Hello, friends. It's been a heartbreaking week. I hope the long weekend gives you time to rest and recharge. For me, I find that light hearted TV and movies can help lift my spirits during these times of utter devastation.
There are a few things coming up to keep on your radar:
- Wednesday, June 1 - The Real Housewives of Dubai premieres on Bravo. I can already tell that whatever I'm expecting this to be, it's going to be even more over the top.
- Tuesday, June 14 - A new documentary about Jennifer Lopez and her incredible career will land on Netflix. It's called Halftime.
- Tuesday, June 28 - Season two of Only Murders in the Building drops on Hulu. Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez will be reunited in Manhattan.
On Wednesday of this week, the new season of Somebody Feed Phil dropped on Netflix. I've watched two episodes so far - Portland, ME and Portland, OR - and I can't wait to share all my thoughts with you next week.
Let's get into this week's top picks.
1. Love on the Spectrum (Netflix) - This is season three of Love on the Spectrum, and the first time the show was shot in the U.S. The first two seasons were filmed in Australia.
If you aren't familiar, this is a documentary-style TV show that spotlights individuals on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating. Six singles are featured, each with a completely unique story.
There's Dani, a young woman with a gift for animation. She started her own company at age fourteen, then earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. She finds herself in a love triangle, with two men interested in her. There's Solomon, who is very handsome, but doesn't have the same as ambition as Dani. Then there's Adan, who shares Dani's love of animation, but is just beginning to pursue his career. Dani is a powerhouse and was inspiring to watch. Not to mention, she has incredible personal style. She wears a gold jumpsuit in the final episode that felt very J. Lo!
I was touched by the stories of Abbey and David, two singles who bonded over their love of the zoo and lions in particular. Each time David comes to meet Abbey, he brings her a thoughtful gift. At the very end, she brings him a gift and they decide to officially be girlfriend and boyfriend. The joy their parents felt about them finding each other brought me to tears.
I was equally misty about Subodh and Rachel. Subodh had never dated before, and with the help of a dating coach (who is on the spectrum herself) he was able to have thoughtful conversations with his blind date, Rachel. They found many common interests and were both elated each time they would be interviewed after their dates.
There's also Kaelynn, a young woman in her twenties who braved several rounds of speed dating (including a guy calling her by the wrong name). And a man named Steve, who at 63 years old had never dated.
One of the singles is from Boston, a man named James. He lives with his parents and loves Renaissance fairs. There's a very cute scene where he meets his brother for dinner in Boston (his brother is not on the spectrum) and they talk about how to make the most of a blind date. James and his date, Emma, meet up first in the Seaport, and then travel to New York state for a Renaissance fair for their second date. I won't spoil it for you, you'll have to watch to see if they're a match!
I am such a huge fan of this show. It's a stellar example of why representation matters and how listening to other people's stories can open your heart and your mind.
There are six episodes and you will fly through them.
2. Candy (Hulu) - Jessica Biel was celebrated as the executive producer and star of The Sinner, and now she's back as executive producer and star of a show called Candy, the fictionalized story of a real woman, Candy Montgomery.
Biel stars alongside Melanie Lynsey, who plays Betty Gore. The two women have daughters in the same elementary school class. Tensions rise when Betty discovers that Candy is having an affair with her husband, Alan, played by Pablo Schreiber.
When Betty is found dead in her home, the police launch an investigation with Candy as the primary suspect. Both Biel and Lynsey's real life husbands, Justin Timberlake and Jason Ritter, play the cops assigned to the case.
I don't want to say too much because there are so many plot twists in this show that make it a gripping watch. There are five episodes and you could easily binge it all in one sitting.
I will warn you, the fifth and final episode is very hard to watch. Not only do you see Betty's young daughter comforting her grandmother at the funeral (grab the tissues!) but there's a reenactment of Betty's murder that is so gruesome I had to cover my eyes.
I would not be surprised if Jessica Biel is nominated for an Emmy for this performance. In addition to rocking a curly wig and huge 80s glasses as if that's her natural look, she inhabits this manipulative woman so fully that you forget you are watching Biel and become fully focused on Candy.
3. Senior Year (Netflix) - Let's end things on a lighter note, shall we? Rebel Wilson stars in a new rom-com on Netflix called Senior Year. The premise is incredibly stupid. After a cheerleading accident her senior year of high school, Stephanie (Wilson) wakes up from a coma 20 years later and wants to finish her final months of high school.
Her nemesis, Tiffany (played by Zoe Chao), is now a mom of a senior at their alma mater. And she's married to Stephanie's former boyfriend, Blaine, played by Justin Hartley. His casting is perfection!
Stephanie's childhood best friend, Martha, is played by Mary Holland. Holland feels like a young Kristen Wiig, with a bright comedic future ahead of her. In the movie, her character grows up to become the principal of their high school.
While the movie is incredibly dumb and predictable, the soundtrack is fantastic. The story is set in 1999, so all of the songs are from my high school years. You can listen to the full soundtrack on Spotify. I dare you not to belt it out to Britney Spears' "Crazy" or Mandy Moore's "Candy."
There's also a cheer routine to Nelly's "Hot in Here" that is clearly an homage to Bring It On. That's a highlight.
While this likely won't be a movie you'll watch again and again, it will provide some much needed levity.
There you have it! This week's streaming suggestions.
*Images courtesy of Unsplash, Cinema Blend, Nylon and Tom's Guide.
