Netflix Recommends: Winter’s Bone (2010)

I am going to start a weekly series called “Netflix Recommends” where I will watch a movie that was recommended to me by Netflix. Genius, I know. Anyway, we’ll see how it goes.

Before Jennifer Lawrence was Katniss Everdeen, she played Ree Dolly, a 17-year-old living in rural Missouri and stuck with the task of raising her two younger siblings. Her mother is nearly catatonic and her father cooks meth and is frequently in and out of jail. When her dad goes missing and misses his court date, Ree finds out that he put their house up for collateral, and if he doesn’t show up she and her family will be homeless. Knowing that he is dead, Ree sets out to get the proof to save her family before the bail bondsman comes to collect his debt.

Living in the cold, dark Ozarks, is Ree’s distant family who delve in the occasional illegal activity. When she approaches them and asks for help in finding her father, they are not willing to help her. After ruffling a few feathers, she gets beaten and dragged into a shed where it looks like she’s about to be killed. Turns out Ree’s dad talked to the sheriff to try to get a lesser sentence. His family was none too happy about it either. After being saved by her uncle Teardrop, Ree finally understands what happened to her dad. He was a snitch, so they killed him. But that still doesn’t help save the house. She has to prove that her father is dead. After proving to Thump that she won’t talk and that she doesn’t care who killed her father, she gets taken to her father’s bones. I’m not going to reveal what happens, but that scene knocked me out with a swift punch to the gut. In the end, Ree is able to prove her father is dead, thus saving her family.

Lawrence is absolutely radiant in this film, and very deserved of the Academy Award nomination she received. What a talent. She plays Ree with quiet fierceness and strength. I wouldn’t want to mess with her, even though she’s not violent. She’s determined, and one of the most compelling female protagonists to grace the screen in sometime. The film is all about southern poverty where family loyalty means more than traditional law and order. The whole “we take care of our own” mentality is used to great effect as the family make their own rules and even manage to scare off the sheriff. Ree knows she’s going to be in danger so she teaches her younger brother and sister to hunt, shoot, cook, and fend for themselves. She’s not sure she’s going to make it out alive after talking with her distant family.

Winter’s Bone is not a happy film. In fact, I’m not sure Ree ever cracks one smile, as her stone-face facade never melts away. If you’ve ever been to the poverty stricken rural south, then this film hit close to home: abandoned houses, old cars left in front yards, stacks of tires left forgotten on the side of the house, loose dogs running around the dirt roads chasing cars. And absolutely dreary and depressing in the winter. Writer and director Debra Granik gives the movie a true, unromanticized Southern Gothic flair.

It’s a brilliant movie lead by Lawrence who gives a once-in-a-lifetime performance. A 17-year-old should not have the weight of the world on her shoulders, but she does so without complaint and with much aplomb. It’s a role she handles gracefully and it’s beautiful to watch. John Hawkes gives a moving performance as her uncle who reluctantly gets involved to help Ree.

I would definitely recommend this film. It’s got a quiet violence to it that is very intriguing in its portrayal. It’s not necessarily hard to watch, but it feels so real and intimate at times. The script (which is based on a novel by Daniel Woodrell) is simple yet effective. The direction is haunting and somehow allows the audience to feel the cold that Ree and the others were experiencing.

Netflix rating: Four stars
My rating: Four and a half stars

*Rated R for violent content, language, and some drug material*

Next up: In The Loop

I’m a big ole baby.

I love crying. I really do. As I’ve gotten older I cry much more than I used to, and now that I’m a mother I can cry at literally anything. When I was pregnant I made a list of things that made me cry on my other blog: you can read it here if you’re so inclined. The following are just a few of MANY movie scenes that make me cry. The list also includes one book and two television shows.

Serenity
Wash dies. He dies, you guys. Wash. The guy who flew Serenity and played with toy dinosaurs in the cock pit; married to Zoe and friends with everyone. When he gets killed by Reavers, Zoe and Malcolm and River and Jayne and all the rest of them can’t mourn him because they are all fighting for their lives. Once the battle is over, and Mal takes over as pilot, we see the toy dinosaurs still at his pilot’s station and the tears never stop coming.

Dumb & Dumber
This is a stupid movie that is really not that good and really doesn’t hold up after all this time. But there’s a scene in the movie where Jim Carrey’s Lloyd looks over to Jeff Daniels’ Harry and says that he’s “sick of being a nobody. Of having nobody” and I get misty every time. Even with his bad haircut and goofy teeth Carrey is able to still make me sad. It’s a tiny real moment in a giant physical comedy. (The scene starts around 3:30 on the following video)

Dead Poets Society
Of course this movie made me cry. I mean, come on. It’s got all the classic elements. This movie is a perfect example of how parents can control a kid and push them further away. Neil’s father thinks he knows what’s best, but Neil doesn’t want to be his father. I’m not normally a fan of Robin Williams, but I think he does an amazing job in this movie. But I cry for the wrong reasons because of why Neil commits suicide. He kills himself because his father was a huge jerk and could have cared less that acting made his son happy. Neil feels trapped, so in his adolescent strength and idealism he turns to what he thinks is vindication: killing himself.  It’s not the right choice, and he’s not being a coward by committing suicide. At least I don’t think so. I mean, I understand why he had to do it, but I don’t get it. I just think there was another way to get the point across to Neil’s father. I get so frustrated that every time I watch this movie I want to just turn it off and not finish it. “Oh Captain, My Captain” whatever, Walt Whitman.

Finding Neverland
Ugh. This movie. Now, granted, I watched the movie at the worst possible time on the worst night of my life. On June 11, 2005 my brother passed away. We stayed at my aunt and uncle’s house so that night I was wide awake while the rest of the house was asleep. My aunt Libby recommended this movie so I watched it because I love Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet and little boys who are amazing actors. Anyway, at the end when Peter’s eyes are full of tears as he’s mourning the loss of his mother, I totally lost it. To be honest with you, that whole day was such a blur, but I remember that moment like it was yesterday. I watched the movie a year or so later and cried just as I had when I originally watched it.

Homeward Bound
My silly husband wants to watch this movie at least once a year. He loves it, but I have to leave the room when Shadow and the gang cross the railroad tracks and the boards break and he falls into the muddy pit. Come on! He’s almost home. All he wants to do is see Peter. His Peter! When Chance and Sassy get reunited with Jamie and Hope, poor Peter looks at the horizon and knows that Shadow didn’t make it. The poor dog was just too old. But wait! Who is that limping up the hill just as Peter turns away with a tear in his eye? It’s Shadow! The two get reunited and it is beautiful! Movies with animals and or kids really tip me over the edge. This one has both!

Marley & Me
Probably the most obvious choice on the list. I can’t help it. I remember seeing this with my friend Becky in the theatre and when the credits were rolling and the lights came back on, we both looked at each other with tears in our eyes. We were clenching onto our seats and hugging ourselves so tight. I read the book so I knew the ending — but honestly, a movie about a dog can really only end one way. See also: Old Yeller, White Fang, Where the Red Fern Grows, etc. — but it still got me, man. Hmm, I’m noticing a trend on this list.

Mighty Joe Young
I remember watching this movie at my grandmother’s house with my brother. I was laying on the floor and my brother was on the couch. As Joe saves the kid from the collapsing Ferris wheel (King Kong much?), and falls to the ground and Jill is crying over his lifeless body, I might have shed a tear or two. Even better was when I looked over at my brother and he too was crying. We shared a look that said “aww, how sad.” And also, “let’s never tell anyone about this ever.” Later on, though, he made fun of my for crying over a gorilla, but I got him back by telling everyone he did the same thing. Hahahahaha. (The gorilla was fine, by the way. As we all knew he would be.)

My Girl
11-year-old Vada Sultenfuss (best name ever?) has one friend, Thomas. One day she loses a mood ring while the two were playing and he goes to find it for her. When he does, he gets attacked by bees and dies of an allergic reaction. Vada thinks it’s her fault he died, just like she thinks it’s her fault her mom died while she was giving birth to Vada. After Vada breaks down at the funeral and runs out of the house, her dad Harry tells her that it wasn’t her fault Thomas died, and he tells her that her mother dying was not her fault. He says that mothers dying in childbirth aren’t anybody’s fault; sometimes they just happen without explanation. By hearing this she is able to make new friends and let herself off the hook. But not before she ripped my heart out of my chest.

Casper
Good Lord. This movie. He’s a friendly ghost, guys! I can’t watch this movie with anyone else less they make fun of me for becoming a blubbering fool. When Casper asks if he can keep Kat is all it takes to get me going. I will walk up to someone and say, “can I keep you” and if they don’t know what I am talking about then I want to slap then and set them straight. But that’s not it. Oh no, there’s more. Casper gives up his one chance at being a human in order to bring Kat’s dad back to life. He sits on his bed, sad and alone, when Kat’s angel mother allows him to take human form and dance with Kat. And it’s lovely. If you don’t roll around on the floor and become a wheezy snotty mess then we can never be friends. Now if you’ll excuse me I am going to go cry on this wall.

The Champ
When little Ricky Schroder looks down at the dead body of Champ and begins crying over him is the saddest scene in the history of the universe. I will fight anyone who disagrees with me. He starts crying and screaming: “Wake up. Wake up Champ. Please wake up. Don’t go to sleep now. We’ve gotta go home. Let’s go home, Champ. Wake up! Wake up! I want Champ! He’s not dead! I want Champ! He’s not gone! I want Champ!” If you don’t cry when the doctor and Jackie have to literally pull T.J. off of Champ’s body then you are seriously made of wood. Heartbreaking.

Children of Men
I like Dystopian stories because I think they serve as reminders of what could totally happen if we don’t get our act together. Just kidding. None of that could ever happen. Or can it? Hmmm. This is such a fantastic movie, and the camera work is some of the greatest in movie history. In this movie, the world’s youngest person has just died and the human race is facing extinction. On top of that, women can no longer procreate. Theo Faron finally gets the young pregnant girl into the boat and they sail away to safety. It’s such an emotional moment because she is humanity’s salvation. The true magic of this movie is that it gives the birth of a human being its true meaning. We only appreciate the value of fertility once we have lost it. But really, the movie’s not that realistic, but wow is it visually impressive.

Up
This is probably one of Pixar’s best films, but those first ten minutes are a doozy. Carl and Ellie meet as children, grow up, get married, have adventures, and then she dies. It’s horrible because Carl is now alone and so so so sad. So he and the adorable Russell go to South America, a place where he always wanted to go with Ellie. What a punch to the gut, Pixar.

The Lovely Bones
I haven’t seen this movie for reasons that will soon become clear. There are scenes in the this book that made me cry, but I mostly cried out of anger at one particular scene. Anger, guys! Susie Salmon gets raped and murdered and she spends her time in a world between heaven and earth helping her family accept her death and begin healing from it. It’s actually a beautiful story of a young girl who hasn’t accepted that she is dead and her family continue to cling to hope that she will someday return. I cried several times throughout, like openly weeping and clutching the book while my tears stained the pages. But there’s this one part of the book that made me throw it away in frustration. I mean, I got the book, threw it at the wall and was so angry for weeks that I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. I finally finished it and have never picked it back up to read it. That’s how angry I was. Susie’s friend Ruth finds out who killed Susie, so she and Susie basically switch positions: Susie’s spirit is now in Ruth’s body so she decides to sleep with her old crush Ray, who also realizes that it is Susie and not Ruth. After they make love, she has to return to heaven and leaves poor Ruth’s body. It’s an overall good story with one horrible part. I didn’t even care about the ending I was so angry. I actually cried tears of anger at something and I don’t know when I have last done that. UGH!!!

Doctor Who
When it was time for David Tennant’s tenth doctor to regenerate, and he says “I don’t want to go” I actually cried. He’s my favorite doctor and I didn’t want him to leave either.

Any episode of Friday Night Lights
No show made me cry more than Friday Night Lights. Pick any episode and I will tell you where I cried and why.

Honorable mentions (I don’t always cry but have in the past):
An Affair To Remember – She’s paralyzed!
Rudy – Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!
A Walk To Remember – Cancer sucks.
The Lion King – Mufasa dies!
Requiem For A Dream – Drugs are bad.
Star Wars - Must I explain why?
The Last Unicorn
King Kong

Movies I Have Never Cried During (I have no soul, apparently):
Titantic (I know!)
Jurassic Park
Pearl Harbor
Lord of the Rings
Benjamin Button
Braveheart
Seven Pounds

My Two Dogs

We have two dogs. When we first got married we got dog number one: a heeler/Australian shepherd mix. We named her Abby and she was and still is insane. We then moved into a two-bedroom duplex and decided we needed another dog. Dog number two is a Golden Retriever named Darcy and she was not insane. Notice the past tense. She was actually calm but she liked to chew on this spot on one wall by the bathroom and scratch the paint off the back door. But she was mostly awesome. If we got a cat then it would be like Homeward Bound, but alas, I’m allergic, so we pretend the cat is on top of the bookshelves or hiding in the closet. You know. As one does.

Now having two dogs isn’t really that much different from having one. We just have to buy more food and there’s more hair on the furniture. But really that’s it. Plus, when you come home from work after a long day there are two happy things waiting for you to come home. It’s great. They play with each other and sleep together and really love each other. It’s so sweet.

The problem with having two dogs is when things get destroyed or torn up. You don’t know which one to punish. Sometimes it’s both, but when it’s not, how do I punish them? Dogs are actually really good at punishing themselves. I got home from work one day and the refrigerator door was open and both dogs wouldn’t look me in the eye. They shredded a phone book and acted so guilty the minute I got home. These are wonderful disasters to come home to, actually, because the dogs have had the best time and the minute I get home their tails are between their legs, they try to get as close to the floor as possible, and they do the blame game. If Darcy has torn up yet another sock, Abby will look at me, get real close and paw at Darcy, thus revealing the offender. Darcy will then hang her head in shame which is pretty much a confession. If Abby has torn up a bill or has gotten something off the table, Darcy will sort of nip at her and Abby tries to stay strong, but she has to admit defeat and confess her crimes. They then both have to go outside and think about what they’ve done. Which basically involves them chasing each other all over the backyard.

But my absolute favorite is when they try to cover for each other. It’s like they both want to confess to the crime and then expect to get hugs and cuddled. (They aren’t allowed treats anymore because they both need to lose weight.) So here’s the scene: I get home and one of my son’s bibs is on the floor with a hole chewed in it and there’s also a mess from where they got into the trash. Now, using the power of deduction (and because I have seen about 200 episodes of Law & Order, and Law& Order:SVU which makes me an expert in such matters) I can conclude that in all likelihood, Darcy ate the bib and Abby got into the trash. That’s just how it usually goes by my powers of deducing and the knowledge of all the L&O episodes I’ve seen (which are really lacking in animal-related crimes). I find the evidence and begin pointing my finger at the bib and at Darcy. But Abby gets jealous that she’s not included in this little indiscretion, and makes her way over to me. Abby and Darcy BOTH cower down, wag their tails, sort of hide under each other and stare at me. When I get further into the house and see the garbage on the floor, the same thing occurs, except this time there is whining involved as they try to hide under the table. After the scolding (which basically is me tsk tsking at them with my finger pointed at them while humming the L&O theme [the original is the best, guys] — stern, I know.) they slowly unwrap themselves off of each other and make their apologies. They both get super sweet and lift their paws at me while we shake hands and resolve the matter at hand.

So that’s what it’s like having two very spoiled dogs. It’s fun. You should all try it. But heaven forbid you leave for three days and have a friend check on them and feed them because they will be mad at you for a week or more. I think to a dog that for every day you’re gone then that equals about three days of them being mad at you. Everyone knows this. I think I learned it in an episode of Law & Order, actually. And no matter what you do, they will never forgive you even if you try to give them cheeseburgers. Which is something I have never done. Honest.

(Please don’t tell Robert.)

My Son’s Favorite Band is AC/DC.

My greatest fear in life is being a parent.  Just look at all the responsibility it involves. It’s such a frightening thought. I mean, what if my kid decides to kill someone or something? That’s, like, my fault, right? It’s horrifying and so challenging. But you know what? I’m so ready for it. I mean, right now I can do just about anything to my kid and it won’t mess him up. I won’t always get that privilege, so right now we watch lots of television and I let the dogs lick the milk off of his face. DON’T JUDGE ME!

Before my son was born I had a horrific thought: what if we have absolutely nothing in common? I mean, how will we be able to communicate? Well, it’s finally happened. He likes something that I don’t and I am having to deal with it while I am crying inside.

My grandfather passed away about a month ago so we had to go to Houston for the funeral. It’s a ten hour drive, and with a newborn, it was quite challenging. But we motored through and stopped only when needed. Well we were almost to my dad’s house and we had been in the car for ten hours and we were tired and hungry and hot and cramped and my son starts screaming. Like, blood-curling, ears red, hands clenched, tears falling out of his eyes screaming. And we were in downtown Houston making our way through traffic trying to get to my dad’s and hurrying to get to the funeral home and we weren’t going to stop. We decided to turn on the radio and see if it would calm him down. Music usually does, but nothing was working. We tried country, pop, classical, sports talk, hip-hop. Nothing. Just screams. Finally we found a station that was playing AC/DC’s “Back in Black” and he loved it. He stopped screaming. He fell asleep. For four minutes we had glorious quiet. But as soon as the song was over he was unhappy again, and since the radio was no longer playing AC/DC, I had to get my phone out and YouTube a bunch of AC/DC songs. It worked! He loved it.

And I was so furious. I do not like AC/DC. Angus Young and his shorts can just go away. I mean, sure, they’re a bunch of talented guys, but I just don’t like them. If it has to be classic rock then give me Zeppelin, The Who, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, ZZ Top, and so many others. But AC/DC? Come on. I even took a course on AC/DC circuits in high school. I liked it. We wired a house and installed motion lights. It was fun. I LIKED that AC/DC, but the more famous AC/DC make my ears bleed.

And since that incident it has only gotten worse. I have exactly one AC/DC song on my iPod and it has since become the most played song in my library. I have created an AC/DC Pandora station and regularly play AC/DC YouTube videos for my son. (Because I refuse to buy a whole album. I love you, son, but it’s not going to happen.)

Many of you are probably saying, “but Jordan, he’s only three months old. He won’t always like AC/DC. It’s just a phase.” But guys. What if it’s not? What if it’s something he will like for the rest of his life? His first words will probably be “for those about to rock we salute you.”

I guess I am just going to have to buy him a set of baby headphones so he can listen to AC/DC in peace. It’s been a fun three months, kid. I knew it was too good to last. For the rest of your life I will shake my fist at the heavens and scream “WHY” as you go along your merry way listening to stuff I don’t like nor understand. Oh my gosh — what if he doesn’t like the same tv shows as me? What will we do then?

 

My Favorite Female TV Characters

Since this is such a great time for television, that means there are some fantastic female characters lurking around. Here’s a list of my favorite female characters.

10. Gemma Teller (Katie Sagal)/Tara Knowles (Maggie Siff), Sons of Anarchy
In season two, Gemma’s grandson — and Tara’s stepson– gets kidnapped by the Irish. So Gemma and the rest of the Sons go to Ireland to find Able, and find that he had been adopted by a nice family. While in the orphanage, Gemma grabs a baby and holds a gun to its head, claiming she would shoot the baby if the nuns didn’t tell her where her grandson was. And we sort of believed her. We believed that she would pull the trigger, killing an innocent baby. I mean, she pretty much had her first husband killed because he was going soft. Gemma is this tough, hardcore biker chick who is actually really all about family. Family comes first to her and she would do anything in her power to keep her family safe. She gets gang raped, too, and doesn’t tell her family because she believed she was keeping them safe. She decides to take Tara under her wing and help her as well. Tara really grows as a character, and becomes Gemma-like in many ways. She has been put through the ringer in the few years we have known her. She gets kidnapped and has to kill someone just to stay alive. She gets her hand completely smashed when she almost gets taken (again!) by these guys wanting to kill her because she knows the truth about what Gemma and Clay did to John, Gemma’s first husband. She a mom to two boys, and loves it, but doesn’t love what Jax does. Being in a biker gang is tough, guys, but these two women — in a very male cast — can hold their own against whatever comes their way.

9. Starbuck/Kara Thrace (Katee Sackhoff), Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica was a frustrating show, but the ending was one that left viewers unsatisfied. What was Starbuck? She wasn’t a Cylon, but was she human? When her fighter jet blows up and she goes missing in action, we all assume she is good and truly dead. When she returns later to help the fleet find Earth, we wonder who and what Starbuck is. She’s a fighter, she’s rebellious, she drinks  too much, she’s incredibly annoying at times, she confrontational, and likes to kill Leoben over and over. But she’s also religious and honorable and flat out crazy. When the fleet finally get to Earth, Starbuck’s mission is finally complete so she leaves. Like, one minute she was talking to Apollo, and the next she just vanishes. Since Laura Roslin was the Moses figure, we knew she would die before she got to see the promised land, but Starbuck disappearing into the wind just left me confused and a little irritated. To this day I am still trying to figure out Starbuck.

8. Charlotte “Chuck” Charles (Anna Friel), Pushing Daisies
Oh, Pushing Daisies. What a perfect show. Ned is a pie maker who has a special gift — he can bring people back to life for one minute with a simple touch. If the person stays alive for longer than one minute, then someone near must die in their place. Also, one touch equals life, and another touch will make that person dead forever. When Ned finds out that his childhood sweetheart, Chuck, died in a freak accident, he decides to bring her back to life and keep her alive. The two fall in love with each other, but can never touch and they are absolutely adorable. Chuck helps Ned — and Emerson and Olive, too — in their PI business, while also helping out in his pie shop. Please, check out this short-lived, brilliant comedy.   

7. Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), Doctor Who
There have been so many doctors and companions in this show’s almost 50-year run, and Amy is one of my favorite companions. I liked Rose, and thought she grew to be an amazing character, but there’s just something about Amy Pond that I adore. Known as “the girl who waited” Amy really loves traveling with the Doctor. She loves the Doctor, but is not in love with him. She’s totally committed to her husband, Rory. The Doctor is her best friend. She gets left and has wait on Rory and the Doctor for 36 years. Her daughter gets taken. Her husband dies and ceases to ever exist. She finds out that the woman she knows as River Song is actually her daughter, Melody Pond (time travel, guys!). She has helped to defeat Daleks and faced the Weeping Angels. She meets Vincent van Gogh and The Silence. She sticks with the doctor through thick and thin and continues to grow after every adventure in the TARDIS.

6. Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), Luther
Alice is an incredibly complex character. This is woman who killed her parents and her dog and then hid the murder weapon INSIDE of the dog. John Luther is a cop and knows Alice killed her parents, but cannot prove it. The two have this twisted relationship, but not a romantic one. Alice may be in love with Luther, but Luther is completely fascinated by this woman. Is she crazy? Psychotic? Incredibly intelligent? There’s so many questions about her and why they are obsessed with each other. I love Alice and really hopes she returns.  

5. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), The X-Files
The X-Files was the first show I remember really, truly obsessing about. It’s the show that triggered my love for TV. Skeptic Dana Scully is an FBI special agent who gets partnered up with conspiracy loving, alien believing, Fox Mulder. Her job is to discredit the X-Files (unsolved cases involving the paranormal) and Mulder, but during the series’ nine year run, she sort of becomes a believer. After everything she and Mulder see and do, she can’t really go on not believing in the paranormal. Scully starts out as this young, sort of naive FBI agent with no idea what she is about to uncover. After nine long years and two movies, she and Mulder are closer than ever and her naivety turns into strength and courage and belief.

4. Ruth Evershed (Nicola Walker), Spooks/MI-5
Ruth Evershed is my favorite character in Spooks history. She’s not one of the slick, sexy spies that goes out in the field — she’s the nerd stuck behind the desk saving those spies. But, underneath her frumpy clothes is…a slick, sexy spy! Without her, and people like boss Harry Pearce, many people would have died and many missions would have failed. Ruth is the one who saves these officers without a lot of gratitude. She brave, stalwart, moral, a friend and she’s also a billion times better than any spy ever. I can’t think of one person who doesn’t like her, and her co-workers miss her when she’s gone. She’s a rock star at everything she does, and Walker really sells the performance, no matter how ludicrous and insane the plot seems. When Ruth fakes her death in order to save both Harry and MI-5 in the middle of season five, it was a huge loss to the show. Ruth was the person the audience could most relate to; the beating heart of the show. With that heart gone, we longed for its return. When she does return, she gets much bigger job and finds herself outside of the grid on numerous occasions. Even Harry tells her that she’s a born spy. She’s fantastic, and in season ten someone finally realizes her potential and recruits her for a job more fitting of her talents. She was the officer in the background, but by putting her at center stage allowed for Walker to show off her acting skills and have her play a much bigger role which she gracefully accepts. Her almost romance with Harry is one of television’s best unrequited love stories, and every touch and longing look leave the audience wanting more. When something bad happens to Ruth, she has to just let it go and move on. When something bad happens to me, I want to just lay in bed, play Adele and eat a whole bunch of ice cream and cry; Ruth can’t afford to do that, so she learns to set those feelings aside and remain strong. What I loved about Spooks was how no character was safe. Many of the main characters died, something you don’t see on American shows. Danny’s death was sudden and shocking, but Ruth’s death hurt. We wanted her and Harry to leave service and live in her house on the beach, but it wasn’t meant to be. I identify with Ruth in many ways, and she will forever remain my favorite spook.

3. Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), 30 Rock
I adore Tina Fey. I think she is brilliant, smart, and absolutely hysterical. I love that she started out as a writer on SNL and then someone took notice of her and put her on camera. From there she hosted “Weekend Update” with Jimmy Fallon, and then with Amy Poehler. She left the show to create, write, and star in 30 Rock. She later came back to SNL to play Sarah Palin, and her impression was one of a kind. To this day the line, “I can see Russia from my house!” still gets me. Out of all of the women on this list, I most identify with Liz. I mean, we’re both left-handed, we both wear glasses and Converse and hoodies, we’re both socially awkward, we both love food — especially cheese, and, well, you get the picture. Liz Lemon, you’re like my spirit animal! After six years, 30 Rock isn’t quite the same, but I will forever adore Tina Fey and Liz Lemon.  

2. Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), Parks and Recreation
Amy Poehler was a cast member on Saturday Night Live for eight seasons, and left the show to star in Parks and Recreation. One of my favorite Amy Poehler moments is when vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin came on Saturday Night Live in 2008 to discuss the McCain/Palin campaign on “Weekend Update.”. A nine-months pregnant Amy Poehler gets up, and on live TV, raps about Sarah Palin and William Ayers and Alaska and Russia and threatens a moose with a gun and it is fantastic. It is to this day my favorite thing I ever saw on SNL, and probably my favorite comedic performance of hers. It was a huge loss to SNL when Poehler left, but because Parks is so good, it makes it hard to really miss her on SNL. Leslie Knope is Deputy Director of the parks department in the small town of Pawnee, Indiana, and much like Ruth Evershed, she rocks at her job. She loves her job, and firmly believes that she has the most important job in the world, no matter how insignificant it really is. Leslie Knope will probably one day become President, guys. She knows what she wants and goes after it. Even when her coworkers get a little frustrated at her gung-ho attitude, they would do anything for her, as evident in the most recent season when they all step up in various roles to help out during her campaign for a position on the city council. Leslie will do whatever it takes to get results in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone else in the process. She wants people to like her, but not in a way that seems false or needy. Things in order of importance, according to Leslie: “Waffles, friends, work. Or, friends, waffles, work. Either way, work is third.” That’s who Leslie Knope is. She and Ann are best friends and she even finds Ann a job at city hall. Sulky April who really doesn’t like people grows to admire Leslie, and in one episode actually tells Leslie that she loves her. Ron Swanson, head of the department, knows that the parks department would cease to exist without her and the two have a mutual respect for each other. Leslie is sweet, caring, kind, and absolutely hilarious. the moment I fell in love with Leslie Knope is when officer Dave asks her out and she is so completely nervous to go on a first date. She goes on a practice date with Ann and she gets more and more nervous, that the only conversation topics she can come up with are whales, parades, and electricity. She’s so nervous that she gets drunk, picks up a Cockney accent, and goes to Dave’s house to tell him how much she is looking forward to their first date. He’s so understanding and sweet and so, so awkward with her. How can someone with such an optimistic attitude have such a negative sounding name?

1. Tami Taylor (Connie Britton), Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights is my favorite show of all time, and TV world is a sad place without it. Out of all the women on this list, Tami is the most normal: she’s a wife and a working mom. Tami is married to Eric, and together they are easily my favorite fictional couple ever — not just in television, but in all of fiction. Tami is a guidance counselor, and later principal, who, along with Eric, try to solve all the problems the young people of Dillon, TX have. She gives the best advice, too, whether to paralyzed Jason Street: “there’s no weakness in forgiveness” or to lazy Tim Riggins: “it’s part of my job to make sure you don’t grow up stupid. It’s bad for the world.” She always knows the right things to say, especially to daughter Julie. She makes a few mistakes, but she’s human as are we are. I love that Tami is a flawed character but strives to make things right. I love Connie Britton and there was not another person in the world who could have done this character. My favorite Tami storyline happens in season four, when a young pregnant student comes to Tami for advice. Tami gives her counsel and listens to the girl, something the girl desperately needed. When the girl decides to get an abortion (it was her own decision, not Tami’s), Tami gets caught in the cross hairs of a controversial political issue. When the school board asks for a public apology (for something she didn’t even do wrong in the first place) she refuses and decides to leave her job as principal and becomes counselor again at her husband’s school. In season five, she gets courted by a small university on the East Coast to head up their admissions department, and it causes problems for her and Eric. For as long as she has been married to Eric, his career determined their lives, and for once she is the one being pursued. Finally, Eric realizes how awesome his wife is, so the couple leave Texas and begin their lives in Pennsylvania. With the series ending, we knew the Taylor’s had to leave Dillon, and they took our hearts with them. “Ready to go home?” she asks Eric during the last minutes of the series. “Yeah. Let’s go home” he answers. Texas forever, Taylors! Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose!
 

“Like the love that let us share our name”

Guys. I had a baby. I’m a mom and it is awesome.

It really is. Right now my son is only 10-weeks-old, but he’s absolutely perfect. All he really does right now is poop, pee, eat, sleep, spit up and cry. Very loudly. He will poop and pee on me at the same time. He will spit up on me as soon as I put on a clean shirt. Right when I sit down to eat or try to sleep he decides he is hungry, too — his timing is definitely the worst. I haven’t washed my hair in four days. I haven’t gotten more than about five hours of sleep at a time since he has been born. I’m back at work and he doesn’t even miss me when I leave him. He prefers the ceiling and the ceiling fan over me. If I were a jealous woman then this would bother me, but, nope, I’m not. Not at all, guys. OK, maybe a little jealous. He will be completely asleep and the minute I lay him down in his crib he will begin to cry which turns into a scream. He always wants to be held and it’s really hard to put him down. My husband’s deep voice helps calm him for awhile, which makes my heart swell with pride.

When I have to get up in the middle of the night to feed him and he doesn’t want to go back to sleep, I get a little discouraged. When I can’t calm him down I get frustrated. When I see the giant scar on my belly from where he came from I sigh. When I see the stretch marks slowly begin to fade I get a little hopeful. So yeah, there’s lots of feelings I shouldn’t have, but you know what? It means I’m human. I’m able to take those feelings and set them aside. The feeling that I can’t do this passes. When I get him to sleep I get elated. The frustration turns into happiness; the sighs turn into encouragement.

Through all of these things that I have experienced in ten weeks, I have learned one thing: it is all so worth it. For the briefest of moments he will stare at me and then just smile, maybe finally knowing who I am. When he sleeps on my chest I can’t help but hold him tight as I smell his hair. When I see my husband hold him and talk to him I fall more in love. When he grabs my fingers and holds on tight I get a little teary. I love showing him off to people and taking him everywhere I go. I love putting him in the car and turning the music on and finding out which music he likes and what calms him down. So far The Civil Wars, Needtobreathe, Gotye, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Avett Brothers, Dolly Parton, Dawes, PJ Harvey, unfortunately, AC/DC and Jim Dale reading the Harry Potter books calm him down. He doesn’t like pop music (good boy) or rap. He has begun to laugh a little and it is the most beautiful sound in the world.

When I held my son for the first time I immediately fell in love with him. When I heard him cry and saw my husband hold our son for the very time, I was so overcome with emotion that the tears fell from my eyes in such a unique way. Never before in my life had I experienced this sort of emotion. I fell in love with my husband over a period of months. It started as respect, then friendship and it finally evolved into love. Over time I learned to love and forgive his past and his faults. Our love didn’t happen over night, and we have to work hard at it to keep that love strong. That’s what it’s like when we fall in love: it’s a slow burn that gradually gets more intense as time goes on. But with my son it was this immediate, ‘I will lay down my own life to save you’ kind of love. It is something that is so hard to put into words.

The Portuguese have a beautiful word called “saudade” that is used when someone is gone. There’s no real English equivalent, but it basically means, “the love that remains.” It’s the memories, moments, experience one wants to remember and hold on to long after that person is gone. It’s that intense desire to hold on to that person in an emotional way. We want to always remember that person that we miss so much that they still make our heart hurt and ache for them. It’s the kind of love that provides peace and healing. My brother passed away almost seven years ago and that’s the type of love that remains for my brother. Saudade is such a beautiful word that I want to share with everyone who is hurting and grieving.

The love I have for my son also doesn’t have a word, but it’s the kind of love that will never go away nor fade over time. I loved him before I ever met him. It makes my heart swell with pride when I hear him gurgle and coo. He has his dad’s dark eyes and a dimple on his right cheek, just like his dad. Our son came from an act of love between us and that love created our son. It is by far the thing in my life that I am most proud of and I cannot wait to watch our love get even stronger for our wonderful, perfect boy.

I’m sure in a few months I will be complaining about him grabbing all the books and movies off the shelves and hitting the dogs while we aren’t looking. I will still love him, but I think it will be a different kind of love. You know, the kind of love that provides patience and kindness toward him. And I cannot wait.

The title comes from this simple song by The Avett Brothers called “Murder in the City.” I just love it and it has been on repeat for the past few weeks. Take a listen.

Letter To My Son

I wrote this a few months ago on my other blog. Thought it was appropriate to post it here:

I wanted to write you this letter to share a few things with you. You see, there’s still a few months to go until I get to meet you, but I hope you will one day read this letter. If, for some awful reason, we never do get to meet, just know that I love you very much. One day you’re going to grow up and become a boy, then you will become a man. Before you grow up, though, I hope you read this letter and take heed the advice and wisdom I am about to impart on you.

I’m a grown woman who has both good and bad experiences with guys of all ages. You see, your dad is one of the good ones and has been nothing but good to me. Boys can be jerks, plain and simple. Especially high school boys. High school boys will say mean things to insecure girls because they believe they have power over them. That is not true, son. Men and women are equals and should be treated as such. Just because you’re a boy does not make you better than a girl. Being a boy actually gives you more responsibilities than girls. When you see another boy talking bad about another girl, then it is your responsibility to make him stop. When you see a girl walking down the hall carrying a heavy bag or has an arm load of books, offer to help carry the items. If you see a woman walking into a building the same time as you, then open the door for her and allow her to go first. It’s called being a gentleman, and no son of mine is going to put himself before a woman. Now, I know that women can take care of themselves and don’t need to be defended. When you stand up for a woman, don’t do it in a derogatory or accusatory tone. Women are not weak and do not want to be treated as such. It hurts when men see us that way. Just be kind and courteous and chivalrous and women will love you. Also, girls really don’t like it when you make fun of them. Actually, no one does, so don’t do it. Gossip is not good, either. Keep those things to yourself.

When it comes to violence, there is always another option. You know what the greatest weapon is in the world? Your mind. Use it. If someone starts a fight with you, hold back your anger and refrain from violence. Use common sense and words to resolve the situation. Yeah, I know boys get into scrapes and stuff, and I’m sure you will, but ask yourself if punching someone in the face is really the right way to solve something. You’ll both get hurt and the conflict will still be around, just waiting to be resolved.

Please, I beg you, please play video games, read comics, watch Star Wars and other “nerdy” sci-fi shows, and read Tolkien, George RR Martin, Rowling, Dickens, Twain, Lewis, Shakespeare, James, Byron, Wilde, Woolf, and countless other greats. That’s all your father and I did when we were younger (and still do to this day), and we came out perfectly fine. Learn how to use a sword to navigate your way through Hyrule, or a well-timed jump to defeat Bowser. Learn who Admiral Akbar is and what a Taun Taun is. If you hear us mention “Browncoats” or “The Doctor” you should be able to understand who and what we are talking about. I hate to tell you this, but time travel is still just a dream as of now. And finally, please read one Jane Austen novel before you marry.

Your father and I both believe in God. We have seen Him do miracles in both of our lives, but we have also seen the times where it seems like He abandons us. Our parents also believe in God and that’s where our faith began. But, my parents also allowed me the privilege to believe what I want to believe in. I am going to give that same opportunity to you. Yes, we will go to church, but there will be a point in your life where you will not be sure what you believe in. It is going to be up to you, and you alone, to find out exactly what you believe in. I will support you while you struggle with your faith. Your father and I are also political people, and while we don’t always agree politically, it’s important, just like religion, that you find out what is important to you and what you are passionate about. The most important thing, son, is to never allow others to sway what you believe in. You will a lot of people coming at you with all their differing viewpoints. Listen, learn, and engage. But, if you are swayed, make sure it is for the right reason and you truly believe it.

There will come a day when you will fall in love with someone. There will also be a day when that someone will break your heart. I will be there to pick you up. You will meet someone else and soon that person will be the love of your life. It may not be the last relationship you will be in, but you will learn things from that relationship. There will also, unfortunately, come a day where you will break someone else’s heart. It’s ok to do this. Trust me. The thing is, if it’s a woman, she might be angry with you and say things that will hurt you even more. She has no right to talk to you like that, but be a gentleman. Also, never break up with someone over the phone or through a text message. That’s weak, son, and the person you’re with deserves to be broken up with face-to-face. It’s probably going to be one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. Finally, never cheat on anyone. Be a better man than that.

There will also come the day when you’re going to want to take the next step in your relationship. Sex is a wonderful thing, but just because you’re dating someone does not mean you must have sex with that person. Ideally I would like for you to be thirty and married when you take that step. If, though, you don’t, just remember to be safe. Finally, if you break up with that person, that doesn’t mean you have to sleep with the next person you date. Just because you have sex once does not mean you have to every time or with every person. It’s OK to say no, and most of the time is the right thing to say. Never take advantage of a woman who has had too much alcohol and cannot make decisions for herself. A real man does not need to prove himself.

If you fall in love with another man instead of a woman then I will still love you. Just know that. Not everyone will, but I will. If you’re short or bald or blind or fat or weak or anything else, I will love you and you will always be perfect to me.

You’re going to go through a rebellious phase sometime in your life. Just remember two things: your mother has feelings, and earrings and tattoos can be removed. If you want to go crazy and get an earring, be my guest. If you want to get a tattoo, then be my guest. I will, however, not be paying for any of it. Also, by the time you’re a father you’ll be taking those earrings out and having those tattoos removed. See, just a waste of money, so you might as well invest it.

If you don’t grow up to be a doctor, or a famous actor, and find yourself in the most boring job with boring people, just remember one thing: unimportant people are often the most important people in the universe. This is a true statement and they are most often the people who make the biggest impact on the world. Just make sure you do something that makes you happy, and not because of the paycheck. Money is not the most important thing, no matter what we’re taught.

I love movies and television and music and literature. I hope to be able to relate to you in these areas. Also, your father will want to teach you how to play golf. Whether you want to or not, let him. You might actually love it. Also, I expect you to be able to play at least three instruments and to be fluent in Spanish, French, and possibly Mandarin. You will play soccer and basketball and baseball, but we might draw the line at football — especially while you are young. I know your grandfather is a football coach, but let’s wait until your brain is developed and you’re a little older before you go around tackling others and/or the one being tackled. You will also know how to cook and how to properly clean a bathroom. You will know how to laundry and how to wash dishes. That is just a given.

You will know about your uncle Jacob who lost his life to cancer at far too young an age.

And finally, there will come a day where you will leave and start a family of your own. When this happens, do not forget to remember me. Remember all the things your father and I taught you and teach others what you believe. I have no doubt that you will one day grow up to become a wonderful Godly man, and that you will have a spouse who adores you and children who look up to you. Maybe you will write them a letter similar to this one and share it with them. Either way, I can’t wait until that day. Until then, you’re going to have to put up with me being overprotective and overbearing. Just deal with it. I’ll even allow you to roll your eyes, if you’re so inclined.

There are many other things that I can’t wait to teach you and share with you. Until now, I leave you with this letter. If I can guarantee you one thing it’s that we’re going to have good times and bad times. We’re going to have tragedies and beautiful moments together. We’re going to have fun. I promise. And I can’t wait until that happens.

I love you,
Your Mother

2012 is the year the world ends

Or so we’ve all been told. Two years ago Robert and I went on a cruise and we made a stop in Cozumel. Well, one of our Mayan tour guides began to explain why the world won’t end in 2012, but I wasn’t paying attention because I had just fallen off of my giant ATV and my knee was really hurting and I was getting eaten by mosquitoes and I was trying really hard not to cry in front of everyone. So anyway, a Mayan was explaining and he didn’t seem too concerned about the end of the world, so neither will I.

Guys. I’m about to be a mom. A mother. A mommy. I’m going to be responsible for raising a child and making sure he learns right from wrong. I just pray that I like him and he doesn’t annoy me too much because even if that happens I’m not afraid to tell my son that he is being annoying. Also, I hope he’s taller than me. That is all. He can be anything else and I will love him forever. He keeps kicking me real hard and it feels like he is doing flips and stuff inside the womb. I think he’s going to be a gymnast or something. Or maybe a dancer. Maybe my son will actually dance with me since my husband won’t. So, I just decided in this moment to make him a dancer. Deal with it, husband. (Or take me dancing.)

With the new year comes resolutions and stuff, but all I vow to do is sleep more and become a mother. But since those two are directly related — especially during the first few months of his life — the former might be difficult. But no matter. Also, if I could lose ten pounds but eat anything I want then I want to do that, too.

I’m going to work on the blog and change things up a bit. I love TV and movies and music and books and love reading reviews and such so that’s what I going to start doing. I’m going to start writing more reviews, so this blog might turn into a blog just full of reviews. This is where you come in! I need your help. If you recommend something to me, I will write a review about it. Say, for instance, you want to know more about the movie “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” then I will go see it for you and let you know what I think. Fun, huh? So anyway, that’s what I’m going to start doing. Coming up next week you will see a few different things on this blog. I’m excited about it and this has long been a passion of mine. It will at least give me something to do while this baby continues to take over my body and refuse to let me do things comfortably.

So…that’s really it. Thanks for reading and I hope you continue to stick with me. God Bless.

Favorite Albums of 2011

Today’s post is all about my favorite albums of the year. I love music but I have a hard time writing about it; not sure why. Anyway, I will list my favorite albums and then my favorite tracks off those albums. Please feel free to include yours, too!

10. Scala & Kolacny Brothers - Scala & Kolacny Brothers
This is a Belgian girl’s choir that formed in 1996. This album was released on March 15th, and three days later they made their first US appearance at SXSW in Austin. They mostly cover songs in their own unique arrangements, and their most popular is probably the cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” that was used in the movie trailer for The Social Network. This album features covers of such songs as “Ironic,” “Champagne Supernova,” “Everlong,” “Use Somebody,” “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and many more, but my favorite is their arrangement of U2′s “With or Without You.” Here’s an old video:

9. Dawes – Nothing is Wrong
These guys have an almost folky, classic rock sound to them — something akin to Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Their music is simple yet mesmerizing. I’m not sure why, really, but I just can’t stop listening to this album. It’s good, but not great, but it’s definitely better than their first album. Released in June, this album has been on constant rotation ever since. My favorite songs on the album are probably “Fire Away” and “A Little Bit of Everything.” Here’s a video for the former:

8. Switchfoot – Vice Verses
I’ve been a fan of Switchfoot for years, and even a fan of lead singer Jon Foreman as well. Vice Verses is your typical Switchfoot album, but this is probably their best album lyrically. It seems like they sat down and really focused on the lyrics and meaning of the song instead of just making catchy songs. It’s got a different sound than Hello Hurricane, and actually all of their albums, but it’s a good thing. Jon Foreman’s lyrics are poignant and quotable, much like C.S. Lewis is to me. Here’s my favorite song, “Vice Verses.”

7. Beirut – The Rip Tide

Beirut’s fifth album is a slight departure from their normal stuff. This album has a bit more of a pop oriented sound rather than a foreign music sound. Most of their earlier music is heavily inspired by places such as Mexico, France, the Balkans, etc., yet this album still maintains some of that classic Beirut sound while mixing it up with a more American pop sound. If you’re familiar with the band then this won’t be a problem, since they’ve been doing this for years, but this album just has a much bigger sound. My favorite track is “Santa Fe” with “West Harlem” a close second.

6. My Morning Jacket – Circuital
If you had to put a label on My Morning Jacket — but really, why would you? — then you would never be able to identify their sound. Are they rock? Are they alternative? Are they indie? Why can’t they be all the above? Over the years I’ve had a love/loathe relationship with My Morning Jacket. I liked their first two albums, and didn’t like any more, really. I almost didn’t even take a listen to Circuital, but decided to give them one last chance. I’m so  glad I did because it’s actually now my favorite. I enjoy all the songs, but I really love ” Outta My System” and “Wonderful (The Way I Feel).” Take a listen to the former:

5. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Anti-war albums are usually not very good. They’re controversial and preachy, something I don’t really want while listening to music, but PJ Harvey’s newest release is not what you’d expect — it’s an anti-war album, but not a protest album. This is an album not only about the political situation in her homeland of England, but about the century’s worth of war and its many costs. With lyrics describing soldiers falling in battle “like lumps of meat”  to the landscapes that have been ravaged by war in the song “This Glorious Land:” “Our lands are plowed by tanks and feet, feet marching”; this record is bathed in blood — the blood that binds a nation and the blood spilled in its name. If this is Harvey’s ode to England, then I want more. After eight albums, this is some of Harvey’s finest work. All the songs are great, and it’s worth listening to the album in order. Listen to the title track:

4. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo
Kurt Vile, guys. He’s got a Bruce Springsteen/Bob Dylan-type sound to him and often gets compared to Sonic Youth, but he’s still Kurt Vile. I like this album. It makes me calm, and since I am six and a half months pregnant, that is very important to me right now. Musically, this is a pretty simple album which is all it needs to be. A lot of people think he is over rated, but I kind of dig him. Check him out if you haven’t. Here’s one of my favorites, “Jesus Fever.”

3. Adele – 21
A few years ago I tried to get as many people as possible to listen to Adele’s first release, 19. Not many did, unfortunately. With the release of 21, I didn’t have to. She was suddenly everywhere and people wouldn’t stop talking about her. Believe me, I wanted to hate her. I thought we had something special with 19, and then it’s like this great secret just got told with 21. And what a great secret it is. 21 is a breakup album, that much is clear, but it’s also so much more: she’s bitter, angry, maybe embarrassed, emotional, trying to move on and begin the healing process, and still wants the best for this guy that broke her heart. Stupid boys. Not every song spoke to me or moved me, but the most obvious one is “Someone Like You” which is just beautiful. When you watch Adele sing this live you can see the hurt and emotion she’s dealing with. She is absolutely gorgeous and so is this song. Adele also apparently loves country music, so the song “Rumour Has It” has that barn burning, hell raising feel to it that I love. Here’s both songs, because I can’t pick one:

2. The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
I got this album from my wonderful husband for my birthday and what a perfect gift it was. Even though I asked for it I had no idea how good the album is. The Civil Wars are John Paul White and Joy Williams and their chemistry is unlike just about anyone out there today. Both married, but not to each other, they stare at each other during each performance in order to the perfect, emotional performance. It’s so intimate and personal that you almost feel like an intruder eavesdropping into their private lives. Their music is haunting and with their harmonies at their best you can’t tell where his ends and her’s begins. Accompanied by White on guitar — and occasionally by Williams on piano — you get these simple songs that have so much passion and energy behind them. Adele loves them so much she had them open for her during her European and North American tours and garnered a whole new fan base. Also, does White own another suit? I love it! It’s hard to pick one song off the album, since each are brilliant, but I really love “I’ve Got This Friend,” “My Father’s Father,” Barton Hollow,” “Falling,” “20 Years” and “Poison and Wine.” How can you not love a song with lyrics such as, “I don’t have a choice, but I’d still choose you?” Heck, there’s not a bad song in the bunch. Just seriously buy the whole album. Here’s a sample:

1. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
This is my favorite album of the year, hands down. I wrote a review when it came out (you can read it here) so I’m not going to write another one; if I did I would just wind up saying the same things over again. Just read it. Anyway, my favorite song keeps changing, but currently it’s “Holocene.”

The following definitely earn honorable mention status:
The Black Keys – El Camino
Childish Gambino – Camp
The Belle Brigade – The Belle Brigade
The Roots – undun

My Favorite TV Shows of 2011

The year is almost over, so that means another “Best Of” list! The following are my favorite TV shows of the year, in order of preference — my favorite will be in the last spot. These aren’t necessarily the best shows, just my favorites. Enjoy.

Happy Endings
This comedy has improved greatly and pretty much makes Wednesdays enjoyable for me. I’ve pretty much stopped watching Modern Family but this one is too good to miss.

Merlin

Merlin
I enjoy literature about Arthur and Merlin and Guinevere, so I have been enjoying this show about young Arthur and Merlin. It’s sort of like Smallville in a way, but better. We watch as King Uther tries to abolish sorcery and witchcraft from Camelot; we hear references to Avalon and meet Mordred; we get to see how Excalibur was forged and why Merlin had to get rid of it. If you’re a fan of the mythology then there is plenty to keep you watching.

Dr. Who

I’m a big Who fan, but I must confess that David Tennant was my favorite Doctor. Not that the current Doctor, Matt Smith, isn’t any good, it’s just that I have such affection for Tennant’s Converse and trench coat wearing iteration. Needless to say, Smith has added a certain level of charm and quirkiness to the character that I keep forgetting about Tennant. This show about a time travelling doctor and his companions keeps me intrigued, no matter how many times they decide to kill off Rory and then bring him back.

Parenthood
I love this show so much. As soon as I hear Bob Dylan’s gravely voice begin singing the theme song I get tears in my eyes. It’s so real and great to watch. This show has such a large cast and they all get their moment to shine. My favorite to watch lately has been 19-year-old Amber, played by Mae Whitman. When her dad comes back into her life, she sacrifices her budding relationship with him in favor of her mom’s happiness. A teenager makes a completely selfless decision, even though she doesn’t want to. It’s beautiful and I’m in tears almost every episode.

Community
This show might just about be finished. NBC doesn’t really know what to do with it, so we might have a very few precious episodes left. Sure these characters are selfish and cruel, but at least they have each other. We get the awesome friendship of Troy and Abed, angry, slightly racist Pierce, young naive Annie, holier-than-thou Shirley, and the awkward will-they-won’t-they-maybe-they-shouldn’t almost romance of Jeff and Britta. We get episodes all about Dungeons and Dragons, worlds with alternate timelines and where shows such a “Inspector Spacetime” (Doctor Who) and Cougarton Abbey (a mix between Cougartown and Downton Abbey) exist. We get rants about Legos and still wonder why the dean likes to dress up as Dalmations and why Chang sleeps in the air vents. It’s a hilarious show with an amazing cast of odd characters. If this show is cancelled then we are indeed in the darkest timeline.

Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation
This is my favorite comedy on TV, and probably second only to Arrested Development. What others used to call a rip-off of The Office has managed to set itself apart from the aging show. We get rounded characters who actually care about each other, something The Office never had. It has heart, compassion, romance, and comedy all rolled into a brilliant little package. When April and Andy announce to their coworkers that they are getting married after only a month of dating, we expect traditional sitcom zaniness and chaos to ensue; what happens is so much better. We watch as these two goofballs get married and then high five each other while their friends look on with love and admiration. And it’s perfect. We watch Ben and Leslie’s relationship blossom from respect to friendship to romance, and we meet Ron’s gold digging ex-wife (he has a pile of gold buried somewhere, so she is literally a gold digger) as she tries to make Ron’s life miserable, but Leslie and the rest of his coworkers stand beside him as he stands up for himself and makes her leave in typical Ron Swanson fashion. It’s glorious. This show has it all and I can’t help but have a huge smile on my face after every episode.

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey
You guys. This show! After months and months of hearing people rave about it, I decided to check it out. Thank the good Lord for Netflix, because I watched all seven episodes in one sitting. And I regret nothing! Downton Abbey is not necessarily a unique premise, but there is just something about it that makes it compelling, can’t miss TV. It’s nuanced, it’s complex, it’s sexy, it’s humorous, and it’s completely soapy. We see the different Edwardian class systems, hear about inheritances, and see how the upstairs and downstairs live completely different lives. It’s fascinating. Truly. I can’t say that enough. Mary and Matthew are compelling to watch in a Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth sort of way, and Mr. Bates and Anna’s budding romance is never boring to watch which is definitely a feat when dealing with normal, regular people. The delightful Maggie Smith gets all the best lines (“What is a weekend?” “No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else’s house”) as is her wont, and every time she complains about Americans or electricity makes me want to bow down to her. Whether we’re watching Thomas and O’Brien scheme together, Edith rat out her sister’s indescretions, or maid Gwen trying to get out of service and become a secretary all the while youngest daughter Sybil helps her. Season one ends with the declaration of war, so season two begins in the middle of World War I. Season two premieres on PBS in January, but as someone who just couldn’t wait to watch it, I will tell you — without giving anything away — that while season two takes a brief decline in terms of quality, it never failed to keep me engaged and wanting more. Here’s to public television airing something this good for all of us to see. Thanks, PBS!

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights
You all knew this was coming. FNL may now be over for good, but it is one show that will stay with me forever. In its final season we see Coach Taylor, arguably the most honorable character ever, and Tami Taylor try to fix all the problems the young people of Dillon, TX have. The Taylor’s relationship remains the greatest marriage to ever be portrayed in fiction — in probably any medium, actually — as the writers prove that you don’t have to have a bunch of relationship drama and nonsense to make a relationship compelling to watch. The final season of Friday Night Lights marked the end of the time we will spend in Dillon, but we will remember the people forever. When Coach Taylor stands before his new team and says his trademark, “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose” speech to his young, confused players, I sat at the edge of my seat as the all-too-familiar powerful words once again brought tears to my eyes as the lights went out for the last time. Goodbye to the show that taught me more life lessons than my actual life did, and goodbye to the show that I was able to relate to the most. I will miss you most of all. Once more, with feeling: “Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.”

Now it’s your turn. What are some of your favorite TV shows of 2011?

*Now, I know left out some brilliant shows but I don’t have cable so I can’t include these — Dr. Who and Merlin I was able to include because I watched episodes that aired this year. I don’t really need cable, and don’t want to spend the money. Surely you can understand, and I know I am missing some great TV. You don’t have to tell me.