I have learned to save myself useless emotion.
On my radar: A romcom diamond in the rough, a queen takes her leave, and two classic murder mystery novels
Hey there! Hope you haven’t been getting into too much trouble. Then again, what is too much? No one ever says don’t get into too little trouble, do they? Let’s start over. I hope you’ve been getting into trouble and having a blast doing it! Yes, that’s much better.
I’ve written and posted another one-shot over on Archive of Our Own called Love, Sex, and the Whole Damn Thing. It’s an MCU tale featuring Thor x Bruce Banner visiting New Asgard for the first time as a couple. What starts out as a pleasant visit takes a surprising turn. Wanna know more? Of course you do! You can read the story right here.
Enough about me. Ready to find out what I've been watching and reading lately? Here we go!
FILM
Art gallery employee Ana (an engaging Camila Mendes) gets a leg up when she’s bumped to first class on a flight from New York to London for a work trip. When she exaggerates about her career to cute passenger William (Archie Renaux), it sets off a chain reaction that has Ana attempting to juggle what’s real with the fantasy life she’s created. An effervescent romantic comedy that also features a game Marisa Tomei as Ana’s boss, and secret weapons Lena Olin and Anthony Head as William’s parents.
Netflix triple play: Millie Bobby Brown has seen Stranger Things and has solved mysteries as Enola Holmes — both of which you should see over her latest flick, the dismal fantasy Damsel. This is a preposterous bore that insults its audience by patronizing them with empty female empowerment platitudes. There’s more girl power in Spice World than in this undercooked crock that dares to waste the great Angela Bassett. … Put upon ghostwriter Lindsay Lohan travels to Ireland for her author’s wedding only to make an Irish Wish that seemingly grants her everything she wants in this fun if slightly silly romcom. Lohan knows the ropes and the tropes, and expertly navigates them as the plot requires. She also has nice chemistry with Ed Speelers as her potential suitor. … As a huge fan of Gina Rodriguez, I had higher hopes for Players. Rodriguez stars as sports reporter Mack, who jumps from fling to fling; she and her like-minded friends have even come up with a playbook to help them score. When Mack falls for her latest fling — a handsome yet pretentious author (the usually charming Tom Ellis in full bore mode) — she finds herself in uncharted territory. This is a pleasant enough diversion that should have snapped, crackled, and popped when it simply ambles along.
What I’m excited to see this month: Luca Guadagnino's latest, Challengers, features Josh O'Connor, Zendaya, sexy times and tennis in that order. … The Idea of You, based on Robinne Lee's novel (which I'm reading right now), has Anne Hathaway's 40-year-old gallery owner and Nicholas Galitzine's 20-something boy band member indulging in a passionate affair after meeting at Coachella. … A supernatural TV show unites teens Maddy and Owen (played by Brigette Lundy-Paine and Justice Smith), challenging Owen's view of reality in Jane Schoenbrun's I Saw the TV Glow. … Anya Taylor-Joy takes over for Charlize Theron in the Fury Road prequel, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which also gives us a gleefully demented villain in Chris Hemsworth.
TV
Peter Morgan's magnum opus wraps with the formidable Imelda Staunton stepping into Queen Elizabeth II's pumps for the final two seasons. Diana's story also takes its turn in the spotlight with a graceful, powerhouse turn by Elizabeth Debicki that reminds us just how tragic the Princess of Wales' ending was. The show flounders during the second half of season six when it spends time on William and Kate's burgeoning romance, and with black sheep Harry. Dominic West as Charles and Jonathan Pryce as Philip deliver nicely nuanced performances throughout these two seasons. However, it's Staunton's show and she never lets you forget it. One of the highlights throughout its six years has been the relationship between sisters Elizabeth and Margaret. Staunton and Lesley Manville form one hell of a pair and make sure you're invested in the siblings' bond until the bittersweet end. (All episodes are now available on Netflix.)
Quick catchup: It only took two seasons and a change in showrunner, but I actually enjoyed the latest season of The Morning Show. The supporting cast is still the main reason to tune in (Greta Lee! Karen Pittman! Billy Crudup! Mark Duplass! Nestor Carbonell!) and season three's guest stars only help raise what was once a sinking ship (Jon Hamm! Nicole Beharie! Tig Notaro!). (New season expected in 2025. All episodes are available now on Apple TV+.) … I started watching the fantastic British legal series Silk years ago and only recently finished it. (It's only three series yet I had to wait for it to stream in order to watch the final two series.) Maxine Peake and Rupert Penry-Jones are terrific as the leads. Plus, any show that gives me Penry-Jones in suits and barrister's robes and wigs is aces in my book. (All episodes are available on Britbox, Hulu, and Prime Video.)
What I'm watching next: I'm still trying to wrap up a few shows, including the final seasons of Sex Education, The Afterparty, The Split, Guilt, and Van Der Valk; and the latest seasons of Grantchester, Annika, and The Serpent Queen. Have I mentioned how much I love British series?
BOOKS
The film adaptation starring William Powell and Myrna Loy has long been a favorite of mine, so I was psyched to read the novel earlier this year. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. Just when Nick Charles assumes his sleuthing days are behind him, a former acquaintance turns up dead. One thing leads to another and before Nick can stop it from happening, he’s making a few inquiries at the behest of his wife, Nora. This was my first time reading Dashiell Hammett; I was charmed by his dry wit and just the facts ma’am presentation of the story, told from Nick's POV. Nick and Nora Charles are an absolute delight on the page. The supporting characters pop and fizz, while the mystery has enough turns and red herrings to keep you guessing. As it happens, I also have a copy of The Maltese Falcon sitting on my bookshelf. Might be time to give it a go.
I’ve been a fan of Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot for years, but until recently I had never read any of her books featuring the famous Belgian detective. What better way to start than with one of Poirot’s most popular cases? A train full of passengers. A snowdrift. A dead body. It doesn’t take long for Poirot’s little gray cells to deduce the victim was murdered. However, figuring out who the killer is may prove more problematic. Poirot is one of my favorite sleuths and having him come to life on the page via Christie’s words is pretty cool. This is a fun whodunit filled with colorful characters, each with secrets they aren’t keen on revealing. I already have my eye on a few other of Poirot’s cases that I would like to read. (Gold star if you figured out my headline quote came from this.)
That’s all from me. Feel free to reach out with any recommendations or observations.
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