A new mission inspired by The Wire

Blog, TV Shows

The trajectory of Reel Review by Lauryn has reached a bifurcation point.

Let me back up. . . hello! How are you? Yes, I know it has been a hot minute. I have my reasons (is it too soon to blame 2020)?

I am so excited to share this new found sense of purpose with you all. I have truly enjoyed writing film and television reviews and plan to continue. After months of reflection something in my mind was telling me to do more. As cliché or cheesy as it sounds, I have been looking for a way to work both collaboratively and independently to analyze scenes in film and make connections to educational topics such as history, psychology, or statistics. Pairing film with literature to make a difference now sits at the core of Reel Review by Lauryn. With this,

Reel Review by Lauryn has a new mission: to advocate, promote and increase literacy of others through film and television.

This mission flourished after I completed my first assignment of the new year. During the course of the semester, my classmates and I are tasked to analyze the social, moral and political perspectives of the criminal justice system through the HBO series The Wire. I find this non-conventional pedagogical method has really enhanced my appreciation for both literature and film. Now, I want to explore it with a community I share the deepest connection with: fellow students. In 2021, Reel Review by Lauryn has a new goal: to connect with local communities to advocate and promote literacy through film and television.

Very excited to launch this new initiative. Would love to hear your comments, thoughts and suggestions. If you have any films I should start with please share in the comments below 🙂

As a treat, here is the assignment that started it all:

** This assignment contains spoilers for the first three episodes of The Wire.

The origins of The Wire play on a careful balance between revenge and compassion. In essence, The Wire is David Simon’s literary version of a “revenge body.” Out of disappointment, betrayal and anger, David Simon pours all his efforts into creating something that will make The Baltimore Sun, his “ex,” regret every action they’ve ever made. Although its original origins may stem from anger, this “revenge” product ends up showing compelling compassion for vulnerable populations who receive the harsh realities of capitalism and chasing the American Dream in Baltimore.

The Wire’s debut didn’t have much commercial success. But are we really surprised? Everything truly great is never liked the first time, the world isn’t ready for it. Especially when the HBO subscription based audience is “composed of (comparatively) affluent, middle class, white Americans” [1] in 2002. Friends and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation were the two topped ranked television programs in the United States. The Wire was a different breed of television. 

I laughed when commentators celebrated the “equal image rights of both criminals and police.” [2] The writer’s room for The Wire must have been the best. I imagine the atmosphere to be similar to the office of Rhonda Pearlman. Messy, filled with loose papers and a disorganized pile of previous novels from Mr. Lehan or Mr. Pelecanos. Or perhaps the writers room had a stack of  old Baltimore Sun newspapers in the middle of the table with red circles on the stories that would inspire the next episode. Or possibly red Xs over stories that shook David Simon to his core. A red X on a news headline that finally made him realize that he was tired of merely reporting real life. It was time for him to create a story to tell the world. Afterall, “when you write for a TV show like The Wire you’ve got three to four million readers watching your work. Even Grisham doesn’t sell that many books.”[3]

Writing a living novel is every writer’s dream. Each frame is used like a page to push the story along. Each progression closer and closer to piercing the veil between reality and fiction. We look to the television to tell us stories. But more importantly, we look for answers.  I can see a female audience member looking to solve her troubles with an ex-boyfriend through the uncommitted and steamy relationship between Rhonda Pearlman and Detective McNulty. Of course, I wouldn’t follow it. But it’s TV, and the uncertainty we have in MUST be satisfied on screen.

Let me get back to the show. Who do you call the worst cop who graduated from the police academy? A cop. No, it’s “a Pryzbylewski.”

The city of Baltimore is selfish. It’s filled with its own illnesses of racial discrimination, poverty and corruption. Baltimore selfishly conceals the hypocrisies of society that make it impossible for an outsider to relate to its harsh realities. Unfamiliarity takes my hand and gently walks me away from these realities. I am detached from it. This is why The Wire couldn’t be a documentary or another book voluntarily bought by someone who’s interest is piqued by a creative cover or criminal justice reform. David Simon did it right. The Wire needs to be a show so everyone ­– including the HBO subscriber audience ­– can swallow the history of Baltimore while being distracted by attractive actors, lighting, makeup and wardrobe. 

These people need to feel real to us. I need to hate Pryzbylewski and Herc. I can’t stand them. Pryzbylewski betrayed me when he blinded a 14 year old boy in a desperate attempt to assert his dominance to make up for his mediocrity at his job. I need to appreciate the unconventional genius of Bubbles and his “red hat” routine to help Kima Greggs identify key players in the low risers. When this happens, Unfamiliarity walks away and compassion, love and understanding sit with me on the couch as I view the next episode with a hot cup of tea. 

There is more to say. The adversarial criminal justice system in the United States force defendants to rely on an attorney to defend them even if they act like Maurice Levy, hitting his client after referring to him as “you people.” That was the one time where I physically acted in disgust toward a character. I immediately thought to myself, this show is too good. 

David Simon doesn’t function like a doctor writing a prescription to cure Baltimore’s illnesses. Simon is more of a researcher. He discovering the root of these issues using critical observation, took detailed notes and presented it to the world. He did it right. He stopped dictating the world around him and created his own novel using television. 


[1] The Wire Urban Decay and American Television (9) 

[2] REVISIONS, Now on TV, Drug Dealers and Gravity Mafia Dons 

[3] The Television Show that Thinks it’s a Novel

Cheers to a brighter 2021,

Lauryn

Essential Shows That Improve Your Life

Blog, TV Shows

Time is what you make of it. But sometimes, it’s nice to have a little extra push. My taste in Netflix has changed throughout the past week. I’m never going to get tired of a good romantic comedy, but I am also been more curious about . . . well everything. Since we cannot go outside, I decided to bring the world to me. Here are shows that are thought-provoking, engaging, and actually make you a better human.

100 Humans: Life Questions Answered

Have you ever wondered if you sit on the toilet properly? Probably not. But this show answers that question so it must be good, right?

Here, one hundred humans participate in experiments that answer questions about well… everything. Using scientific data and tons of dad jokes, these experiments reveal the scientific basis around attraction, the best age to be alive and the proper toilet technique! FINALLY, a show that tackles essential issues.

Tidying up with marie kondo

Still think your clothes from seven years ago will fit? Do you have an impressive collection of random articles under your bed? Is that pile of clean laundry still on your floor from last week? Wow at this point I am just naming examples about myself hoping you relate. . .

Don’t fret, Marie Kondo will definitely help you learn about the joy of organization and de-cluttering 🙂

If you don’t, oh well. Rock those flair jeans and corduroy pants. #quarantinechic

You can also buy her fabulous book

BABIES

Who doesn’t wanna learn about little humans?!?! Fifteen babies, thirty six scientists, and one year is all it takes to see if we can answer what it means to be human.

Also, with COVID-19, we all have too much time on our hands. Who knows? We might have a baby boom nine months from now. . .

Plus they are all so CUTE! I literally love babies so much. The whole time I am like

Baby fever is real

There is also another movie on Amazon with Babies around the world which is equally cute you guys! It is a must see

Explained

I love this show because it is a colorful collage of intriguing topics. Some might say that it’s difficult to watch a show without a clear path. I think it’s marvelous. It was not created to fit within the confines of a specific audience. Rather, you can jump from episode to episode learning about anything: cryptocurrency, extraterrestrial life, the history of athletic clothing (athlesiure), the science behind the female orgasm and animal intelligence.

I know what you’re thinking. Who am I to tell you how to improve your life? Well besides being totally amazing, I genuinely want to encourage you to think beyond this uncertain time and dive into an industry or topic you’ve always wanted to know 🙂

I now leave you with some fancy quote to try and encourage you to actually watch the shows I recommend. . .

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest

Ben Franklin

Either way, as Kevin Hart would say. . .

Until next time,

Lauryn

3 Reasons Brooklyn Nine-Nine is A ten out of ten

Blog, TV Shows

On the surface, Brooklyn Nine Nine is a hilarious television show about a group of New York police detectives. If you are eager to find a new show that will make you laugh and appreciate dry humor. . . this is for you.

Here are the top three reasons to watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine:

1. THE WRITERS

The same people who made all of us fall in love with The Office, Parks and Recreation and The Good Place all come together to make this splashing comedy series. It is genuinely funny and the continuous references to Die Hard, Harry Potter and Star Wars will ignite the nerd in you.

2. THE EPISODES ARE SUPER SHORT

Okay I know this is not a legit reason but hear me out. Have you ever clicked on a new show to see how many minutes it is? I have. When I see the remaining time as 1:02:02, I think to myself,

I can only get through 8 episodes today. . .

Not. enough. episodes.

IT’S QUARANTINE TIME and I have PLENTY of time to waste relax. #stayhome

We all have goals and I’m tryna finish a season a day.

cardi b 2019 bbmas GIF by Billboard Music Awards

Luckily each episode is approximately 20 minutes so you can breeze through all 7 seasons in four days no time.

3. Captain Holt

The video speaks for itself. I have found my new favorite character.

All jokes aside, the show has amazing writers. The unique blend of characters go through stories that are funny, but also address life’s greatest challenges: relationships, racial profiling and sexuality. This is why Brooklyn Nine-Nine has such a huge impact on any audience.

So curl up up next to your friend, spouse, wine bottle, boyfriend, chocolate, girlfriend, next door neighbor, little brother, aunt, grandpa, or any other human you’re stuck in the house with.

( yes I know there a dangling preposition… you’ll get the reference once you watch it)

This is a show worth binging.

Gina Linetti GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
my confidence after quarantine

Why let the experience stop there? Since we are all in the house, it is nice to get some human interaction. Take your obsession love of this show to the next level with the Cards Against Humanity version called “Brooklyn Against the Nine Nine.”

Until next time,

Lauryn


Después de 183 episodios

Blog, En Español, TV Shows

Hola 🙂 

Tengo muchas cosas para ti este weekend. Hace dos semanas (more or less) ví el ultimo episodio de “El Clon,” el show a Netflix sobre el amor, la familia, la vida y otras cosas también.

Por supuesto, Él Clon es una historia del amour. Ugh y yo soy una chica romántica, entonces. . . me encanta todos los episodios del programa.

I want to write this whole thing in Spanish but maybe I should do it in English.

Si? No? Yes?

Okay now I am having some sort of playful banter with myself.

I think I have officially gone insane.

Maybe it’s because I spent 183 hours of my life watching the ultimate telenovela: El Clon.

I know what you’re thinking…

 

Well guess what? You do. It’s quarantine people.

Normally, there are a million other things to do on a Friday night. But tonight take some time to try something new. Plus, the little moments in our day add up. Did you know that the average person spends 120 hours a year doing laundry?

Just kidding that’s junk science and I made that up. But if you almost believed me that means you are spending way too much time folding clothes instead of living your life.

It’s Quarantine people! Now is the time to jump into the dramatic world of Spanish Soap operas… and possibly do laundry.

Until next time, 

Lauryn <3 


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Are You Diagnosed with O.O.S.?

Blog, TV Shows

I hate myself.

Well, not really. I am disappointed…to say the least.

Every time I go to Netflix, I tell myself to watch a new show.

Instead, I go on autopilot and select The Office. Every. Single. Time.

I’ve watched The Office so much my level of infatuation has reached a new level. I have OOS: Office Obsession Syndrome.

If you think you have OOS check out these symptoms:

  1.  Analyze each scene to see how it relates to your life
  2. You don’t cringe at Michael Scott’s awkward moments, your reenact them
  3. You have a crush on David Wallace (love a man in charge)
  4. You don’t think Angela is bitter. She’s “misunderstood”
  5. You’ve put a stapler in Jello
  6. You’ve yelled “DID I STUTTER”
  7. Every time it rains you try to think of all of Phyllis’ clichés
  8. You have a crush on Dwight
  9. You have a personal copy of Threat Level Midnight with one “Dwigt”
  10. You start clapping when Pam does her big speech during “Beach Day”
  11. You are pissed you don’t know what the tea pot letter says
  12. You realize the relationship between Kelly and Ryan is dramatically underdeveloped compared to the other relationships on the show
  13. You can recite the entire “Fun Run” name from memory
  14. You look at an imaginary camera when someone does something stupid as if you’re Jim but nothing is there…but you secretly know that your life is a movie anyway so your imaginary audience thinks you are totally hilarious
Screen Shot 2020-03-25 at 12.52.34 PM

It’s okay, you are not alone.

At first I thought there was nothing wrong with it. Humans are naturally nostalgic and prefer the familiar.

But this is serious. I am starting to have a crush on Michael Scott, David Wallace and possibly realize what Angela sees in Dwight…

Screen Shot 2020-03-25 at 10.45.07 AM

Dwight K. Schrute is v cute.

If you are also stuck watching your favorite show on repeat, don’t worry. Here are three justifications for your laziness:

1. Rewatching is actually good for you

I did the research and found watching the same show is actually good for you. I’m shooketh. Apparently, watching a movie or television show that you’ve seen before is less strenuous on your brain. It is also an excellent tool for de-stressing from the everyday pressures of life.

According to Psychologist Neel Burton,

 “The things we feel compelled to re-watch or re-read are those that provide us with either comfort or perspective.”

Re-living these experiences make us feel incredibly good about ourselves. I don’t know about you but I love being comfortable. Why do you think I have worn the same sweatshirt for 5 days during this zombie apocalypse social distancing?

2. The characters become your best friends

I genuinely believe I have a relationship with Jim, work with Dwight, and spend my weekends at weddings playing guitar with Kevin’s band. I have grown as a woman watching Pam battle with the complexities of ending a perpetual engagement to be with the one she truly loves. Kelly has reminded me that everyone has a “Ryan” in their life. He or she is your kryptonite. No matter how hard you try, you just can’t resist. Jim has shown me what I want in a partner. While Holly and Michael prove that every relationship has their own time.

This is the power of the “parasocial relationship,” a one-sided relationship where a person develops a strong emotional interest. The most common parasocial relationships are ones we have with celebrities or professional athletes. Now if you are in an actual one-sided relationship with a significant other, that’s a different story….

Screen Shot 2020-03-25 at 12.24.41 PM

However, having these deep relationships with characters we see in film and television can add a positive value to our lives.

3. If it’s not broken….

DON’T FIX IT.

It’s okay to lazy, we deserve it.

Now excuse me while I start Season 1 Episode 1. It’s been ten minutes days since I’ve ended the season.

Until next time,

Lauryn <3


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Put the QT back in Quarantine

Blog, Movies, TV Shows
Screen Shot 2020-03-22 at 2.58.53 PM

Hey family!

This COVID-19 has me out here trying some new stuff. Don’t worry I am staying 6 feet away from people. But after eight days of being in the house, fresh air was definitely needed.

During my time of hibernation social distancing, I decided to watch a new show on Netflix called GLOW UP.

Instead of enchanting you with my rhetoric, this review was made with a dash of iMovie skills and my iPhone 7.

WATCH BELOW:

WARNING: You will want to take cinematography lessons from me after watching this video.

It’s only 5-6 minutes because I have the attention span of a 6-year-old child. Can we talk about this thumbnail image people… someone better take me out the library and teach me this hip YouTube thing.

If you watched my video until the end…you are amazing. Seriously, hats off to you. There are some pretty good bloopers in there. I think the bloopers are longer than the video…

Definitely inherited my father’s cinematography skills.

ANYWAY

Glow Up is breathtaking show about art and beauty coming to life.

What is beauty, you ask? (damn that’s a deep philosophical question that society has been grappling with for centuries…)

Confucius said “Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.”

Popular opinion has told us “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” or “beauty is only skin deep”

I think a freshly printed paper of my final essay the day I have to turn it in to my professor is beautiful. Come on, there is something attractive about a nice looking document. Am I right? #official.

Pizza is also pretty cool. And chocolate too. Damn, do I only see beauty in food? That’s probably because my Quarantine schedule is:

Screenshot 2020-03-20 at 12.30.35

It be like that sometimes.

Glow Up shattered my stereotypical opinions of this through makeup. This show is simply inviting. A cheerful reminder that our colorful collection experiences are worth celebrating. Since we are social distancing, you can try out new looks in the comfort of your home and no one has to know 😉

So change your sweat pants and comb your hair. After watching GLOW UP you’ll be putting the “QT” back in Quarantine.

Stay healthy and home my friends <3

Until next time,

Lauryn 🙂


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Like what you read? Donate $5 to buy me coffee so I can have the fuel I need to keep producing great content! If you want to give more, feel free to up the quantity (: No Pay Pal, no worries! Click directly on your branded credit card, gift card or debit card logo and donate as a guest! If any problems arise, send an email to reelreviewbylauryn@gmail.com and you can donate through Square, Inc.

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Start Getting What You Want: The Fyre Festival Documentary

Blog, TV Shows

 

Netflix released a new documentary titled Fyre. But based on the series of unfortunate events, this music festival was anything but “lit.”

source

Backstory

Billy McFarland and Ja Rule planned to create this epic Coachella-ish party in on this private island in the Bahamas. They posted their images everywhere, convincing everyone from Emily Ratajkowski to Kendall Jenner that Fyre was going to be the biggest thing since sliced bread.

To be honest, it first seemed that way. The Fyre App was first developed to serve as the “Uber” for booking talent. A little ambitious, I know. But I have to admit, it’s a cool idea. Who wouldn’t want to book popular artists at the palm of their hands? To build popularity for the app, the Fyre team decided to put on “The Fyre Festival,” an event to build their customer base while creating an amazing experience for people, artists, and celebrities/ influencers.

Simple forumla: Attractive people + tropical location + music + alcohol = $$

Sounds easy, but this simple math equation ended up being a nightmare. Promotional videoes paraded Instagram models in bikinis lounging in luxury cabanas, chef prepared food, and a great time.

But, its beautiful island location lacked the infrastructure for such a huge event. The Frye festival was trying to build a city within the city. Days leading up to the event, islanders were frantically building to create the epic party scene that was promised to thousands of people.  To make matters worst, people spent a ton of money. Like a ton.

According to the documentary, a total of $50,000.00 was spent on “luxury” villas. Collectively, ticketed guests paid up to 800K on the Fyre digital wristbands to have a “wireless experience” throughout the festival.

The day of the festival was similar to a “Lord of the Flies” nightmare: An overcrowded Island with no food, water or method of escape.

There are a couple of lessons we can see right away:

  • Piss poor planning = piss poor performance
  • Don’t spend thousands of dollars through an event you see on Instagram
  • Don’t trust people in general
  • Take accountability for your actions

Blah blah blah, yes it’s terrible.

But I think we are missing something really important. We can all learn from this because let’s be real, none of us want anything remotely similar to happen to us in the near future.

To do this, we can’t just look at the aftermath we have to look at the source. The Fyre Festival would not have received an enormous amount of media coverage if people weren’t behind the idea since its inception. The Fyre Festival mastered persuasion on a whole other level. How else do you get thousands of people to feed millions of dollars into a failing idea?

BIG LESSON: Get People to Do What You Want! Master the Art Bullsh*ting, Persuasion, or Whatever You Wanna Call It.

We can all use more persuasion in our lives. Persuasion is a life-changing skill that allows us to use our rhetoric, actions, and tone to get what we want! It is the heartbeat of the economy. Every day, we are faced with human interactions that are centered around getting what we want out of the people around us.

Now I know what you are thinking. A persuader is a manipulative, loud, pushy, and demanding person. But this is often not the case. Impact does not originate from fear. Rather, a persuader will automatically be trusted and influence others with integrity and respect.

Billy McFarland, Ja Rule and the rest of his team had an amazing ability to persuade people. The result? They were able to separate millions of people from their cash. If you are anything like me, I have a hard time spending money on things other than food. So to convince me that I need to drop 5K on a music festival takes a whole lot of persuasion or good looks. Given that Ja Rule and Billy McFarland are no Channing Tatum, thei art of persuasion have proved to be a powerful weapon.

Have it Your Way All the Time: Just Create the Cognitive Dissonance

Have you ever gone to the store to buy something like a TV or computer but end up spending way more money that you intended? You see an advertisement with a great deal that says “While Supplies Last.” So you hop in your car, drive to the local Apple or Best Buy store and when you get there…..all the sale items have sold. Lucky for you, the more expensive model is there so you end up spending an extra $500. Not what you planned, but you already committed to buying a new TV/ computer. You imagined setting it up, buying a new case, getting more storage, etc. You paid the extra $500.00 because you had  to act on your subconscious desire to connect your need for a new television with making a trip to the store.

To be a true persuader, we need to find the internal commitments of our peers, co-workers, family, friends, crushes, partners, spouses, etc. Once we have that, we can create “cognitive dissonance” in people. The Law of Dissonance says that people will naturally act in a way that is consistent with their beliefs, values, and attitudes. So when people step out of that, they are uncomfortable and more inclined to regain some mental and emotional consistency to shift back to who they really are.

When a person has mentally committed to a decision or item, they are likely to stay committed, even if the situation calls for change. This is probably why we join fancy exercise gyms, sign up for the classes, or put down our email for that free trial. We see something in products or experiences that reflect who we really are. Therefore, we do pretty much anything to regain that mental and emotional balance when we experience this cognitive dissonance.

This is exactly the tactic that Fyre Festival used to bring in thousands of people who were MENTALLY COMMITTED to going to a great party, spending time in a tropical location and taking pictures on Instagram to make everyone jealous. They created a vision that people wanted to see, selling an experience deeply rooted in aspirations that thousands of people: being famous, being wanted, going to big parties and having everyone know their name. 

Even if you don’t want to be “famous,” everyone wants some form of clout. You may want someone to address you as, Doctor, Director, Executive Director, Chairman, Shareholder, Trustee, the list goes on. Since we are committed to this idea, we are going to stay committed regardless of external factors.

source

So the lesson is clear. To be a master persuader find what people value, look at their attitudes and discover their beliefs. Once you have this, create the tension. I know it’s not as easy as it sounds but I am still learning how to persuade as well. So come on, you can’t expect me to have all the answers.


source

In other news….Fyre Festival 2.0?

Apparently, Ja Rule has plans to make a Fyre Festival 2.0……what did we do to deserve this!?

source

I do not want to diminish any efforts made by the citizens of the Grand Exuma Island to make Fyre happen. Their diligence and commitment should not go unnoticed. If you would like to learn more or want to help out, the GoFundMe page is an excellent resource. (:


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Netflix’s You: No, it’s not Love, it’s an obsessio​​​n

Blog, TV Shows

** this entire article reveals some spoilers from the Season 1 Episode 1. I didn’t ruin too much. Besides the first episode is so good, you’ll probably just binge-watch the whole series anyway…so it’s perfectly fine to read the article (:


Dan Humphrey… you have some explaining to do. In case you missed that reference, Dan is a fictional character from a show that is near and dear to my heart: Gossip Girl. Only this time, instead of chasing after Serena Van der Woodsen, he is after another blonde girl in the big apple.

HOW DOES SHE NOT FEEL HIS PRESENCE?! I’m shooketh.  source

In Netflix’s You, Penn Badgley is Joe, a witty manager at a charming New York bookstore who has a crush on a girl named Guinevere Beck. But, his attraction quickly turns into something more. He plans a day “together.” And by together, I mean he lurks in the background of Beck’s life for an entire day as she is painfully blissfully unaware of his presence. How is he able to do this you ask? Through social media of course. If this was a subliminal message about the data privacy, this show nailed it. I’m 30 seconds away from putting all my accounts on private and shutting down this blog. Luckily, the Global Data Protection Regulation enacted in May 2018 has us kind of covered. As a law student, I have my thoughts on this. But I’ll elaborate later in the Law and Entertainment section.

I was hooked throughout the entire episode. Joe’s voice-overs were relatable. Real. Funny. And blunt with a splash of cockiness. Just how I like it. It’s edgy, mysterious and attractive. The perfect recipe for a Lifetime thriller.  

Joe Schmoe is reallll confident too. Especially when you see how homeboy gets into Beck’s apartment:

  • He finds Beck’s schedule and her address online;
  • Calls the gas company to inspect her apartment on her busiest day of the week and
  • pretends to be her boyfriend (power move) so he can enter the house.

I know this is completely wrong, but I’ve never seen trespass to land look so sexy.

My only problem is Joe’s attempt to blame his manipulative actions on ”love.” You would think that with all his time in a damn book store he would know the literary difference between love and obsession. But since he doesn’t, let’s start with a basic vocabulary lesson:

Love, according to the dictionary means “an intense feeling of affection” or the “deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone.”

While “obsession,” according to Google Dictionary means: “an idea or thought that continually occupies or intrudes on a person’s mind. “

To be honest, none of these definitions sound particularly interesting. But it’s the dictionary, not the romantic rhetoric of Paulo Coelho quotes. So just sit there and deal with it as I make my damn point.

There is a clear line between love and obsession. We crave this romantic love. I would say it’s not our fault, but it is. Unhealthy relationships and habits are engraved in our culture. You know this love too. It’s the one somehow makes fiery arguments, busting car windows, or burning him with your curling iron out of jealousy a display of “intense feeling or affection.” But let’s keep it reel ( see what I did there lol). Blaming another person for your own emotions is just an example of poor personal boundaries. Jealousy is demeaning to your partner and implies that he or she can’t control themselves. Making up after breaking up is always a fun time. But if your partner always tries to nudge you in a certain direction by using sex, then you won’t actually find what’s really bothering you. I’m not saying don’t have a good time. Find the root of the issue. If not, the behavior is nothing more than a murky reflection of your values. A partner is more than an asset, they’re a person, willing to engage in emotional support.

Blah blah blah with all this serious talk. Let’s get back to the interesting parts. Isn’t this why we watch TV in the first place?!

There is something about this “attraction gone wrong” storyline that is just SO DARN APPEALING! I know it sounds hypocritical. But I need to watch the drama unfold…but I definitely don’t want it anything remotely similar to happen in my life (* Note: this is what people in your circle think when you’re going through some shit but no one ever says it).

Although we’ve all seen it before, as an audience, we can’t get enough of this dangerous love affair. This is why movies like Obsessed,  The Perfect Guy, Single White Female, and Fatal Attraction continue to remain popular. But the show You adds its own unique twist and I am LOVING it. Even the character development is on point. Benji, Beck’s sleeping buddy? ex-boyfriend is a frightening conglomerate of the worst guys I’ve met, seen, and heard about in my own life. It’s captured perfectly when Benji says to Beck, ” It looks good on you….the extra weight” after Beck had terrible sex with him.

Overall, we learned a couple things from episode 1:

  • Joe Schmoe is a sneaky mofo. (The character’s name is actually Joe Goldberg, but I really wanted a rhyme.)
  • Beck needs to look up from her phone more often.
  • I should probably get some blinds on my apartment windows…

 

Lastly, episode 1 ends with Benji locked up in Joe’s dungeon underneath his bookstore and I SCREAMED at my laptop, OMG he’s gonna kill Benji!?!

I’m not going to spoil it for you. All I know is this: whether Penn Badgley stars as Dan Humphrey or Joe Goldberg, even if he does some sneaky CIA shit…THAT’S A SECRET I’LL NEVER TELL! I’m loyal to Gossip Girl and you should be too.

I’m a dedicated fan, with too much time on my hands…
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I know this post was a long one but Episode 1 had such great content so it really got me typing. Enjoy binging more episodes, you know I will.

xoxo, RR by LR

** I KNOW IT’S CORNY BUT I COULDN’T RESIST!!!!!!!

 


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MADE IN MEXICO

Blog, En Español, TV Shows

Un fin de semana, decidí ver algo nuevo en Netflix. Cuando vi la serie de televisión “MADE IN MEXICO” pensé que sería interesante. Así que, hice clic en él. MADE IN MEXICO es un programa de televisión español que sigue a un grupo de amigos que viven en la ciudad de México. 

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Kitzia, Liz, Carlos, Hanna, Robby, Chantal, Pepe, Colu, y Shanik
[de izquierda a derecha]

Kitzia Mitre, es una mujer que vive en el ojo público porque proviene de una familia histórica mexicana. Ella es la bisnieta de Gustavo Baz Prada, un revolucionario mexicano y politiano. Estudia moda y trabaja como diseñadora. Kitzia está casada con Pedro Checa.

Roby Checa es el hermano menor de Pedro. Actualmente es soltero. Esto no es importante, pero es bueno mencionar (; 

Carlos Girón Longoria es un hombre de la intemperie muy conocido y guapo.

Shanik Aspe es una presentadora de televisión que recientemente decide perseguir su sueño como cantante. ¡Ella es una súper estrella!

Modela Columbia “Colu” Diaz es gracioso y agradable. Colu también es soltero. Kitzia quiere que ella tenga una cita con Robby. Pero…. ella le gusta Pepe. Casual. Debe ser horrible tener varios tipos que quieren que al mismo tiempo. 

Hanna Jaff es una chica ambiciosa. Ella ha completado muchos grados y tiene una lista muy larga de cosas para completar antes de que ella muera (esto es similar a un Bucket List). Hanna está muy lograda. Pero algo de ella parece estar fuera. ¡Con todos sus grados, usted pensaría que ella sería lo suficientemente inteligente como para mantenerse alejado de todo este drama!  

Liz Woodburn, una chica americana que se mudó a México después de casarse con su esposo, Carlos Olson. Ella trabaja como una bloguera de comida.  Chantal Trujilio es una bloguera de moda. Su estilo es asombroso. Finalmente, Pepe Díaz es un emprendedor inspirador. 

Quiero dar un análisis muy detallado de todas las personas en este programa. Pero, ¿cómo podría? Es un grupo de “fresas” (una palabra que es un estereotipo de la gente rica) gritando el uno al otro mientras que usa ropa costosa. Claro, hay un drama ocasional: familia, amigos, celos, triángulos de amor, secretos, mentiras. La fórmula perfecta para una serie de televisión básica. 

Hay momentos dulces ocasionales entre amigos. Pero la mejor parte del espectáculo es….. LA ROPA. Haría cualquier cosa para tener su estilo. Si quieres ver a los hombres guapos y la alta costura con estilo, este es el espectáculo adecuado para usted. 


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Bodyguard: Love in the First 5 Minutes

Blog, TV Shows

Some people believe in love at first sight. Which is valid, I do too. It can be a person’s captivating smile, that twinkle in their eye, or they’re simply giving off the right aura. Whatever that inexplicable attraction may be….I’ve felt it. It happened. Recently. During the first five minutes…of watching Bodyguard on Netflix.

Damn, this show actually makes me want to be a spy. Actually, no correction. This show makes me want to commit a crime that is a threat to national security just so Richard Madden comes to my rescue.

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Ignoring his outstanding good looks and charming accent, it is no surprise Richard Madden received a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a drama series. He perfectly melts into his role throughout the entire pilot.  The show centers around Richard Madden as David Budd, a war veteran who works as a Metropolitan Police Service in the Royalty and Specialist Protection in London. In episode 1, we are quickly exposed to David’s private life. He is captivating. In the first twenty minutes, he calms down a suicide bomber thanks to his striking good looks wit and communication skills. While the next scenes show us he is talking with his ex-wife (Vicky) about their dissolving marriage.

After his successful negotiation with the suicide bomber, David is appointed as the police protection officer for Britain’s Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes). Montague is the definition of HBIC. She’s a stern politician, advocating for British involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as increasing government powered surveillance to protect public safety. Julia’s numerous enemies don’t make David’s job any easier. Plus, David’s broken relationship with Vicky makes him extremely emotionally available. UGH, so Julia and David end up having some mad attraction between each other. *rolls eyes out of jealousy

But David experiences his own inner conflicts. He is loyal and devoted to a case that repeatedly places him in life-threatening situations while constantly reminded of traumatic memories, accompanied by emotional and physical stress. The disparity produces a cognitive dissonance, which is why David appears to be so unhappy in the first episode.

Although it’s just the beginning, I’m in love. I found myself glued to every, single, micro-expression that David made throughout the episode. Within the first episode, Bodyguard has proved to be a well-written political thriller that is all-encompassing. The dialogue and cinematic style create a story filled with anticipation that kept me hooked the entire time. I can’t wait to see what happens next.


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