Monday, December 12, 2022

Favorite New Shows of 2022

Boy, there are a lot of shows that exist in the world these days. Lots of shows that debut and then don't get renewed, or you only find out about them after they've been on for a couple of seasons. But there have been quite a few this year that I watched and highly enjoyed, with a number of them being a complete surprise as I had no idea what they were beforehand. 

So let's get on with it, my list of my favorite new TV shows watched this year...

Severance

By far the best show of the year, Severance is both funny and dramatic, and features a very interesting concept at its core. It's full of tension, and the finale will leave you wanting more. Hopefully the next season can keep up the quality.

Wolf Like Me

I didn't know much about this show going into it, but figured it was worth checking out with the lead cast at its core. It draws you in pretty quickly, and while the concept might seem weird or goofy, it's done in a way that resonates well. What is strange, though, is why Isla Fisher is made to be American when the show takes place in Australia and she could just use her native accent. But, whatever!

I Love That For You

This show really has it all, from an awesome cast, to a compelling story, to a great sense of humor, and more. Vanessa Bayer is great as the lead character - and what's even more interesting is that it is partially based on her own life. If you're looking for a new comedy to watch, give this one a go.

House of the Dragon

I wanted to feel excited about House of the Dragon, but definitely felt a bit trepidatious based on how Game of Thrones ended. That said, the show has been delivering so far. It was a bit jarring to have some of the main actors change partway through the first season, but the story itself has continued to be compelling throughout, even if the characters themselves aren't very likable. Can they keep up the momentum? Let's hope.

The Rehearsal

If you've never seen Nathan Fielder's Nathan For You, then you would probably go into The Rehearsal with a very different mindset. Nathan has a certain quality about him where you can't tell what's real and what's fake, and a sense of humor that likely not everyone would understand. While you may think the show is going to be a certain thing based on the first episode, it really changes and develops over the first few episodes into something else entirely. How much is scripted and how much isn't? That's part of the fun of watching.

Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend

What's this? A reality competition series on this list? Why not! This is an all-new version of Iron Chef, pitting "wannabe" chefs against Iron Chefs in different culinary battles. Some of the food is really amazing, and it's cool to see how different people take on different challenges. Definitely an easy show to binge.

Reboot

I hadn't really heard much about this show when we decided to watch the pilot. While the pilot itself is good, the show gets better as it goes, with some true laugh out loud moments along the way. The cast is awesome, with one of my unexpected favorites being Calum Worthy as Zack Jackson, a perky former child star. But the rest of the cast is great as well - Keegan Michael Key, Paul Reiser, Rachel Bloom, Judy Greer, Johnny Knoxville... Another great comedy to check out if you haven't seen it!

Love on the Spectrum US

If you were worried that the US version of the original Love on the Spectrum wouldn't be as heartwarming or engaging, worry no more. The docuseries follows autistic adults looking for love, and will have you tearing up when they do or do not find it. It's been renewed for a second season, so let's hope we get to catch up with everyone while also meeting some new people.

Any new shows you loved that I should check out? Let me know in the comments!

Past Years:
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This Share on Google Plus Share on Tumblr
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Monday, December 5, 2022

Favorite Books of 2022

Life really gets in the way of reading some good books, you know? This year, I had time to actually finish a couple books which was super nice, and also renewed my love for reading, which had felt like it was dwindling somewhat in the last couple years. I've gotten a little lackadaisical in keeping up with writing book reviews for every book I've been reading this year. I only have so much energy, you know?

Anyway, on to the list...

Beach Read by Emily Henry



Synopsis: A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They’re polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block. Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really. 

Why it made the list: I was skeptical about whether I would like this book or not, but I could not keep it down. I was drawn into this book from the start, and even though I knew that the two would eventually get together, I still wanted to see just how they would. It's definitely a romance, so if you're not in to that, you might not like it. But I definitely did!

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Synopsis: Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he?

Why it made the list: While I didn't always love Weir's writing style and some of the ways he decided to tell the story, the story itself was super compelling. I could not wait to see what would happen next, just waiting for the next moment I could go back to reading it. I've heard this is being adapted into a movie as well, which I can totally see. You can read my longer review here.

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus


Synopsis: True crime can leave a false trail. Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favourite teacher. The case was never solved, but she's sure that the three kids who found Mr. Larkin's body know more than they're telling, especially her ex-best friend Tripp Talbot. He's definitely hiding something. When Brynn gets an internship working on a popular true-crime show, she decides to investigate what really happened that day in the woods. But the further she dives into the past, the more secrets she finds. Four years ago someone got away with murder. Now it's time to uncover the truth...

Why it made the list: I've liked most of McManus' mysteries, and this one was no exception. Not only is there a mystery (and mysteries are always compelling unless they are boring), there is also a developing romance that you know is coming, but can't help but root for regardless. The answer to the mystery is unexpected, even though I now can't remember what it is! 

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister


Synopsis: Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened? Late October. After midnight. You’re waiting up for your seventeen-year-old son. He’s late. As you watch from the window, he emerges, and you realize he isn’t alone: he’s walking toward a man, and he’s armed. You can’t believe it when you see him do it: your funny, happy teenage son, he kills a stranger, right there on the street outside your house. You don’t know who. You don’t know why. You only know your son is now in custody. His future shattered. That night you fall asleep in despair. All is lost. Until you wake... and it is yesterday. And then you wake again... and it is the day before yesterday. Every morning you wake up a day earlier, another day before the murder. With another chance to stop it. Somewhere in the past lies an answer. The trigger for this crime—and you don’t have a choice but to find it...

Why it made the list: I love a good time travel story, and this one is definitely unique in that the lead character is continually going back in time to try to figure out what happened when the book first starts. There are mysteries upon mysteries, and it all wraps up in a very satisfying way. 

Other books I enjoyed this year, but wouldn't call my favorites: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

You can check out all of the books I’ve read on my Goodreads page, but let me know if you’ve had any favorites from this year that I should check out!

Past Years:
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012
Share this Post Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email This Pin This Share on Google Plus Share on Tumblr
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)