tv and movies

Vampires, Tattoos, and Hackers… Oh My!

~ Hannah Kate ~ 2 Comments

So here’s a fact about me, like a lot of  millenials   people, I don’t really watch TV in a traditional sense, I can’t remember the last time I sat down in front of a TV and watched a show all the way through with *shudder* commercials. (This could also partially be because I have been living in another country for the past 5ish months, but I digress).

Most of my television watching is via Netflix or watching the highlights the day after on YouTube. However, I miss the rush of filling up a week’s worth of new shows on my DVR and slowly weeding out the terrible Fall debuts like my own personal Hunger Games. 

And it seems the networks are trying their hardest to make sure I was aware of their new shows. Billboards, ads before I’m trying to catch up with my favorite YouTubers, ads before I’m trying to watch a movie in the cinema, etc., etc.

I have hit a bit of a slump, so used the majority of my Christmas iTunes gift cards to experiment with a few new shows. I tend to give shows a little leeway and won’t make final judgements based on their pilot (everyone deserves a second chance). However, there are shows that have immediately captured my attention and I actually rewatch the pilot (I don’t even know how many times I’ve watched the pilot for Suits). Here are my initial thoughts about the shows I purchased (in no particular order): Continue reading →

Favorites for Aug 1 – 8

~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

I fall in love with things quickly and easily.

Here are some things I loved from August 1 to 8.

beauty

Source: amazon.co.uk
Source: amazon.co.uk

freshskin by Elemis Starter Kit

books

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, and Sophie Mas

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Source: amazon.com
Source: amazon.com

tv show

Source: tvguide.com
Source: tvguide.com

instagram

@huntingforbooks

huntingforbooks instagram screenshot
Source: instagram.com/huntingforbooks

internet find

Tavi’s Editor Letter for August on rookiemag.com

10 Reasons Why I Love “The West Wing”

~ Hannah Kate ~ 1 Comment
  1. It’s really well written, like really well written. It makes you wish, “Wow, I wish I was this clever and smart, and was able to come up with a witty retort on the spot.” But it isn’t pretentious, it sounds like real conversations.
  1. Character development. C-h-a-r-a-c-t-e-r development. It makes sense. The characters are real and grow, and make mistakes. They are people. Their reactions are real and unique, and none of them can be place squarely in a box. Sure, there are a few “common” aspects of their personality, but that’s just because they’re human.
  1. The relationships are messy and real and true. It’s not always peaches n’ cream between all of the characters. There’s tension and scenes fraught with all kinds of emotions.
  1. Donna Moss. That is all.
  1. It reflects a time period. Accurately. It’s interesting to see the subtle shift in technology, mindset, and actions of America.
  1. But—at the same time there’s a certain sense of timelessness to the series. I watched it in 2015 (yes, all seven seasons) and there are still issues that are still relevant.
  1. It had a good ending. Although, I wish there was a season eight, nine, ten—it ended, as it should. There was a sense of completeness to the character’s journeys, but there was still enough wiggle room to keep the viewer wondering. If I were going to be really clever, I would say it ended with ellipses…
  1. Good ol’ jokes. Laughing through the tears and crying from laughter.
  1. Symmetry and logic. There wasn’t a rushed feeling to the show, everything developed at a logical pace. Information was revealed on an as needed basis and only when necessary. I think the only way to explain what I’m talking about is by using an example. So, for example in Season 2, Episode 2: In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part II, Josh is thinking about how he and Sam reconnected to be part of “Bartlet for America”: with the interrupting of the meeting at a Very Important law firm and Josh’s lack of a poker face. And five seasons later, after a very pronounced lack of Sam Seaborn, in Season 7, Episode 19: Transition, we see the same thing again. See? Symmetry.
  1. It made me realize that all those kids who say they want to be President probably haven’t watched this show. Because it’s like a lot of work. Like a lot, a lot. I’ll just stick with my fantasy of marrying royalty, thank you very much.