Got room for a little more entertainment this year? These were a few of my favorite things.
Everyone’s favorite (and one of mine): The God of the Woods
When thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Laar goes missing from Camp Emerson in 1975, no time is wasted in organizing a search party. One, because she’s the daughter of the owners of the camp, and two, because her brother went missing from the same place fourteen years ago.
My dark horse: The Slip by Lucas Schaefer
There’s a new face on the scene at Terry Tucker’s Boxing Gym. Sixteen-year-old Nathaniel has never felt comfortable in his own skin, but under the tutelage of a swaggering, Haitian-born ex-fighter named David Dalice, he begins to come into his own. Then one night he vanishes, leaving little trace behind.
Across the city, Charles Rex, now going simply by “X,” has been undergoing a teenage transformation of his own, trolling the phone sex hotline that his mother works, seeking an outlet for everything that feels wrong about his body, looking for intimacy and acceptance in a culture that denies him both.
More than a decade later, a shocking tip reopens the investigation into Nathaniel’s disappearance.
My favorite: The Ballad of Wallis Island (Amazon Prime)
The Ballad of Wallis Island follows Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.
Honorable Mention: Baltimorons (AMC+)
A newly sober man's Christmas Eve dental emergency leads to an unexpected romance with his older dentist as they explore Baltimore together.
Awards contenders that lived up to the hype: Sinners, Marty Supreme
Funniest: English Teacher (Hulu)
A gay high school English teacher and his co-workers try to balance the demands of students, their parents, and our culture.
Most bingeable: The Pitt (HBO)
The Pitt follows onee day in the lives of emergency room doctors, nurses, and staff, with each episode comprising one hour of the shift.
Most surprising: Dying for Sex (Hulu)
After Molly receives a diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, she decides to leave her husband to explore the complexity of her sexual desires for the first time in her life, with her best friend Nikki by her side.
Favorite: Essex Honey by Blood Orange
Hauntingly gorgeous. Dev Hynes is a masterful composer channeling grief into a sense of place.
Album I wish I’d discovered sooner: NEVER ENOUGH by Turnstile
While I’ve definitely been living under a rock this year, I’m not surprised I hadn’t heard of the one of the biggest hardcore punk bands until this month. If you’re looking for something a little outside of your wheelhouse, don’t make the same mistake I did.
Dad Mag by Yours Truly
I don’t write here as often as I used to and pivoting time and energy to Dad Mag is the main reason why.
“If you want to hang out in more old diners or Japanese jazz bars, you think a lot about sandwiches and/orNora Ephron, old paperbacks, soup, martinis, old black and white Gap, etc. etc. etc. etc. then boy, have I got a newsletter for you!” - Jason Diamond
Dinner Music by Jacqui Devaney
A new playlist every Monday.
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