Missrep

Words are thrown about often, but when the New York Times said that Couples Therapy is riveting, God Dammit, they got it right!

It is like the most addictive show for the nosy and God Dammit, it’s so relatable if you’ve ever been in a relationship. Like there’s not a single client in the various couples on screen that hasn’t said something, that in some way resonated with me at some point.

I love it that in Episode 6 of Season 1, Dr. Orna Guralnik, the therapist says something like clients go in thinking therapy might change their partner and their relationship will be saved, but in fact the relationship is saved when they are able to transform themselves.

I am super proud that I came to that realisation on my own. Perhaps my Iowest point was so very low (so insecure that I was envious of my own dogs?) that the realisation came to me more easily but I swear it is also the residue effect of my great Marie Kondo lesson of 2015 as well. If the house (relationship) is messy, tidy up your own shit instead of waiting for the other occupant (your partner) of the house to do so. It will make a difference.

In these increasingly anti-LGBTQ, racist ,and xenophobic times, this show warms my heart because it depicts the universality of human emotion. We’re all just looking for, and trying to be, a soulmate to someone.

So much joy of watching House of the Dragon is derived from consuming post-show discussions and reactions. Reading tweets or memes about the unavoidable and uncomfortable viewer acceptance and rooting for Daemon and Rhaenyra’s relationship; hating on Alicent (worst ex-best friend ever) and Ser Criston (worst ex-one night stand ever); and name-calling Otto Hightower “Middle Finger” has been so fun.

It’s so awesome to hear the theme song blast on the living room TV every Monday night when we’ve rushed the kids to bed and savour 60 minutes or so of TV magic. 3 more episodes left and can’t wait!

On the other end of the spectrum is Rings of Power. I quit after episode 3.

Yes, it has a bigger budget and it is gorgeous on screen, but several sins were committed.

First, I can’t believe they cast the actress who played one of Barney’s most annoying ex-girlfriends on How I Met Your Mother as a major romantic character. It is so distracting! I still have residual annoyance whenever I look at her on screen. So kudos to Nazanin Boniadi for making an unforgettable Nora, but Bronwyn became a character I just don’t feel for. It’s also annoying that Bronwyn’s costume looks completely out of place because it’s the only sexy one?

Second, Rings of power is über slow and the show runners did a slow motion horse ride with Galadriel’s face in close up? It was like Ang Lee had directed the show. This was the final straw for me.

I feasted on quite a number of documentaries lately: Girl in the Picture, Our Father, Baby God, The Most Hated Man on the Internet and Paradise Lost (all 3!).

HBO’s Paradise Lost was absolutely above the rest. It was so disturbing, thought provoking and moving.

I only stumbled upon it because I was googling great HBO documentaries and an article came up saying HBO has been killing it since 1996 with Paradise Lost. So I immediately checked to see if HBO Go had it, and it did!

I was absorbed from the opening scene. I did not expect actual footage of the crime scene and images of murder victims. Not just that but three 8 year old murder victims completely naked and mutilated.

It was a strange coincidence, but I had saved a tweet just before watching Paradise Lost. The tweet had had 10 “laws” @philsophypath had picked that would improve your life. The documentary was proof of this one.

Damien Echols was unconventional and unorthodox. He dressed unconventionally and never hid his interest in magic or satanism. He lived in Arkansas surrounded by fundamentalist Christians. Damien was essentially punished for being himself.

It was so sad because I also discovered from reading Devil’s Knot that Damien was also just being a typical teen chasing skirts. He had a horrible ex who told him he looked nice in black and he got into minor skirmishes with local law enforcement because of her as well.

Police, prosecutors and judges just wanted public pressure to end and chose to kill 4 birds with 1 stone. Close the unsolved murder and get rid of the outcast/troublemakers Damien, Jason and Jessie.

Another reason the documentaries were great for me, was that it made me realize that I’m not very different from the people of West Memphis. Whilst watching the second instalment, I kept accusing someone else of the murders and only realised my accusations rest on my own biases when I watched the third.

So yes, highly recommended.