February is the perfect storm for a TV binging spree. Between being alone on Valentines Day, and having an unbelievable amount of homework to do, I have dedicated the last week solely to the screen. So this is what I watched this week :
1. Proven Innocent (Hulu)
I heard about this show because it was advertised on my favorite podcast, My Favorite Murder, and was immediately hooked. A young woman becomes a lawyer in order to fight against not only the system that wrongly imprisoned her for a decade but the prosecutor himself who accused her of murder. The first two episodes are certainly entertaining, due in part to the occasional corny line and overacted scene, but overall due to a very well thought out plot, episode structure, and characters. If you like true crime, office dramas, or mystery, you should definitely check out Proven Innocent. Looking forward to the next episode!
2. One Day At A Time (Netflix)
have been complaining about the ODAAT drought since I finished the heartwrenching finale of season 2. The characters are delightful as ever, tackling new emotional and social situations as the previous seasons have done so well. Especially with 2 (two!!!) cameos from Brooklyn 99 actresses! It’s exciting, heartwarming, and funny. Someday I’ll learn my lesson and not watch all the episodes in one go just to wait another year.
3. Miracle Workers (Hulu)
I mean. It’s DANIEL RADCLIFFE and STEVE BUSCEMI. What was I going to do, not watch it? It definitely has a Good Place vibe, which isn’t a bad thing, it’s a clever and successful show. Steve Buscemi plays a washed-up God, who doesn’t know how to fix all the problems on Earth, while Daniel Radcliffe professionally answers prayers. But when a new recruit joins Radcliffe, she feels that more can be done to save Earth. I’ve only seen the pilot of Miracle Workers and will continue to watch it, but I could see this project going either way. The writers may find that world building is much harder than Mike Schur makes it look, and I’m not completely sold on the main character yet. Miracle Workers were fun to watch, with the added bonus of a satisfying ending clearly setting up the rest of the season.
4. PEN15 (Hulu)
PEN15 is a Hulu Original about the middle school experience of two best friends. I would say it’s a cross between Broad City, and Bo Burnham’s 8th grade. Upon watching the two available episodes, I had two thoughts 1) There are some fantastic one-liners in this show 2) Those one-liners are getting lost due to the fact that the episodes are just too long. I see the appeal of doing a 30 minute episode as opposed to 22 minutes. The pace just feels off, and the jokes are lost in between sections of filler. The main draw is the accuracy of the 2000s, and that two grown women are acting as their middle school selves.
5. The Favourite (Theaters)
The Favourite is not your typical period piece. While sometimes the overly formal language in other period pieces can get tedious, but he fancier language makes the insults that much harsher and funnier. It even gave me my new favorite word for having a crush “C*ntstruck”. The Favourite is like if The Bachelorette were set in the 18th century, and the bachelorette is Queen Anne. Everyone has their own agenda, and they’ll do anything to accomplish it. Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Olivia Coleman are all extremely talented actresses, and their performances in The Favourite are absolutely outstanding, and they’re supported with artful directing and a well thought out story.