Everything I Watched in February 2023
Things to add to your list!
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Monday’s post about the “Vanderpump Rules” cheating scandal is already my most-viewed post ever and brought a lot of new people to this newsletter — so, welcome! If you’re looking for more on that, there will be more in Friday’s edition.
I don’t normally send out three newsletters a week, so please don’t unsubscribe if you think I’m bombarding you with emails! Blame the timing of the “Scandoval” for the onslaught; usually I just sent 1-2 posts a week. Anyway, once a month I send out a list of everything I watched the previous month to give you some ideas of things to add to your own watch lists, so I’m here to share the rundown of all of the stuff I watched in February! Note that I only include seasons of TV shows that I finished in any given month — if it’s still on or I’m still currently watching it, then I’ll include it when it’s over.
You’ll find that my reactions to things lean positive, because 1. I actively try to seek out stuff that I expect to be entertaining, has been well reviewed and/or has value to me — I’m not just going to watch the most popular show on Netflix because everyone else is if I don’t think I would like it — and 2. I’ve given myself more leeway recently to give up on shows that I’m not enjoying (here’s the list of all the shows I dropped last year). I used to force myself to finish things even if I hated them, which is truly unnecessary and a waste of time.
Keep scrolling for the list of everything I watched in February 2023 (and here’s the list from January if you want more ideas for things to watch):
Pamela, A Love Story (Netflix) 👍👍
Following last year’s dramatic retelling of her sex tape scandal in “Pam & Tommy,” Pamela Anderson reclaiming her story by sharing her own perspective felt vindicating. I found this to be pretty beautifully done, and I appreciated all of the unseen home video footage featured here. One of my favorite parts was seeing her relationship with her two sons and how protective and nonjudgemental they are of her. She doesn’t see herself as a victim and, after watching this, it’s easy to see why.
Trying - Seasons 1-3 (Apple TV+) 👍👍
A complete delight of a show about a British couple attempting to have a baby who ultimately turn to adoption. It’s at once hilarious and touching, documenting their struggles to get their lives together and expand their family in a way that is endlessly relatable at every turn. I love this show so much, and I can’t wait for the fourth season.
Shotgun Wedding (Prime) 👐
This is the Jennifer Lopez-Josh Duhamel movie that was originally supposed to star Armie Hammer. I will pretty much watch any movie that J.Lo stars in, because there’s a comfort in essentially knowing exactly what you’ll get from them. This one admittedly ranks low on the list of all-time J.Lo movies, but it was still fun. Come for her, stay for Jennifer Coolidge’s scene-stealing as her future mother-in-law.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City - Season 3 (Bravo) 👎
I’ll stick with my Housewives through thick and thin, but this was definitely my least favorite season of any franchise since the most recent season of “RHONY.” It was too dark for me without any lightness to balance it out. There was no comedic relief whatsoever (thank god Mary M. Cosby is coming back for that reason), and I found Jen Shah protesting her innocence when we knew all season that she ultimately pled guilty absolutely maddening to watch. Let’s not even talk about the Heather’s black eye of it all. I’m ready for a reset for next season.
Spoiler Alert (Peacock) 👍👍
This movie about a gay couple living in New York City whose lives are turned upside down when one of them is diagnosed with terminal cancer gutted me. I read the book at the end of last year, and this adaptation does a phenomenal job at telling the story. I was in tears pretty much the whole time. Watch it for a good cry, but also for the irresistibly romantic story at its core.
Living (in theaters) 👍
Bill Nighy (who will always be the singer from “Love Actually” to me) earned an Oscar nomination this year for his performance in this one. It’s a great little movie about a man given a heartbreaking diagnosis that changes the his outlook on life. Definitely recommend.
Love Is Blind: After the Altar - Season 3 (Netflix) 👎
While the second season of “Love Is Blind” is my least favorite, the “Alter the Altar” episodes for that season were so damn good. Like, remember when they locked them all in a house and made them throw an ‘80s-themed party? Anyway, the opposite is true of this season: I loved season 3, but these follow-up episodes were underwhelming, especially when you find out that SK was two-timing Raven, the best person on this cast. Watch her tell-all interview with Nick Viall instead.
Your Place or Mine (Netflix) 👐
While this Hello Sunshine rom-com starring Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher wasn’t unwatchable, it just felt kind of pointless. They famously had no discernible chemistry on red carpets while promoting this film, and it was hard to tell if they had any in this movie because they were apart for 95% of it. I’m here for the rom-com renaissance that seems to be happening, but movies like this only work if there are convincing couples at the center of them — and this pairing was definitely lacking in that category.
Sharper (Apple TV+) 👍👍
I freaking loved this movie. Great cast (Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, John Lithgow…) and an alluring, surprise-filled premise. I don’t want to say too much because the movie reveals itself as you watch it, but if you’re in the mood for a slow-burn thriller on a Friday night, watch this one.
Full Swing (Netflix) 👍👍
As I said in a previous edition of this newsletter, I’m kind of in my sports documentary era. This series from the “Drive to Survive” and “Break Point” team applies the same formula to professional golf, with a hugely compelling storyline following a controversial Saudi-backed golf league, LIV, threatening the future of the PGA woven throughout the season. I don’t really watch golf, but this show made me want to start paying more attention to it.
Somebody I Used to Know (Prime) 👍
This rom-com was written by real-life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, who also directed it (Alison also stars in it). This was pretty cute, and I’d definitely recommend it over “Shotgun Wedding” and “Your Place or Mine,” the other two rom-coms I watched this month. She plays a down on her luck reality TV producer who returns home to find that the ex she reconnected with is engaged.
Make or Break - Season 2 (Apple TV+) 👍
I loved the first season of this sports doc series that follows the World Surf League’s calendar season, so I was excited for another round. While it focuses a bit more on the male surfers, it also profiles some of the top female surfers, too, which I really appreciated. This one leaves you in complete awe of what these athletes can do, gives you wanderlust watching them travel the world following the best waves out there and leaves you very satisfied with how the competition ends up panning out.
Family Karma - Season 3 (Bravo) 👍
This might be the most underrated show on Bravo. While the ratings weren’t great, this season of “Family Karma” was awesome. It featured two weddings, a cheating scandal and feuding aunties. What more could you want? If you’re looking for another Bravo show to add to your docket, this is a quick watch from season 1 about a multigenerational group of Indian-Americans in Miami.
Harlem - Season 2 (Prime) 👍
The second season of this one started off strong, but started to lag for me about halfway through. The core cast of this show that follows a group of Black girlfriends in their 30s is fantastic, but sometimes the pacing and direction of the show felt off for me. I also find that some of the characters’ decisions are unrealistically maddening. Still worth the watch, though!
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test (FOX) 👐
Another show that started off really strong but ultimately petered out for me. This one threw a bunch of reality stars, athletes and celebrities into the desert to be put through military training. It’s incredibly impressive to watch these glamorous stars put themselves through some difficult tasks (I particularly loved watching Kenya Moore and Hannah Brown on this), but I think it could’ve benefited from being 6-8 episodes instead of 10.