My Monday Musings…

I seemed to hit a wall in my reading roll. All of a sudden I didn’t feel like reading so instead I binge watched a few shows on Netflix and Amazon.

I watched the first episode of Good Omens but wasn't' int he mood for that level of camp so I'll come back to it soon.


Special – Netflix

This is a semi-autobiographical series starring Ryan O’Connell on Netflix (episodes are only about 15 minutes each) about a gay man with cerebral palsy as he learns to become more independent – dating, getting an apartment, and job.

Ryan is a breath of fresh air – flawed, awkward, selfish yet vulnerable. The relationship with his mother is especially complex as he starts striking out on his own and she has no clue what to do with her life now – as it revolved around Ryan and his needs. She rediscovers her sexuality, and and struggles to transition from caregiver to a fully fledged woman. Her scenes are absolutely heartbreaking and beautifully acted. The cast is rounded out with Kim – his co-worker and bff – a plus size, Indian American girl, who is a whirlwind of truth bombs and funny one liners – but also has these little moments of vulnerability.

They both work as writers for a website called Eggwoke and there are plenty of jabs at “woke” and social media culture.

The few weaknesses – the potential love interests for Ryan are bland and unmemorable, and because of how short the episodes are they can end abruptly – but pick right back up so it’s not too big of a deal.


Fleabag – Amazon Prime

I’ve heard a lot of great things about this show but avoided it. I have a love/hate relationship with hot mess character driven shows. I love complex flawed characters but series about them? Well, at a certain point the show tends to get more and more outlandish to up the stakes and I start to get get bored and I need my stories more grounded. And most of these flawed characters shows (and this one) rely on sex to accomplish this. Unpopular opinion – I’m not a prude – but I can only watch people bang so many times…

I’ve also heard a lot about the *hot priest* and wasn't sure how I felt about that. But anyway…I took the plunge and really like it.

Fleabag does a lot of unlikable things – she strings her on and off boyfriend along, pokes at her sister in cruel ways at times and yes, has a lot of sex (don’t really care about that one – because…so?? it's consensual and she's having fun) but she’s also in deep pain after losing a friend to an accident, trying to keep their cafe afloat and realizing that even sex can’t keep you from feeling lonely.

Lots of complex relationships in this one. Especially the one with her sister, Claire– who I adore!

I have a short shelf life for people who act like a wrecking ball and don’t learn from it – but Fleabag  provided enough nuance that I ended up liking it quite a bit.

It's only the 2 seasons and there won't be anymore.

I think I'm going to try Russian Doll next.

Reading:


I was surprised but I was approved for The Girl in Red by Christina Henry on Netgalley so I’m reading that.

It started off with a gruesome bang (which I love) but then I just wasn’t in the mood to read. I do hope to finish it soon though.