we need to talk about Jon Hamm in Fargo
also dueling cult docs and the final eras tour show of 2023
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Hope everyone had a happy and fun thanksgiving weekend! I spent mine eating lots of yummy food with family here in Los Angeles.
I know the last thing you need is another email in your inbox, but I want to talk to you about tv and books and movies so here we are…
Watching Lately
Fargo Season 5
The the first two episodes of the fifth season of FX’s Fargo, the American anthology black comedy–crime drama tv series (ooh that’s a mouthful), dropped on Hulu last week. If you aren’t familiar with the show, it’s inspired by the film with the same name, and each stand alone season has quite the stacked cast.
If you haven’t seen any of the tv series Fargo, start with season two, whose main cast includes Jesse Plemmons, Patrick Wilson, Ted Danson, Jean Smart, Kirsten Dunst, and Kiernan Culkin TO NAME A FEW PEOPLE. Stacked. Cast.
The fifth season stars Jon Hamm and Juno Temple (Keely from Ted Lasso) and let me start by saying that I forgot how violent the show is. So it’s been a lot of watching between fingers. Know that going in.
Beyond that though, we need to talk about Jon Hamm. Poor thing, he has the body of a self-serious leading man, when it’s clear all he wants to do is play unhinged comedic freaks. It’s in that juxtaposition that his one of kind line deliveries lie, and I’m obsessed. His character in Fargo is menacing, his appearance and the way he carries himself alone commanding respect, while also a complete idiot.
I think I rewatched the scene in episode one where he speaks to the FBI while lounging in a hot tub maybe seven times. And not because it was then that I noticed his character’s insane nipple piercings. The way he said “Joaquin. Mrs. Joaquin” (pronouncing the name Jah-Kween) will live in my mind rent free for a long, long time.
It’s also worth noting that Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Juno Temple’s mother-in-law, and is giving the most, as she always does. I’m speaking of course about her ridiculously specific, though somehow impossible to place, midwest accent.
Escaping Twin Flames
Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend I watched not one but two documentaries on the cult, Twin Flames Universe. I started off with Escaping Twin Flames on Netflix and followed it up with Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe on Amazon Prime. Both series are three episodes long and about three hours in total. I was — fortunately — completely unfamiliar with this cult prior to the docuseries. The general takeaway is that Jeff and Shaleia (formerly known as Megan) — the founders and cult leaders of Twin Flames Universe —created an online community that preys on people looking for love.
Just one look at the two of them, and I’m genuinely confused by how anyone could trust them as experts on anything. But that’s not the point. They have enacted, and continue to enact, terrible harm on people who trust them, and I hope these docs lead to their demise.
If you’re only going to watch one of the two docs, go with the Amazon Prime version — it takes a more journalistic approach.
Love Island UK Season 10
60 hours later, I’ve finished watching the 10th season of Love Island UK, which originally aired this past summer (and is available in the US on Hulu). I won’t spoil anything — even though TikTok spoiled this season for me by letting me know the winners had broken up before I even knew who the winners were!!! — but I will say this season is worth the watch.
In past seasons, once it’s gotten close to the end and strong couples have solidified, it’s gotten a bit dull. (Who wants to watch people in love just chillin on holiday?) But this season was messy right down to the end. Shout out to the producers.
I don’t currently pay for Peacock, but am seriously considering it just so I can watch the Love Island Games. Those who have watched…is it worth it?
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
I went opening weekend to the theater (wearing my AMC friendship bracelet from the Eras Tour Movie, of course) to see the latest installment in the Hunger Games franchise. I was thoroughly entertained; Viola Davis’ and Jason Schwartzman’s performances alone are worth the price of admission.
I found Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes to be a lot harder to watch than the earlier movies (which I recognize was part of the point.) The 10th annual Hunger Games themselves are less advanced, less aimed for The Capital’s enjoyment and meant more to serve as the continued dehumanization of the tributes and their districts. And the film itself is less about the games, and more about Coriolanus Snow’s descent into evil.
The internet has decided Tom Blythe is hot enough to overlook said evil (that buzz cut should not have worked as well as it did) and I'm enjoying the letterboxd reviews immensely.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Live Streams)
Last night marked Taylor Swift’s final The Eras Tour show of 2023. Despite speculation, she did not announce Reputation (TV); let the records show I did not think she would — I have the texts with friends to prove it — but I was very hopeful I’d be proven wrong. We’ll clown again in 2024, swifties.
God bless the people who live stream the shows, because I have been tuning into Surprise Song O’Clock for months now. I could actually write an entire paper on the way Taylor has paired surprise songs in the acoustic section of her show (and maybe I will…don’t tempt me with a good time.) Better Than Revenge paired with Slut!, Stay Beautiful paired with Suburban Legends…these are thoughtful choices with lyrics that compliment one another and the Musical Theatre/BFA in Acting song analysis nerd in me lives for it.
Taylor announced this morning that The Eras Tour Movie will be available to rent from home starting on December 13th, so icymi in theaters or on a grainy TikTok live, there’s your chance.
Reading Lately
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Your first must read book of 2024. One of the perks of reading a lot and posting about it is sometimes I receive advanced copies of books. And when I was approved via NetGalley for an early copy of Annabel Monaghan’s (author of Nora Goes Off Script and Same Time Next Summer) upcoming release, Summer Romance, it jumped right to the top of my TBR pile.
This quote pulled from Amazon describes Summer Romance as a “heart-tugging and hilarious story of a professional organizer whose life is a mess, and the summer she gets unstuck with the help of someone unexpected from her past.”
I was moved to tears within the first chapter. Monaghan’s writing is so personal, her characters feel so lived in. She highlights the beauty in the simple small moments. This story in particular is both a love story in the traditional sense, as well as a love story between mothers and daughters.
I loved every second of this story, and already know I will be buying myself a physical copy once the book is officially published next summer just so I can move all my digital annotations over and reread certain lines again and again. Pre-order your copy now. You’ll thank me later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnum for the advanced copy.
Products Lately
First, a reminder that I also link my outfits and products I’m using on my LTK storefront daily.
You’re probably so sick of sales and being sold too, but just in case you’re still doing some cyber monday shopping, here are some sales from brands I love that you might want to be aware of…
Tavi Active (code SAMANTHA30 at checkout)
Birthdate Candles (code Samantha10 at checkout)
Kush Queen (code Samantha at checkout)
And if you ever see anything on any of my social pages that you want a link to, just lmk!