Hey there, it’s been a while. I haven’t found the time (and energy) to manage this account until the Christmas break, but hopefully, I’ll get back on the horse and find a better way to handle my free time!
The year 2021 has ended already and I want to reflect on what’s been good entertainment. I know I should have released this before the end of the past year but lazyness kicked in during my Holiday’s first week off! But better late than never, I guess!
Sitcoms
Only murders in the building
Starting strong with a Martin Short/ Steve Martin/ Selena Gomez collaboration about 3 neighbors, obsessed with true crime podcasts, investigating a murder in their fabulous New-York appartment building while improvising their own murder podcast. Needless to say that Martin Short and Steve Martin are comedic geniuses, and though Selena Gomez’s performance is far from being able to equate that of the legendary duo, her youthful presence does provide some very necessary balance to the show. Only murders in the building is as suspenseful as it is hilarious. And although some episodes are at times over the top, Martin Short and Steve Martin are always a pleasure to watch and I cannot wait for the second season!
Kevin can f**k himself
This show is like nothing I’ve seen before and I cannot believe more people are not talking about it. Definitely the most underrated show of the year! Set half in the stereotypical wife/husband sitcom, half in a dramatic show about an unhappy marriage, Kevin can f**k himself is a dark comedy about a wife who wants to regain some control in her life, after 10 years with a selfish, manipulative, child-like husband. Funny, smart and at time very frustrating, this show was a lot of fun to watch. Also, what a pleasure to see Annie Murphy in a role so opposite to the one she had in Schitt’s Creek!
Schmigadoon
Now this came as a surprise to me. There is nothing I hate more than musicals, and yet, when we played Schmigadoon (almost by accident), I was enthralled! We binge-watched the whole season in no time and the musical numbers never bothered me, quite the contrary. They were spectacular, actually.
Made for love
The season is unequal but the good moments were brilliant. This is a show about a woman trying to regain her independance by escaping the grips of her controlling husband, a tech genius billionnaire who implented a tracking device in her brain to monitor her movements as well as her physical and emotional data. Though Cristin Milioti and Billy Magnussen are amazing as the feuding couple, Ray Romano really steals the show as Milioti’s father.
What we do in the shadows - Season 3
I was certain that after 2 seasons, they’ve pretty much covered everything and the series would become somewhat repetitive, but I was dead wrong. The third season made me laugh as much as the first two.
Drama
Succession - Season 3
I’ve become obsessed with Succession! Each season is better the last and I cannot get enough of this dysfunctionnal family’s downward spiral, banter, infighting and disconnectedness. This show has managed to beat The Office and Curb your enthusiasm in terms on cringe (think of Kendall singing, cousin Greg in general, Shiv and Tom’s marriage, and so much more!), all the while displaying an incredible visual aesthetic, and not to forget killer dialogues. The third season ended so incredulously that I need to see season 4 right away. Unfortunately, no release date has been revealed yet…
Squid Game
Speaking of incredible visual aesthetics, Squid Game is one of the rare cases of “believe the hype”. It’s probably one of the most talked about shows of the year, and it’s also one of the best. I’m not sure a second season is the best idea, but I’ll watch it for sure. I don’t have anything to add to the multitude of things that have been written about this show, except that if you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for?
Yellowjackets
The season is still ongoing so I might be getting ahead of myself here, but so far, it’s one of the best dramas I’ve seen this year. Set in two timelines, the present and 30 years ago, when the characters were teenagers, this show is a mix of survival epic, psychological/supernatural/horror and coming-of-age drama. In the 1990s, a plane carrying a team of high school soccer players to their national tournament crashes in the Canadian wilderness. The survivors held on for 19 months before being rescued, but what actually happened during these harrowing 19 months remain a mystery as all the survivors swore to secrecy. However, the events will come back to taunt them decades later. Though the series reminds me a lot of Lost at times, it is intriguing enough for me to want to continue watching and learn what happened.
Docuseries
Get back
I wouldn’t call myself the biggest Beatles’ fan (I don’t hate them either) but I found this series illuminating as it debunks a lot of preconceived ideas I had about the Beatles and their break-up. It’s also fascinating to be a fly on the wall and observe as one of the greatest band in history created from nothing some of the most significant classics of modern music. There are 3 episodes overall, each averaging 2 hours, detailing the days leading up to the band’s legendary roof-top performance.
Pretend it’s a city
This series of conversations between Martin Scorsese and Fran Lebowitz is a continuation of sorts of Scorsese’s 2010 documentary, Public Speaking. Fran Lebowitz is quick-witted, hilarious and opinionated, and listening to her vent about everything and everybody is a true pleasure!
Honorable mentions
Ted Lasso - Season 2 : The second season was nowhere near as good as the first but there were some very good moments. However, the level of saccharin errs dangerously towards the tacky, while Nate’s story arch feels unnecessary.
Mythic quest - Season 2 : my previous comment about Ted Lasso’s second season not being able to level up to its first applies also to Mythic Quest’s second season. It’s good, but nowhere near as good as season 1.
Physical : Rose Byrne is amazing as an unhappy housewife who finds aerobics as a way to regain control over her life. However, the series kind of lost its way after a while and it’s hard to see where the story is headed. That being said, I’ll watch season 2 if there is one.
Mare of Eastown : Interesting series all thanks to the amazing cast, but underwhelming story and extremely poor use of Guy Pierce.
Queen of the south : I’m putting it here only because the first seasons were so good. The final season, which aired in 2021, was, in my opinion, terrible. Too many twist and turns, with an unrealistic happy ending. That being said, rare are TV series where viewers get to witness such incredible showdowns between two powerful female characters, especially when set in the drug trafficking world. While Teresa is the hero, I find that Camilla is a formidable antagonist and the most interesting character.
It’s always sunny in Philadelphia : Officially the longest running live-action comedy in history with their 15th season, It’s always sunny in Philadelphia is still extremely funny but their 12th season is by far their best. This season is great, with the first episode being the funniest, but it’s very uneven.
I think that’s it for 2021! Hopefully 2022 will be just as good or better!
