Jennette's Blog

Binging Recommendation: Mare of Easttown (HBO Max)

June 6, 2021

I had read how amazing Kate Winslet was in her latest role and was surprised to find out it was a TV show. It is a short (7 episode) mini-series available on HBO Max.

Mom, Emily & I decided to binge it and we literally watched all 7 episodes yesterday from start to finish.

The first episode is a lot of character introduction and so it felt kind of slow to me, but after episode 1, the story line picked up and it was really captivating. Kate Winslet did an excellent job in the title character role of Mare Sheehan.

The overall story is about this small town of Easttown, PA and a murder mystery/missing persons case that has everyone wondering who did it???

I enjoyed it and it definitely kept my attention. Lots of twists and turns and it had a great supporting cast such as Julianne Nicholson as Lori, Jean Smart as Helen, Guy Pearce as Richard Ryan among others.

Email me and let me know if you are watching this show and what you thought!

TV Special: Friends Reunion (HBO Max)

June 4, 2021

Mom, Emily & I have been wanting to watch this since it was released last week and we finally had the chance to watch it tonight.

I really enjoyed seeing them together again. It was a good combination of them reminiscing about their memories of the show, to some behind the scenes looks, as well as surprise special guests.

While I would have loved to have seen an actual new episode of the show --- this was just as good.

It left me wanting to rewatch the whole show from start to finish to laugh all over again....

Old School Recommendation: The L Word (Hulu)

April 8, 2021

I watched this show when it first came out back in 2004.   Recently I started watching the L Word: Generation Q, and it made me want to go back and rewatch the original show.  So that's what I did - all 6 seasons.

Even though I know I saw every episode when they originally aired -- that was years ago and I felt like I was being reintroduced to old friends. It was a great show and I really enjoyed the friendship between these women.

If you are looking for something good to watch, I would highly recommend the original. The first season of the new version (Generation Q) was also fabulous --- but I really enjoyed going back to the original.

Binging Recommendation: Ginny & Georgia (Netflix)

March 3, 2021

This show came up on my recommendations last week when it was released on February 24. I had also heard it being referred to as "the next Gilmore Girls" - so I was curious to say the least. I watched the trailer and thought it looked good so I decided to binge it.

It should come with a warning: images and themes of self harm and body dysmorphic disorder. Since I can imagine that it would be a show that teenagers will watch - parents should have discussions with their children about how serious these topics are.

That being said, I enjoyed it and thought it was very good. The first season is just 10 episodes and while it does end on a cliff hanger -- Netflix will almost certainly renew as it has held a top spot on the Netflix Top 10 list for days.

The basic plot is a story of a single mom (Georgia) with 2 kids (15 year old Virginia (Ginny) & 9 year old Austin) who after the suspicious death of her husband picks up her kids and moves to a new small town in New England. Apparently Georgia runs away from grief and trouble. Ginny looks to fit in at a new school and make friends for the first time ever as her mom has a tendency to pick them up and move to lots of different places. The overall story is entertaining while still having a mysterious serious undertone. Dark comedy at times and definitely some serious subject matter.

For more information, click the poster below.

Email me and let me know if you are watching this show and what you thought!

Binging Recommendation: Lupin (Netflix)

February 15, 2021

My sister recommended this show to me about a month ago and I finally had the chance to watch some of the episodes. It's only Part 1 of Season 1 which is 5 episodes. Part 2 will come out in Summer 2021.

My parents and I finished it this weekend. It is originally in French but we watched it Dubbed in English.

It was good from the very first episode. It's engaging. Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin (a character created by French Novelist Maurice Leblanc in 1905), gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family. It stars Omar Sy (whom I've only seen in 1 other film years ago: The Intouchables which was FABULOUS!)

I will warn you that it ends on quite the cliff hanger but at least we get to find out what happens this summer rather than waiting a whole year.

On a side note, if you watched Money Heist on Netflix - you might recognize one of the voices of the investigators Guedira in the English Dubbed version of Lupin. I recognized his voice immediately. It was weird because it's not the same "actor" but it is the same "voice actor" for the dubbing...So it was weird seeing his voice coming from a different character.

For more information, click the poster below.

Email me and let me know if you are watching this show and what you thought!

Binging Recommendation: Firefly Lane (Netflix)

February 8, 2021

This show came up on my recommendations last week when it was released on February 3. I watched the trailer and thought it looked good so I decided to binge it.

After 1 episode, I tried to recommend it to my sister who laughed and said she was already on episode 7 and couldn't stop because it was so good. It took me a little longer to binge it (5 days because of work/school).

It was very good. It is based on a book that tells the story of 2 best friends (Tully and Kate) who support each other through good times and bad with an unbreakable bond that carries them from their teens to their forties.

The thing that I enjoyed (which others may not) is that it jumps back and forth in time from the girls being in their teens and then in their twenties and then in their forties. It tells an amazing story. I will warn you that it ends on quite the cliff hanger. I'm sure it will get renewed and I can't wait to see what happens next.

For more information, click the poster below.

Email me and let me know if you are watching this show and what you thought!

Binging Recommendation: Love Life (HBO Max)

January 22, 2021

I remember seeing commercials for Love Life back when it was first released in May 2020, but at the time I didn't have HBO Max and so I had forgotten about it.

I love Anna Kendrick and this was a great mini-series. 10 episodes about Darby Carter (Anna Kendrick) trying to find love. It was great and I really enjoyed it.

It is my understanding that it is coming back for a season 2, but that it will showcase a different person (Anna Kendrick may still be in it as a background character) --- I could be wrong but I enjoyed season 1 so I would give it a shot.

For more information, click the poster below.

Email me and let me know if you are watching this show and what you thought!

Binging Recommendation: Bridgerton (Netflix)

January 9, 2021

I have to admit when I first heard about Bridgerton, it didn't peak my interest. I usually don't enjoy period pieces. There have been exceptions to that such as Outlander and Poldark, but for the most part, I've never really been a fan of period pieces. Never really got into Downton Abbey as popular as it was. I've heard it's great but it's just not my interest. So when my mom told me she was wanting to watch Bridgerton, I told her she should do it on her own and not wait for me.

At the time, I had no idea that it was produced by Shonda Rhimes or what it was about --- only that it was a period piece. After my mom watched a few episodes, she was raving about how good it was and compared it to Outlander (just the romance) --- so it peaked my interest. In watching a trailer, I learned that it was produced by Shondaland and also recognized Regé-Jean Page as an actor on another show I liked, so I decided to watch the first episode to see what the show was all about.

It is so much more than a period piece and it is really entertaining. There were times where I was frustrated by a character's actions but that just made me realize how invested I was in the show.

The show is based on a series of novels by Julia Quinn about a family by the name of Bridgertion.  Each of the books that she has written in the series features one of the 8 children in the Bridgerton family: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth.

While each book features a diffent child's story --- all of the children are in all of the books. The first season features Daphne Bridgerton and her coming out to society in trying to find a husband.

While it hasn't been renewed, it's popularity will surely let us see a season 2 since according to Netflix it has had over 65 million views in the first few weeks of it being released.

Email me and let me know if you are watching this show and what you thought!

TV Special: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion Special (HBO Max)

January 4, 2021

I've been wanting to watch this since it was released a few months ago and I finally found myself with some time today to enjoy this show.

It reminded me just how funny this show was. The reunion was special and emotional. They did a touching tribute to Uncle Phil since James Avery passed away on December 31, 2013. It was also special to see Will Smith and the original Aunt Viv make amends and see both Aunt Viv's meet for the first time. It was a really fun watch and I would recommend it to anyone who watched this show back in the day.

Email me and let me know if you used to watch this show and/or if you watched this special.

Binging Recommendation: The Wilds (Amazon Prime)

December 30, 2020

I was looking for a show to watch and stumbled across this show. The artwork (specifically the font) for the show being advertised on Amazon Prime intrigued me so I watched the trailer. It looked interesting. I never watched Lost but from the trailer it looked like what I thought Lost must have been (people stranded on an island after a plane crash) Here's a look at the movie poster so you can see what I saw.  If you want to know more about the show, click on the poster.  

It is so much more than that and OMG you have to watch. Just after watching the first episode, you know it's more --- and it makes you wonder what the hell is going on. I'm going to warn you this is a show you will end up bingeing in just 1-2 days. I watched 7 episodes yesterday and the rest today. Couldn't stop watching.

The basic premise of the show (without giving too much away) is that there are a group of teens that must survive on an island after a crash leaves them stranded.  It's a rag tag group of girls: Fatin (the stuck up rich snob), Dot (Survivalist), Martha (Native American), Rachel (Elite Diver), Shelby (Show Pageant Queen), Nora (Sister to Rachel), Toni (Best friend of Martha and Lesbian), Leah (loner/romantic), and Jeanette. While I describe each of the girls as I do - we come to learn that they are so much more than what they appear to be.

Each episode tells the story of what's happening on the island while also giving us a glimpse into the stories/lives of the girls back home so that we would understand why they were on the plane to begin with.

Episodes (10 Episodes of 1st Season)

1. The Beginning
2. Rachel
3. Dot
4. Toni
5. Fatin
6. Leah
7. Jeanette
8. Shelby
9. Martha
10.  Nora

It has already been renewed for Season 2 which makes me happy as this was a great show....and I need answers!!!!!

Email me and let me know if you are watching this show and what you thought!

Binging Recommendation: The Queen's Gambit (Netflix)

December 15, 2020

Here's a recommendation that won't take up a lot of your time. I just finished a limited series available on Netflix. It's a show called the Queen's Gambit. 7 episodes. It was designed as a limited series show but due to popularity, I think there is some discussion of a potential 2nd season. However, it was originally based on a book and apparently covered the entire book in season 1 --- so there is no telling what will happen if they do a season 2.

Even if it is 1 season and done --- it's a great investment of time as it really is well done. I loved every minute of it and I loved how it ended.

It's hard to believe the main plot of the show involves chess tournaments --- but it really is enthralling to watch. Great show that I would highly recommend.

Email me and let me know if you are watching any of these shows and what you thought!

Binging Update & Recommendation

December 6, 2020

A show that I recommended last year, Virgin River, has returned with a second season on Netflix. I'm more than halfway through the 2nd season already and it's great. Just as good as the first season was. It's a feel good show which just the right amount of drama to keep things interesting.

I also just finished binge-watching the first 2 seasons of Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime. While some of the characters are the same from season to season, the storyline is completely separate from one season to the next so you know that after only 8 episodes you will find resolution to the show. I like that about this show. It's going to be a long wait until season 3 as they won't film it until 2021 and it's looking like a 2022 release.

As I was online trying to find more information about Season 3 of Jack Ryan, I learned something. Before Amazon Prime turned the Tom Clancy books into a TV show, there were 5 Jack Ryan movies made with very popular actors over the last 20 years. Most of these movies I had even heard of, just didn't know that they were Jack Ryan movies. So I think I know what my family and I will be trying to watch over the holidays.

• The Hunt for Red October - 1990 (Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan)
• Patriot Games - 1992 (Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan)
• Clear and Present Danger - 1994 (Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan)
• The Sum of All Fears - 2002 (Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan)
• Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit - 2014 (Chris Pine as Jack Ryan)
• Jack Ryan TV Series (Amazon Prime) - 2018 (John Krasinski as Jack Ryan)

Email me and let me know if you are watching any of these shows and what you thought!

My thoughts on Fall TV Premieres

November 18, 2020

Over the course of the last few weeks quite a few of my favorite shows such as Chicago Fire, Grey's Anatomy, This is Us, The Good Doctor, etc. have returned to television. TV shows look different now as most of them have had to incorporate the pandemic in some way. For medical shows that's easy as they can focus on the pandemic. However, that's not a long term solution as we look to television to escape reality and not have it thrown in our faces.

The other theme I've seen popping up in the majority of the shows that have returned is Black Lives Matter. I am very glad this is getting discussed and getting attention as I think the more we can talk about change the more likely it is to happen, so I'm glad that they are incorporating such tough subject matter into shows. The Neighborhood on CBS premiered a few days ago and it was a powerful episode. It's a sitcom about 2 families (one black and one white) and that's where most of their jokes have come from in the last two seasons. In the season opener, they addressed BLM in the entire episode and it was powerful (for me) to watch the white family feel emotional and helpless watching their friends go through the cop brutality that one of them experiences which leads to a protest. I think they took on powerful subject matter for a sitcom and I think they did a great job.

However, I do have a pretty big complaint for almost all of the shows that have come back --- they are all guilty of it. They show their cast wearing masks and protective gear but they also show them pulling down masks or taking them off completely in situations that they shouldn't be. For example on Law and Order: SVU, the detectives go to interview a subject in the hallway of a public building and all 3 of them take off their masks to talk. They were definitely not social distanced and I worry about what kind of message this sends to the public --- that masks are necessary but that you can take them off to talk. NO YOU CAN'T. That defeats the whole purpose of them.

I'm very grateful, however, for the return of these shows and the entertainment it provides. Even if the episodes are going to be sporadic and few and far between. After only 2 episodes of each of my Chicago shows (Med, Fire & PD) - they won't be back until January. I can only hope that they will in fact be back in January and that production doesn't shut down again. However, I hope they are all being safe and cautious as they try to keep America entertained.

Email me and let me know if you are watching any of these shows and what you thought!

TV Binge Recommendation: Cobra Kai (Netflix)

October 15, 2020

If you are my age, then like me, you probably watched and enjoyed the Karate Kid Movies growing up. If so, then I've definitely got a show recommendation for you: Cobra Kai on Netflix.

Cobra Kai picks up decades after their 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament bout. A middle-aged Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence find themselves martial-arts rivals again.

I enjoyed watching this so much because of the way they are able to intertwine the flashback scenes (from the movies). It's pretty amazing that they were able to get the entire cast back together to do this some 30 years later. Obviously Mr. Miyagi is not in Cobra Kai as Pat Morita passed away in 2005, but you feel like he is because of the flashback scenes that are included. I feel this honors the memory of some of my favorite childhood movies but at the same time brings them into the present day and continues the story.

Seasons 1 & 2 of Cobra Kai are available on Netflix. Season 3 will premiere on January 8, 2021.

If you are watching, Email me and let me know what you thought of the Season 2 cliffhanger and any thoughts you might have on what's going to happen in Season 3!

Binge Watching during the Pandemic

July 18, 2020

The normal TV drought that is the summer will likely go on for awhile due to the pandemic, so I've got some suggestions of great shows to binge watch that I started (and finished) this summer.

• Homeland (Hulu)
• West Wing (Netflix)
• Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
• Sweet Magnolias (Netflix)
• Glee (Netflix)
• Dead to Me (Netflix)
• The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
• Unorthodox (Netflix) - Limited Series - just 4 episodes. Worth the watch.
• Heartland (Seasons 1-11 on Netflix; Seasons 12-14 haven't been released yet to Netflix.)

However, my biggest recommendation is for a show called Money Heist on Netflix. It's a spanish show so it's in another language (but turn on the Dubbed in English version and I promise you can't tell a difference). It's the story of a group of people who come together to pull off the robbery of the century --- to rob the Spanish Mint. Not by stealing the bank's money, but by printing their own money. It is such a powerful story and the cast is so amazing. There are 4 seasons and the fifth and final season is being filmed as we speak (no release date). It's worth the time. No famous actors but it's so good. I cannot say enough good things about this show. It's definitely for mature audiences --- so not ok for kids.

Email me and let me know if you are watching any of these shows and what you thought!

TV Show Finales during the Pandemic

May 19, 2020

Obviously most of our TV shows ended in a very strange way because they weren't the traditional season cliff hangers that we the viewers are used to. Usually there is that huge cliff hanger that has you screaming at the TV because you have to wait 4 months before you will get to see what happens next. This year there wasn't a lot of that.

However, there were 2 shows that I want to call attention to for getting extremely creative during the pandemic.

Blacklist Season Finale was halfway done being shot when production closed down. Not wanting to not finish the episode, they hired people to animate the characters for the scenes that they had left to shoot and just recorded the actors voices so that they didn't have to be in the same room with each other. They had shot over half the episode so it only went to animation when it needed to --- so it was interesting to see how the animation was woven in/out of the real scenes they shot before production closed. If you are a fan of the Blacklist --- this will be something to enjoy for awhile.

The other show as All Rise. This was it's first season (it got renewed and is worth the time to binge it if you want). It shot an entire episode on Zoom. It was a great episode because they were showing the new norms of having court via Zoom and how much harder things are when everything has to be done on Zoom. It was a very cool tribute to the pandemic.

Email me and let me know if you are saw either of these episodes and what you thought!

TV Show Recommendation: Virgin River (Netflix)

December 22, 2019

New show is available on Netflix. The story is about a doctor who moves to a small town after a tragedy to basically run away from her life in the big city.

It's got a very interesting cast of characters and there is a lot of chemistry between the two leads.

Email me and let me know if you are watching and what you think!

TV Show Recommendation: Modern Love (Amazon Prime)

October 22, 2019

New show is available on Amazon. Every episode is a new cast of characters --- they all just have one thing in common --- Love Stories. Not necessarily romantic love --- friendship, family, etc. Really good. Amazing cast.

I've watched the first 4 episodes so far and they have all been really good.

Email me and let me know if you are watching and what you think!

Top 10 TV Shows for me in October

October 13, 2019

1. Chicago Trilogy
**I'm still sad about losing Otis but glad Brett is back!


2. Grey's Anatomy


3. 9-1-1
**The episode with the Tsunami was pretty amazing! Talk about a nail-biter! If you missed it, watch on Hulu!


4. Law & Order: SVU


5. Blue Bloods


6. Madam Secretary
**I love Elizabeth as President! I'll be sad when this show ends this year!


7. A Million Little Things


8. SWAT
**I love that Hondo is fostering the teenager. I think he's a great role model!


9. Seal Team


10. Poldark
**I love this show so much!

I'm also still binging episodes of The West Wing on Netflix and still enjoying it immensely!

TV Premiere Week

September 23, 2019

I look forward to this week all summer. Being able to come home at night and have all new episodes of my favorite shows waiting for me on TiVo. It's also when the conclusions to all of those summer cliffhangers get resolved. I hate cliff hangers in TV shows for so many reasons but this is the week that the TV shows redeem themselves.

Top 5 shows I'm most looking forward to watching this week:

1. Chicago Trilogy (Med, Fire & P.D.)
2. 9-1-1
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Blue Bloods
5. Law & Order: SVU
6. Madam Secretary, SWAT & Seal Team - Premiere NEXT Week!

New Shows I'm considering watching that look interesting:

1. All Rise
2. Stumptown
3. Perfect Harmony

Top 5 TV Shows for me in September

September 16, 2019

1. Suits
2. Grace and Frankie
3. Yellowstone
4. Mayans MC
5. Good Trouble

I'm looking forward to TV premiere week in just 1 week and then I will have more TV shows than I will know what to do with. I'm also currently binging episodes of The West Wing on Netflix and enjoying it immensely! I never watched it back in the 90s when it was on but it is still very relevant in today's world and it is so good. I love the fast pace. Thanks for the recommendation Betsy! Already in the middle of Season 2 now!

Top 5 TV Shows for me in August

August 15, 2019

1. Suits
2. Grace and Frankie
3. Yellowstone
4. Good Trouble
5. Pearson

The Dreaded TV Summer Drought

July 14, 2019

While I enjoy being off in the summer and having lots of things to do including my family reunion next week, I miss my TV shows as well. There is very little on TV right now and I'm finding myself not turning it on for days at a time.

Anyone have any binge-worthy shows on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime that I should be catching up on this month?

Email me and let me know!

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