The Good, the Bad and the Questionable: a Summer TV Recap

Television is a huge part of who I am. Because my usual overnight camp was closed for the summer, I had tons of free time to binge-watch. Below are my thoughts on some shows that I wanted to discuss. None of these reviews are spoiler-free, so read with caution!

Never have I Ever S2- 3.5/5

Where do I even begin? This show is the DEFINITION of messy. Mindy Khaling is a genius because there's no one else who could've pulled off this show.

Contrary to what her therapist said, Devi is in fact, crazy. Though grief is the main factor driving her anger management issues, her actions throughout the season were nothing short of insane. Right off the bat, she has two boyfriends and neither of them knows they're in an open relationship. What's even more insane is that when they found out, they both started competing for Devi. Sure they were upset, but in the end, Devi still came out on top.

Something I really liked was that the dialogue (including texts) was super realistic. Though there were moments that were trying too hard to sound 'Gen-Zish', I've either said or heard someone else say pretty much everything in the show.

Now onto some of the characters. The "woke" white teacher had me DYING. I was literally peeing my pants when he cancelled himself. What's even funnier is that I know teachers and "allies" who act like this. I think Devi's friends, Eleanor and Fabiola are cool, and I love how they each have their own personalities and fleshed-out storylines because that doesn't usually happen. I think Paxton is kinda toxic but I'm glad Devi chose him over Ben. Not only is his narrator Gigi Hadid, but he's also the most down-to-earth character on the show. The only thing that makes me slightly uncomfortable is knowing that he's like 30 in real life. Ben, on the other hand, is the ULTIMATE pick-me. The read at the end from Eleanor at the dance gave me LIFE. Also, he was horrible to Aneesa (the best character. Speaking of which, Aneesa has a certain energy to her that's just so inviting. I honestly don't blame Devi for being jealous because she will never be as cool as Aneesa. Like who else is pulling up to a school marathon for charity in Ivy Park?

Overall, I thought the season was pretty good!

Loki - 5/5

Before I begin, I'd like to clarify that I am NOT a Marvel stan. I haven't read a single comic book and I haven't seen a single Thor movie. Therefore, please take everything I say with a grain of salt.

I don't know about you, but I have been LOVING these Marvel series. I think the movies are great and everything, but we can get a more thorough storyline when it's in episode format. I found Falcon and The Winter Soldier to be pretty enjoyable and I loved Wandavison (aside from the finale), but Loki is definitely my favourite so far. Tom Hiddleston had excellent chemistry with co-stars Owen Wilson and Sophia Di Martino (no, I don't hate the ship).

Another thing that caught my attention was the amount of diversity on screen. We are a long way from everyone being able to see themselves in their favourite shows, but this casting is a step in the right direction. I thought it was absolutely GENIUS to include Hayley Kiyoko's "Demons" in the episode where Loki is confirmed to be bisexual.

It's no surprise that this was the only Marvel series (of the three mentioned) that kept me hooked on each episode from start to finish. I mean how could it not with its incredible opening and end credits? Each plot twist was perfectly timed and there were just enough of them to keep me engaged. Also, the finale was amazing. Though, I really didn't expect anything less from Kate Herron, who also directs Sex Education (one of Netflix's best original series).

I'm not sure if it's a coincidence that Loki is the only one of these MCU series to get a season two, but either way, I'll be impatiently waiting until it drops.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series S2 - 3/5

Honestly, I wasn't even going to write about this season of HSMTMTS because it was beyond underwhelming. Though there were some major events like Nini attending that terrible boarding school, they were few and far between.

Let's start with the auditions. Ricky completely blew his, so it was unfair that he was cast as the lead. However, based on the other auditions, I don't disagree with Miss Jen's decision. The only other qualified actor would've been EJ who was much more suited for the role of Gaston. Unpopular opinion: Lily should've been cast as East High's Belle. I understand why she wasn't, but she's undoubtedly more talented than Ashlyn.

Now, onto the relationships. Having five established couples, two potential ones and a love triangle was a bit excessive. Especially, when so many of the couples seem forced. Ironically, the only couple I shipped was Rini, but I don't see that happening again ("Driver's License").

Seb and Carlos don't work and I'm sick of them trying. Also, Kourt and Howie were the biggest letdowns. All of their scenes together were awkward and difficult to watch. I think EJ and Gina are cute, but that's only because EJ changed his entire personality in what, two weeks? Keep in mind, this season takes place during the same school year as the first one, so I don't know what clicked but EJ 2.0 might just be the best character in the show.

The finale was the worst part of the season. Literally, nothing interesting happened until the last seven minutes, and then it was just over. There was barely any closure for several storylines and there were too many cliffhangers.

Anyways, Derek Hough, Jordan Fisher and "The Rose Song" are the only reasons I didn't give this season a lower rating.

Atypical S4 - 4.5/5

I started watching Atypical around its release date in 2017 and I've been a fan since. It was definitely something out of my comfort zone at the time, but I'm glad I decided to take a chance because it was definitely worth my while.

This season may not have been the strongest, but it did an amazing job of wrapping things up. The only thing I wish it had explored more was Elsa's relationship with her mom. We got a glimpse last season, but the jump to Lilian's dementia seemed a tad rushed.

I love that Casey decided to leave Clayton Prep because it was clear that being at that school and being a part of the track team was taking a major toll on her mental health.

I think Zahid's ending might be my favourite. Though I didn't really care for him early on, as the series progressed, I found myself becoming more and more invested in his character (I almost cried when the doctor told him he had cancer). Though Sam is probably right in saying that removing a testicle had nothing to do with Zahid's sudden transformation into a better person, the whole evil twin thing was just so on-brand for Zahid.

Too Hot To Handle S2 - 2.5/5

Too Hot To Handle premiered during that time of the lockdown when there was literally nothing better to do than watch whatever garbage Netflix threw at us.

This season flopped. The number of contestants who ignored the intent of the show drove me crazy. Literally, how did they lose 21k in less than 24 hours? Luckily, Lana didn't play around with the rule-breakers. How many people did she kick off the island? 4?? Unfortunately, the replacements made everything more confusing for me because the cast kept changing just as I was learning the names. It doesn't help that everyone kinda looks the same too.

I think that Cam and Emily were the Walmart version of Harry and Franchesca, but maybe they're gonna have an obnoxious and overly-dramatic couple every season. I'm not sure why, but I really liked Carly. I didn't think she was in contention for the prize, but she definitely deserved better. Melinda was my favourite (obviously). Desiree Burch CARRIED as the narrator. She's absolutely hilarious and really says what we're all thinking.

Overall, I think the season was okay! Maybe a few too many plot twists and contestant changes, but it still kept me moderately entertained.