Story Stream: 5/9 - 5/15

Hello dear friends, new and old! Here are the stories I've streamed over the course of the last week! Let us all know what you're streaming in the comments below!

TV

Downton Abbey - Season 6

This was it. The final season of this honestly pretty perfect series. I loved this final season so much. I mean, I loved every season so much. But this one especially. Can't wait to rewatch the whole series. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video. (10/10 - Most Highly Recommended)

Cobra Kai - Season 3

This show is a semi-guilty pleasure, and I'm not exactly sure why. It doesn't bother me that the acting is so mediocre overall (with a couple notable exceptions), that the fight scenes are so unconvincing and over the top, or that the plot is so entirely predictable. The nostalgia is rich enough with this series to cover all those things up. And Johnny Lawrence has had the most absolutely perfect evolution as a character across the series and across the whole Karate Kid epic. William Zabka, who plays him, deserves all the Emmys. It took me too long to start Season 3, but once I finally did earlier this week, I binged it all in far too few hours. So fun. Streaming on Netflix. (9/10 - Highly Recommended)

Them

I mentioned this show a while back after watching the first episode or two. Then I got busy watching Downton Abbey in its entirety, and just got back to it this week. I'm so glad I did. This show is both spectacular and difficult to watch in equal measure. Beautifully directed with haunting cinematography and remarkable and risky performances by the cast. I don't know that I'll watch this series again, as it is so hard to watch, but I do know I'll be thinking about it for some time to come. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video. (9/10 - Highly Recommended)

Best Leftovers Ever - "Fast Food to Fancy"

Dumb. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I turned this on during a short meal break this week because it seemed lighthearted, but clever. Nope. I don't hate the concept, but the execution is a BIG miss. It's almost unreal how very stupid this show it. The hosts/judges are awful. Streaming on Netflix. (1/10 - Absolutely Not Recommended)

MOVIES

Downton Abbey (2019)

Surpris, surprise! More Downton. Seeing the 2019 film that follows the final season of Downton Abbey was such a motivation for rushing through the series. I wasn't sure the payoff would be there, even in the first few scenes of the movie. But, goodness. I loved it so much. I can't wait for the next movie. Streaming on HBO Max. (9/10 - Highly Recommended)

Being John Malkovich (1999)

This movie had nothing to offer me as a 19 year old, when it released. It just looked...weird. I've wanted to see it for several years though. Even still, I'm glad I didn't see it till now. It's the strangest, most clever spectacle of a movie. Like...VERY strange. But maybe brilliant? I don't know. It's weird, but I loved it. Streaming on Peacock. (9/10 - Highly Recommended)

PODCASTS

Unfinished: Short Creek

Oh my gosh. I thoroughly enjoyed this whole series, but the pay off of the final episode would've made it well worth it even if I HADN'T enjoyed the rest. Sort of the reverse experience I had with it's predecessor, Unfinished: Deep South, which was recently nominated for the prestigious Peabody Award. I loved that one throughout and was slightly disappointed with the final episode. Short Creek is incredible and should absolutely also be nominated for a Peabody in my humble opinion. Streaming on all podcast apps. (9/10 - Highly Recommended)

You Must Remember This - "Gossip Girls: Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper"

This was our Listening Session episode this week, and I really wanted to love it, because I really love the artwork and the concept: secrets of Hollywood from the early and mid 20th century. Unfortunately... I didn't love it. I think I actually may have been the only Listening Session participant who didn't love it – a fact that makes me a little self-conscious. But it just didn't hook me at all. I didn't love the delivery. I didn't love the story. There were things I did love, and even more things I really respected about its production, but there was nothing that really drew me in. Maybe check it out though? You may love it! Streaming on all podcast apps. (5/10 - Not Highly Recommended)

That's it for this week, friends! Again, I'd love to hear what you're watching, reading, and listening to in the comments! What's one recommendation you'd offer the rest of us for this coming week?