Thank you for reading The Lately! This issue is my weekly culture catch-up where I discuss what I’m watching, reading, and generally enjoying lately. If you like this newsletter, please consider becoming a subscribing member.
With today being the first of a lifetime’s worth of Sundays without Succession, June Gloom — literally and figuratively — is here in Los Angeles.
Actually, I’m being dramatic because after the greyest of Mays, this weekend finally brought with it (mostly) blue skies and warm weather, and I spent almost every moment of it with a little beverage in hand. It was a total delight. Looking forward to spending the next three months doing some version of the same.
This past week I also attended my first Dodgers game of the season; I was a Nationals fan undercover, mostly because I don’t own any DC sports gear. I’ve decided it’s worth investing in some so I can wear it approximately once a year. Stand by…
Watching Lately
Ted Lasso Series Finale
The third and polarizing final season of Ted Lasso has officially come to an end. Not to be a hater, but I was disappointed by the whole thing. I felt beat over the head with well meaning lessons, like people are inherently good if we give them the chance to be and that everyone deserves a second chance. But in very few instances did any of it feel earned.
The last episode, which was almost as long as Succession’s final episode, had a few heartwarming, albeit unrealistic, moments that I reluctantly enjoyed, like the footballers sending Ted off with a rendition of So Long, Farewell, which is coincidentally what I named last week’s newsletter.
I enjoyed Rebecca running into her Amsterdam mystery man. I was glad to see Ted go home to his son, where it looks like his marriage might make it after all. My God was I frustrated by the way the Roy-Jamie-Keeley Love Triangle situation played out, or rather didn’t. For a show that believed so much in rom-communism, it was so frustrating for Roy and Keeley not to work things out. Though he’s in therapy now so that’s…good?
So many of the big moments from this episode and the rest of this season— Ted telling the team he’s moving on, Nate leaving Rupert, Colin coming out to the team — were unseen by the viewers and only alluded to after. What happened to show don’t tell?
I’m glad for so many this show was a bright spot of hope and kindness; And I know many friends of mine thoroughly enjoyed these last twelve episodes as well. I didn’t, and that’s okay.
I Think You Should Leave Season 3
Triples is best! Tim Robinson’s unhinged and cringe Netflix sketch comedy show, I Think You Should Leave, is back. If, like me, you’re also Very Online, I think for the sake of your media literacy, you’d be remised not to watch. Overnight, my entire twitter feed is just gifs and memes and quotes from ITYSL S3, and I’m not mad about it.
My personal favorite moment from the newest season is this zip line sketch.
The Righteous Gemstones returns!
Are you — like me— feeling a a massive hole in your heart from not getting to spend your Sunday night watching three selfish adult children compete for daddy’s love and the family business? Don’t worry! The Righteous Gemstones returns for season three on June 18th, which gives you more than enough time to binge seasons one and two if you’ve never watched! (I’ve seen both seasons twice if that incentivizes you further — I think this is one of the funniest shows on television.)
The Other Two
Speaking of the funniest shows on television…The Other Two said Happy Pride!
Reading Lately
Beautiful World, Where Are You
I am about two thirds of the way through Sally Rooney’s third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, and I’m enjoying it SO much more than I thought I would. Now you might be wondering, “Samantha, why did I pick up a book you assumed you wouldn’t like?” Thank you so much for asking.
After reading Rooney’s Normal People, I felt depressed. After Conversations with Friends, I felt annoyed. But nothing feels worse to me then not being able to participate in a conversation, and so I needed to read BWWAY. Too many people were bringing it up to me recently and saying “oh I haven’t actually read it” with the frequency I was saying it felt unenjoyable.
Rooney’s work is always full of highly intelligent, but deeply insecure people miscommunicating wildly with one another, and her third novel is no exception. For some reason though, it’s bothering me less than usual. The experience has, in fact, been enjoyable.
Listening Lately
On Friday, Paris Hilton released a new version of her song ‘Stars are Blind’ featuring Kim Petras. I immediately added it to my Summer 2023 playlist, and I haven’t stopped listening to it since.
An especially short post today, but what can I say? I am exhausted from experiencing actual sunshine for the first time in what feels like months.
Thank you for reading! As always you can find me on Instagram and TikTok.