August Media

[nrgburst]

I was still reeling from something that happened in July, so I wasn't able to read much (books or fic), therefore Ted Lasso and Rom-communism were the gist of my media consumption last month. 

S2 thoughts thus far: 

I really trust these writers? They write in a way that's both emotionally honest and funny, with homages aplenty, which is smack dab in the middle of my sweet spot. And there's unexpected twists, but not the Shitty Shock Value variety. That and a series about people being thoughtful, kind and accountable for their actions is really what I need right now. 🥰 There was so much griping on Reddit and twitter about how S2 was too positive until things started taking a darker turn in the last eps, and now it's gone the other way (F- this character! I thought this was a feel-good show!) And um. LOL Ok fandom. Like, no,I am not enjoying Nate the Great turning into the Nate we Hate but it's very realistic (and completely supported by his past actions/reactions) so I'm going to trust that even if Nate ends up in the Deep Dark Forest like Jamie did at the end of S2, he'll come back somehow by S3. It is still absolutely the highlight of my week, and I am already bummed about how our free Apple+ is going to run out just before the last ep drops. 😭 While we all loved and needed Ted's #BELIEVE philosophy during COVID, I think his arc this season is about the limits of "just being positive", which I think is really cool? 

Anyway, since there were a metric tonne of rom-com references, I also re-watched:

You've Got Mail (Did NOT age well - Tom Hanks plays a creepy jerk in this and by the end I was actively rooting for him NOT to get the girl, although I already knew the ending and I love Tom Hanks as an actor. Very weird to have a totally different perspective this time around.)

Sleepless in Seattle (LOVE THE KID IN THIS! Also the depiction of Sam's grief was so poignant.)

When Harry Met Sally (CLASSIC FOR A REASON. Also I forgot Carrie Fisher was in this, which.😍)

Jerry Macguire (A sports agent who wants to do ethically better things for the sake of his clients - really seeing the Ted Lasso inspo in this!)

Notting Hill (Okay, great casting but the story was so ??? Princess Anna insisting IT'S TRUE LOVE *swing a flaming brand* kind of forced? Forgettable.) 

Love, Actually (Hahahaha baby TBS is so baybee I can't wrap my head around how he was actually 12 when he did this role. Like no wonder he still looks like a teenager.)

Book-wise this was the only thing I finished, but it was AWESOME. 

 Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

I love how the author made a minor character from Theseus' myth her main character and that this follows Ariadne's little namedrop mentions in other myths completely from her POV. Canon compliant, so it ends up tragic/bittersweet, but it gets there with such empathy and understanding for her choices. I might buy this one.  

Comments

[kingstoken]

I remember being disappointed in the ending of You Got Mail back in the day, like he let her bookstore go under, when he probably could have saved it. Like they found love which is nice, but it doesn't change the fact that her entire life's work just went up in smoke.

[nrgburst]

It was as if she should be glad that she "won" anyway because she snagged a millionaire or something, and I was like. That man ain't no prize, for real? And I feel like the movie was trying to imply that she had forced herself to be a bookshop owner because the shop was inherited from her mom, and wasn't what she really wanted to do. And yet she had no real direction or drive at the end either, once she was "free". Just... Yeah, did not feel the love at all.

Ted Lasso spoilers

[ironymaiden]

The Nate storyline is making me really uncomfortable. In part I blame Ted for making it worse. As far as we know he never talked to Nate about Roy joining the staff, and he's seen how hard Nate is on the new kit person.

Re: Ted Lasso spoilers

[nrgburst]

Yeah, the Nate stuff is uncomfortable for sure - I was really glad we got a break from it last ep, actually! I can't blame Ted for it though? I don't think Nate's shown that Roy joining the staff affected him negatively at all, although he was taken aback on the pitch during Rainbow? The Will stuff has been happening since he started, for example, and the Colin bullying goes back to S1 too- see the snide little digs he keeps getting in (Never been blown: Is that why Colin is sad?)? In fact, I think that it's a deep seated issue that has to do with how his own dad never gives him any praise or recognition. He even called Rebecca a shrew last season, when he thought he'd been replaced for a hot second! So I think he lashes out when he feels small.
As for the bullying - Ted and Beard are aware, just like how they were aware of Nate getting bullied last season and were trying to get Roy to act. Beard has now intervened, and it's veeeeery obvious that Ted and Nate have not had any one on one scenes at all this season, and it's sooo telling that Nate's first concern was "Did you tell Ted?" when Beard did. So that Ted Talk (hehe) is coming, IMO!

[senmut]

Oooh, book looks intriguing!

[nrgburst]

Oooh it was great! I loved Madeline Miller's myth retellings and this one is very much in the same vein. It's like fanfic of Greek myths! 🥰