STREAM IT or SKIP IT: Everything I Watched Over Christmas Break

“Arcane: League of Legends” (season 1): STREAM IT
Netflix
An animated Netflix series based in the universe of the popular video game “League of Legends,” this one checked all the boxes for me. Fantastic representation! Good fight scenes! Engaging storytelling! Character development! If you can get through the first two slow-moving, backstory-telling episodes, I can promise the rest of the show is SO worth it.

“Don’t Look Up”: STREAM IT
Netflix
“Don’t Look Up,” a Netflix original with a cast that combined the talents of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Kid Cudi, Ariana Grande, Timothee Chalamet, and a bunch more of ridiculously famous names, proved that a loaded cast can still make a good movie. To be honest, I was hesitant to watch it at first since the critics’ reviews were not great, but once I watched it, (on a plane!! come ON, if a movie’s good on a plane, it’s good anywhere) I realized why the critics didn’t like it–because it was criticizing them. A dark comedy that seems fun and star-studded at first, the film’s ending will leave you with a pit in your stomach and a timely reminder about the reality of how power affects us all. An absolute must-watch to start the new year right.
   
“Emily in Paris” (season 2): SKIP IT
Netflix
Here’s the truth, I’ve watched every season of this show so far and I plan to watch the next two seasons, but that doesn’t mean you should have to. If you really enjoy mindless, slightly painful, privileged TV like I do, go for it! “Emily in Paris” has it all: hot guys, fun surroundings, and, of course, a main character who never has to pay the consequences for her own actions and for whom everything always works out for in the end. However, Emily herself is obnoxiously unaccepting of French culture and annoyingly American, in a way that grates at my nerves. Now that I think about it, my streaming of this show might be my own personal brand of masochism. You should definitely skip this one, but I won’t judge you if you don’t!

“Euphoria” (season 2): STREAM IT
HBO Max
This one’s a complicated one for me to stick on a no-holds-barred, you-should-definitely-watch-it rating (Stream it or Skip it is too binary, guys. This has been really difficult for me.) The truth is, “Euphoria” regularly gets into hot water for its sexed-up portrayal of teenagers in high school and its shockingly record-breaking explicit nudity, but the series has inspired an entire new aesthetic. No matter how problematic it may be, I cannot deny the artistic beauty of the show. This new season was shot on Kodak Ektachrome and it is beautiful. “Euphoria” is back with beautifully crafted character development, its signature rhinestone makeup looks, and forward-focused topics. However, no matter how artistic it may be, Euphoria often relies on shockingly explicit scenes in order to further its storylines, so it might be best to sit this one out. My take, though? You should still take the time to check out Rue’s standalone episode on HBO Max; it’s a beautiful discussion of drug use and mental health and one of the greatest episodes of TV ever made.

“Harlan Coben’s Stay Close” (limited series): STREAM IT
Netflix
Partway through the last week of Christmas break, this series hit all the top 10 charts on Netflix, so I had to give it a try. Plus, I’m a stickler for a good thriller/mystery (check out “The Undoing” on HBO, “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu, and “Defending Jacob” on Apple TV for some of my personal favorites) and this one certainly did the job. While it was a tad more predictable than some of my faves (I actually prefer a slightly more open-ended ending), the mystery builds well, the characters develop beautifully, and since it’s based on a book, the story develops a little better than made-for-TV scripts. Check it out if you're a fan of this genre, and it won’t be a waste of your time!

“Hawkeye” (season 1): SKIP IT
DisneyPlus
Is this controversial? Let me tell you what, the fact is I haven’t seen “Spiderman: No Way Home” yet, but that’s a topic for another day. Personally, I thought “Hawkeye” missed the mark (ironic in a show about bows and arrows). Kate Bishop is a great new character and her and Yelena’s interactions really give it heart, but I was really hopeful that the show would make Clint more relatable. It just didn't. Plus, the final fight scene in the ice rink felt cheesy and childish instead of epic. Overall, it’s certainly watchable. Seeing Yelena get closure and Kate find herself with a loving “family” was beautiful, but we’ve seen Marvel certainly do better.

“Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard”: STREAM IT
HBO Max
How can you not like these movies? From Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds’ irresistibly comedic chemistry to fantastically done fight scenes, this franchise might be Oscar-winning for action comedies. And, of course, the sequel does a fantastic job bringing them together again. We get  more memorable fight scenes, some beautiful emotional moments for Reynolds and Jackson, and even a confrontation for Reynolds’ strange daddy issues (it’s literally sadder than I could’ve predicted). If you’re looking for a funny fighty flick to end the night on, press play.

“Love Hard”: STREAM IT
Netflix
Cheesy and predictable, yes. Kinda cute, though? Yes. Maybe it’s because I watched this during the holidays, but it really was a good movie. Featuring plenty more diversity than your typical Hallmark movie, Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang shine as an unlikely pairing. The starring turn by Paxton from “Never Have I Ever” doesn’t hurt either. I even teared up at the end (please don’t use this as a basis for watchability, I cry at everything). Either way, as long as you know what you’re getting into, it’s a good watch.

“The Book of Boba Fett” (season 1): STREAM IT
DisneyPlus
One of my favorite/most comforting/nostalgic film trilogies of all time is the original three Star Wars movies. Watching Boba Fett return to the sands of Tatooine, with threatening Tuskens and the city of Mos Espa, made my heart happy. Not only does this show give us the opportunity to revisit the tunes of Max Rebo and his band, it also gives us the chance to uncover the humanity of the Tuskens. Although the timelines can be a little hard to follow at first, I’m actually super excited for where this show is going to take us. Make sure to tune in Wednesdays on Disney Plus.

“The Green Knight”: SKIP IT
Prime Video
I hate that I can’t give this a Stream It rating. It’s just far too confusing for the average viewer. I had to do a bunch of research about the original source material after watching to gain even a small amount of understanding. While I love to see Dev Patel gearing up as a dragon-fighting knight (I’ve been begging for more diversity in medieval fantasy epics), it just doesn’t hit like I wanted it to. The music is good, I guess? But other than that, I just cannot recommend it in good faith.

“The Lost Daughter”: STREAM IT
Netflix
A powerful directorial debut from Maggie Gyllenhaal, everything, from the expert performances to the story’s slow weaving, is expertly crafted with precision. A film made by women, for women, this film manages to embody and discuss a uniquely feminine experience, that of motherhood, and confronts the question of whether every woman is a “natural mother”. Every moment keeps you on the edge of your seat and the final emotional reckoning provides the viewer with enough open closure so as to draw their own conclusions from it. A genre-bending beauty, this film may be too slow and artsy for some, but if you manage to sit through it and drink deeply from its meaning, you’ll leave the room feeling more full.

“The Power of the Dog”: STREAM IT
Netflix
Jane Campion’s 2021 addition to the Western genre is beautiful. Although my opinion may be hotly debated (plenty of people didn’t enjoy the film), I thought it was executed with masterful skill. Similar in genre to “The Lost Daughter,” I can say very little about the film without giving the ending away. Look forward to a complex exploration of masculinity long overdue in today’s cinema.

“The Wheel of Time” (season 1): STREAM IT
Prime Video
For fans of Lord of the Rings, and a more wholesome fantasy TV/film experience, this show is the one for you. Set in the hugely expansive “Wheel of Time” book universe written by Robert Jordan, Amazon put billions of dollars into the budget of this project. The show stars Rosamund Pike and Daniel Henney, alongside a cast of diverse newcomers, and promises an entire universe of things to come. Set in a female-focused universe, with a tribe of women acting as channelers of the mysterious One Power, there’s inklings of darkness building on the horizon and it’s our young heroes’ job to stop it. This series provides the opportunity for complicated conversations about morality, gender, and what it means to be called. A must-watch for fantasy fans!

“The Witcher” (season 2): STREAM IT
Netflix
I just love a high fantasy moment, and Netflix serves with its original series “The Witcher.” If you haven’t checked out season 1, put it on your watchlist. The show is short enough and certainly watchable enough to binge a season in a weekend, so consider making that your weekend activity. The series is based on a popular video game, and has since spawned a book series, comic books, an animated Netflix film spin-off, and of course, this title. The internet has spent months searching for something to fill the hole left by “Game of Thrones,” and I think this one does a good job of telling a broad, all-encompassing tale with multiple power players and incredibly choreographed fight scenes (I actually think Geralt might have one of my favorite fighting styles I’ve seen on TV yet). Definitely take the time to check this one out.

“What We Do in the Shadows” (seasons 1-3): STREAM IT
Hulu
To be fair, I technically haven’t finished this show yet, but from what I’ve watched so far, it’s very deserving of a Stream It rating. Envisioned and created by Taika Waititi, it’s a mockumentary detailing the day-to-day interactions of a group of wilful vampires in the city of New York. Be prepared for lots of hilarious situations, celebrity cameos, and nonstop laughs.