Weekly Geek Outs - 07/22/16

Greetings!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

• Orange is the New Black, Season 4

I finished this most recent season this past week, and while I'm late to the party, I have a lot of feelings. The death of a beloved character, combined with some hard to watch moments left me a little frustrated, along with the continuing lack of development of most of its chronically underused and brilliant ensemble. What was at first a bold move for a TV show, has now become a burdensome weight; this large cast of diverse women characters now begs to be explored, but there is a main narrative to follow to drive the show forward. Also, with three more seasons already greenlit, we know we're going to have roughly 39 more hours of this show to get through. The narrative seems to be moving at a snail's pace for me while also suffering from the weight of everything else I mentioned. I enjoy this show, and feel it has so much potential (especially with how the season ended). I'll be curious to see how it goes, but if it doesn't improve, it is bordering on The Walking Dead territory for me (meaning it is really just not doing it for me anymore, may put my watching of it on pause). It definitely has time to change course. I just think it needs to figure out an endgame, focus more on other characters, and try better to balance the darker aspects of the show.

• Ghostbusters

I saw the new Ghostbusters movie with my partner over this past weekend and I really enjoyed it. I made sure to watch the original film before seeing this one, and I feel like I prefer the newer one. Not to say the original 1984 film is bad, but it is definitely showing its age and just hits on a different target than the new reboot. The new film is funnier, the action is better, and the effects are better thanks to improved CGI (can't really hold that against its predecessor). The original Ghostbusters will always be there, but this new, female driven movie will hopefully embark on its own journey and create some positive new role models for young women going forward. Go check it out!

• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

This show is awesome. It is quick, smart, silly, and a really original format for TV (musical comedy). It wasn't something I thought I'd like at first, but after watching through the first season on Netflix recently, I'm a fan. It has some clever feminist lines and great running gags that you have to keep an eye out for. I'd recommend this show to most people. I'm sure it is not for everyone but this sort of show is right up my alley. My partner loved it too and it was a lot of fun to watch together. It is also an hour long each episode, which is surprising for a comedy but it helps to fit a lot into the season's 18 episodes especially with the musical interludes.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 06/19/15

Howdy!

Here's what was going on in my world this week:

• Orange is the New Black, Season 3

I just finished this new season a few days ago (I promise not to spoil anything), and I was pleased with how it progressed. It wasn't great, but it was good and much better than a lot of other TV out there right now, I feel like. The slow burn character work is reminiscent of something like Mad Men or Breaking Bad, which I know isn't for everyone. I enjoy it (most of the time) but I found myself frustrated at times with the consistently dark viewpoint it had where nothing ever works out well. I also yearned for more coherent and deep back stories for the inmates. What they had was always great and I wanted more! I look forward to see where season 4 takes the story (and how long they can keep the show going).

• Chicago

My long awaited trip out to visit my friend out in Illinois is happening this weekend. I'm really excited to take another adventure out to someplace I've never been, especially because I'm seeing my friend who I haven't seen in about a year. We'll have a lot to catch up on and I know it will be an awesome weekend. I don't really know what to expect of Chicago as a city but it is always neat to see new areas of our country as well as new college campuses specifically (which I know we'll get around to a couple over the course of the weekend).

• 2015 San Diego Comic Con!

I recently confirmed everything for what is an amazing, unexpected opportunity to help support some awesome student affairs colleagues who are putting on a panel at San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) this year. They've been doing this session for 5 years now (they've also presented at ACPA) and it's a great connection between the worlds of student affairs and geekdom (sound familiar?). I'm happy to help cover their session, check out San Diego, and soak in all of the convention that I can. I'll also be getting some things off my "Before I'm 30" list, which include dipping my feet in the Pacific Ocean, and going to SDCC. Be sure to stay tuned here for coverage of the panel as well as my adventures out to San Diego next month! I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 06/13/14

Good day to you! Here is what I've been geeking out about this week (mostly with my lovely partner)!

• Orange is the New Black, Season 2

This newest season of the Netflix Original gem just premiered this past Friday but my partner and I decided to watch it together so we were finally able to start with the first few episodes this week. I just love how good of quality this show is since it is essentially just a web series. It will surely pave the way for other amazing original content to make its way online, like the slate of Marvel shows coming to Netflix, which I am very pumped for!

• Edge of Tomorrow

I saw this movie last night with some friends after warming to it after initially not really giving it any thought. This sci-fi action film stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, who both are great in this movie. It is essentially Groundhog Day meets Halo, with Cruise repeating the same day over and over where he is part of a botched military invasion that is trying to repel an alien threat. The movie has fantastic action sequences, is funny, and has some great personal moments that explore human nature and how someone would react to having this happen to them. I will say that I did not like the ending at all. It doesn't ruin the experience and after seeing how the book, All You Need is Kill, which this movie is based upon, ended, I can't say I would have wanted that ending either. Perhaps there was a conclusion somewhere in the middle that would have been more satisfactory. Nevertheless, I'm glad I saw this gem of the summer movie season that I feel like got easily written off by most people.

• Arrested Development

My partner just starting watching this classic TV comedy at mine and others' behest. While we haven't been sitting down to watch every episode with each other, I've been re-watching a few with her and I am still chuckling at this great show. If you haven't watched it yet, please binge through the series. It is a short watch and you'll be thankful for it. Plus, you'll probably get those references your friends make and you don't understand.

As always, thanks for stopping by! All the best and have an awesome day!