Stream: What to Watch this Weekend

Hello, friends. Happy Friday! We are expecting a huge snow storm here in Boston this weekend, so I am getting ready to hunker down. This is perfect streaming weather. 

Before I get into this week's top picks, let's talk about two shows that dropped today and a few more coming up: 

  • Today - Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness is now live on Netflix, as is Kristen Bell's new show The Woman in the House.
  • Tuesday, February 1 The Real Housewives of New Jersey return to Bravo. I am so ready for this! 
  • Friday, February 4 Sweet Magnolias, the show about three adult best friends living in a small town, returns to Netflix for a second season. This one comes out on a Friday, so you can look forward to it at the end of the work week. 
  • Friday, February 11 - Ahead of Valentine's Day, Netflix is dropping more episodes of the insane dating show Love is Blind.
  • Friday, February 18 - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will be back on Amazon Prime. 
  • Monday, February 21 - Below Deck: Sailing Yacht comes back to Bravo. Ahoy, Captain Glenn!
  • Thursday, March 3 - Top Chef returns! I am elated. This time, the chefs will be stationed in Houston, TX. 
  • Friday, March 25 - The countdown is on to season two of Bridgerton.

Now onto this week's favorite shows and movies. 

1. As We See it (Amazon) - Jason Katims is the creator of this new show on Amazon Prime, adapted from the original Israeli show On the Spectrum. Katims is best known for Parenthood and Friday Night Lights, two of my favorite shows of all time. I would watch anything he is the driving force behind. 

This show, focuses on three adults on the autism spectrum, who share an apartment. This subject matter is personal to Katims, whose son is on the spectrum. 

As We See It

Albert Rutecki plays Harrison, a man in his mid-twenties. Harrison has many fears, including leaving the apartment building. He forms a very strong bond with his aid, Mandy, who is played by Sosie Bacon. He also finds an unlikely friend in his upstairs neighbor, A.J., whose in elementary school. 

Sue Ann Pien plays Violet. When she isn't hanging out at the apartment, she's working shifts at Arby's and downloading dating apps. She's fixated on finding a boyfriend. Her parents have passed away, so her older brother Van (Chris Pang) is responsible for her care. That dynamic puts a strain on every single relationship Van has ever tried to maintain. When you watch Van, it will likely throw you back to Laura Linney's character, Sarah, in Love Actually. Remember how her cell phone was always ringing? 

Rick Glassman plays Jack, the most high functioning of the three roommates. He has a job at a publishing house, he goes on dates, but he has a complete lack of sensitivity or empathy. That becomes especially challenging when his father, played by Joe Mantegna, is diagnosed with cancer. 

While this show is scripted (not reality television), it paints a very real picture of what it's like to be a person with an autism spectrum disorder, as well as it's what like to be a friend or family member who wants the best for that person. I teared up many times watching this, because the way the pendulum swings from high to low (and so suddenly) is very emotional. 

I started watching this late at night, thinking I would watch one episode, maybe two, and I accidentally watched all eight. 

2. The Other Two (HBO) - One of my favorite gals at work recommended this show and promised me I would laugh. It's a satire based loosely on Justin Bieber. Please don't stop reading! 

Case Walker plays Chase Dreams, a 13-year-old heart throb (the Bieber). He's represented by a manager named Streeter, played by Ken Marino. Note: Justin's real-life manager is named Scooter. 

Chase's mother is played by SNL veteran Molly Shannon. In season two, she gets her own daytime talk show, and the writers take so many jabs at the Ellen Show, I was shocked the network allowed them to keep all those jokes in the script. One word for you: Shutterfly. 

But the real stars of this show, are the "other two," Cary and Brooke, who are Chase's two older siblings. Cary is an aspiring actor, who works at an Italian restaurant during the day. Brooke was a dancer in her younger years, but steps in to help manage Chase, when it's clear Streeter doesn't have it under control. 

The Other Two

We get to see how the Chase's sudden fame impacts the entire family. Drew Tarver plays Cary and Helene Yorke plays Brooke. They are both excellent and have impeccable comedic timing. 

I had no idea this show existed and I've found it such a delight! There are two seasons, so perfect for binging during the snow storm this weekend. 

3. The Hating Game (Amazon) - It was Sunday night, I still had over 90 minutes before The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City was airing, and I needed something to watch. I was scrolling through all the streaming apps when I noticed The Hating Game was available on Amazon. 

The movie is based on the book of the same title by Sally Thorne. Lucy Hale plays Lucy (yes, really) and Austin Stowell plays Joshua, two workplaces rivals fighting for the same management position. While they jab each other in the office, outside of work their attraction is growing. 

The Hating Game

The turning point happens after a company-wide paint ball game,when Lucy gets sick and Joshua takes her home. Tell me, why do so many romantic comedies have a paint ball scene? And why do people keep trying to top the one in 10 Things I Hate About You?

Things really start to pick up and get more interesting, when Lucy agrees to go with Joshua to his brother's wedding. In fact, from that moment on, I was really into the movie (the back 25 minutes). I thought the ending was adorable and kept the antagonistic nature of their relationship at the forefront.

Now, I do have to say, Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell do not have as much chemistry as she had with Ian Harding (Ezra) on Pretty Little Liars. I think I was expecting it to be at that level, and was disappointed when it wasn't. 

That said, this was still a fun watch. I miss going to see romantic comedies on the big screen in movie theaters, so this felt like a solid consolation prize. 

There you have it! This week's list.

Stay warm this weekend, readers! 

*Images courtesy of Unsplash, MARCA, Rolling Stone and US Weekly

 

Molly Galler

Welcome to Pop.Bop.Shop. My name is Molly. I’m a foodie, fashionista, pop culture addict and serious travel junkie. I’m a lifelong Bostonian obsessed with frozen confections, outdoor patios, Mindy Kaling, reality television, awards shows, tropical vacations, snail mail and my birthday.

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