My TV Alphabet Blogathon

Hi guys! Look who has emerged from the shadows of laziness and the doldrums of non-creativity to take part in a TV blogathon! My fellow chick with accent, Getter from Mettel Ray Movie Blog has come up with a new blogathon years after her Movie Alphabet Blogathon, something I had participated in when I had first discovered her awesome blog (P.S. Some of the picks have NOT dated well). I felt it was only right to take part in this blogathon as well. 

I have become more of a TV viewer than a film viewer because of very many reasons and this was surprisingly difficult to make. I've tried to include as many of my favourite ever shows in any way possible, whether it be through a character or an episode. Getter has some cool rules in place too (might have not *fully* followed all of them...) which are:

So following the last command, here are my funnnnn picks for the TV Alphabet blogathon. Woooo!

#

30 Rock

One of the most meta comedies I have ever seen, I can't wait to rewatch it and fall in love with it all over again.

A

Agent Carter

My absolute favourite superhero show! Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter is beautiful, brave, vulnerable and kickass and her chemistry with James D'Arcy's Jarvis was just as superb. I really loved the setting and the female badassery that got to shine in this show and it is missed sorely!

B

The Book of Nora (The Leftovers S3x08)

The most perfect series finale I have ever seen- so good that it made the whole show that lead up to it even better in hindsight. Carrie Coon and Justin Theroux were just breathtaking in the episode and it  tied up everything in this maddening and ambitious series so well.

C

Chandler (Friends)

He's simply the best and funniest part of probably the most famous show of our time. I'm rewatching the series again and Matthew Perry just kicks it out of the park with Mr. Bing every episode. Also I HAD to use a Chandler zinger for this, duhhh!

D

Doctor Who

One of my OG favourite shows that I have fangirled about in this blog a lot. I know I've only put two Doctors in the picture but everyone in New Who is lovely and it's a show that is equal parts amazing, hilarious and heartbreaking. Especially the last part. Pretty sure this is one of the reasons I love crying watching shows so much.

E

The Entire History of You (Black Mirror S1x03)

There are some truly epic Black Mirror episodes but for some reason this one has stuck with me the most. I think perhaps because this is the type of technology I most wish existed but then in true Black Mirror fashion, the episode explores how it can completely destroy lives- not because of some dystopian Skynet type world domination thing, but simply because of our flawed humanity. Both Toby Kebbell and Jodie Whitaker are great in it.

F

Fleabag

HOLY MOLY THIS FUCKING SHOW! I get giddy when trying to talk about how amazing and original and devastating and sexy and funny it is! And I tell everyone! Even before the stupendous second season which is one of the most perfect things to ever exist ever, I was a huge fan of goddess Phoebe Waller-Bridge's broken and fourth wall breaking protagonist Fleabag and all the equally flawed characters that inhabit her world. But then second season happened and HOT PRIEST happened and I have no words but to say that WATCH ITTTTTT!!!!!

G (Wild Remote Entry)

Gilmore Girls and The Good Place

Gilmore Girls is one of those personality-developing shows for me. I saw it in my formative years when all I wanted to be was Rory Gilmore and find a Jess Mariano to fall in love it (not gonna lie- still totally do). Of course, every character in this show is lovely (except Dean. I hate Dean) and it's just one of those shows I'll probably be rewatching till I die. 

The Good Place is one of the most ingenious shows of our time. There are so many twists that take place that I've absolutely stopped trying to predict anything and I wait for all the new ways the writers will surprise and floor me. But that's not even the best part. Nor is its fantastic cast (D'arcy Carden, you infinitely talented being). My favourite thing about this show is how it actually cherishes goodness in people. I have started to really love pop culture that is about empathy and kindness and inclusivity and just being nice because that's really not our world anymore and The Good Place is exactly that. It's healing. And hilarious. I love it.

H

Hannibal

Probably my favourite looking show ever. Everything from the sets to Hannibal's suits to the food to the most incredible crime scenes- it was all stunning and singular. Of course the most gorgeous were Hannibal and Will themselves and their twisted romance.

I

Imperfect Harmony (Selfie S1x10)

RIP Selfie. You were gone before your time. The show, that was based on Pygmalion and starred the perfectly cast Karen Gillan and John Cho (put him in more romcoms, you cowards!) as the Eliza Doolitle and Henry Higgins of today, was really funny and sweet and could have been a great romatic sitcom. This episode was the big romance episode or so we had been led to believe but it ends up being something sadder and more beautiful, which is perfectly encapsulated in Gillan's poignant rendition of "Chandelier". 

J

Jane the Virgin

Quite possibly my favourite TV show ever. If Gilmore Girls was crucial for teenage Nikhat, Jane the Virgin was one of the shows that gave adult Nikhat her voice and understanding of the world. Simply put, it is about love- between family, between lovers, between friends and also between a show and its audience. I am incapable of deciding what was the best thing about the show- its mercurial writing that went from comedy to romance to thriller in minutes, its stupendously talented cast lead by the magical Gina Rodriguez, or its gorgeous direction that captured both of its telenovella fantastical elements and real world issues equally and perfectly. The show had twists that would make Game of Thrones blush but it was never twists for twists sake but careful character work and well, character love. I LOVED the characters as if I knew them and was invested in them like they were my own people. It had a brilliant ending too. God, I will miss this show so much!

K

Knockoffs (Broad City S2x04)

Much like Jane the Virgin, Broad City was also a female led and voiced show that changed my perspective of the world and what stories can be about. Which is why I chose THIS episode to elucidate my point. An episode which features a funeral, an underground market for designer knockoff bags, a 'will they or won't they' moment and of course, as seen from the picture above, dildos and pegging- only Broad City could have done it and through it commented not only on modern day dating but also grief and ways people deal with it. It is also a rip-roaringly funny.

L

Late (The Handmaid's Tale S1x03)

Gosh, what a brutal and unforgettable episode. This is THE feel-bad series that shows us a world that could exist very easily today. Alexis Bledel is shattering in "Late", often just emoting with her enormous horrified eyes at every awful thing happening around her. Reed Morano's direction just got under my skin and never truly left. Wherever the series did go after it, this was an hour of terrifying perfection.

M

Mr. Bean

Before I sat down to make this list, I was very sure that I wanted to include one childhood favourite in it. Between Powerpuff Girls, Rugrats and Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson's taciturn comedy hero won. I have many precious memories attached to this show, that still holds up today because of Atkinson's complete immersion into this role of a bumbling, slightly malevolent but ultimately sweet fool. I honestly even love the movies. There's something about Mr. Bean, you know?

N

Ned and Chuck (Pushing Daisies)

I'm sorry but I can't choose just Ned! It HAS to be Ned AND Chuck because they are THE OTP, guys! I don't make the rules (Getter does but I'm sure she'll understand). Pushing Daisies is the most colourful and cute show about death ever and Lee Pace's Ned and Anna Friel's Chuck were the heart of it. Their doomed love story destroyed me many times over but I wish it had even more times because this show and this romance ended far too soon!! #BringItBack

O

Orange is the New Black

However many shows Netflix comes out with, it will never reach the heights of OITNB for me. The show opened up a whole world many of us didn't know about and showed us the inner lives of so many types of women- black, white, old, young, trans, gay, straight. It had its flaws but when it was good, it was the freaking best! It was daring and open and most importantly, constantly empathetic and so very human.

P

Parks and Recreation

Probably my favourite comedy show. I love the characters. I love the actors. Leslie Knope is a goddamn hero. Ron motherfucking Swanson is my dream bestie. Ben Wyatt is everything I want in a man. Jerry is, well, Garry. *in Billy Eichner's style* I JUST LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH, IT MAKES ME SICK!!!

Q

Quite Interesting aka QI

Fun fact: I'm a nerd. So yes, I love a quiz show where I learn facts and also get to laugh a lot. Thank you very much. 

R

Run BTS

Guys, I don't know if you know this about me but I'm oh so slightly obsessed with BTS. Like, in case you still follow me on Twitter, I don't know if you noticed that AT ALL. Btw, thanks everyone who isn't an Army who still follows me. You guys are true friends :)

But anyways, I do really love the band and the members that form it. This is their variety show in which they usually have a topic and they play games or something around it. This is my ultimate comfort show at present. It's funny and sweet and I just love their friendship so much, it actually hurts my heart. 

S (Wild Remote Entry)

Sherlock and Sharp Objects

Sherlock is another show I have written and spoken about a lot. Not counting its last disastrous season, the show was damn near faultless in my eyes. I do want to revisit it as an older, less impressed-by-sociopathic-men person but I couldn't possibly leave it out of this list. I loved all the performances, especially that of the leads Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. It was really stylish fun!

Sharp Objects was my favourite show of last year. I have never seen anything that put us in the headspace of its protagonist like it did. It was a horror show of the mind and the body. The acting across the board is fantastic. There are images from the show that are etched into my mind forever. 

T

True Blood

Oh True Blood, you marvelous mess. I have a special place in my heart for this show, with all its zaniness and camp and nonsense. It was just so entertaining! The first 4 seasons were actually really good and even though it went so spectacularly off the rails in the later seasons, I couldn't stop watching! Also Pam and Eric forever.

U (Wild Remote Entry)

Unbelievable 

This is from 2019 but I had to include it. The most feminist crime show I have ever seen, I was constantly amazed by the littlest details in it that set it apart. It is really infuriating but at the same time, it is hopeful. Merritt Wever is totally the stand out for me but all the performances are excellent.

V

Veep

Oh you acerbic wonder! There was so much to love about comedy-turned-documentary Veep but my absolute favourite thing about it was its insults. The crowning glory in my eyes was the following addressed to, obviously, Jonah: "You're Frankenstein's monster, if his monster was made entirely of dead dicks."

W

The Wedding (Outlander S1x07)

The most romantic and sexiest television episode/piece of art to ever exist. THE FEMALE GAZE, PEOPLE! Fuck me, you almost don't need to watch the rest of the show to watch this episode. It's so good!!

X (Wild Remote Entry)

Crazy EX-Girlfriend

I NEEDED to include this show somehow and I've not watched The X-Files or Xena so this I think was the best compromise. This was such a brilliant show. A musical romcom about mental illness! It was as funny as it was damning. The songs were especially genius, from "You Stupid Bitch" to "Let's Generalize About Men" to "Buttload of Cats". I feel like rewatching all of it right now!

Y

You're the Worst

The anti-romcom about the worst humans who are ultimately just that- human. Hilarious and devastating in equal parts, it reached such heights when it was firing on all cylinders.

Z

The Zeppo (Buffy the Vampire Slayer S3x13)

If you have seen this episode, you know why I chose this still and not of "the Zeppo" Xander. Xander was my least favourite thing about the show and yet I love this episode, which was a great example of Buffy at its finest. The show was so surprisingly experimental and concept driven and its best episodes were just that. OBVIOUSLY my favourite such episode is "Once More With Feeling" but I needed a Z :P

And that is it, folks! I hope you liked the list and please do check all the other entries from this brilliant Blogathon :)

The Month that was May

          Sorry for being so late again, guys. This month has been a hectic/anxiety-inducing/avoiding any type of work kind of month so far. I've finally chosen where I'm going to do my masters. It's in a place called Noida which is near New Delhi. I'll be living on my own for the first time in my life- it's really exciting and scary. I don't know what's going to happen to the blog when college starts. We'll see when the time comes, I guess.

          Anyway, May was a fairly good month in terms of movies and books. Not *as* much TV because I took a vow to give it up for two weeks if my flight from Delhi which was experiencing loads of turbulence would stop shaking so fucking much... and it did. Honestly though, I just wanted to see if I could do it. The number of TV shows below appears large but they were shows I was following weekly. No binging apart from Mad Men. This gave me time to read more, although I hardly read anymore so it's still not that much. Also, I caught up on some older movies that I had been meaning to watch for a long time but had been putting off to watch more recent stuff/TV.

Firsts:

1) While We're Young- It was funny but it's probably my least favourite Noah Baumbach film I saw.
2) Wake Up Sid- It's been on my watchlist for the longest time. I quite liked it. Konkana Sen Sharma is so pretty.
3) Ex Machina- It's my favourite film of the year so far. It's really smart, and the kind whose brilliance dawns on you after you think about it. I loved its gender commentary and subversion. It's gorgeous to look at and fantastically acted and goddamn, that dancing scene!
4) Piku- It was very sweet although I did think that constipation as a theme was pretty weird. Irrfan Khan is so attractive.
5) Slow West- I liked it although I think you need to be familiar with/actually like the western genre to understand what it does differently, and I don't qualify for either of that so I don't really get the acclaim apart from how stunning it looked. Plus, Fassy in long-johns *adds infinite points to rating*
6) Mad Max: Fury Road- Excellent. Amazing. Gorgeous. Everything everyone said about it was spot on. Second favourite of the year currently.
7) Girlhood- Joining the ranks of all the people who said this is better than Boyhood. I especially loved the "Diamonds" scene (and I've been listening to that song non-stop ever since).
8) Fire- Super late blind spot. Pretty good, weird tantric porn music in the sex scenes notwithstanding, of course.
9) All That Jazz- Blind spot- Quite brilliant, especially Roy Schneider's performance.
10) The Age of Adaline- I watched it for the insanely hot Michiel Huisman and in that regard, I wasn't disappointed. Everything else in the movie is meh.
11) The Verdict- I read "Making Movies" so I thought I should watch a Sidney Lumet film after that.
12) Million Dollar Baby- I really expected to hate it but it was fine. I really did not like the score though.
13) Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!- Stockholm syndrome brought to you by Technicolor! I liked it :P
14) A Prophet- After Jacques Audiard won the Palme d'Or for Dheepan, I had to check this out and lo and behold, I absolutely LOVED it! So, so good.
15) Spartacus- It was good but god, it went on forever.
16) Safe- Getting ready for Carol. It was terrifying and incredible.
17) Tomorrowland- Don't get the hate for it. I thought it was lovely and uplifting and beautiful to look at.
18) Alphaville- The story was interesting but god, the voice of Alpha 60 was painful.
19) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof- I really thought I had watched it but apparently not. I was surprised at how sexy it was. I prefer the play slightly more but good lord, how attractive were Liz Taylor and Paul Newman?!
20) Killer's Kiss- So I thought that I have finally finished Kubrick's filmography with this but turns out there's another feature he made before it. Anyhoo, I quite liked it. The acting wasn't the greatest but it was shot really well and the kisses were indeed great.
21) Results- It started out well but I think it lost its way in the middle. Guy Pearce is so fit in it.
22) Kramer vs Kramer- I'm also consciously trying to slowly make my way through the Best Picture Oscar winners. I thought this was great and very affecting.
23) La Jetée- Fantastic. Never seen anything like it but I absolutely loved it.
24) Much Ado About Nothing- Very fun especially because of Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. Although, dafuq Keanu Reeves?


Rewatched:

1) Black Swan- My friend went a little nuts over Vincent Cassel and that rubbed off on me so I *obviously* had to rewatch this.

2) The Avengers: Age of Ultron- Better the second time 'round imo. The excitement has settled down and one can focus on the script better.

3) Kingsman: The Secret Service- Fun! Fun! Fun!

4) Spring Breakers- I made my Lambcast debut! Woo hoo! Love this film.

5) The Usual Suspects- I'm also trying to rewatch old favourites that I've only watched once. The movie is as excellent as I remember.

TV shows: (skipping quotes because of the number of shows)

1)Parks and Recreation, season 7- Like the fucking idiot I am, I forgot to include this in my last monthly round-up. I love this show, forever and always. It was an excellent season with beautiful and hilarious episodes and great acting all around. I can't choose an MVP because all these characters were so special. My favourite episode, if I had to choose one, was probably "Ron and Leslie" because I loved the emphasis on the friendship of these two wonderful characters.

2) Mad Men, season 6 and 7- AAAAAA I finished watching the episodes just in time! I saw the last two episodes ever of this show with everyone else and it was awesome. I just wish I had started the show sooner. Again, it's difficult to choose a favourite season 7 episode because of the way I watched the show but it's probably "The Strategy" because of the Don and Peggy dance. Uhh MVP is hrd as well. I love Peggy, Sally, Roger, Joan and Meredith but everyone's acting is excellent. I suppose Jon Hamm, Elizabeth Moss and January Jones gave my favourite performances over all.

3) Brooklyn Nine-Nine, season 2- It had a lot of breaks so I am not sure whether this season was better than the last but I loved it all the same. a) Favourite episode- One image from this season that has forever been burned in my mind in the room with all the dolls. So I guess "The Road Trip" wins this title. I liked Sophia. b) MVP- Everyone in the main cast is great but I'm going to choose Kyra Sedgwick's Madeline Wunch. She's such a worthy opponent to Captain Holt.

4) Outlander, season 1- I LOVE this show. It's become one of my favourite shows of all time already. I love the characters and the central love story and how the female lead is placed up and centre of it all. a) Favourite episode- Well, "The Wedding" topped my favourite episodes list of last year. It's still probably my favourite but one also has to mention the most brutal episode of television I have ever seen, the season finale "To Ransom A Man's Soul" which is the flip side to "The Wedding" in regards to the way sex and intimacy is dealt in both. b) MVP- Both Sam Heughan and Tobias Menzies are excellent but Caitriona Balfe's Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser is the show's heart and soul. Even in the last two episodes where the men have more memorable scenes, Balfe manages to equal them through her own subtlety.

5) Jane the Virgin, season 1- This has become one of my favourite shows of all time as well. I can't choose a favourite episode. I know I chose the first one in my year-end list but that's only because it needed to be represented. Every episode is great in its own way. I love all the actors, the Latin Lover Narrator, the visuals, the music, the telenovela elements mixed with the real emotional relationships in the show- ugh, everything is beautiful. Though I must give a special shout out to Jamie Camil who plays Rogelio, a character that would have been a caricature in lesser hands, and Anthony Mendez whose Latin Lover Narrator is a character in his own rights, the show would be nothing without the absolutely lovely and luminescent Gina Rodriguez. Her comic timing is matched by her ability to find new emotional depths in the crazy life that her character leads, and her chemistry with each and every actor on the show is top-notch. She can and she did, you guys.

6) The Flash, season 1- Heyyy this was fun! I don't love it as much as Agent Carter or Daredevil but I like the actors and the characters and the visuals are pretty good too. a) Favourite episode- "Out of Time". Just like, SO much happens! It's probably the most excited I was all season. b) MVP- Grant Gustin's Barry Allen is adorable but I have a soft spot for Tom Cavanagh's Harrison Wells. He's so deliciously evil. Love supervillains.

7) New Girl, season 4- This was a weird but a pretty good season. I liked that everyone was friends this season again. Much like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, this had wayyy too many breaks for me to judge it properly. a) Favourite episode- "Clean Break". It's a great episode but it would be here on the basis of that proposal alone. DAWWWW! b) MVP- I think this was a pretty good season for Damon Wayans' Coach. He will be missed.

Books:

1) Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides- I thought the ending was rushed but I loved everything else about it. It's so fantastically written.

2) Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn- Ooo this one was scary. I love the way Flynn's mind works. Also, I don't know how she imagines such awful women but it's fascinating.

3) Making Movies by Sidney Lumet- I have had this book for about two years now and I was done with hating myself for not reading it already. It's really good and informative and I have a lot of stuff underlined for hopefully the future.

4) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams- I was getting desperate to catch up on my Goodreads Reading Challenge (which is only 30. Please don't judge) so I decided to read the thinnest books I own. I know it's a play but I own it as a book so... :P I really liked it.

5) The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde- Trivial but so much fun!

6) Incest by Marquis de Sade- It was intriguing but I could have done without all the judgment throughout the book. Let me judge on my own! I know incest is bad ffs!

Final tally:

                                                          Firsts- 83                                                Rewatched-: 36

                                                                                          Total- 119        

      And that's it. No promises for what's to come this month :(

The Months that were February, March and April

          Welcome to another unnecessarily massive post because I was too lazy/busy with stupid exams to do one each month! All I want to say is that I watched an obscene amount of TV for someone giving her final college exams.


Firsts:

1) Beyond the Lights- I really liked it. It could've been totally cliched but it felt very raw and real.

2) The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him- God, James McAvoy is so underrated.
3) The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her- The best one and I really liked this order.
4) The Voices- It's kind of quirky but then it gets too depressing. Ryan Reynools is really good.
5) Chariots of Fire- I liked it a lot, surprisingly. I'm not one for sports movies generally.
6) Ordinary People- I really liked it although it's annoying that Timothy Hutton got an Oscar for this role and Logan Lerman got nothing whatsoever for Perks of Being a Wallflower.
7) Bananas- Super fun.
8) The Liability- Watched it for Jack O'Connell. It was pretty okay.
9) Roy- Worst 2015 movie so far.
10) Spanking the Monkey- Cannot believe that David O'Russell made this. Loved it.
11) A Matter of Life and Death- This was my February Blind spot which I didn't write on... yet. I loved it.
12) In the Heat of the Night- I don't think it's aged very well even though its message still applies, sadly.
13) Fifty Shades of Grey- Unintentionally hilarious. Johnson's pretty decent.
14) 3 Women- I didn't know this was going to be so surreal.
15) Wild Tales- Awesome. Best kind of humour ever.
16) Kingsman: The Secret Service- So much fun! The weird princess bit at the end notwithstanding, it's my favourite 2015 film so far.
17) Ugly- So unnecessarily bleak.
18) Charade- Fun!
19) Zero Motivation- I loved it. More films like this, please.
20) The United States of Leland- It was kind of terrible. Not all Gosling movies are good :/
21) The DUFF- I liked it a lot. Mae Whitman rules!
22) Romy and Michele's High School Reunion- I don't know why it took me so long to watch it. It's fucking brilliant!
23) All Good Things- All the talk about The Jinx got me to check it out. Both the Gos and Kirsten Dunst were v. good.
24) Focus- The leads were great. The film, not so much.
25) Cinderella- Absolutely lovely.
26) Thirteen- Wowsers, that was dark.
27) A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night- It got a bit slow in parts but I really liked it. Totes dressing up as the Girl at some costume party.
28) Office Space- Meh.
29) Dum Laga Ke Haisha- A really sweet and simple Bollywood film.
30) Mad Max- It's like a lame origin story.
31) Mad Max: Road Warrior- THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! SO GOOOOD!
32) The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover- I don't know why but I thought this was going to be a "light" comedy. Yikes!
33) Step Brothers- Laughed a lot.
34) It Follows- It wasn't that scary. I actually went with my dad and he fell asleep during the movie and he hated it. I liked it, especially the music and the way it's shot.
35) Fast and Furious 7- It's fun as long as no one talks.
36) A History of Violence- I've watched it in parts but never completely. Really good.
37) O Brother Where Art Thou?- I'm not the biggest fan of country music so that got a bit annoying but I liked it.
38) The Avengers: Age of Ultron- First day, first show! I was going to review it as soon as I came back home but my brother forbade me till he had watched it and now I kinda don't want to anymore... I still might but in short, I liked it a lot but it had issues.
39) Adult Beginners- I thought it was like a lesser The Skeleton Twins.
40) Lost River- Weird as fuck but not completely terrible. Never going to forget Ben Mendehlson dancing ever.

Rewatched:

1) Stoker- Margaret went Goode crazy and so I had to rewatch this *fans herself*
2) Run Lola Run- For our 90s episode. Still one of the craziest, coolest films I have ever seen.
3) La Haine- 90s episode. Cute, adorable Nino Quincampoix from Amelie made this. Like WOAH!!
4) Can’t Hardly Wait- 90s episode. Fun!
5) Election- Tracy Flick is such a fascinating character. I kinda hate her but I also have mad respect for how passionate she is.
6) Casablanca- Valentine's Day tradition.
7) Bridget Jones’ Diary- Ditto.
8) Chungking Express- New addition to Valentine's Day tradition.
9) The Breakfast Club- For it's 30th anniversary. I'm so scared that one day I will start identifying with Vernon :/
10) Kill Bill vol. 1- It's been too long since I had watched this. I should make a Withrow-esque "__ Things I Love About Kill Bill that No One Talks About" list because god, I adore this film.
11) Kill Bill vol. 2- Same.
12) Captain America: First Avenger- After watching Agent Carter, I got really thirsty for my favourite Avenger (if we don't count Peggy Carter herself)
13) The Avengers- See.
14) Captain America: Winter Soldier- Seeeeee.
15) Drive- It's been forever since I watched this too. I think it's kind of a perfect movie.
16) Zoolander- After the Zoolander 2 announcement, this had to be revisited.
17) Selma- Amazing
18) Star Wars episode IV: A New Hope- I think a huge reason why I can't ever love Star Wars (or the original movies at least) is because Luke bores the living shit out of me.
19) Star Wars episode V: Return of the Jedi- I kind of really like Lando.
20) Mommy- I cried so much this time. It broke me all over again.
21) The Heartbeats- There is maybe too much slo-mo but who cares if it all looks so gorgeous?
22) I Killed My Mother- Anne Dorval is aging like fine wine, isn't she?
23) Scott Pilgrim vs the World- Another one I hadn't watched in forever. I will never get bored of this film
24) (500) Days of Summer- Is the ending a happy one? Like really?

TV shows: (I'm skipping favourite quotes because there are so many)

1) Mad Men, seasons 1-6- I started watching this the day before my exams started because, duh. It's fantastic, of course. I am sorry that I waited so long to start it.

2) Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 6 and 7- These aren't the greatest seasons but I love this show so much. For one thing, it has one of the best episodes of all time, "Once More With Feeling".

3) Grantchester, series 1- Anna lured me in by sending me links of the hot James Norton. He plays a priest in this show. What priest looks like that? (he's the one in the 2nd pic on the 1st row).

4) Daredevil, season 1- Really, really good. I especially loved the fight scenes (the hallway fight, amirite?) and the way the hero and the villain are so similar. a) Favourite episode: "Speak of the Devil". I liked how much we could feel Matt's mortality in this. Also, the two meetings between Matt and Fisk were both brilliantly handled. b) MVP- Though both Charlie Cox and Vincent d'Onofrio are excellent, I have a soft spot for Rosario Dawson's Claire. I wish we had more of her (one of the biggest flaws of the show for me).

5) The Mindy Project, seasons 1-3- They cancelled it, those assholes! Anyways, I really enjoyed it. An Indian woman who eats a lot and has a thing for hot, white guys and romcoms? It sure does sound familiar... Also, Chris Messina dancing is my sexual orientation from now on.

6) Agent Carter, season 1- SO FUCKING AWESOMESAUCE! I love it. I love the setting, the action, the banter and of course Peggy. Peggy is the badass goddess of my dreams. a) Favourite episode: "A Sin to Err" because we finally get Peggy showing those misogynistic assholes in SSR what a badass goddess she is. b) MVP: I loved James D'Arcy's Jarvis but this show belongs to Hayley Atwell's Peggy. She was already one of my favourite parts of Captain America: The First Avenger and in this show, she balances the action, the comedy and the emotions equally well.

7) Inside Amy Schumer, season 1 and 2- This show is the bestest thing ever and Amy Schumer is my god.

8) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, season 1- Really really fun. "Pinot Noir" is actually my ringtone. a) Favourite episode: "Kimmy Goes to Court" simply because who would have thought that *that* person is the father. b) MVP: As enjoyable as Titus Burgess and Jane Krakowski are, Ellie Kemper's Kimmy is my favourite. Her optimism is infectious even though my cheeks hurt just looking at her smiling so much.

9) Pushing Daisies, season 1- I suddenly had the urge to rewatch it. Watching season 2 is too painful because of how the show just ended after that :'(

10) The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst- After seeing the way people were losing their shit over this on social media, I had to check it out. That ending, man. WOW!

11) Broad City, Season 2- The show that is my life. Season 2 was actually better than 1. How did they do that? a) Favourite episode: "Knockoffs". We meet Ilana's mom, go underground designer knockoff bags shopping with them, deal with loss of a loved one, finally have Abbi and Jeremy go on a date, have Abbi and Jeremy do "pegging", see two people have a serious conversation about relationships while one of them has a dildo strapped on to their crotch the entire time- all of this in like a half-hour episode. It's incredible. b) MVP: I can't choose between Ilana and Abbi so this one is for Paul Downs' complete devotion to both Trey and his porn star alter ego Kirk Steele.

12) Fresh of the Boat, season 1- This is such a fun show too. I especially like the 90s aspects of it. And how totally adorbs Evan is. a) Favourite episode: "Very Superstitious" Jessica is my favourite part of the show so seeing her go nuts over the number 4 is hilarious. Also the freak out Louis has after removing his jade locket. b) MVP: Constance Wu is killing it as Jessica. I can watch her all day.

13) Better Call Saul, season 1- I have a weird feeling I might end up loving this more than Breaking Bad. Mostly because I feel so much worse for poor Saul/Jimmy. Really excellent show in its own right. a) Favourite episode: "Pimento" because of that long time coming confrontation between Jimmy and Chuck. Heartbreaking stuff. b) MVP: In Breaking Bad, I always thought of Saul Goodman as someone really sleazy but now I just feel the pathos of the character which is so beautifully brought out by Bob Odenkirk. He's doing truly wonderful work.

Books:

1) Tampa by Alissa Nuting- Oh this book is so filthy but so fun! I enjoyed it to bits. It's a blast being in the head of someone so heinous.

2) The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes- Ironically, it's the ending I didn't like. Really beautifully written otherwise.


Final tally: 
                                                   Firsts- 59                                    Rewatched- 31
                                                                             Total- 90

Here's hoping I'm better this month onwards.

"Why is your penis on a dead girl's phone?"- BEST OF 2014: TV EDITION!

           Yeah I know, that's some post title. It's my favourite television quote of last year simply because the hype for it was HILARIOUS! Anywho, it's finally list-making time on my blog and for the first time ever, I am doing a television list, or rather 3 of them (this is going to be a looooong post). This is because I am becoming more and more of a TV fiend. I may not watch as much as some other bloggers out there but I am definitely watching the most TV I have ever done in my life. A lot of big shows one expects in lists like these like The Good Wife or Mad Men and so on, you won't find in mine because I still haven't gotten around to watching them. I think my lists are a bit off-the-centre but I hope you like them all the same.

          I should add that I'm considering 2014 as a normal calendar year and not in the TV calendar way which is honestly confusing to me. Also, though I haven't written any honourable mentions, believe me, there are loads.

FAVOURITE EPISODES OF 2014

10.

"Moving Up"- Parks and Recreation (6x21/22)

The only reason this is so low in my list is because I had watched it so long ago. But I remember loving it to bits and thinking it was a befitting series finale to a most wonderful show.

9.

"Apartment Hunters"- Broad City (1x09)

Honestly, any episode of Broad City could have made it in but I feel like with its impossibly awesome opening scene and Amy Sedaris' legendary turn as the craziest broker ever, this one deserved a spot here the most.

8.

"Chapter 1"- Jane the Virgin (1x01)

Again, I have loved all the episodes of this show so far but the first one gets major props for introducing us to its crazy telanovela world and its lovely characters and just getting us addicted to all of it almost instantly.

7.

"In Summation"- The Fall (2x06)

Maybe it's because this show is so fresh in my mind but god, this episode was the bomb! The interrogation scene alone cemented a spot for it on this list. And then there is that excruciating and plain awesome ending.

6.

"The Secret Fate of All Life"- True Detective (1x05)

I just never saw this episode coming, like in a million years. It turned everything around. The main mystery was ostensibly solved and we still had half a season to go. Also, it looked great.

5.

"Listen"- Doctor Who (8x04)

I was genuinely scared during this episode, which is the last thing I expect from a show like Doctor Who but there you go. Also, it was ballsy to go the places it went- from having a major part of the episode being a realistic romcom to actually taking us to the Doctor's childhood.

4.

"Mizumono"- Hannibal (2x13)

This episode is the embodiment of all Hell breaking loose. I was devastated by the end but I loved every minute of it. Can you imagine if the show ended with it?

3.

"His Last Vow"- Sherlock (3x03)

The bleakest Sherlock episode to date, it gave us one of the most shudder-inducing villains that I have seen and to see Sherlock and John tackle him was a helluva ride. It also had Sherlock almost dying AND Sherlock making out with a girl so there's that. And let's not even talk about that cliffhanger.

2.

"Fight"- Masters of Sex (2x03)

The first of the two episodes in this list where most of the action, so to speak, takes place between a man and a woman in a room over the course of a night. This is one of the finest hours of television of last year and will go down as one of the highest points in the show's history. It is sexy, heartbreaking, amazingly acted by both Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen and just gorgeous. 

1.

"The Wedding"- Outlander (1x07)

I would say spoilers except everyone has already freaked out about this episode. This is the sexiest television episode I have ever seen. A whole hour built around two people coming together and god, it is amazing. Yes, the sex scenes are great, especially due to the fact that they're from a woman's perspective (gasp!), but this is also an intensely romantic episode and also very funny. It almost works as a standalone episode if you have a basic idea of what the show is about but the build-up to it is even more fantastic. So yeah, call me a pervert if you will but I loved the hell out of this episode.

FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES OF 2014

15.

Karen Gillan in Selfie (RIP)
As much as I loved Amy Pond, Gillan was always overshadowed by Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill in Doctor Who. So I was really not expecting the burst of energy that she brought to Eliza Dooley. Her crazy accent, her readiness to make a total fool of herself, the quieter, emotional moments, that "Chandelier" cover- all of it was so pleasantly surprising. I really hope some other great comic role comes Gillan's way soon.

14.

Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who
Speaking of Doctor Who, I didn't think I would get over Matt Smith so quickly but Capaldi is fantastic in this role! One of my favourite things about last series was how often I thought that maybe he is the villain, which was so unique. And it made his inevitable goodness that much more impactful. Also, bless the Scottishness and the eyebrows.

13.

Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer in Broad City
This is the first of the 3 pairs in this list because none can exist without the other. In Abbi and Ilana's case, it is a little difficult to separate their real selves from the characters they play but who cares when all of it is sooooooooooo fucking hilarious?! Both of them are great in this show!

12.

Pedro Pascal in Game of Thrones
He was delicious. Not only because of the sexiness but because there was so much to sink one's teeth into in a performance like this. He was cocky and dangerous and courageous and heroic.

11.

Gina Rodriguez in Jane the Virgin
This show has a lot of wonderful performances but Rodriguez really leads the bunch with her funny as well as poignant take on a young woman who is trying to figure out what to do in a totally insane situation. Also, it's amazing to root for a genuinely good person and Rodriguez makes us do that.

10.

Finn Wittrock in American Horror Story: Freak Show
Though his work out in tighty-whities bring Patrick Bateman to mind, Wittrock's Dandy is another type of psycho all together. One of the most enjoyable and terrifying characters of last year, Wittrock shone brighter than any of his more famous co-stars by really embracing the crazy.

9.

Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey in True Detective
I seriously cannot pick one over the other. Of course True Detective came out at the height of McConaissance and he did incredible work in the show but at the same time, I couldn't help but think that Harrelson was the most perfect casting choice in the show.

8.

Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in The Fall
These two get a slight edge over my #8 pairing because I was constantly surprised by them. I never know what to expect from this show and a huge reason for that is the two lead performances. One keeps somewhat rooting for Dornan's Spector even though we know he's a bad guy and sometimes Anderson's Stella makes it really hard to care for her but she's never not fascinating.

7.

Jenna Coleman in Doctor Who
I don't know what Moffat did between series 7 and 8 but he made Clara into a real person and finally gave Coleman a chance to showcase her talents properly. She's so good in this series, exploring Clara in and out. Yes, sometimes the show tries to paint her character in broad strokes but Coleman always finds something real and human even then.

6.

Lizzy Caplan in Masters of Sex

Ugh she's just soooo good in this show! Again, it's a show full of excellent acting but Caplan is still head and shoulders above everyone else. Her character is so complicated but Caplan is able to reveal everything about her in such heartbreaking ways.

5.

Martin Freeman in Fargo/Sherlock
Yes, he was better in Fargo but I love John and drunk John so you all can suck it! I never could have expected someone as sweet and kind-looking as Freeman to play a character like Lester Nygaard. It's not just that he's bad, but that he's so goddamn pathetic and Freeman just makes it so believable. Also that accent, oof! 

4.

Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock
This ranking is almost solely based on his performance in "The Sign of Three" which I feel is Cumberbatch's best performance to date. It shows his emotional, dramatic, comic, purely fucking alien sides perfectly.

3.

Billy Bob Thornton in Fargo
No one has made me laugh and subsequently unable to sleep at nights as well as Thornton did last year. Lorne Malvo is completely unpredictable and Thornton is able to infuse just the right amount of sinister with humour and yet feel like a real person to make us react that way to Malvo.

2.

Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black
I just never remember that this is ONE person playing all these characters. She's on this list purely for that one/multiple moments during every episode when I am completely taken aback that these are not separate actors playing these various, complex roles.

1.

Lorraine Toussaint in Orange is the New Black
I wrote in September that no other television performance of 2014 will beat Toussaint for me and looks like I was right. She was incredible as Vee. Though I had issues with such a humane and compassionate show for giving us an out-and-out villain, she made it worth it. She was so manipulating that even the audience could get confused. She went from emotion to emotion but with such control, it was awe-inspiring.

FAVOURITE TV SHOWS OF 2014

10.

The Fall, series 2
I have a thing for super bleak British dramas and this one is probably my favourite of the lot. I just never know how to react. It constantly provokes unconventional responses and evaluations because it refuses to get bogged down by the expected formula of such shows.

9.

Game of Thrones, season 4
This was one of my favourite seasons just because it was nice for a change to see some of the bad guys get punished. As enjoyable as the show it, it feels masochistic at times to constantly have your favourites ripped away from you. Of course, that *did* happen in this season as well, but we got some well-deserved redemption. Plus, Khaleesi objectifying Daario for all womenfolk, amirite?

8.

Hannibal, season 2
I would have probably placed this show here based on its visuals alone. It is the best-looking show on television. #fact But it is also like a fever dream that keeps evolving and changing and morphing into new, beautiful, terrifying shapes and we can't help but be mesmerised by it all. It also has fantastic performances and god, this show made me want to eat a human leg so make of that what you will.

7.

Veep, season 3
The funniest season of the funniest show on TV. The only reason I don't have any of the actors in my favourite performances list is because I love all of them! Seriously, I cannot decide. Everyone is so funny in this show and the writing is on point and the humour is razor sharp. I love it.

6.

Masters of Sex, season 2
It's interesting to see how this show is moving from season to season. Since this has a historical base, they do try and do service to that, but at the same time, it is ultimately about the people. While the first season was more about the study, this one sees how it has truly impacted the lives of everyone involved. The writing, acting, look- everything continues to be top-notch. I want more.

5.

Jane the Virgin, season 1 (so far)

All the other shows in this list have been evaluated on their complete seasons/series but in spite of having just half of its season out, I had to put Jane the Virgin here. First and foremost, it's because I love this show. I am not the genius who realized this but the show is like Pushing Daisies meets Gilmore Girls meets Ugly Betty- there's that much magic, colour, human warmth, humour and culture in it. Secondly, I just don't see it getting bad. It keeps finding new ways to surprise and entertain and invigorate us with its loveliness. It is both the most melodramatic and the most beautifully human show in this list.

4.

Doctor Who, series 8
I had no idea how I was going to deal with this series. My Doctor was gone and this was the first time I was actually seeing a new Doctor at work. There was going to be a shift not just in the Doctor's personality but also in his relationship with Clara, who had been quite underwhelming as a companion so far herself. And my gosh, were all my doubts baseless or what?! Moffat and Capaldi have given the show a novel, exciting direction for a new Who fan like me. It was a pretty fantastic series with some truly stellar episodes and characters, from Missy to Danny Pink to Twelve himself.

3.

Fargo, season 1
I will be the first one to admit that I didn't think this show would work, and I became a Fargo the movie fan last year itself so that was pretty pretentious of me. I will have you know that I was obviously completely wrong and idiotic, as all pretentious people are, and this show is fucking genius! It is so funny and dark and filled with so many great characters. The time shift was one of my favourite moments of television last year. I love the violence in it because it is actually entertaining and not gratuitous. Also, like Jane the Virgin, it is so awesome to champion a truly good protagonist.

2.

Broad City, season 1
I feel like this is a show I needed all my life and I didn't even know it and I am so glad that I have found it. I keep rewatching it because it makes me cry with laughter. It is totally insane but in such a good way! I just can't get enough of it.

1.

Sherlock, series 3
You guys know how impatient I am, right? I mean, I don't ever publish reviews here because I get bored while writing them and I want something else. Watching a western seems like the cruelest punishment one can give me. All of this has a point, I promise, and that is it has to be a very special kind of show that will make ME wait two years for it and then deliver something that will make me willing to wait even longer after that. And that was what series 3 of Sherlock was. True, they were not able to really match up to expectations with "The Empty Hearse" but even in a lesser episode like that, there were countless moments of gold. Then we got "The Sign of Three" and "His Last Vow" which were the funniest and the darkest episodes of the show respectively, and well, some of its best.
If you watch this show as much as I do, you see that every series is a movement into developing the character of Sherlock who has gone from a "high functioning sociopath" to basically a total softy who deeply cares about a few but significant people in his life and can do any and everything for them. And none of that is possible without giving due importance to these other characters who also get their time to shine. I swear, I am not merely fangirling. This show and this series are excellent television in every sense.

Phew! If you've made it this far, here's a virtual pat on the back from me to you *pats and then subtly wipes her hand on her clothes*. I will soon start with the film version of this post and those will be shorter and more varied. Yayy for blogging!

What do you all think? What were your favourites?