TV Diary 2

shows I've been watching

Normal People

Please, I would rather somebody bang pots and pans in my ears while I sleep than have to hear Connell and Marianne make out again. Everytime they kiss, the smacks are louder than a car with engine problems, and it drives me insane. Other than that, Normal People, based on Sally Rooney’s 2018 novel, will go down as one of the year’s best television shows. I wish I could keep watching Connell and Marianne fall in love; I love spending time with them. Though I should hate these characters—Connell’s indecisiveness is painful, and Marianne is another rich and tortured soul—I don’t. Instead, I find myself rooting against the unhappy ending that’s inevitable. 

BlackAF

A message to Kenya Barris: I refuse to write out BlackAF as “#BlackAF.” I will not fall for the trap: Clearly, the show was designed to create a social media stir, and I suppose in that way it was successful. Much of the conversation has been criticism directed at the creator, writer, and star’s infatuation with unsubtle storylines about a black family doing black things in white spaces—similar to his other show Blackish. Yet, the main issue with BlackAF is that Kenya doesn’t seem to know what type of show he wants to make: a conversational family sitcom, Curb-style satire, or a raunchy comedy. In the fifth episode, Kenya comes the closest to figuring out a direction for the series, mostly through a discussion between him and the guest-starring Melvin Gregg about the lack of differences between Juwanna Mann and other comedies like Tootsie and Some Like It Hot. It’s the only time I ever wanted to engage with the forced hashtag.

Read reviews of BlackAF by Doreen St. Félix, Soraya Nadia McDonald, and Shamira Ibrahim

Never Have I Ever 

Netflix’s description for Never Have I Ever might as well be: “NEW DIVERSE TEEN COMEDY FOR YOUR ALGORITHM.” The show, created by Mindy Kaling, was surely made in a lab. But still I’ve come away thinking it’s the best thing Mindy Kaling has done post-The Office, she sprinkles some heart into the robotic template. 

Kim’s Convenience 

Kim’s Convenience is nearly perfect. The Canadian sitcom doesn’t miss, and even when it’s corny I laugh. It’s light and low stakes, and I trust wherever the show chooses to take me, which has become less common. 

Insecure 

I live for the drama between Issa, Molly, Lawrence, and the world of characters Insecure has established in the last four seasons. It’s not always great, but I’m always ready to argue about the characters’ decisions with the passion of Stephen A. Smith on First Take. Issa avoids no relationship hot topic, the latest episode even ends with Lawrence responding to Issa’s IG story with an emoji, and I felt more emotion in that moment than watching anything other show this year.  

Survivor: Winners at War

Tony Vlachos is putting on a clinic. I’ve never seen a Survivor contestant dominate like he has over the last two weeks: He ousted Kim and Sophie, has become an unstoppable challenge beast, and is politicking like no other. There’s still time for Tony’s downfall, especially with someone from the Edge of Extinction still set to return. But Tony has earned his spot on Survivor’s Mount Rushmore—even if he doesn’t take home the crown. 

Top Chef: All-Stars L.A. 

In the past, Top Chef seasons have had the atmosphere of the NBA Finals. Watching Richard Blais face off against Mike Isabella in the season eight finale is like getting to see two giants of an era collide. There was respect between them, but they also  wanted to kill each other in the kitchen. It’s the competitive spirit I miss most about Top Chef’s current season. I’m not saying the current Top Chef season isn’t good; it’s just that it has become a celebration of the show’s platform instead of a no-nonsense battle. I suppose it’s time that I accept that the show has changed, and not become one of those people saying, “I miss the old Top Chef.” But shit, I do. 

The Challenge: Total Madness

I’ve grown to love The Challenge. I’ll find myself thinking about the show and its endless pool of characters—Johnny Bananas, Jordan, Tori, Swaggy, Bayleigh, Wes, CT, Cory, Nelson, Nany, Rogan, Dee, and so on—desperate to be both taken seriously and the center of a reality tv show. It’s an impossible task.  

Summer House/Vanderpump Rules

Have all their lives always been this boring? A pair of Bravo shows I used to love, Summer House and Vanderpump Rules, have both become nearly unwatchable. The characters are more unlikable, the storylines more contrived, and I find myself tuned out. Maybe it’s just because they’re not as interesting as they once were. I wish they would embrace who they’ve become rather than continue to be aging reality stars that can’t let go of who they once were. 

As always let hit me on the email or social media cause I love talking tv, and tell me what i’m missing out on and stuff.