Monday Musings: Weekend Recap: Farrell Waddles Through 'The Penguin', 'Agatha' Slowly Burns, And Happy Anniversary To 'The Jetsons'
Just another a'MUS'ing Monday
Oh Hello, Monday!
Wow, so much to stream — so little weekend. I didn’t get to everything on my streaming list including Monsters and American Sports Story, but stay tuned. I did stream some real gems this weekend, including one that waddles. Looking ahead for later this week we have George and Brad in Wolfs, Joshua Jackson and Don Johnson in a Love Boat-esque series, Doctor Odyssey, and my top most anticipated stream — Apartment 7A based on the horror classic Rosemary’s Baby.
Tiffany’s Weekend Recap
What Did I Stream This Weekend?
I finished a few older series that I still had a few episodes left of — Billions (Showtime), Billy the Kid (MGM+), and Interview with the Vampire (AMC+) — all really good btw, even though I believe Billions had definitely run its course by its final season.
My New Streams with a few thoughts…
The Perfect Couple - If SHEIN made The White Lotus
The Penguin - The Sopranos in Gotham City
Agatha All Along - The swap-meet version of Mare of Easttown
A Very Royal Scandal - If Shakespeare went to Epstein’s Mansion
The Perfect Couple
I finished The Perfect Couple, the Netflix series starring Nicole Kidman. Although I overall found intrigue in the twisty-turny mystery among beautiful people in a beautiful coastal town, the whole lets-make-fun-of-rich-people trope is so tired and made the writing feel so cringe at times. It was as if they were trying to reinvent The White Lotus, but failed miserably. If you like a series to just sit back, relax, drink wine, pop some popcorn and scroll through Instagram at times then I highly recommend this series. But in the words of Succession’s Logan Roy — “these are not serious people”
I paired this series with drinkable store-bought favorite Daou, Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Penguin
Confession: I’m not a huge comic book/movie fan, however I am a hypocrite in that I watch most every Marvel or DC movie that comes out. I think the reason is I love the superhero/heroine origin story. I had mild expectations going into The Penguin, now streaming on Max, but was sweetly surprised. It opened with a very well written, mature pilot episode.
Besides the you-must-be-from-Newport-Beach purple and gold Maserati that the Penguin drives, the series felt more like The Sopranos than it did a flashy, brightly-colored comic book series. Each character was compelling to watch and the choices the writers made to move the story along felt natural with plenty of did-not-see-that-coming moments. Don’t stop watching until the very, very end in the behind-the-scenes segment where the writers and producers talk about the crafting of this episode.
Also, a great cameo in the film is someone you might recognize from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Paired the 1st episode with a glass of Austin Hope Paso Robles, Cabernet Sauvignon
Agatha All Along
Agatha All Along’s two episode premiere on Disney+ opened a little rough for me. The first episode felt like the swap meet version of Mare of Easttown. Poorly written. So much exposition, trying to explain everything that we could’ve figured out anyways.
I couldn’t tell if they were trying to be Hocus Pocus Disney or something darker. The second episode was actually a lot better, especially since there was now a journey involved with additional witchy characters. Kathryn Hahn is naturally fun to watch and I love her poncho, hat, and sunnies — it’s giving Jenna f**king Lyons from The Real Housewives of New York City. I also loved seeing Aubrey Plaza and Patti LuPone as good witch/bad witch.
Paired this with two glasses of Bella Union Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
A Very Royal Scandal
I just started this super limited series (it’s literally only three episodes), but after the first episode I’m wondering what’s left to tell? I am thoroughly enjoying the acting — Ruth Wilson (The Affair) and Michael Sheen (Good Omens) are excellent in their roles as real-life figures NewsNight’s Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew. However, with all the documentaries that have exploded on the streamers about Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, most of the first episode had a read-that/ streamed-that sort of feel.
Paired with a glass of Josh Cellars, Sparking Prosecco
New Trailers
Peacock releases trailer for new horror series Teacup starring The Handmaid’s Tale Yvonne Strahovski
Amazon/MGM releases trailer for Dwayne Johnson / Chris Evans Santa Claus movie
September 23: This Day in History
1962 - The First Color TV Series Premieres on ABC — The Jetsons
If you were a child of the sixties, seventies and eighties, chances are you grew up watching The Jetsons. It followed one futuristic family’s misadventures in space. It was the first color television series for ABC and aired in primetime at 7:30pm. The original series ran only for one season but was picked up again in 1985 for two more seasons. You can stream all three seasons on Hulu and Max.
Interesting Facts About The Jetsons
The style of architecture in The Jetsons is called Googie which appeared in many new buildings in post-World War II America to symbolize the movement forward in the Jet, Atomic and Space Ages.
You can see this in Seattle’s Space Needle, various installations in Las Vegas, and the former Pan Am Worldport at JFK International airport. This style of architecture fell out of favor during the 1970s.
Futuristic things that first appeared in The Jetsons that are common today — the flatscreen television, newspaper on a computer, a computer virus, video chat, a tanning bed, and home treadmill. In the episode “A Date with Jet Screamer” predicted music videos and a version of MTV.
The Jetsons were inspired by The Dick Van Dyke Show as its counterpart The Flintstones were inspired by The Honeymooners.
Streaming Today and Tomorrow
September 23
Rescue: Hi-Surf - Series Premiere (Fox/Hulu)
The Voice: Season 26 (NBC/Peacock)
September 24
Penelope (Netflix)
Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal (Hulu)
Evolution of the Black Quarterback (Prime Video)