What to Watch: Lots of crime + mystery this week!

• Book: Beach Read by Emily Henry

• Music: The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams

• Podcast: 5 Work-In-Progress Daily Habits, Finding Accountability in Routines, and Incorporating Balance on Marianna Hewitt

• Social Media: @mycambridgefairytale for cozy english cottage home design.

• Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Thighs by Kathleen Ashmore. This recipe is so easy and so delicious it should be criminal.

what i’m watching right now

Comedy/Mystery: Sunny (2024): Watch for a fun and cute, yet relevant and thrilling crime comedy. And also for comfort that your potty mouth isn’t as bad as Suzie-san’s. This show taps into a topic that is nearer to reality than we may think: AI robots in the home catering to our every need. It brings light to the threats of AI in society yet balances this fear by injecting lots of levity. I must have had a buried love for Rashida Jones that was extracted by watching this series because I absolutely adore her in this. Borderline obsessed. She’s hilarious, dry, and pessimistic while still displaying the distress her character, Suzie, is experiencing. I love her outfits (not for me to wear, but they’re great on her). And the Kyoto culture and setting is so fun to see. On Apple TV+.

Comedy/Mystery: Bad Monkey (2024): Watch for beachy crime comedy and of course, Vince Vaughn humor. How lucky are we to get TWO brand new crime comedy series on Apple all at once!? This one probably appeals more to the masses than Sunny but both are amazing for, honestly, the same reasons. The setting, the humor, and the crime and mystery. We haven’t seen Vince Vaughn in anything overly mainstream lately (maybe since 2021, aside from his Curb appearances) so this is a delightful treat. He brings a lot of his typical, sarcastic, fast-talking charm to his character, but he also taps into something that feels a bit different as well, which is refreshing. I can promise that each and every one of you will love this show. On Apple TV+.

what to watch tonight

All movies and tv series that I recommend in this section are included with streaming subscriptions. I have also viewed and approved every recommendation personally. It’s my goal to make recommendations that will satisfy what you’re in the mood for so none of your precious downtime is wasted!

Western/Drama: The Power of the Dog (2021): Watch for a critically-acclaimed film about the presentation of a man and his struggle with a secret. There are a lot of subtle hints that happen throughout this film that will have you guessing what’s actually going on with these characters the entire time. Luckily, we get the answers at the end, but in an artful way. All the actors are so amazing, especially Benedict Cumberbatch. I also love to see how far Kirsten Dunst has come from Bring It On, haha. And love seeing her work alongside her real-life love, Jesse Plemons. On Netflix.

Romance/Satire: May/December (2023): Watch for a critically-acclaimed movie packed with interesting themes. I remember feeling so surprised about how psychological this film was for me. It takes place in a beautiful location with a very simple storyline. But the characters are so layered and complex––suffering from deep pain––that the in actuality, the movie is not simple at all. You’ll be battling with your own moral confusion and which characters you empathize with. On Netflix.

Crime/Comedy: Jackie Brown (1997): Watch for one of Quentin Tarantino’s less gory movies with crime, action, and wit. If you’re new to Tarantino, this is the perfect place to start. It’s one of the more subdued films in his collection but equally as entertaining. And very stylish, which is truly my most favorite thing about QT. This film feels fairly similar to Pulp Fiction if that helps you decide to watch it or now (I highly recommend you do if you have even the smallest curiosity). On Prime Video.

Comedy: Only Murders in the Building (2021): Watch for an adorable trio of friends solving murder mysteries that occur in their own apartment building. It’s like an updated, adult version of Scooby-Doo, sans the dog. You can’t go wrong when Steve Martin and Martin Short are together. They’re funny, of course, but particularly adorable and endearing in this project. You know I love a good setting and this takes place in NYC. Season 4 just dropped, but I’m slowly catching up on Season 3 at the moment. On Hulu.

Comedy/Drama: Kinds of Kindness (2024): Watch if you like Yorgos Lanthimos and his current style: offbeat, quirky fables. I’ll say right now that this movie is not for everyone. It doesn’t fit in with all the mainstream mega-hits we saw this summer, but I, personally, am open-minded when it comes to films. I love different, weird, unique. Anything with a fresh perspective. There’s nothing wrong with you if you don’t, I’ll just say that if you didn’t like Poor Things, then I wouldn’t spend time watching this. On the flip side, if you did, this is a somewhat-similar, interesting ride (but not as good). On Hulu.

Horror: Immaculate (2024): Watch for Sydney Sweeney and a horror film that’s light on the horror. The title + the nuns = a movie about Immaculate Conception. There is a strange twist to this story and it makes your stomach turn at times, but overall it isn’t overly terrifying, so it’s a great option for our horror-curious friends out there. On Hulu.

Kids & Family: IF (2024): Watch for a sweet, heartwarming tale of imaginary friends and rediscovering your inner child. I definitely had tears streaming down my face quite a bit during this movie. It was less on the funny side and went heavier on the tear-jerking. Note that: since I’ve become a parent I’m exceptionally more sensitive, especially when it comes to children. John Krasinski wrote, directed, and starred in this movie. The plot did feel confusing at times and not ironed out all the way, but it tugs at the heartstrings and brings quite a bit of magic. So all is forgiven. On Disney+.