I have not watched every television show so really a top 5 is about what I was able to encounter that filled me with joy:

The core friendships and workplace struggles were always more unique than any romantic elements in this show. Moments like Molly’s involvement in the firing of the intern way back in season 1, for instance, are searing, while the will-they-won’t-they just feels so beside the point.

“Leering” is certainly in the eye of the beholder!

I truly thought Mary was going to find herself an alternative Leon Black to join her in Asia.

A Little Life sucked -- just crazy fetishistic of violence.

Enrico’s character wants to take them to Clark’s museum at the airport from everything we’ve been shown (I’m not burdened with the novel’s plotline, so I’m drawing only from the show). 

Clark got so caught up in being the center of attention — something he lacked his entire life — that it’s obvious why Tyler grew disillusioned. The killing of the survivor showed Tyler first hand that the adults were less interested in healing and renewal than they were fear and control. No wonder he began to identify…

Isn’t the formula as simple as: if a show is aimed at a demographic that predates the recap and meme generations then it becomes inherently invisible in the spaces that are designed for those generations? I don’t know that critics are out of touch; I’d argue they’re very much in touch — with their particular audience.

South Side is just waiting there to be experienced. 

Big difference between being the star and being a guest/side player. As a star, I imagine one becomes accustomed to people giving you free space to be you.

Just a note: Hemon’s Nowhere Man novel is fantastic.

It really makes no sense that Dennis wouldn’t get vaxxed. He’d look at anti-vaxxers and think of them as lowly trash, ignorant, uneducated — the opposite of everything he prides himself on. Honestly, maybe Mac (maybe religious reasons?) or Frank (“the libs want to track me, Chaaaaahlie”) could be candidates, but…

I’ve missed Chad! glad to have him get one more curtain call.

Still waiting to see what’s going to happen with Leon’s trip to Asia. Maybe he can just meet someone special and she can legally change her name? 

Most citations I see point to 1940, which makes it pretty poignant — it’s the last normal Christmas for the family and the country before all hell breaks loose. No wonder the adult narrator would look back at this so fondly.

My Last Man on Earth rewatch primed me for this. Cannot wait. 

I enjoyed GG, but it’s not quite the same cat-and-mouse vibe I’m thinking of. 

Erotic thrillers were such a convention of the 80s-90s. Are there any good contemporary examples that refresh the model? 

I think that’s true but that can’t cancel out the damage done on the other end of the equation.

Is there anything more chilling than watching Logan Roy read a story to his grandson?