Binge Watching - This Is Us (So Late Jumping on the Bandwagon!)

Do you spend hours in front of the TV, maybe days?  Did you ever want to chat with other Binge Watchers or ask people for suggestions or maybe just review the season you watched.  Stormi from Books, Movies, Reviews, Oh My! and Michelle from Because Reading had the perfect idea to create a bi-weekly meme to do just that. 

I actually finished watching "This is Us" a month or so ago.  Mr. Barb got stuck late at work one night so I thought to myself "I'll just watch one episode to see what the hype is about."  I knew he wouldn't be interested in it so it was the perfect opportunity to watch one episode and write it off as "not for me."  A weekend later I had watched the entire first season and am now counting the days until the next one starts!

I quickly fell in love with all of the characters and can honestly say, there isn't one that I don't like.  It's even hard for me to pick a favorite. I also really enjoy how the story is told (flashbacks, moving forward, moving back again).  It really is formatted in such a genius fashion.  For someone who grew up an only child, it's so interesting for me to watch all the family dynamics.  And the way it ended last season.  Thank heavens I didn't watch it when it came out because at least I haven't had to wait as long as everyone else.  

So if you like dramas, you HAVE to try this show. It has a great cast an I think Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia are awesome in this and even though I thought he would always be Jess in my mind, I think now he will always be Ben.

Binge Watching - So I Stumbled Across This Show Called "Younger..."

So one day I was browsing through Hulu looking for something to justify my monthly payment until Stephen King's series "Castle Rock" starts up and I ran across this show called "Younger."  I'd seen an ad or two on TV but never paid much attention because for the most part, I don't watch 1/2 hour comedies much.  However, I pushed play and after a few episodes I was hooked  So hooked that I pretty much watched 3 seasons in a tad over a week.

There are a few reasons why I found this show captivating (and for the record, it's more drama than actual slapstick comedy).  I love Sutton Foster, who plays the MC Liza.  She was great in "Bunheads" and although I thought the town musical in "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" was total nonsense, she showed talent in that as well.  Also, her love interest Josh is from WV so it's kind of comical to see a hip New York tattoo artist....from WV (I live here so I can get away with slamming the state all I want).

But now let me share why I think YOU might like this show.  Liza is a recently divorced 40-year-old who had to lie about her age and now has to act younger to get a job since she hasn't worked in her field for over 16 years.  Also, this series is set in a publishing house!  That means there's lots of mentions of books and imprints and authors and publicity.  It talks about Goodreads and Twitter. Also, there's this one author who is a total George RR Martin clone and they rip on how even though his books are great, they don't come out that often and how quirky he is.  There's a diverse cast and pretty much something for the younger crowd as well as the older one.

So have I convinced you yet?  Season 4 is currently being broadcast weekly on TVLand and I now record it weekly.  Seasons 1-3 can be seen on Hulu and purchased through Amazon.

Binge Watching - Why You Have to Watch Riverdale!

Do you spend hours in front of the TV, maybe days?  Did you ever want to chat with other Binge Watchers or ask people for suggestions or maybe just review the season you watched.  Stormi from Books, Movies, Reviews, Oh My! and Michelle from Because Reading had the perfect idea to create a bi-weekly meme to do just that. 

This week I'm sharing with you a TV series which Greg from Book Haven raved about and Stormi recently watched as well - Riverdale.

Riverdale is a teen drama which aired on the CW earlier this year.  It's based on the Archie comics but all I can say is this isn't the Archie comics I remember.  This Riverdale is much darker and more edgier.  When the season opens, there has been a murder in town of a very popular high school twin. The remainder of the season centers around the investigation and what happened with some very interesting side stories thrown in.  While somewhat creepy (in a tame way) the scariest thing to me about the show was the surviving twin.  I was pretty sure there might be an incest twist popping up somewhere the entire time I watched it.

I honestly can say the characters of Archie and Betty interested me the least, despite them being the main leads initially, but I LOVED LOVED LOVED Jughead, and was very taken with Veronica as well.

I never thought I would enjoy this show so much and all I know is now I can't wait for Season 2.  Riverdale is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

Binge Watching - Summer of Sharks

Do you spend hours in front of the TV, maybe days?  Did you ever want to chat with other Binge Watchers or ask people for suggestions or maybe just review the season you watched.  Stormi from Books, Movies, Reviews, Oh My! and Michelle from Because Reading had the perfect idea to create a bi-weekly meme to do just that.  This is my first time linking up but definitely not the last.

I'm actually not doing a traditional binge post but instead am talking about a binge theme.  Seems like this summer I've rekindled my love of all things sharky and been watching (and reading) accordingly.  It started with a rewatch of "Jaws," "Jaws 2" and "Jaws: Revenge."  I always loved "Jaws" as a kid and although I've seen it tons of times, I have never watched the other two that often.  I found "Jaws 2 "rather annoying with all the screaming teens stuck on a boat, but I really did enjoy "Jaws: Revenge." I still need to get to "Jaws 3" though.

Then I watched "The Shallows" with Blake Lively.  I had always put off watching it but found it on HBO a few weeks ago and quickly added it to the list of shark movies I've recently watched.  It was a pretty good movie and there was this one scene where the shark leaps out of the water as it chows down and an unsuspecting surfer that truly was amazing - and scary.

There is another movie on Netflix called "Shark Lake" which I know nothing about but plan on getting too soon and of course I'm hoping to see "47 Meters Down" as well.

Finally, it seems sharks are also popping up in some of my reads.  I really want to read "Jaws" before the summer is over to see how it differs from the movie and to get a full take on this modern classic. Also, I recently feel in love with two zebra sharks, Ursula's pets, in "Rise of the Sea Witch."  "Shark Island" by Chris Jameson is also on my summer TBR.

So do you have any shark movie recommendation so I can continue my "Summer of Shark" binge???

Also, thanks Michelle and Stormi for such a fun new feature!