<–The State of the Watcher: 6/8/19                      The State of the Watcher: 7/6/19–>

A biweekly post updated every other Saturday detailing my continual struggle to complete my extensive movie, show, and anime list.

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Movies: 1

Melancholia (DNF)

This one was on my list for a long time, and on paper, it looks like something that would be really up my alley.  It’s highly symbolic of depression, and indeed, “melancholia” is a way I often describe the state I’m in.  I call it “the melancholia,” because sometimes I’m a pompous, artsy ass.  The title of the movie refers to a rogue planet of the same name set to crash into earth and destroy all life.  Justine, played by Kirsten Dunst, attempts to forestall thoughts of the inevitable through marriage, but her despair is palpable throughout.  No one seems to care about her feelings, and she’s constantly berated, gaslit, and made to feel bad for her inability to be happy.  They are angry with her for being upset, but no one ever seems to ask her how she feels, though we, the audience, assume it’s because the world is ending, and the farce she’s forced herself to go through cannot make her forget that.  It is an excellent metaphor for depression with the added facet that this is happening to everyone (the planet will destroy us all of course), but only Justine (the depressed) is unable to handle it.  She tells her mother that she’s frightened, and her mom kicks her out of the room.

The way Justine was treated was…hard to watch, and I wound up not finishing it in favor of reading about the movie on Wikipedia.  The second part of the movie focuses on her sister Claire, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg.  I did not like Claire at the outset.  She first shows up when Justine and her new husband arrive at the estate where her reception will be.  They are late because the limo couldn’t make up up the winding hill, forcing them to walk, and Claire fucking berates her for this, telling her how everyone has been waiting.  First…the bride is never late, and second there were logistical issues.  I know the movie is making a statement of how Justine’s mental state is irrelevant to everyone but her (and her husband.  He’s a good guy), but it was hard for me to watch.

I hated the way people treated Justine, and I think that has a lot to do with my own depression and how it’s historically been treated before I even know I had it.  It got to me because I’ve been in situations where I was told to “just smile,” and it’s harmful AF.  The movie is very beautiful, though it isn’t for people who like fast paced.  Definitely artsy with gorgeous cinematography and a soundtrack featuring Wagner’s (great composer…terrible person) Tristan und Isolde.  I’d recommend this movie if you’re into that sort of thing, but if you deal with depression, it might be triggering.

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TV Shows: 2

Dead to Me

I finished this and now can’t wait for the second season.  I also got my brother into it, and he finished it in like one sitting.  We both grew up watching Married With Children, and Christina Applegate has come a long way from Kelly Bundy.  The final episode is a definite cliffhanger that yet resolves a major problem.

I love narratives that make you feel for both sides, and holy shit, did this show do that.  I really wished Judy would’ve dropped Steve because this douche literally dumped her due to her fertility issues.  She was dating a good man, too.

I, personally, did not find Steve to be all that attractive.  Too much douche face.

Nick is just sweeter and cuter.  Like I sort of see Steve’s appeal, but one, I’m not attracted to dudes like that, and two, your demeanor affects your attractiveness.  Someone can become more or less attractive to me based on their personality.

This show was fucking wild from start to finish.  15/10 would recommend.

Good Omens

So, confessions.  I’ve attempted to read the novel twice, but I always put it aside for something more interesting.  It’s not that I thought it was a bad book, and I’ve read and enjoyed both Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, though I only got into the latter later and I’ve DNFed a few of Sir Terry’s novels, too (The Fifth Elephant and lately The Color of Magic).  I’m not sure what it was, but I just couldn’t remain enthused enough to get through it, but I absolutely love the show.  It has a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy vibe to it.  I love that Adam and Eve are black (SO MANY ANGRY BROFLAKES), and David Tennant is sexy AF with his black wings and slit pupils.

You wouldn’t think the friendship between a demon and an angel would be the purest thing to ever grace this miserable world, but it is.  They love each other; it’s canon.  Neil Gaiman said so.  He and Michael Sheen (who plays Aziraphale) told people to fuck off about black Adam and Eve and fanfiction respectively, and I love them for it.  Also God is a woman, which pissed off even MORE assholes.  It’s a great day to be alive.

Also…there’s this.

It just showcases the ignorance of Bible thumpers in that they DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT STREAMING SERVICE IT’S ON.  God (ha) forbid there be a point of view other than their own, but these are the same people who insist this is a Christian nation and are doing everything in order to make it so *eye roll*

I’ll talk more about this when I finish it, because I things to say about it in reference to the Paradise Lost argument, so GO will be more fuel to the fire of that debate.

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I spent yesterday pretty much sleeping, and just didn’t feel like posting this.  I’m trying to keep good on my promise to do this, so here it is a day behind, dated a day before.  I wanted to watch John Wick 2 these past two weeks, but I didn’t get around to it.  I was also hoping to go to the movies, but that didn’t happen either.  Oh well.

Have you watched any of the above?  What did you think?  Did my incessant babbling convince you to check any of them out?  Give me the deets in the comments!

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<–The State of the Watcher: 6/8/19                      The State of the Watcher: 7/6/19–>