Retrospective is a monthly post to rewind all of the happenings, thoughts, and discussions here at thoughts and afterthoughts.
A Rewind Of:
Jan // 2016
Reviews:
Reviews pending: Glass Sword, A Gathering of Shadows, The Great American Whatever
Think Aloud:
#26 – Why Are Heroes/Villains Never Stuck in Traffic?
#27 – The Absurdity of Protagonists Remembering Everyone They’ve Met
Alternatives:
Television – Pilot Review: The Magicians (Lev Grossman)
Television – Pilot Review: Shadowhunters (Cassandra Clare)
Film – Review: Sicario (2015)
Memes (Top Ten Tuesday):
#89 – 2016 Book Blogger Resolutions
#90 – 2015 Debut Releases I Didn’t Get To
#91 – Books Recently Shuffled on the TBR Pile
#92 – Characters Who’d Make Terrible Hostages
Miscellaneous:
2016 Challenges: Book Blogging Discussion
Tags: Celebrity Book Tag
Tags: The Pixar Book Tag
Tags: The Desert Island Book Tag
Book Haul: New Years [Jan] Book Haul
Canada Reads 2016: Shortlist & Panelists
Other Feels:
Television (Not a full list of what I watch):
(If you love to talk television, hit me up on Twitter and we can share feels together!)
Arrow S4: How about that tombstone though? I’m still not ruling out “that character’s eventual fate” — speaking in code, of course.
Criminal Minds S11: THE BROMANCE BETWEEN MORGAN AND REID IS STRONG. The other episodes were meh.
iZombie S2: Liv is the Many-Faced God.
Limitless S1: Continues to be ridiculous. But bearably enjoyable.
Legends of Tomorrow S1: I’ll admit: the pilot was pretty meh. The ensemble is pretty huge soooooo we’ll see how this’ll go.
Lucifer S1: I quite enjoyed the pilot for this show, particular Tom Ellis as Lucifer. But I think it’s the dialogue that’s really spot on. Admittedly, the Lucifer-powers are ridiculous and in the same line as Limitless.
Making a Murderer S1: This show. THIS. [EXPLETIVE]. [EXPLETIVE]. [EXPLETIVE]. [EXPLETIVE]. SHOW. CALL ANNALISE KEATING AND THE FAB 5 TO WRECK HAVOC ON KEN KRATZ AND LEN KACHINSKY AND THAT NON JUDGE AND ALL THOSE POPO’S AND THAT STEP FATHER AND THAT BROTHER AND OADHASIHDAUSDHAAUHDSA. Shit. (It also doesn’t help my heart that I’m actively following MaM’s Reddit -____-…)
Reign S3: This show goes from 0-to-100 for everything that’s happening = difficult to enjoy.
Shadowhunters S1: I’ll give the first season a shot, probably, but the writing and dialogue and acting are incredibly subpar. IT’S ONE OF THOSE SHOWS YOU CAN’T HELP BUT WATCH.
Suits S5: HOLY SHIT THIS NEW ARC IS SO INTENSE OMGGGGG.
The Bachelor S20: *Breathes* YES I WATCHED THIS BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT ON TWITTER. I haven’t followed this show in more than a decade. Were there always this many mean girls? While I’m glad Lace is gone, Olivia needs to peace out. And that episode where Ben lost a relative and people be bullyin’ Jubilee comfort him via a massage while Olivia is like talking about her cankles and everyone else is mean girling it. Wowoowow.
Up until episode 5: I think my favourite to win is Lauren B. As much as I really like Amanda, I do feel like her kids gonna be a factor. I think Caila will go far but she sketches me out because in her first ep interview…she basically implied she left her boyfriend because she saw Ben on television. Jojo seems pretty chill too. Jubilee was okay in the beginning but the anxiety/insecurities caught up to her. It was self inflicted and I feel so bad for her because of that.
I do love the “Olivia” mystery music that plays. Did I mention Olivia is crazy? Yeah she da cray cray…
The 100 S3: I feel like I don’t even remember what happened at the end of season two…
The Blacklist S3: Part 1 of the 2 part “The Director” arc on the Winter return was so good, though I enjoyed the first part more. What’s important is my ship coming into fruition. Life is good.
The Flash S2: Technically behind on this show after it came back this month.
The Magicians S1: After episode 2, I totally understand why Quentin is so awkwardly acted. Fun moment of ep. 3: when the magical books were having sex LOLLLL.
The Vampire Diaries S7: …ok but no one likes Lily, so that Winter return episode (S7E10) was a waste of time tbh.
Top Chef S13: My fave chefs (Kwame, Carl, Jeremy, Isaac, and Marjorie) are still in it.
Unforgettable S4: My interest in this show has dwindled since I followed it back in season 1.
Films:
The Martian: Between Gravity, Interstellar, and The Martian, I couldn’t tell you which one I liked more.
Everest: This film made my hands clammy.
Music:
(Maroon bolded names link to the track for easy peasy listening)
EDM/Pop:
Cash Cash – Aftershock (feat. Jacquie Lee): The name of the singer here was so familiar — then I remembered she was on that one season of The Voice (not that I watched it).
Benny Benassi & Vassi – Even If: Easy peasy song to walk around life with.
Gryffin – Heading Home (feat. Josef Salvat): Oddly therapeutic.
Sia – This is Acting: I read an article mentioning how you could make a game out of listening to this album and think of which artist it was originally intended for. Some good songs on it though.
A Cappella:
Pitch, Please! – I Can’t Make You Love Me (opb. Bonnie Raitt): It’s the second song in their Boston Sings 2015 set; which is reminiscent to slam poetry (thematically feminism) meets a cappella. It’s powerful, really.
Reverb – Save Your Soul (opb. Jamie Cullum): I linked the entire album on Spotify (because many were solid arrangements) but it’s this song that I’ve added to my shower mix LOL.
Afterthoughts:
WINTER TV IS BACK.
Cheers,
Joey
connect: afterthoughtAn // twitter | anotherafterthought // goodreads
(disclaimer: retrospective banner textures from topwalls)
Tom Ellis is everything.
SUITS. So intense. I’m wondering what sort of past the attorney has with Pearson Spector Litt. There must be something for her to work so hard to bring everyone down.
I can’t even watch Shadowhunters anymore. I tried but the acting 90% crap and the writing is 129% crap.
I will not judge you for watching the Bachelor. I will not I will not I will not. I am slightly tempted to join in. Mainly because Ben.
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The Bachelor was sheer peer pressure of everyone talking about it on Twitter. I couldn’t help but watch–much like Shadowhunters, that it’s so bad it’s good. SIGH.
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YAY for TV. I swear it’s so hard to keep up. I’m loving Lucifer too!
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I’ve slowly forgot about some shows that were good but I just got behind on watching. I loved it when Lucifer tried to play fetch with the detectives daughter LOL.
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Hilarious! I love his dialogue and witty remarks 😛
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On Arrow, I don’t have a theory really on the tombstone; I still need to watch Lucifer, so I’m glad to hear a positive review; Totally agree with you on Blacklist – love that show! I also agree with you on Lily from TVD and I still need to catch up on The Magicians. Awesome post 🙂
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Lucifer is one of those cop shows where story is blah but the character portrayal/acting, I think, is what makes the concept fun. This whole Lily’s family shit in TVD and whatever stone thing is such a hassle to watch.
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So many things to comment on! First, loving that Blacklist SHIP! Second, I gave up on Shadow Hunters after 3/4 of an episode. Too horrible! And I even like some of those actors in different roles. Third, we’re loving The Magicians at my house. Finally, love Benny Benassi and this song!
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The Magicians is definitely the show that’s surprising me this season so far (although maybe it’s because I haven’t read the books?).
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I don’t know. It’s surprising me and I read the first one. 🙂
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OH MY GOSH WHEN CASH CASH RELEASED THAT I WAS LIKE ASDFGHJKL YES~! I didn’t love Escarolet (idk if thats how its spelt??) but yeah i was like I WANT MORE PROGRESSIVE HOUSE CASH CASH STUFF and THEY DELIVERED 😀
I have yet to watch Gravity and The Martian – but I LOVED INTERSTELLAR. I should definitely watch the first two then right??
And then there’s Shadowhunters…it was so cringeworthy hahaha xD But it’s really interesting to see what modifications they’ve made from the books! 🙂
GREAT POST – I could relate to a lot here!! 😀
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Everyone is loving Truthwitch. I just don’t know if I want to read it or not. What, you didn’t watch Grease Live?!?! COME ON JOEY.
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I saw everyone tweeting about Grease Live buuuut it’s not for me I guess. If you’re into the idea of TW, you could wait till all 4 books are released.
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FOUR BOOKS! why. Why do authors think that’s necessary. I can’t even.
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Four is the new three.
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Same thoughts on Shadowhunters. I hope they invest more on writing as they did on the casting.
I would have wanted to watch Making a Murderer but my loyalty’s kinda biased to HTGAWM (what’s taking them so long to be baaack?!). Is it different?
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MAKING A MURDERER IS A DOCUMENTARY THOUGH AND YOU’LL TRULY UNDERSTAND MY ANNALISE COMMENT ONCE YOU WATCH IT. At least give ep 1 a try — then, goodbye to the next 9 hours.
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The return of TVD was the most useless thing ever ….
OMG! THE BOOKS ON THE MAGICIANS!!! I had to laugh so much. The actors are really nice on Twitter by the way. I had somewhat of a conversation with the guy who plays Penny, because he wouldn’t stop teasing me about next week’s episode being even better than the last one.
Tom and Liz might have a real chance, at least that’s what I thought before I saw the promo for next week. Now there is only angst.
How can you still watch Reign? I have sort of given up on that …
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I think that was one of Ian’s best acting in TVD in a while but the whole thing was so convoluted (especially the “cliffhanger”…like please you’re just going to revive everyone again since they aren’t in “Present Day”)
I’m 3 seasons deep in Reign I just feel like I have to continue watching it until the show withers and dies (does that sound terrible? probably).
I don’t know if The Magicians will get more “serious” but I do love how it doesn’t take itself or the genre too seriously.
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It was great acting on Ian’s part, but the episode still felt unnecessary to me. With an ensemble cast it doesn’t always work for me to single out just one character. It worked amazingly well with Jemma on AoS, but here … i don’t know … it felt like it stunted the story flow.
I get it … sometimes I can’t stop with a show either … however, Reign just didn’t last with me.
I like that about the Magicians too. I generally am quite happy with what they have turned it into.
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It’s probably a mix of questionable writing to an already dying show that makes it even worse (compounded by no one really caring for forced Lily/Damon dynamics).
Let’s just hope the Magicians gets more views because it’s ratings are only okay.
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Syfy ratings are never over the moon though and a lot of shows have lived on to have many seasons still.
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I might have shared a tear when that moment between Reid and Morgan happened… maybe…
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I feel you. Bromance game is strong.
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yes… and it’s Reid… everything is more when it’s Reid involved
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Esp. Reid directed episodes.
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i love those. they’re always the creepiest
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I’ve yet to watch Legends of Tomorrow but any show with Wentworth Miller in it is always a plus for me haha. We need to talk about Arrow though. I have so many new theories about the grave and who put the person in that grave!!
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I’m actually 1…..? 2? weeks behind on Arrow so I will follow up when I watch it!
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I haven’t managed to get Truthwitch read yet. It’s on my TBR and I’m still pretty curious. I’ve also listened to the Evolve album too. It’s awesome. Cool post. I enjoyed reading it.
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I hope you enjoy Truthwitch then and definitely let me know what you think of it (if you remember haha). Evolve was so good! I just cannot believe how fast Save Your Soul, which I’ve never heard before prior-to this album, rose the ranks to become a shower-belty song.
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So ready for ALL THE WINTER TV. Caught myself up on American Crime and Agent Carter and eagerly await HTGAWM!
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Since this reply is late and comes a few days after HTGAWM aired, the opening return episode was so good. Such wow.
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Seriously! It gave me chiiiiilllllssss
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