Monday Musings: ‘Napoleon’ Trailer, Sonja & Luann Take A Dip In ‘Crappie Lake’, ‘The Bear’ Best Episodes (so far), My Netflix Rant

Netflix, You Greedy Bastard 💰

Oh look, it’s Monday again! Which means another dose of my musings which have been all over the map this past week, but mostly on the map of ranting about Netflix and how absurd I think their new shared household rules are.

I’m just waiting for that email or TV commercial that says, “Have you or someone you love been affected by Netflix’s cruel and unjust shared household rule?” My rant reeks of first world problems, I’m aware, but I’m sorry, if you’re paying $20/month (the highest of any streaming platform, mind you) you should be able to watch Netflix in at least one other household. Does anyone else feel me on this? Netflix is now breaking up more families than Monopoly. 

Welcome To Crappie Lake

According to Nielsen’s ratings, I was the only person up at 6am this morning to stream The Real Housewives of New York’s Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps new spinoff reality series, Welcome To Crappie Lake. It’s a classic fish out of water trope where Sonja and Luann visit the small town of Benton, Illinois in hopes to bring awareness to the town and pump up tourism. The episodes are only 20 minutes long and honestly quite funny. So far, Bravo is being delicate with the “let’s not make these NYC city slickers look too snobby and let’s not dumb down the country locals” cliche. The girls are down to do most things including catching catfish in the grimy lake with their bare hands and sleep in motels with walls that look like prison cells. Sonja’s natural humor shines through here and makes for a fun watch. Welcome to Crappie Lake airs Sundays on Bravo and streams on Peacock the next morning (starting at 6am!). 

Have You Seen The New ‘Napoleon’ Trailer? 

I’ve been anticipating this trailer from Ridley’s Scott’s new film Napoleon starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby (she played Princess Margaret in the first two seasons of The Crown). While this film will be released in theaters over Thanksgiving, it’s an Apple Original Film which means it will premiere on Apple TV+ shortly after the film’s release. 

Great Moments in Television — The Bear: Season 2 - Episodes 6 & 7 

I’m (still) streaming The Bear so “bear” with me as I’m bringing up this show yet again. It’s just that I’m constantly blown away by how good the writing is on this series. I don’t usually “binge” watch television, I usually watch two episodes at a time and I’m so glad I watched episodes six and seven back-to-back as these two episodes watched together is probably one of the best streaming experiences I’ve had in months.

To go from the beautiful chaos that was episode six that portrayed the Berzatto family and extended relatives over a Christmas dinner to the quiet and calm episode seven showing the inner-workings of a three star Michelin restaurant was absolutely brilliant. Both episodes mirrored each other by showing a family broken, on edge, aggressive with a matriarch whose emotional abuse has left her family in fear with the contrasting chosen family of those working in a high-end restaurant who work together, respect each other, demand perfection, but with an understanding that mistakes are okay as long as you own up to them.

Carmen sent his cousin Richie to work at this restaurant for a week to show him a different type of family and how every person in it, no matter how big or how small the job they have (even shining up forks) is equally as important. Carmen gave Richie that opportunity just like his Aunt Michelle (beautifully played by Sarah Paulson) gave him. The writing is so thoughtful (I mean, just the attention to wrapping both episode storylines around forks). You can tell just how much the creator Christopher Storer admires each of his characters, in every scene they are cared for and loved through the words and moments they are given on screen. I loved these two episodes, especially episode seven (yes, I freakin’ cried!). I highly recommend streaming The Bear on Hulu. 

Summer, Summer, Summertime: A Frosé Recipe

I recently had rooftop Frosés (that’s frozen rosé) and boy, were they refreshing in the unforgiving heat. It’s super easy to make! Just put your desired amount of rosé and ice into a blender (add fruits like strawberries and watermelon if you want to sweeten it up as well as an all natural sweetener like agave or stevia) and blend. Garnish with strawberries or these edible flowers.

Amazon Days: July 11 & 12

Just a reminder that Prime Days start tomorrow and if you’re compelled to test out additional streaming platforms like MGM+ or Paramount+ with Showtime, why not take advantage of their .99 cents specials! 

Streaming Today and Tomorrow! 📺

July 10

• Storybots: Answer Time - Season 2 (Netflix) 

• Unknown: Killer Robots  (Netflix) 

• Celebrity Family Feud: Season 9 Premiere (ABC/Hulu)

• Emily (Paramount+ with Showtime)

• 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way - Season 5 (MAX) 

• BBQ Brawl: Season 4 (MAX)

• Flip The Strip: Season 1 (MAX)

• Lil Jon Wants To Do What? Season 2 (MAX)

• People Magazine Investigates: Season 7 (MAX) 

• London Kills: Season 4 (Acorn TV/AMC+) 

• Breaking the Ice: Series Premiere (ALLBLK/AMC+) 

• To End All War: Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb (Peacock) 

July 11 - SHARK WEEK 🦈 BEGINS ON DISCOVERY! 

• Nineteen To Twenty (Netflix)  

• Betrayal: The Perfect Husband - Complete Docuseries (Hulu) 

• Craig of the Creek: Season 5A (MAX)

• High Speed Chase: Season 1 (MAX)

• Outdaughtered: Season 6 (MAX)

• Myth of the Zodiac Killer: Limited Series (Peacock)