Saurus’s 2020 Content Round-Up

 Here’s the (best of the) content that got me through 2020: 

*New = released in 2020. Old = released prior to 2020 (but new to me).

1. New TV:

1. Normal People on Hulu: very good acting. Be prepared to weep if you have not yet found your soulmate (lol jk soulmates don’t exist... I’m not bitter at all).

2. Never Have I Ever on Netflix: much laughter, much cry

3. The Babysitters’ Club on Netflix: so wholesome, so much better clothes than I wore as a preteen

2. Old TV: 

1. Anne with an E (S2 & S3) on Netflix: much lighter than the very bleak S1. I ship Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (my childhood literary OTP)!

2. Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Hulu: A police show shouldn’t be allowed to be this funny, romantic, and generally delightful.

3. Psych on Amazon Prime: This is when “stupid” is a compliment because the main detective duo Shawn and Gus are so stupid yet so funny.

3. New music: 

1. Pop albums including: Fine Line by Harry Styles (this came out in Dec 2019 so I'm counting it as 2020); Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa; and Positions by Ariana Grande.

2. The Prelude by Pink Sweat$. Every song on this EP is a banger. I’m especially in love with “17” and “At My Worst” which are both beautiful slow songs.

3. All the hits of TikTok including Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, and “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd which is good for running around in my bedroom while flailing my arms and calling it "exercise." Actually most of After Hours by The Weeknd is pretty good.

4. Old music: 

1. Ctrl by SZA. It’s so good ughhh

2. Happiness Begins by the Jonas Brothers. It is JOYFUL, okay

3. I fully became a stan of a bunch of pop stars this year, including Ariana Grande, Alessia Cara, Camila Cabello, and Kehlani. Not sorry.

5. New movies (I only watched 8 movies released in 2020 so there’s not a lot to pick from): 

1. Genuinely great: The Old Guard on Netflix 

2. Charming cast but kinda questionable plot: 

1. Palm Springs on Hulu - funny white people falling in love 

2. The Lovebirds on Netflix - very funny people of color re-falling in love

3. To All The Boys 2 on Netflix - John Ambrose deserved more!! Sorry for the spoiler.

3. Yay for LGBT representation but I was disappointed these weren’t actual rom-coms:

1. The Half of It on Netflix - so high school emo tbh

2. Happiest Season on Hulu - Kristen Stewart should have ended up with Aubrey Plaza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for another spoiler.

6. Old movies: 

1. 80s-90s Julia Roberts: Pretty Woman, Mystic Pizza, Steel Magnolias

2. The one and only Cher: Moonstruck, Mermaids… still need to watch The Witches of Eastwick

3. Legit old Cary Grant movies: His Girl Friday, To Catch A Thief, Charade

(photo source)

Dactyl’s 2020 Streaming Roundup

Movie theaters, you were my first love.  I will never give up on you, and I promise I’ll be back in due course.  In the meantime, here’s a list of the ten best things I watched while couch potatoing this year.

10. Enola Holmes (Netflix).  This is definitely a children’s movie and I enjoyed it very much.

9. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Disney+).  Please indulge me for a minute—this show was way better than it had any right to be.  At its worst, it was cookie cutter Disney Channel fare.  At its best, it was a less cruel, more authentic version of Glee and an unapologetic celebration of actual theater kids.

8. The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix).  Very solid all around.  Some parts of the story felt underdeveloped (tell me more about Jolene!), but overall I liked this a lot.

7. Bridgerton (Netflix).  Despite its gorgeous (and no doubt expensive) production design, Bridgerton is basically raunchy candy-coated trash.  It’s delicious and it never takes itself too seriously.  I’m addicted. 

6. Palm Springs (Hulu).  A zany, creative romantic comedy with just the right mix of humor and heart.  I really wish Cristin Milioti was in more movies.

5. Never Have I Ever (Netflix).  Probably the most bingeable show on this list.  Never Have I Ever was a breeze to watch but also has enough depth to warrant (hopefully) many more seasons to come.

4. Normal People (Hulu).  I hope Imogen Heap is getting royalties for the number of times I listened to “Hide and Seek” after watching this series.  Normal People made my cold dead heart feel like it was in my throat for 10 hours straight (in a good way!).

3. God’s Own Country (Hulu).  As a proud cinephile, I’m ashamed to admit I missed this one in 2017.  It’s a brilliant and unforgettable work of art—both searing and subtle, gut-wrenching and full of grace.  Josh O’Connor could have gone toe-to-toe with Timothée at the Oscars that year.

2. Anne with an E (Netflix).  A true hidden gem.  This show was so clearly written and produced by women, and it made me feel so celebrated and seen.  It breaks my heart that season 3 was its last, but the final episode (in particular, the final scene) was perfect.  Booking my tickets for PEI as soon as it’s safe to travel again.

1. Schitt’s Creek (Netflix).  I’m fully on this bandwagon and loving it.  The popularity of Schitt’s Creek this year with both viewers and critics affirms its place in TV history, and its thesis about the transformative power of love is sure to stand the test of time.  It is, quite simply, the best.

Is This Beloved TV Character Actually A Dick?

This character is a tall, relatively handsome man who works a mundane job at a small company. He thinks of his work as merely a job, not a “career.” This character is generally well-liked at his workplace, but he has little respect for his boss and coworkers, who he clearly perceives as ridiculous. He spends most of his day either talking to a female coworker whom he has a crush on, or giving some of his coworkers a hard time. Though he occasionally likes to pick on a coworker with documented anger management problems, the coworker he likes to prank and mock most often is a man who is widely disliked at work. This latter coworker is not as conventionally good-looking as himself, has some unusual interests and preoccupations, and often struggles to pick up on social cues. If asked, this character would likely rationalize that his pranks on his coworker are justified because the coworker is “annoying.” Deep down, he probably would be reluctant to admit that he spends so much time pranking his coworker to distract himself from the fact that he works in a dead-end job and that his long-time crush is already engaged to someone else. Later, when he finally enters into a committed relationship with his crush, he withholds important information from her and makes life-altering career and financial decisions without her knowledge.

Who is this fictional character?

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Yes, you might have guessed... Jim Halpert of The Office. 

Photo source for the least flattering photo of Jim Halpert / John Krasinski

Is he actually a dick? ...Yeah, probably. 

Stream This Non-Pixar Content and Sob With Me

Photo source

Crying during Pixar movies is for amateurs (we all know that they’re designed to make us cry). In my wizened old age of mid-20s-something, I’ve become a person who can cry over any media: a commercial, a pop song, a 100-word Tiny Love Story in the New York Times (story #3 in this link), etc. When I complain about this to friends, they usually tell me that it’s a good thing to feel so many feelings, but... I’m not so sure about that. So that you too can feel how I feel, here are 10 non-Pixar recs that have made me cry (often despite not being inherently sad) and are currently available on streaming, ranked by quantity of (my) tears. Some of these I’ve already referenced in previous posts but hey, I stand by my picks:

You may start to feel something in the back of your eyes: 

1. RBG (doc on Hulu): I don’t think I actually cried while watching this, but I know I felt very emotional about how supportive RBG’s late husband Marty was of her/her career. Exhibit A: The bottom of this article has a letter that he wrote to her at the end of his life.

You may tear up a bit (or not cry at all if you are normal unlike me): 

2. Emma (1996; Hulu): A few months back I cried when Emma and Mr. Knightley finally get together at the end. I’d never cried at this before so I don’t really know what happened.

3. Always Be My Maybe (Netflix): I cried a bit when Marcus (Randall Park) declared his love for Sasha (Ali Wong) at the end (ok, this is a rom-com, barely a spoiler) and again when Sasha shows Marcus her new NYC restaurant and menu (perhaps a light spoiler). 

4. The Parent Trap (1998; Disney+): Ok, this is an extremely fun, heartwarming, and underrated movie with a phenomenal soundtrack that I will go to battle for. I tear up during all of the beautiful family scenes.

You may experience moderate crying in some key scenes: 

5. Fleabag (S2 of TV series on Amazon Prime): I didn’t cry until the last scene of the last episode when some statements of love are uttered. Here’s a clip.

6. Normal People (Hulu mini-series) I don’t think I cried too heavily, but I did cry on and off when Connell was crying in various episodes.

7. The Farewell (Prime): As noted in my 2019 movie roundup, crying probably depends on whether you’ve had the niche experience of saying goodbye to your grandparents who live in a foreign country and not knowing if/when you’ll see them again.

You should get a box of tissues in preparation for some snot-filled sobbing: 

8. The Little Prince (Netflix): This is an animated adaptation of the 1943 book, using a story-within-a-story framework and two types of animation (very cool imo). Towards the end of the movie I had to pause it because I was crying so much.

9. Looking For Alaska (Hulu miniseries): As mentioned in a previous post, the last two episodes had me sobbing pretty much continuously. If you’ve read the book by John Green or been on Tumblr ever you should know why.

You should fill up a bottle of water to prevent dehydration from crying:

10. Never Have I Ever (Netflix TV series, S1): I cried probably at least once per episode at all the dead dad scenes. What truly destroyed me was a fight between Devi and her mom at the end of the penultimate (9th) episode, at which point I had a minor breakdown and basically couldn’t stop crying throughout the 10th/final episode.

Happy crying!

Photo source

We Finally Got Some Asian-American Content & I Want More

Pic sources: 1, 2, 3

Summer 2018 felt like the summer of Asian-American women dominating rom-coms, between Lucy Liu in Set It Up (June), Lana Condor and the Song-Covey sisters in To All the Boys I've Loved Before (Aug), and of course, the entire cast of Crazy Rich Asians (Aug). It still kills me that I didn’t get to see Crazy Rich Asians in theaters, though I was in Spain that whole month so I suppose I can’t really complain.

Since then Netflix has also blessed us with:

• Always Be My Maybe (May 31, 2019)

• To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, the sequel (Feb 12, 2020)

• Tigertail (April 12, 2020) -- still haven’t watched this yet, oops 

• Never Have I Ever TV series (April 27, 2020)

• The Half Of It (May 1, 2020)

Of course there’s been other non-Netflix content (e.g., The Big Sick, The Farewell, Fresh Off the Boat, etc.) but these are just on my mind. 

What I’d like to see more of: 

• Asian-American children of immigrants who aren’t “confused” by their identities or trying to shed their cultural backgrounds; they, like, embrace their heritage?

• As Kara Brown tweeted: Interracial relationships that don’t involve a white person, a la Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae in The Lovebirds

• Fun fact, there are different types of Asians (I’m obviously joking but kinda not). What about a coming-of-age rom-com where a Chinese-American teen and Japanese-American teen fall in love and have to deal with their families’ shit? Or maybe they get together and it’s not a problem at all?? I should write both of these as YA novels, get movie deals, make it big.

• Asian-American boys and men as leads and love interests! Fuck stereotypes. Henry Golding is beautiful and guess what, there are so many more Asian-American men who are swoon-worthy deserve lead roles. Have you seen Manny Jacinto? Lin-Manuel Miranda has.

• Karen Chee once fan-casted an all-Asian remake of Pride & Prejudice in this iconic tweet. I think about it all the time.

Honestly, it’s very possible that this content already exists but I just don’t know about it; I admit to not knowing everything about everything. If it does exist, please tell me about it in the comments!

Bingeable TV Shows (of the last two years)

Hey friends, hope quarantine is going well for you all. Lately with all this free time on my hands, I've found that my go-to picks for streaming are TV shows with only 1-2 seasons of 6-10 episodes each. They're perfect for when you don't have the attention span for a full movie, but you're also reluctant to sit down and watch a longer-running TV series because you'll get caught up in that whole "next episode... next episode" downward spiral. With these shorter shows, you can binge across 1-2 nights and then move on with your life.

Thanks to streaming platforms, we have more choices now than ever. (Have you all noticed that the phrase "now more than ever" is being overused now more than ever?) So, here are some of my picks for new shows that have come out in the last two years (2019-2020), listed in chronological order of their release dates:

• Sex Education - Netflix: 2 seasons, 16 episodes
• This show about British teens and their various sexual problems is quite funny and heartfelt. Their outfits are largely terrible.
• Bonus: The cast is charming and hilarious in interviews, especially Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey, who play the best friend and love interest of Asa Butterfield's protagonist, respectively, and love to rag on poor, pale Asa.

• Russian Doll - Netflix: 1 season, 8 episodes
• This show low-key blew my mind. In a non-Fleabag year I think it could have done well with awards but, what can you do. I actually want to revisit this sometime to pick up on all the clues and Easter eggs I might have missed before.

• Pen15 - Hulu: 1 season, 10 episodes
• Two 30-somethings play themselves as 13-year-old 7th grade outcasts, surrounded by actual 13 year-olds. I don't know how they made this work, but it does. Get ready for some mild cringe (nowhere near the levels in the movie Eighth Grade, fyi).

• Shrill - Hulu: 2 seasons, 14 episodes
• This show works best as a fun showcase for Aidy Bryant, although it's maybe not as edgy as it could/should be. 
• Bonus: The soundtrack is awesome. Two stand-out songs for me are "How To Love" by Lil Wayne and "Goodie Bag" by Still Woozy, both from the S1 episode "Pencil" (featuring my favorite love interest of the show, Lamar! I pray he gets more airtime in S3, assuming it gets renewed).

• Ramy - Hulu: 1 season, 10 episodes
• This show about a millennial Muslim-American fuckboy-type of guy is a little uneven but definitely depicts a unique perspective that we don't get to see much of on TV. Best episodes are the ones centered on Ramy's sister and mother (ep. 6 and 7, respectively).
• Bonus: S2 coming in May! 

• Tuca & Bertie - Netflix: 1 season, 10 episodes
• From the designer of Bojack Horseman, this show was never quite as funny as I wanted it to be, but the art and voice work of Ali Wong and Tiffany Haddish were pretty great.

• Looking For Alaska - Hulu: 1 season, 8 episodes
• If you've read the book or any other of John Green's novels, you'll like this miniseries. Be prepared to cry a lot in the last two episodes, though. Like, a LOT.

• High Fidelity - Hulu: 1 season, 10 episodes
• Did we really need a gender-bent version of the 2000 John Cusack movie? I honestly don't know why anyone thought to develop this, but it is pretty enjoyable and rests largely on Zoë Kravitz's capable shoulders.

• I Am Not Okay With This - Netflix: 1 season, 7 episodes
• This is a very cool take on a superhero origin story. The teen protagonist is prone to angsty outbursts and not communicating with others, but there's real depth in her backstory and I can't wait to see what comes next (assuming it gets renewed!).

• Never Have I Ever - Netflix: 1 season, 10 episodes [Added 5/1/20]
• I stayed up until 2 am watching all of this in 1 night. It is a goddamn delight. I relished in all the diversity and may have cried just about every episode. 

• Normal People - Hulu: 1 season, 12 episodes [Added 5/15/20]
• If you're looking for a horny yet highbrow quarantine show that is equal parts moving and erotic, boy have I got the show for you. I recommend watching no more than 3 episodes at a time, because they are quite emotionally intense, and for the love of god, do not watch this with your family.

BONUS: The following TV shows did not start in the last two years but had some terrific second seasons released in the last two years. Starting with, of course:

• Fleabag, Amazon Prime (2016-2019): 2 seasons, 12 episodes
• Honestly if you haven't seen Fleabag already are we even friends?? Shout-out to Irene who doesn't have Amazon Prime but keeps promising me to watch this.

• Derry Girls, Netflix (2018-2019): 2 seasons, 12 episodes
• IMO this show is hysterical. I love these high school losers who manage to get into the stupidest shenanigans, with the backdrop of the Northern Ireland conflict in the late '90s. Teens be teening.

•  Barry, HBO (2018-2019): 2 seasons, 16 episodes [Added 4/10/20]
• HBO released some TV shows for free during the month of April, so I took advantage. Barry is brilliant, subtly biting, and always surprising. Well done, Bill Hader.

2018 Golden Globe Predictions

FILM

Best Motion Picture - Drama

"Call Me by Your Name"

"Dunkirk"

"The Post"

"The Shape of Water"

"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Will Win:

Alicia: The Shape of Water. I hated this movie, but I can see it playing well with the international-minded HFPA.

Doris: I haven’t seen any of these but I’m thinking The Post because hello, America’s sweethearts Meryl Streep and T. Hanks?

Should Win:

Alicia: Call Me by Your Name. Just a brilliant film that hits you straight in the heart.

Doris: Agreed - this is the one I want to see most!

Snubbed:

Alicia: If the PGA can recognize Wonder Woman, the HFPA needs to step up their game.

Doris: I heard The Florida Project was great. Also Mudbound.

Alicia: Ooh, yes, I need to see both of those. Although Mudbound is on Netflix and I still haven’t watched it, so it’s probably not happening haha.

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

"The Disaster Artist"

"Get Out"

"The Greatest Showman"

"I, Tonya"

"Lady Bird"

Will Win:

Alicia: Lady Bird! A perfect film. I can’t believe this is Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut; I think it’s impeccable.

Doris: Although I haven’t seen it yet (I’m truly the worst), Lady Bird has received the most hype, which I am sure is well-deserved.

Alicia: WHY ARE YOU WRITING THIS GO SEE LADY BIRD.

Should Win:

Alicia: Lady Bird, although I would only be slightly upset if Get Out took this.

Doris: Agreed.

Snubbed:

Alicia: Definitely The Big Sick. I would have had this above I, Tonya and The Greatest Showman (and possibly The Disaster Artist, which I have yet to see).

Doris: As seen in my 2017 movie roundup, I too loved The Big Sick and am pissed about its complete omission from these nominations. Also, I would’ve thought the highly hyped Girls Trip would be more likely to get a nom than The Disaster Artist or The Greatest Showman.

Alicia: I know The Greatest Showman doesn’t belong here, but I loved it. More happy Hugh Jackman movies, please.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Jessica Chastain, "Molly's Game"

Sally Hawkins, "The Shape of Water"

Frances McDormand, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Meryl Streep, "The Post"

Michelle Williams, "All the Money in the World"

Will Win:

Alicia: Frances McDormand. She’s spectacular in Three Billboards, even though the movie wasn’t my favorite.

Doris: I’m going to go with heavyweight Meryl Streep just to be contrary.

Should Win:

Alicia: Frances McDormand, but I wouldn’t count out Sally Hawkins.

Doris: I haven’t seen any of these… why am I even writing this? Because I’m a dick I’d like to see someone other than Meryl win.

Kristy: Sally Hawkins was one of the few things I really liked about Shape of Water.  Also she deserves this for believably being in love with the fish monster.  I will say caveat that I haven’t seen Three Billboards and I do hear that McDormand is fantastic.  

Snubbed:

Doris: Alicia, write something so I can copy you.

Alicia: Um, Emma Stone? J-Law? Who are the usual suspects here? Fuck it, I’m going with our goddess and savior Gal Gadot.

Doris: I LOVE her. (P.S., Emma Stone is nominated in the Comedy category.)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Timothée Chalamet, "Call Me by Your Name"

Daniel Day-Lewis, "Phantom Thread"

Tom Hanks, "The Post"

Gary Oldman, "Darkest Hour"

Denzel Washington, "Roman J. Israel, Esq."

Will Win:

Alicia: Timothée Chalamet, because I believe in sunshine and rainbows and happy things (but really, adorable white men).

Doris: Who is the oldest and whitest person on this list? Actually, I’m going to throw down a wild card and say Denzel Washington (who is the oldest at 63).

Kristy: Gary Oldman.  He’s got a long history, he’s a Big Name, and it’s a buzzy role.  

Should Win:

Alicia: Seriously though, Timothée Chalamet’s performance is one of my favorite ever. In any movie, in any year.

Doris: Same pick. It’s always fun to see ingenues awarded.

Kristy: Agreed.  He makes that movie.

Snubbed:

Alicia: This has been a thin year for extraordinary leading men.

Doris: Harris Dickinson was amazing in the indie Beach Rats, not that I expect anyone to be aware of it.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Judi Dench, "Victoria & Abdul"

Margot Robbie, "I, Tonya"

Saoirse Ronan, "Lady Bird"

Emma Stone, "Battle of the Sexes"

Helen Mirren, "The Leisure Seeker"

Will Win:

Doris: It’s got to be Saoirse Ronan, right? Although Margot Robbie could steal it.

Alicia: Agreed, definitely Saoirse Ronan.

Should Win:

Doris: I am really angling for a win for Saoirse Ronan and not Margot Robbie.

Alicia: I agree. Margot Robbie was good, but you always get the sense that she’s acting. Saoirse is such a natural; there’s a reason some people are starting to dub her a mini-Meryl.

Snubbed:

Doris: Zoe Kazan for The Big Sick!

Alicia: Always endless love for The Big Sick.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Steve Carell, "Battle of the Sexes"

Ansel Elgort, "Baby Driver"

James Franco, "The Disaster Artist"

Hugh Jackman, "The Greatest Showman"

Daniel Kaluuya, "Get Out"

Will Win:

Doris: Maybe this is my heart talking over my head but I think Daniel Kaluuya can win this.

Alicia: I would love for Daniel Kaluuya to take this, but I think James Franco will probably win.

Kristy: James Franco.  I feel like it’s his to lose based on the fact that there’s so much buzz and he’s the type they’d go for.  

Should Win:

Doris: Daniel Kaluuya. (Am I just rooting for all the POCs?)

Alicia: Daniel Kaluuya was the best though! Although shout-out to Ansel Elgort for convincing me that he actually can act.

Snubbed:

Doris: Kumail Nanjiani in The Big Sick! Yes, I’m a broken record.

Alicia: Kumail really was robbed. Gonna go read his Twitter feed to make myself feel better.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Mary J. Blige, "Mudbound"

Hong Chau, "Downsizing"

Allison Janney, "I, Tonya"

Laurie Metcalf, "Lady Bird"

Octavia Spencer, "The Shape of Water"

Will Win:

Doris: Allison Janney is usually a safe bet because she wins everything. On a side note, I’m impressed by the relative diversity of this category.

Alicia: Based on their characters, I’m actually going to pick Laurie Metcalf over Allison Janney here. Her role is Lady Bird is so well-rounded and beautifully realized; Allison’s is good but more one-note.

Kristy: I’m really torn.  I’ll give the slight tip to Janney because everyone loves her and her role is more extreme.

Should Win:

Doris: I heard Laurie Metcalf had a great performance.

Alicia: She did. Laurie Metcalf for the Oscar, no matter what happens here.

Kristy: Justice would say that Laurie should win.

Snubbed:

Doris: Tiffany Haddish has gotten a lot of hype for Girls Trip, yet no dice.

Alicia: I just want to hear a Tiffany Haddish acceptance speech.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Willem Dafoe, "The Florida Project"

Armie Hammer, "Call Me by Your Name"

Richard Jenkins, "The Shape of Water"

Christopher Plummer, "All the Money in the World"

Sam Rockwell, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Will Win:

Doris: Christopher Plummer, who shot all his scenes in what, 10 days? What a badass.

Alicia: Same. I think Sam Rockwell and Willem Dafoe have a shot as well, but the Globes love trendy things, and a win by Plummer would certainly make a statement for the #MeToo movement.

Should Win:

Doris: Since I haven’t watched any of these movies, I wouldn’t be upset by any of these.

Alicia: Of the ones I’ve seen, I’d probably go with Sam Rockwell. But the other 2 favorites are Willem Dafoe and Christopher Plummer, so I don’t feel qualified to call this until I see their movies.

Snubbed:

Doris: Um, teen heartthrob Harry Styles in Dunkirk, amirite?! Jk, jk. Idk.

Alicia: Michael Stuhlbarg in Call Me by Your Name. His final scene would be worthy of the win here.

Kristy: Agreed he was brilliant.  As much as Timothée is the best part of that movie, if I were to pick just one scene from that movie it would be his speech.

Best Director

Guillermo del Toro, "The Shape of Water"

Martin McDonagh, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Christopher Nolan, "Dunkirk"

Ridley Scott, "All The Money in the World"

Steven Spielberg, "The Post"

Will Win:

Doris: I’m thinking Christopher Nolan for a big showy movie, even if it did come out earlier last year.

Alicia: I would love for Nolan to finally get some major awards love, but I think they’ll go for Guillermo del Toro this year.

Kristy: Yes between those two.  Based on timing I’ll go del Toro.  Dunkirk was released too early and Shape of Water was racking up acclaim when they were voting on this.

Should Win:

Doris: I really don’t care which of these pale men wins. (See below.)

Alicia: Yeah, I was going to write Greta Gerwig here before I realized that she wasn’t nominated. Seriously, what the fuck. Given my paltry options, I guess I’ll go with Christopher Nolan. But come on, this is shameful.

Snubbed:

Doris: Where the flying fuck is Greta Gerwig’s nomination?! That’s sexism for you: she directed the highest rated movie ever (or at least for a time) on Rotten Tomatoes and girl still can’t score a dumb Golden Globe nom. Also, no Jordan Peele? Come on.

Alicia: Greta Gerwig, who deserves to win. Jordan Peele, because his movie is genius. Patty Jenkins, for doing the impossible. I don’t understand how Ridley Scott and Spielberg got in over them this year.

Best Screenplay in a Motion Picture

"The Shape of Water," Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor

"Lady Bird," Greta Gerwig

"The Post," Liz Hannah and Josh Singer

"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," Martin McDonagh

"Molly's Game," Aaron Sorkin

Will Win:

Doris: Probs Aaron Sorkin, a promising rising star who came out of nowhere to deliver his brilliant debut script. Jk.

Alicia: Hahaha I love Sorkin, but his stuff is like 50% brilliance, 50% bullshit. I actually think Greta Gerwig could win here, but it’s a toss-up between her and Martin McDonagh.

Should Win:

Doris: Lady Bird. I’m determined for Greta Gerwig to get something.

Alicia: Same. Every line in Lady Bird is perfection.

Snubbed:

Doris: Maybe Get Out written by Jordan Peele?

Alicia: This category is weird—I guess it combines original and adapted screenplays? I agree about Jordan Peele, and I would also throw in James Ivory’s adapted script for CMBYN.

Best Animated Film

"The Boss Baby"

"The Breadwinner"

"Ferdinand"

"Coco"

"Loving Vincent"

Will Win / Should Win:

Doris: Coco probably should and will win.

Alicia: Real people > animation. There, I said it.

TV

Best TV series - Drama

"The Crown"

"Game of Thrones"

"The Handmaid's Tale"

"Stranger Things"

"This Is Us"

Will Win:

Alicia: Oh no, we’ve moved to prestige television, my kryptonite. The only one I’ve seen all the way through is Thrones, but I thought this latest season was mediocre. I’m going with Emmy winner The Handmaid’s Tale.

Doris: Agreed. I’ve heard the hype. I’ve been awake.

Should Win:

Alicia: In this political climate, I’m all for showering love on The Handmaid’s Tale.

Doris: Same.

Snubbed:

Alicia: I wouldn’t know.

Doris: Dramas don’t interest me. Pass.

Best performance by Actress in a TV series - Drama

Caitriona Balfe, "Outlander"

Claire Foy, "The Crown"

Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Deuce"

Katherine Langford, "13 Reasons Why"

Elisabeth Moss, "The Handmaid's Tale"

Will Win:

Doris: Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss.

Alicia: Ditto.

Kristy: Outside chance to Claire Foy.  Netflix had impeccable timing on dropping that season.

Should Win:

Doris: Probs Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss.

Alicia: Ditto.

Snubbed:

Doris: Usual suspects Viola Davis and Robin Wright.

Alicia: How did the girl from 13 Reasons Why get in over Viola and Robin? Anyway, I really like Mandy Moore in This Is Us; she’s always had a warm quality, but she really shines on that show.

Best performance by an Actor in a TV Series - Drama

Sterling K. Brown, "This is Us"

Freddie Highmore, "The Good Doctor"

Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"

Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"

Jason Bateman, "Ozark"

Will Win:

Doris: Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown.

Alicia: I’m gonna pick Freddie Highmore, just to be annoying.

Should Win:

Doris: Probs Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown.

Alicia: Yup.

Snubbed:

Doris: Milo Ventimiglia, better known as older, more buff, bearded Jess.

Alicia: I’ll take any excuse to see Milo in a tux.

Best TV series - Musical or Comedy

"Black-ish"

"Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"

"Master of None"

"SMILF"

"Will & Grace"

Will Win:

Doris: Finally, something I’ve actually seen! I’m going to go with Master of None which was brilliant and moving in its second season.

Alicia: Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is exactly the kind of show that the HPFA loves---bright and shiny and new.

Kristy: Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with outside chance to Will & Grace.  That was critically and commercially acclaimed and HFPA probably loves them.

Should Win:

Doris: Sticking with Master of None. If you haven’t watched Lena Waithe’s Emmy-winning Thanksgiving episode yet, you are missing out big time.

Alicia: I’ve seen half of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. It was good.

Snubbed:

Doris: Modern Family. HA I crack myself up. I’m surprised The Good Place, Veep, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend didn’t get nominated, but a show I’ve never heard of (SMILF?) did.

Alicia: The Good Place is fantastic; it should get more love.

Kristy: All the love for Mike Schur shows.  Brooklyn Nine Nine also had some great timely stuff this year.  And Crazy Ex-Girlfriend probably also belongs here.  

Best performance by an Actor in a TV series - Musical or Comedy

Anthony Anderson, "Black-ish"

Aziz Ansari, "Master of None"

Kevin Bacon, "I Love Dick"

William H. Macy, "Shameless"

Eric McCormack, "Will and Grace"

Will Win:

Doris: Folks love Kevin Bacon, and I actually did watch the Amazon Prime series he was in.

Alicia: Haven’t the foggiest. How about Anthony Anderson?

Kristy: I’m gonna say Eric McCormack.  For the same reasoning I gave that show the outside chance above.  

Should Win:

Doris: Going with Aziz. Even though he’s more impressive as a writer, director, etc., he deserves the love.

Alicia: I loved Aziz’s book, so I’ll go with him as well.

Snubbed:

Doris: My mind is drawing a blank right now.

Alicia: This is so much pressure I can’t think of anyone.

Best performance by an Actress in a TV series - Musical or Comedy

Pamela Adlon, "Better Things"

Alison Brie, "Glow"

Issa Rae, "Insecure"

Rachel Brosnahan, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"

Frankie Shaw, "SMILF"

Will Win:

Doris: I don’t even know who the first and last nominees are. I’ll say Issa Rae.

Alicia: Rachel Brosnahan. I’m willing to bet one whole dollar.

Kristy: I wouldn’t take that bet.  Rachel Brosnahan.

Should Win:

Doris: As much as I liked Rachel Brosnahan on Amy Sherman-Palladino’s new show, Issa Rae is pretty cool.

Alicia: Rachel Brosnahan is pretty impressive, especially delivering stand-up.

Snubbed:

Doris: What, Will but no Grace? (Not personally invested, but for parity’s sake.) Also surprised by the absence of perennial Emmy winner JLD as well as the last 3 years’ winners: Tracee Ellis Ross for Black-ish, Rachel Bloom for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Gina Rodriguez for Jane the Virgin. Oh, and I love Ellie Kemper on Kimmy Schmidt, but I don’t know if this season is eligible and I’m too lazy to look into it.

Alicia: America Ferrera for Superstore! I love that show.

Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

"Big Little Lies"

"Fargo"

"Feud: Bette and Joan"

"The Sinner"

"Top of the Lake: China Girl"

Will Win:

Doris: Big Little Lies. Next.

Alicia: Yup.

Should Win:

Doris: Based on the hype, Big Little Lies.

Alicia: I read the plot synopsis for Big Little Lies and it sounds like rich white people problems.

Snubbed:

Doris: Maybe Twin Peaks, but honestly I’m happy to see women dominate this category.

Alicia: If Black Mirror was eligible here, then definitely Black Mirror.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Robert De Niro, "The Wizard of Lies"

Jude Law, "The Young Pope"

Kyle MacLachlan, "Twin Peaks"

Ewan McGregor, "Fargo"

Geoffrey Rush, "Genius"

Will Win:

Doris: Could be anyone. I’m going with Robert De Niro since he’s the oldest at 74.

Alicia: Ewan McGregor, because he played 2 people on Fargo.

Kristy: Kyle MacLachlan.  Maybe I’m stumping too hard for well-received revivals but whatever.  

Should Win:

Doris: I have no. opinion.

Alicia: I mean, Geoffrey Rush is apparently a genius.

Snubbed:

Doris: Who knows.

Alicia: Who cares.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jessica Biel, "The Sinner"

Nicole Kidman, "Big Little Lies"

Jessica Lange, "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Susan Sarandon, "Feud: Bette and Joan"

Reese Witherspoon, "Big Little Lies"

Will Win:

Doris: Emmy winner Nicole Kidman.

Alicia: I’m gonna say Reese just to be different.

Kristy: Kidman.

Should Win:

Doris: Aside from Jessica Biel, these are all heavyweights in the industry. All are good.

Alicia: Nicole Kidman gave a great speech at the Emmys, so I think she should get another 10 minutes.

Snubbed:

Doris: I was going to say Shailene Woodley but I see she’s considered a Supporting Actress, so idk.

Alicia: No idea.

Kristy: Were there any other actresses in limited series this year?

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Alfred Molina, "Feud"

Alexander Skarsgard, "Big Little Lies"

David Thewlis, "Fargo"

David Harbour, "Stranger Things"

Christian Slater, "Mr. Robot"

Will Win:

Doris: Christian Slater won previously for this role. I’ll say him again.

Alicia: David Harbour. People love their Stranger Things.

Kristy: Alfred Molina.   Why not.  

Should Win:

Doris: David Thewlis for no other reason than the fact that he’s Lupin.

Alicia: David Thewlis for ruining the third act of Wonder Woman.

Snubbed:

Doris: Literally, I can pick any dude on TV? This is such a weird category. I’ll say Tituss on Kimmy Schmidt.

Alicia: Ted Danson. I just watched him on The Good Place and he’s unexpected and fantastic. Also, he’s 70 years old but looks fantastic.

Kristy: Andre Braugher. I love him in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Laura Dern, "Big Little Lies"

Ann Dowd, "The Handmaid's Tale"

Chrissy Metz, "This is Us"

Michelle Pfeiffer, "The Wizard of Lies"

Shailene Woodley, "Big Little Lies"

Will Win:

Doris: Emmy winner Ann Dowd.

Alicia: Laura Dern. She had cool hair in Star Wars. Also, she’s Dr. Sattler in Jurassic Park, and I will always love her for that.

Should Win:

Doris: All seem fine. Probs Laura Dern or Ann Dowd.

Alicia: Yeah, all seem worthy.

Snubbed:

Doris: There are so many amazing women on TV that I cannot handle this pressure right now. You would think that two-time Emmy winner Kate McKinnon would be a shoo-in but the Globes don’t seem to like SNL as much as the Emmys do. Also the Italian actress Alessandra Mastronardi was fantastic on Master of None.

Alicia: This is such a strange category. It could be like 90% of actresses on TV, but I can’t think of a single one.