Media Rants

WATCH NOW. 

You don't deserve a review unless you've already seen it, and if you have seen it then you don't need my review. 

1000/10, my favorite film

WATCH NOW. 

You don't deserve a review unless you've already seen it, and if you have seen it then you don't need my review. 

1000/10, my favorite film

WATCH NOW. 

You don't deserve a review unless you've already seen it, and if you have seen it then you don't need my review. 

1000/10, my favorite film

...you already know. Hell, you've probably seen it. Call me if you want a 3 day long manic rant.

I don't plan on ever rewatching Bojack. It was helpful at the worst time of my life, and I consider it a seminal art work of our era, but it's something so hard to recommend. Diane, Bojack, and Princess Caroline are some of my favorite characters of all time, but the show is like a black hole. 

It's incredibly depressing, with some of the best written humor I've ever seen. The penultimate episode is tied as the highest rated episode in television for a reason. To choose my words VERY carefully here... I think you should watch Bojack. But, talk to someone about it, take breaks between seasons maybe.

 At your own risk, a 10/10

What a feel good show. Immensely likable characters and cast, the perfect ending, just a real joy to experience. So fucking funny and weird at times, while also nuanced and touching on really tough philosophical conversations.

 Ending makes me cry in what's really the best way, this is a must watch of modern television.

THE sitcom perfected. Some of the deepest and most complex characters in a comedy, hunched over laughing level jokes constantly, while also having moments of heartbreak and reality. It's ok with getting serious if it suits the moment or the characters, and often has a real message and story to tell.

 Structurally such a distinct show, hopping back and forth in time. I love love love HIMYM, and consider it required viewing to be in my life

So fucking weird in the best ways. A little boy in a bible belt town, following exactly what everyone tells him without an ounce of self-thought or nuance, just blind faith. Such a loving, kind, purely good character, who is unknowingly and unintentionally a menace and terror to the entire town of hypocrites.

Season 1 is very much episode of the week, and the simplest of the seasons, doesn't always age the best. 

Season 2 is *chefs kiss*. Overarching narrative now, way way way deeper messages, themes, characters. Some of the best/most iconic scenes and moments in television. The finale is bar none, my all time favorite ending of a show.

Season 3 is weird, and I have mixed feelings. Each episode has a different townsperson as the main character, with Orel's influencing of their life as a background to their story.  It also hops around the span of about a month, some episodes happening before the season 2 finale and some after. Each season gets increasingly darker, peaking with this one, so much so that the show was cancelled because of it and two episodes had to be canned. While never released, those scripts are available online. Worth watching, as it has some of the best episodes of the show, but as an overarching narrative to a three season show? Falls a little flat.

sorry, started thinking about Moral Orel again and started rambling.

Pure joy and the indomitable human spirit bottled up into 4 wild seasons of television.

 Every single character becomes a better person, by season 4 you’re rooting for every single antagonist that you hated in season 1.

 Several gay narratives from vastly different perspectives, and a trans main character in 2006, all handled with so much love and care

 So damn funny, every character is so good, BIG BIG recommendation if you’re looking for a comfort show.

Not really a memoir, but a book about life anecdotes. Some chapters make me cry, some chapters gave me insight it what it means to live and grow old and love, and some are rants about Dr. Pepper. 

Super fun, easy read, big recommendation.

I might've gotten my gay card revoked if I didn't include this one, so luckily, I think it's fucking great. 

Patroclus and Achilles lives told in a much more YA-y format, and it just works. Classic love story for the modern era, beautifully written characters, satisfying story arcs. Probably have read it 5 or 6 times?

One of the best in recent years, won a bunch of awards for a reason. If you like it, read Circe by the same author, also incredible.

Maybe cheating by putting two books, but narratively and thematically, not only are they so similar but I feel similarly towards both of them. Touches on what it means to make the choice to want to live, the complexities of life, and how every decision you make matters.

 Read them both, but I lean a bit more favorably to How To Stop Time 

WARNING: real stuff ahead

This album saved my life. I discovered it as I was leaving home, and was dealing with so many conflicting emotions. Wanting to leave so desperately, terrified of moving away from those I didn't want to leave, struggling to accept the realities of what had happened to me in my hometown. Immense sadness, followed by overwhelming anger, and jealousy and envy and heartbreak and denial and love.

This album covered all of that, in the exact same order. Feeling unfulfilled with where and who you are in Northern Attitude and Stick Season, then trying to be hopeful and failing in All My Love and She Calls Me Back, followed by devastating acceptance of where your relationships are in the next handful of songs. Then ending with Homesick and The View Between Villages, which touch on the first time visiting back home and the anger that bubbles back up. I have screamed with my whole being TVBV in my car, and it really healed me. 

A year later, the deluxe released with 7 more songs. These much more hopeful to the future, and appreciative of where you've come from, which was how I was just starting to feel when it released. 11/10, formative to my essence.

This shit rips. All vibes baby.

What a comfort album. Next car ride, throw this on and listen start to finish. Not super complex, just pure feel good vibes. I can feel the sun on my face, with a light breeze and a Dr. Pepper in hand, every time I give it a listen.

 Even if you've never heard it, it still feels nostalgic somehow, y'know?

Where do I even start here. 

I have watched every single episode, several a dozen times over. I was a caller in the 24 hour telethon, in which I sat and watched all 24 hours live. I PAY $5 A MONTH for patreon. 

It has altered my humor, my brain chemistry, my career goals, how I view my relationships and friends. Miles might be my only true parasocial relationship. I've seen this random ass man through several jobs, having a kid, massive successes and huge losses, it's crazy. I've sat and watched every week since episode 1 released, it's at 113 as of writing this. 

I genuinely genuinely genuinely can say that this show is my biggest creative inspiration. The joy it has brought me is truly 2nd to none.

All Time Recs:

Revenge Banging my Crush's Dad - I like the beginning story, but that may just be because I know and love these three already and like hearing life anecdotes, but if you just want the caller, go to ~20:10.

Is it Cringe to Date My Cousin? (w/ Jarvis Johnson and Jordan Adika) - Whole episode is fantastic, but the main call starts at 12:46

I've been a fan of the guys for a long time now, and it has been a wild time the past couple years. 

Another show I've watched weekly for about 200+ episodes, I've seen 3 of them get married, one famously get kicked out, 2 have children, medical struggles, fertility issues, career growth and change, Covid, basically the whole gamut of life over 5 years. 

It brings me pure joy, in particular the last 2 years post-Ned and the plog format. I have never laughed harder, I LOVE Miles and Rainie, everyone's humor either perfectly resonates with mine, or has shaped mine, chicken and the egg style. 

Every Thursday at 8am, I am sat with my coffee, howling laughing. 10/10.

Zach and pals talk about a different movie each week, deciding if its a pleasure, a guilty pleasure, or just plain guilty. It's just fun, that's all.

All Time Recs:

The Greatest Showman - ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS EVER MADE. This video makes me die laughing still, I've seen it 10+ times over the years

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish - Them and jacksfilm just gushing over how good it is. Reaffirmed my passion towards this movie

Another hard orange highlight, but it's just a part of me at this point. I do truly love this game. 

I think the gameplay is mechanically dense and satisfying. The devs are incredible, I really really love riot. I think the world and lore is fantastic. 

The only flaw really is the community, but it's what you make of it. I'm nice and not toxic, I mute the second I think someone is, so I've had nothing but great interactions for years at this point. 

RUN. DO NOT PLAY. IT IS A DISEASE. 

Tattooed on my body. Both games are breathtaking, but I hold the 1st close to my heart. There are some moments that stick with me so heavily, I can replay them in my head. 

I struggle to fully encapsulate my thoughts, it is practically flawless. The narrative, the ACTING, the gameplay, the themes and messaging, the set pieces and art design, the devs behind it, it FEELS like a labor of love. It's nuanced in a way I've seen few stories ever attempt, much less in a video game. 

I am for real getting emotional writing this and just thinking about the game. 

I think it is a seminal art work of our era.

No game before or sense has ever made me feel such a deep sense of wonder. Beloved for a reason, any flaws it has are so easily and gladly overlooked. Gorgeous and breathtaking in every sense of the word.

A game so good it reinvigorated an entire genre. A massive cast of perfect characters, unbelievable depth of writing. Stylish, satisfying, plain good fun. 

I consider this a perfect game, maybe the only perfect game.

Go play it. It is considered the greatest RPG of all time for a reason, and you're getting no spoilers from me

Sorry to do this again, but go play it. Cheap and short, you have no excuse. I sob in the 3 minute intro, which is JUST TEXT.

I know, I know, I really did not want to put it here either. The orange highlight physically hurt, but alas, it did effect a huge period of my life.

Say what you will about Lin Manuel Miranda, and trust me I have, Hamilton is basically perfect. 40+ songs, maybe only one or two could be cut? Emotionally gripping, superb characters and writing, well choreographed, stylish. That's not even including the casting and non-traditional Broadway style music, which is still drastically influencing theater almost 10 years later. 

As much as I LOATHE saying it, Hamilton is to the modern musical what the bible was to religion.

A kind diner waitress (Jenna) in an abusive relationship, accidently gets pregnant, and starts an affair with a local doctor. I love waitress so much, and Jenna is one of my all time favorite protagonists. A story of resiliency, how moments of weakness don't define you, and finding the strength to change into who you want to be regardless of circumstances. I don't have deep takes here, I adore the characters, good music, good story. This one just makes me feel good.

Just go watch it, the 2007 movie with Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson is fantastic. Three young women in the 60's get discovered, and we see throughout their life how the industry changes and warps them... pretty simple premise, but  superb execution. The acting is out of this world, the way everyone acts by the end is so believable, and the songs kick ass. And I Am Telling You might be the greatest song ever performed on stage. Really funny to watch in the modern day, because BEYONCE'S whole character is constantly made fun of for having a bland voice.

If you've been at a hang out with me in the past 5 years, I've pulled this baby out. A perfect hidden role game, has caused several screaming matches (sorry Hailey :( )

I STAND BY IT. Truth or Dare is THE party game. I am down to play 24/7, 365. If truth or dare has no defenders, then I am dead.

Duh?

Due to not having the time or space to say all I want to say here, I'm not. Give me a personal call or text to hear me talk about dropout for hours. Leave this site, ask for my log in, and start watching yourself actually. This is my favorite thing, it is my modern day artists movement.

I fear I covered most of them above, so I'll use this space to talk about all 3 of these groups.

This is my MCU, if it was exclusively improv and sketch YouTube personalities. They all constantly appear in each others content, are in shared friend groups behind the scenes, etc. This is my internet niche, I love them all

Fairly new Smosh fan, mainly watch the Games and Main channel stuff, Pit is kinda eh. If Dropout is premier television, Try Guys is network television, Smosh is like SNL if it was bad and cringey (lovingly).