it too literally), this story of two friends on different sides of the British colonialist divide has incredibly choreographed action sequences, catchy dance numbers, and the combined charisma of two of Indian cinema’s biggest stars. If you need me, I’ll be listening to “Naatu Naatu” on repeat through the end of the year.

Tár

Interpretations of this brilliantly unsettling movie vary (is it cancel culture, or just sparkling consequences?), but in my opinion, it’s these nuances that make this such a brilliant film. The script and direction are top-notch, but it’s Cate Blanchett’s magnetic performance as the titular character that makes this a stand-out.

Catherine, Called Birdy

An adaptation of the much beloved children’s book, Catherine, Called Birdy expands on the themes of the novel, with perfect casting and plenty of the cheeky wit that made the original so good. Bella Ramsey is excellent in the titular role, but it was the recontextualization of her relationship with her father, as well as the change in the ending, that really stood out to me in this fresh adaptation.

See How They Run

I really got into mysteries this fall, and this criminally overlooked whodunnit was one of my favorites. Since it involves a murder backstage at the 100th performance of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap (which is still running, by the way), there are plenty of in-jokes for mystery fans and theatre people alike. It doesn’t take a knowledge of either to have fun watching, however, especially with Saoirse Ronan’s energetic and amusing performance.

The Banshees of Inisherin

It’s hard ending a friendship when you live in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, but it’s even harder when you live on an island in Ireland in the 1920’s with the Troubles happening over on the mainland. This film is the reunion of stars Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell with director Martin McDonough, nearly 15 years after they made In Bruges. My friends and I staged a double feature, and while they certainly have distinct settings, both movies feature a complex relationship between two men and some moving but also darkly funny subject matter.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

The long-anticipated sequel to 2019’s Knives Out, Glass Onion features yet another stellar cast, a twisty central mystery, and even more poignant social commentary than its predecessor. It must have been highly difficult to make a worthy follow up to such a singular and well-received first installment, but by god did Rian Johnson succeed. Hopefully he gets to make many more Benoit Blanc films (preferably with actually adequate theatrical runs), but considering the success of these two it seems likely. Maybe we’ll even get one starring the Muppets, as many Twitter users have suggested.

Honorable Mentions: Encanto, Mitchell’s vs. the Machines, Falling for Figaro, Game Night, Fire Island, Turning Red, Howl’s Moving Castle, Last Night in Soho, Thor: Love and Thunder, Operation Mincemeat, 7 Days, Rosaline, Enola Holmes 2, Willow, Your Christmas or Mine?, Matilda the Musical, The Wonder

The Great 2021 Retrospective: Books

I somehow read even more books than last year, obliterating my goal of 100 books and ending the year having read 156 at time of posting (I’m determined to finish the 157th, Hogfather, by midnight). I would like to thank audiobooks, historical romance series that could be binged over a weekend, and mental illness for this achievement. As you can imagine with so many books it’s hard to pick favorites, but here are the ones that really stood out, presented in the order they were read:

The Grishaverse Series

I initially decided to read Shadow and Bone in preparation for the television adaptation of the same name, but I soon found myself inhaling the rest of Leigh Bardugo’s seven total full length works, which make up three separate series but take place in the same universe and share some characters. The original trilogy lays a good groundwork, but it’s the Six of Crows duology that emerged as the standout for me. Who doesn’t love a found-family fantasy heist?

A Lady’s Guide Series

I’ve read a lot of historical romance this year, and Manda Collins’ A Lady’s Guide series quickly became a favorite. With a strong mystery element, conversations on women’s safety and agency, and god-tier banter fans of PBS’s Miss Scarlet and the Duke would appreciate, the first two books in this series are a delight from beginning to end.

The King of Confidence

Michigan history is wild (remember when we went to war with Ohio??), but the story of James Strang and the Mormon cult he established on Beaver Island, subsequently getting himself elected to the Michigan House of Representatives and declaring himself king of his church, might take the cake. Simultaneously a biography and an overview of the zeitgeist of the time, this thrill ride of a book proved that history is often anything but boring.

The Bromance Book Club Series

I tore through this contemporary romance series from Michigan-based author Lyssa Kay Adams, about a baseball player whose marriage is on the rocks after he finds out his wife has been, ahem, ~faking~. The Bromance Book Club, however, is here to help, consisting of men who read romance novels in order to be better partners and unlearn toxic masculinity. Not only is this an excellent premise (I genuinely think more men in real life could learn a lot from reading this genre), the inside jokes and clever writing make these books a ton of fun to read.

Humankind: A Hopeful History

There have been many books, both fiction and nonfiction, that have had an impact on my life, but I don’t think any other book I read this year had quite the same effect on me as Humankind. Well researched and methodically argued, Bregman posits that mankind is basically decent, that our base natures are not all good or all bad but somewhere in the middle (one of my other favorite books, Good Omens, which I also reread this year, has roughly the same message). As someone who strives to look for hope and positivity in life, this book felt like a grounded reassurance of that worldview during a year that oftentimes felt rather bleak.

The Blacktongue Thief

I read a lot of fantasy this year, but The Blacktongue Thief, the genre debut of horror writer Christopher Buehlman, was a certainly a standout. Set in a world in a brief peace after several goblin wars (think the Crusades with more, you know, goblins), our protagonist is a thief who’s just trying to survive long enough to pay back his student loans. Described by one reviewer as “a DND campaign on acid,” this is an entertaining adventure from beginning to end. A solid start to the series, I for one am very excited to see what Buehlman has in store for his characters. Oh, and did I mention the war corvids? There are war corvids.

The Luminaries

This award-winning doorstop of a novel had been sitting on my shelf for years, and this was the summer when I finally crossed it off my to-read list. Set during the 1866 Gold Rush in New Zealand, it follows several characters in the aftermath of an event that leaves one man dead, another missing, and a fortune in gold vanished. I’m aware that there’s a layer of meaning to this story that went over my head, since each character corresponds to a sign of the zodiac and their actions and influence over each other stem from the nature of the signs, but despite my lack of knowledge in this particular subject the beautiful way Catton slowly revealed the story had me enthralled.

The Wonder

It’s hardly ever that a book moves me to tears, but the ending of The Wonder invoked some strong feelings in me. Another novel with a main character named Anna (Luminaries being the other), I was deeply affected by this story of a young Irish Catholic girl who claims not to need to eat and the skeptical English Protestant nurse who is sent to verify her assertions.

The Wheel of Time

While I was initially intimidated by the sheer length of Robert Jordan’s seminal fantasy series, I found myself pulled along for the ride as five teenagers from the same small village are pulled into a much wider destiny. Much more entertaining and engaging than I initially anticipated, I made it through four books in as many months, with plans to make more progress in the coming year.

Cloud Cuckoo Land

Perhaps my favorite new novel of 2020, I went in with high expectations since Doerr’s previous novel, All the Light We Cannot See, has been a consistent favorite over the past few years. Dedicated to librarians and a testament to the power of stories to ignite imagination and connect individuals across centuries, this book is a meditation on both the power and the fragility of the written word. I loved the engaging and atmospheric prose, which I found to be both lyrical and accessible, as well as the ensemble cast of well-rounded characters.

The Doll Factory

Another novel that sat on my TBR for quite some time, The Doll Factory is the story of Iris, a young doll painter living in Victorian London who falls in with the pre-Raphaelites and agrees to model in exchange for lessons. With well-realized characters, beautiful prose, and intriguing details, this story of the tension between social acceptance vs. authenticity and obsession vs. inspiration had me both eager to find out what happens and never wanting the experience to end.

Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed for You

It’s rather hard to find resources for adult women with ADHD and autism, something I became all too aware of as I spent this year exploring my own experience with neurodivergence. I was therefore ecstatic to come across Divergent Mind, which endeavors to address that very subject. Not too far into the introduction I began to feel seen and understood, finally feeling that my experience was being acknowledged. I highly recommend this book for neurodivergents and neurotypicals alike, as it has the potential to serve as both a window and a mirror to the unique contributions neurodiversity can bring to society as a whole.

Honorable Mentions: The Girl Meets Duke Series, Jesus and John Wayne, Say Nothing, The House in the Cerulean Sea, Broken (In The Best Possible Way), Outlawed, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Witches of New York, Check, Please!, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, The Ravenels Series, The Duke Undone, Matrix, The Shades of Magic Series, Cultish, The Ex Talk, Circus of Wonders

The Great 2021 Retrospective: TV

2021 ended up being a fantastic year for both film and television, producing both challenging meditations on societal inequality and life-affirming delights perfect for adding to my comfort watch rotation. While still affected by delays due to the pandemic, the small screen delivered plenty of new titles to be excited about. Here are the ones I felt most drawn to, in the approximate order I watched them:

Miss Scarlet and the Duke

I’m a sucker for anything set in the Victorian era, and I was sold on Miss Scarlet and the Duke from the first episode. Kate Phillips plays the titular trailblazing private detective, while Stuart Martin is her childhood best friend turned Scotland Yard inspector and reluctant partner. The chemistry between the two leads is spot-on, and the twisty plots and jaunty tone have me excited for the series to return in 2022.

Shadow and Bone

After I devoured every full-length book in the Grishaverse earlier in the year, I couldn’t wait to see the world of Ravka brought to life. While some changes from the books had me skeptical at first, I was ultimately pulled in by the impressive production design and spot-on casting. Ben Barnes is perfectly sinister as the Darkling, and Jessie Mei Li and Archie Renaux’s performances had me liking characters whose book versions I hadn’t really cared for. Plus, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the icon that is Milo the Goat.

Starstruck

Comedian Rose Matafeo created and stars in this romantic comedy as Jessie, a somewhat aimless young woman living in London who has a one night stand with a famous actor. What sounds like a predictable premise soon proves to be anything but, particularly since Jessie doesn’t immediately recognize him and the two keep awkwardly bumping into each other over the course of the next year. Uproariously funny, relatable, and genuinely sweet, the chemistry between Matafeo and Nikesh Patel is what sets this series apart and led to repeat viewings.

We Are Lady Parts

I absolutely fell in love with this comedy series about an all-female all-Muslim punk rock band based in London. Each band member has her own relationship with music, femininity, and faith, allowing the characters to retain distinct styles and personalities while learning how to work together to realize their creative goals. Sweet and hilarious seems to be my preferred tone for comedies, and this series is absolutely both.

Young Royals

A fictional Swedish prince is sent to boarding school, where he meets and begins to fall in love with another student after struggling to fit in. This series really captures what it feels like to be young and confused by your feelings and discovering who you are. I really appreciated the way it also developed the supporting cast, who all look like actual high schoolers, making it one of the best teen dramas of the year.

Reservation Dogs

This series is notable for it’s all-Indigenous cast and creative team, focusing on four teens coping with the loss of their friend by attempting to realize his dream of moving to California. How are they funding this endeavor, you may ask? Some very poorly thought out crime, including but not limited to: stealing a chip delivery truck, their neighbor’s copper wires, and attempting to sell some really old weed. Misguided though they may be, these characters have my whole heart.

Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail

I’d already begun to consider Miracle Workers as my favorite comedy show, which is already saying a lot considering the stellar entries on this list, but the latest season of the anthology series firmly cemented its status. We’re travelling to Oregon this time around, and the show commits even further to the bit, coming up with even more inventive jokes and gags than the first two go-arounds. The performances are excellent: Daniel Radcliffe is best utilized as a comedic actor and Steve Buscemi is obviously having a ton of fun playing an inept outlaw, plus Geraldine Viswanathan absolutely holds her own with a bright and vivacious performance.

Ted Lasso

After hearing nothing but good things about this fish-out-of-water comedy I finally took the time to check it out, and I have to say that it was time well spent. The relationships built between the ensemble of characters are what makes this show especially strong, as well as the emphasis on caring for what you do and those around you.

Midnight Mass

I’m not generally a horror fan, but I deeply resonated with the themes of faith and intergenerational trauma in this excellent miniseries from creator/director Mike Flanagan. Visually stunning, with some truly great performances, the series also utilizes monologues with slow pans in to create the feeling of the characters giving sermons. While it starts off slow, momentum builds through each episode until the forces at work come to a head in a deftly executed finale.

The Wheel of Time

After finally diving in to the books this fall, I was incredibly excited to see the new adaptation of Robert Jordan’s highly influential fantasy series. While I didn’t love all the decisions made for the story (particularly in the latter half of the season), I really liked the casting, production design, and music. Rosamund Pike in particular is excellent as Moraine, the tired magical carpool mom of the gang.

Station Eleven

A much-anticipated adaptation of my favorite novel, Station Eleven feels even more resonant mid-covid, and while the source material originates from our own Before it speaks eloquently to our current circumstances. Certain scenes, particularly of the outbreak in the first episode, are difficult to watch, but this is ultimately a story about hope, life, and the power of art.

Honorable Mentions: The Long Song, All Creatures Great and Small, WandaVision, Year of the Rabbit, Tribes of Europa, Lupin, A Discovery of Witches Season 2, The Serpent, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Oktoberfest: Beer and Blood, Loki, Outer Banks, Ghosts Season 3 Sex Education Season 3, Schmigadoon!, Only Murders in the Building, The Great Season 2, Dash & Lily

The Great 2021 Retrospective: Film

While the year started off much like the last with most of my film viewing happening at home, I was able to see quite a few of the year’s big releases, most of which had been delayed from last year, in the theatre. They were well worth the wait to experience on the big screen, and some I loved so much I returned to the theatre for repeat viewings. Here’s the list of movies I especially enjoyed watching this year, in the approximate order I saw them:

How To Build a Girl

I started off the year with this funny and endearing film, which had been on my to-watch list for quite some time. Beanie Feldstein is brilliant as Johanna Morrigan (aka “Dolly”), a teenager trying to become a music journalist in 1990s Britain. This coming of age story is set apart not only by its focus on a young woman, but on the nuance and care it applies in telling her story.

Misbehaviour

What I assumed to be one of the “cheesily inspirational based-on-a-true-story” films turned out to be a well-developed tale of women from different backgrounds and perspectives finding ways to find dignity and make themselves heard. Kiera Knightly is a force as an activist who sees the 1970 Miss World Competition as regressive and sexist, while Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays a contestant who views participation the pageant as a way to challenge racism and regressive beauty standards.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold

I was pleasantly surprised by several of the films I found myself watching this year, and Dora was one of them. What could have been just a silly kids movie was instead packed with oodles of wit and adventure and a who’s who of celebrated Latinx actors, all topped off with Isabela Merced’s engaging lead performance. I love media that pokes fun at its own reputation, and with lines like “can you say ‘severe neurotoxicity?'” Dora manages to do just that without insulting the legacy of the original show.

Chaos Walking

I went into this movie expecting it to be bad but fun (it has a measly 21% on Rotten Tomatoes, after all), but walked away with the opinion that it is a highly underrated feminist masterpiece. The film goes beyond the intriguing premise to truly imagine what it would be like to be the only woman on a planet full of men whose every thought is heard out loud. The two central characters are able to form a close bond without the film forcing a romance, toxic masculinity is portrayed as a weakness rather than the ideal, and the main male character isn’t intimidated by the competence of women. I would love to see the rest of the book trilogy adapted, but sadly due to the film’s poor critical and commercial performance it seems unlikely to happen.

Pride

Featuring an all-star cast and some spectacular 80’s looks, Pride tells the true story of the formation of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign, an alliance between members of London’s LGBTQ community and striking Welsh miners. Genuine and uplifting without pandering, it was the perfect movie to celebrate Pride Month.

The Green Knight

If only this had been released in 2020 as was originally intended, then it truly would have been the year of slightly off-kilter Dev Patel-led literary adaptations (David Copperfield being the other). It was well worth the wait, though, delivering an atmospheric meditation on heroism and honor keeping in line with the same weird tone as the medieval text on which it’s based. It’s films such as this that prove why reinterpreting and retelling some of our oldest stories is a worthwhile endeavor.

Dune

I read the source material during lockdown and it was…not my favorite. The experience of watching the film adaptation, I’m happy to say, was everything I’d wished reading the book had been. Truly epic, it takes Frank Herbert’s foundational worldbuilding and infuses the characters with actual personalities which in turn caused me to be more invested in the story’s stakes.

The French Dispatch

Presented in the format of the final issue of the magazine from which it takes its title, The French Dispatch is Wes Anderson’s endearing, earnest, and engaging style taken to the nth degree. I can honestly say it rivals Fantastic Mr. Fox as my favorite in the Anderson canon, and I look forward to uncovering new layers in future rewatches.

West Side Story

Perhaps my most anticipated movie of the year, West Side Story was, as expected, a masterpiece. The convergence of some of the most brilliant artistic minds of the last several decades, it lives up to the hype with beautiful cinematography, gorgeous music, inventive choreography, and spellbinding performances. Ariana DeBose and Rachel Zegler as Anita and Maria are particularly standouts, DeBose giving Anita humor, vitality, and charisma in spades and Zegler bringing depth, agency, and spunk to a role normally viewed as an ingenue.

The King’s Man

I really thought I’d be wrapping up my list with West Side Story, then I went to see The King’s Man after a particularly stressful day at work in the hopes of losing myself in a funny, action-packed, and totally bonkers entry in a franchise I already quite enjoyed. And don’t get me wrong, this movie is all of those things, but it’s also a genuinely well-written and moving depiction of familial love, war, and positive masculinity that had my friend and I walking away baffled by how good it was. I guess it’s possible to make a movie that both depicts the horrors of war and Rasputin menacingly eating a pie.

Honorable Mentions: The Dig, Coven of Sisters, The National Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet, Luca, The Silver Skates, Inside, The Nice Guys, Boy, Horndog, Baby Done, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Summerland, The Harder They Fall, Eternals, Spencer, Spiderman: No Way Home, tick, tick…BOOM!

Nice and Accurate; or, Why I’m Not Nervous for Good Omens Season 2

Normally when I hear news of a planned miniseries being renewed for a second season, I get nervous. A miniseries is a contained, completed story, a one-off, no need to find out what happened next because the story already had an ending. And when that miniseries is excellent, receiving critical acclaim as well as massive audience approval, a sequel feels like a risky idea. After all, why mess with a good thing? So when I heard rumors that Good Omens was potentially being renewed for a second season, I was apprehensive at best.

The Ineffable Husbands are back, baby

I first read Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch in the spring of 2018 while on a trip to France. I had just graduated college with a literature degree, no idea what I was going to do next, and this trip was meant to be both a post-grad celebration and the fulfillment of a decade-long dream of visiting Paris with my high school best friend. A comedic fantasy novel about the end of the world might not be the most obvious travel read, particularly when traveling in the “City of Love,” but I’ve always been a fan of unconventional vacations reads (I brought 1984 with me on my high school senior trip-great way to avoid chatting with strangers on the plane). I knew an adaptation was coming out the next year, and while Gaiman had been a favorite author for a couple years at that point I’d not yet read any Pratchett. What better way to be introduced to his work than as a gateway through an author I already loved? While I wouldn’t be able to distinguish his style from Gaiman’s (at least, until I reread Good Omens last year after finally starting the Discworld books), reportedly neither could they.

The writing of the book was truly a joint effort. While Pratchett did most of the actual writing (he estimated about 2/3 of the final book), most of the ideas and plotting were hashed out over the phone, with drafts being mailed back and forth on floppy disks (it was 1988, when according to Gaiman “floppy disks really were pretty darn floppy”). Certain portions, such as Adam and the Them, could be traced back to one particular author (that was Pratchett), but for the most part everything was traded back and forth so many times, written and footnoted and revised, that “by the end, large sections were being done by a composite creature called Terryandneil, whoever was actually hitting the keys,” as Pratchett put it. And perhaps readers could, if they really wanted to, parse out which plots and characters and lines feel more Gaiman or more Pratchett, but the final novel, published in 1990, is very much an amalgamation of the best of their respective styles.

Various opportunities for adaptation presented themselves over the years, but all fizzled out until 2016, when Gaiman confirmed he was writing the scripts for a six-part television series as requested by Pratchett shortly before he passed away in 2015. Gaiman would also serve as showrunner, and on May 31, 2019 all six episodes, starring David Tennant as Crowley and Michael Sheen as Aziraphale, premiered on Amazon Prime.

My mental and emotional state in May of 2019 was, in a word, fragile. It was maybe the lowest and most difficult time in my life thus far. I had just ended a friendship with someone who had been one of my best friends and who was still my roommate. My relationship with my boyfriend had turned toxic and was a month away from ending for good. I was in a community theatre production of a show I believed in, playing a character I loved, but with a director who was verbally and emotionally abusive. It felt like my life was falling apart, the direction and purpose I’d manage to cobble together over the past year since graduation slowly unraveling. I was a hair’s breath away from a full-on mental breakdown when Good Omens, the miniseries adaptation of what I had come to consider one of my favorite books, premiered on the last day of the month. I had the day off, and instead of learning my lines or studying my script, I spent the day curled up on the couch, binging the series in one long blaze of glory.

And it was perfect. It was just what I needed when I needed it. Not only was it a fantastic adaptation, it stood up as its own piece of art, with excellent performances of beloved characters, a visual style keeping in tone with the novel, and a very catchy soundtrack. Not only did it get rave reviews and numerous award nominations, it was beloved by fans the world over. I myself have watched it over and over again (I would estimate somewhere in the neighborhood of 8-10 times all the way through by now), adding it to my regular comfort watch rotation for when I need something familiar yet still entertaining. Anytime I need an example of a perfect adaptation, this is what I think of first.

Two years later, after surviving a year that certainly felt apocalyptic, rumors started circulating that a second season was in the works. I dismissed them, not finding any reliable sources able to confirm the rumors. After all, such “news” pieces regularly circulate on the internet, spreading unfounded production rumors (remember, kids: check your sources). But when Neil Gaiman himself retweeted an announcement, featuring the photo above, from the official Good Omens account, announcing a second season, I knew it was for real.

And I’ll be truthful: my first reaction was fear. After all, what more could be added to the original? Did it really need a sequel? Wouldn’t making more just take away from the impact of the first, even if it wasn’t that bad, like Big Little Lies? But then the more I read, the more hopeful I became. And with that hope came excitement, and the thought that this could be something spectacular. That maybe, just maybe, lightning could strike twice.

You see, Gaiman and Pratchett had planned a sequel. They’d lain awake in a shared hotel room shortly before the first book released and started on the skeleton of a book they planned on writing, to be called 668-The Neighbor of the Beast. Due to Gaiman’s move to America, his success with the Sandman graphic novels, and Pratchett’s success with Discworld, it was never meant to be. Ideas from that story, such as the Angel Gabriel, played to punchable-face perfection by Jon Hamm, were incorporated by Gaiman into the plot of the TV show.

This second series isn’t a soulless cash grab. It’s not an attempt to monopolize on the popularity of the book or the original miniseries, or to tarnish the legacy of the book, series, or either of the authors. It’s based on a story they created together, a story that fans have been asking to be released for decades. This second series of the show is our chance to finally find out what Gaiman and Pratchett had planned for Crowley and Aziraphale, but to see it come to life onscreen, with the same core creative team that gave us the original, beloved, miniseries.

Some might scoff at the news. They may insist that because of Pratchett’s passing the story should never have come to light, that Gaiman has sold out and the second series won’t be worth watching. But I think the opposite is true. I think that Gaiman is continuing the legacy not only of his successful TV series, but of his dear friend, a friend who requested he oversee the screen adaptation of this story. In all probability, Gaiman cares more about accuracy and authenticity in this project more than even the most adamant of fans.

It’s hard to imagine what our beloved characters would get up to after contending with the literal apocalypse, but whatever Gaiman has up his sleeve, it’s been there since about 1990, and I am nothing but excited to finally see what’s in store.