Well that was quite an episode, wasn’t it? Sadly, Susan picked this week (OFF ALL WEEKS!) to take a quick little vacation, so you’re stuck with Emily and Kelli (again). Emily and Kelli just up on this blog recapping everything nowadays. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover in this episode, so let’s not waste any more time. Let’s do this.
Read moreGossip Girl S1E4: World War Zoya
Hello, dear readers. Do you ever feel like something might be finally getting better, only to discover that it’s actually been getting worse the whole time? Well, we wouldn’t know anything about that. Incidentally, here are our thoughts on the latest episode of HBO’s Gossip Girl. Xoxo… Gossip Girl?
We Went to the Beach That Makes You Old
Kelli: You may have discovered it via internet memes, or you may have been eagerly awaiting its release since it was announced way back when, but either way, you have probably heard of Old. For the uninitiated few, Old is M. Night Shyamalan’s latest entry into the horror canon, and it is about a beach that makes people old. There is really no other way to describe it.
I guess to start, I’ll ask: what are your experiences with the work of M. Night Shyamalan? Would you consider yourselves fans?
Mary: 100% I’m a fan. I’m not going to say I love every single movie he’s directed (Lady in the Water *cough cough*), but I’ll always go see an M. Night Shyamalan joint. I feel weird about some of his work, though. For example, Split is a really harmful portrayal of dissociative identity disorder, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it a little.
Emily: I would also say I’m a fan. I don’t need someone to have a flawless body of work in order to look forward to a director’s projects. And even though movies like Old aren’t, I still think they’re a good time. I love that M. Night Shyamalan has a distinctive perspective. Like, yes, his movies have surprises in them, but I definitely have an idea I’ve what I’m getting into tonally when I sit down for some of his movies. And I want to go on record once again to assert that, yes, I am a fan of The Village.
(Spoilers for Old to follow.)
Read moreYA Book Club: The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
Hello, YA Book Club-ers! It’s time for some back-to-school reading! This month, we’ve tackled The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass. The novel follows Jake, a high school student blessed (or cursed?) with the ability to see spirits. He’s made peace with his life as a medium, but when the ghost of Sawyer Doon, a school shooter, begins following him around town, things get dicey fast. This novel is about coping with personal trauma, finding yourself, and learning how to make the most of what you’ve got.
We’re going to spoil stuff from here on out! CW: This book discusses suicide, sexuality, and sexual abuse.
Read moreThe Bachelorette S17E8: Your Opinion is Wrong
It’s that time of the season! It’s the MEN TELL ALL! That episode where the men tell some things, yell at each other, and remind us of who they are before we see them again on the beaches in Bachelor in Paradise. Are you ready for this?
Well, you gotta wait. Because first we have to deal with some Michael drama.
Read moreGossip Girl S1E3: Lies Wide Shut
Hey, purveyors of the world wide web—Gossip Girl here. What do you get when you mix the romantic lives of rich parents and the premiere of a Jeremy O. Harris play? Mess. That’s what. Read on for our thoughts on last week’s episode, but don’t forget: no eating, speaking, or direct eye contact will be tolerated.
Read moreOthersode #56: Uber for Rooms / WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn
Othersode #56: Uber for Rooms / WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn
It’s time to work till you drop! Just kidding, we’re not about that life. But we are all about discussing the new documentary WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn. We are joined by special guest “Nicole,” who has some real-life experience with WeWork, to talk about hustle culture, cult-like workplaces, toxic positivity, and the many things that went wrong with WeWork. Next we get into some listener feedback and catch up with what’s on the blog, including Bachelorette recaps, Gossip Girl recaps, and more. Read along with us for our next Bookpisode on Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Then watch Dev Patel in The Green Knight for our next Othersode, featuring special guests Mac and Zoe from The Maniculum podcast! Don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe, and send us your feedback on this or any other episode!
Click through for summary, table of contents, and show notes!
Read moreThe Bachelorette S17E7: Eating My Way to Her Heart
Craig Sjodin / ABC
It’s getting real, people. Hometowns are next week, which means all these dudes’ families are quarantining nearby. Will Greg’s second one-on-one seal his fate as the frontrunner? Will Mike P. cuddle his way into Katie’s heart before it’s too late? Will Blake insult an artist’s self portrait of her vagina right to her face? Read on to find out!
Read moreGossip Girl S1E2: She's Having a Maybe
via HBO Max
SPOTTED: A group of high school teachers who look to be the same age as their students, if not younger. It’s parent-teacher conference time, Upper East Siders. And for some reason I, Gossip Girl, care about parent-teacher conferences. Could it be because I am a teacher? That’s one secret I’ll never tell. You know you love me. XOXO Kate Keller. I mean Gossip Girl.
Emily: So as we get into the second episode of this Gossip Girl reboot, I think we’re getting a better idea of what this show is and isn’t going to be. And that would be a great thing to explore this week on the blog. The first episode sets up the show, its characters, and the storylines. But the second episode starts to set our expectations. We’re learning the rules of this world and how the characters are going to exist in it. We’re learning about what’s important to these people. I for one feel like I have a firmer grasp on the show’s trajectory. At least for now. If this series is anything like the original, it will go off the rails sooner rather than later.
Read moreSurvive the Book: Mary and Emily Read Riley Sager
Wow, do we have a treat for readers today. On a recent road trip (to see the rest of the Squad!), Emily and Mary listened to the new book by Riley Sager, Survive the Night. The novel focuses on Charlie Jordan, who needs to get out of town as quickly as possible following the death of her roommate and best friend, Maddie. Charlie uses a rideshare bulletin board (oh yeah, it’s 1991) to find Josh, a lonely college student looking for a companion on a road trip of his own. Charlie quickly begins to question if Josh could be the infamous Campus Killer as she plots her escape.
(Spoilers for Survive the Night to follow.)
Read more