#quinns character is delightfully frustrating

[ahb-writes]

"...it's what I can do."

("Quinn," in Daria, S2E06: "Monster")

[thekimspoblog]

Love Quinn was NOT a good person. But the thing is, her Season 3 character arc was all about her going from killing any woman who threatened to take Joe's attention away from her (because she understandably feared that if Joe left her for someone else, he would kill her), to realizing that this was isolating her from women she otherwise should have solidarity with, and she learned to place the blame for the adultery squarely on the head of the adulterer. Realizing that it wasn't Marianne's fault that Joe couldn't love her, just like it wasn't Natalie's fault: even if Love wanted so badly to believe otherwise when she first met him in Season 2, Joe was never the man she thought he was, and he can't love her because Joe isn't capable of love. That as painful as it was to admit, she needed to give up on trying to "fix him", because the cycle of gaslighting and violence was just making her depressed and crazy.

Trying to take a cleaver to his neck still might not have been the best idea, tactically speaking. But the sad thing is a lot of real women still haven't learned this lesson; there are still plenty of women who take their frustrations out on some "other woman", instead of the husband who lied to them. They do this because they feel like the cheating happened because they weren't good enough; they do this because they are financially or emotionally dependent on their husbands in some way that makes them feel like they're not allowed to be mad. And for as delightfully over-the-top as Love Quinn was, this was the truth the character represented.

[takaraphoenix]

Review: Batman - Hush

How is the animated DC movie verse so much superior to the live-action one? No, seriously, I don't get it. They tell stories with half an hour less time than the live-action ones, yet they tell vastly more satisfying stories and succeed at actually introducing their characters and building up a shared universe. It baffles me.

Now, that of course plays into this review, because this isn't just a stand-alone movie. It's the fourth Batman movie and the thirteenth movie in the overall franchise. That, of course factors in.

I've not known about this movie though! I thought Reign of the Supermen was the only one we'd get this year so I'm delighted that they also gave us a Batman movie.

And there is something very, very charming about the fact that the Superman movie sank one of my top three favorite DC ships and the same year I get a Batman movie that then sails another one of my top three favorite DC ships. BatCat. Finally. Been waiting for some content with them.

And Dick shipping BatCat too is... hilarious. Love it. Seriously screeched when Bruce revealed his secret identity to Selina?? Just, loud, loud fangirl screech.

My relationship to Batman is quite complex though, because overall I absolutely hate Gotham and their criminals (Poison Ivy, Catwoman and Harley Quinn excepted – and hey, we're three for three!). I do however love the Bat Family. Dick is one of my favorite DC characters. And the fact that this universe has already established a very broad Bat Family (you know, compared to other adaptations where it's mostly limited to Batman, Alfred and one Robin) is really playing into my enjoyment!

Then there is the whole... humor of this? Just. Batman appearing in Lex Luthor's bedroom and Lex just straight up sassing Batman? Delightful. A quick cameo from Clark and Superman is in it too!

Angry Superman standing in front of Catwoman, who is then taking a step back and pointing at Bruce while saying “he made me do it!” just absolutely knocked me off my feet. I laughed way too loud at that, but... it's just... the delivery? So dry? Delightful!

Granted, the whole “You are mind-controlled, but I'm sure that The Power Of Love can break the chemical mind-control”... ooof. Especially when it's a NOTP of mine that's used for that. Ooof.

Okay, I gotta admit the BatCat makes up like 75% of my enjoyment of this movie? I just? I get so little of them. They're so rarely featured together, and together at that. Alas, seeing as what this franchise did with SuperWonder, I... knew the ending the moment they kissed. Make me delightfully happy about this ship being canon in this universe, showing them be wonderfully adorable together and then break it off... Why you gotta hurt me like this? “Someday”. I will cling to “Someday” and hope that they will give me more BatCat.

These movies also win on animation though, I love the art-style and I'm just really grateful for still getting 2D animated movies, since everybody and their grandma is jumping onto the 3D animation train. And sure, there's nothing wrong with 3D animated movies in general, but the fact that everyone in Western animation has jumped onto that bandwagon and stopped making 2D movies is incredibly frustrating for me, as a huge fan of 2D.

[brookarts]

Join us in welcoming three hilarious comedians, John Moses, Kyle Ocasio and Adam Oliensis, on Friday, September 24

For over 15 years, John Moses has delightfully offended audiences in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Moses considers himself an “equal-opportunity offender”. His style is shrewd, raw and uncompromisingly funny. Moses appears on Sirius XM Raw Dog, The Foxxhole Canada Laughs, Gotham Comedy Live by AXS.TV and has released two albums: Upper Middle Trash and On the Edge. Moses appears on Sirius XM Raw Dog, The Foxxhole Canada Laughs, AXS.TV's Gotham Comedy Live and has released two albums: Upper Middle Trash and On the Edge.

Kyle Ocasio has been dubbed “the reluctant wife and mother” by her comedic peers. Through her comedy, she expresses the frustration and confusion of everyday life that helps her connect with any audience. She also enjoys creating characters most notably the Psycho flight attendant from hell as well as characters inspired by her and Latino and Midwest family members. After the birth of her third child, she began to journal her experiences as a mother (usually back on the toilet because that is the only place she could be alone) she realized that the chaos and insanity had to be shared on stage. Thus began her dive into the world of stand‐up comedy. Since her first performance at The Comic Strip Live, Kyle has become a regular on the NY Comedy scene as well as numerous appearances at clubs and colleges across the country.She brought laughter to U.S. troops across eight different countries, while playing with Armed Forces Entertainment. Ocasio was featured on AXS TV's Gotham Comedy Live and regularly appeared on several TV shows including the popular Fox News satirical political comedy show Red Eye. She was the face of Optimum TV's Soccer Mom Goals, a show with a comedic twist on "momentary" on the 2018 World Cup.  Rooftop Comedy released her debut album "Tell Mommy Your Name Again" and collaborative album entitled "Three's Comedy" with two other comedians. It was number two comedy album of the summer, just behind Jim Gaffigan.

Host Adam Oliensis is attuned to the absurdities that arise in daily life, exploring both the irony and silliness that exist in the most humiliating situations. He appeared on the Comedy Central Daily Show with Trevor Noah. His album, Aged Whine, can be heard on Sirius XM Radio 99, Raw Dog Comedy. He is headlining the Aged Whine Comedy Tour throughout the Northeast. Adam opened for comic legends, and luminaries like Robert Klein, Colin Quinn, Gilbert Gottfried and Larry Miller. Adam co-authored and starred in the movie, The Pompatus of Love, with Actor Jon Cryer.

On Friday, July 23, at 8 pm, Comedian Joe Matarese presents his humorous tour - "Remember When" a nostalgic comedy about the 80s and 90s Come see the show that is taking off on Tik Tok. Joe will take you back to a time before computers and cell phones existed and going clubbing seven nights a week seemed important!  Widely known for his performance on 'Americas Got Talent', Matarese won the public long before that, working in the metropolitan area stand-up circuit since he was 19 years old and has since made appearances on the most sought-after TV and radio shows. Joe has performed on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and Craig Ferguson, Montreal Comedy Festival, and received a standing ovation on America’s Got Talent. Joe has appeared on the Howard Stern Show and Chelsea lately, and presently has two 1-Hour Specials on Amazon Prime titled Medicated and The Posters Wrong. He also had his very own Comedy Central Presents 1/2 hour special and has recorded 7 standup albums that are currently in rotation on SiriusXM including Quiet pleasing, Fixing Joe, Disconnected, When A Comedian Attacks, Medicated, The Poster’s Wrong, and Completely Present.  Do not miss all these hilarious live shows at the Brook Arts Centre! Tickets are available www.brookarts.org or by phone at 732-469-7700. Order early for the best reserved seats and advance sale prices.

[thenovelescapes]

february 2017

February is my favourite month. My birthday's in February. In February, daylight begins to stretch longer, reminding us that there will be an eventual end to winter. There is always a ton of discount chocolate available after Valentine's Day. So many reasons to celebrate!

- the television -

I continued my re-watch of The Good Wife this month with seasons six and seven. Really, the only good thing to have come from the last two seasons of the series is Lucca Quinn. I am very happy that she is a major part of the spin-off, The Good Fight. The constant firm reshuffling in season six is exhausting, and I definitely did not find Alicia's States Attorney campaign nearly as interesting as the writers wanted me to, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan's face and presence was a truly wonderful distraction from how bored I was by the plot.

And now, because I've been thinking very hard about this - my definitely ranking of seasons of The Good Wife:

1. Season 5  2. Season 2  3. Season 1  4. Season 3 5. Season 6 6. Season 7 7. Season 4 

After finishing Broadchurch with my parents, I was tasked - yet again - with finding a show we could watch together that they won't hate. As frustrating as this can be, I take pride in the fact that I've expanded their taste in television beyond Big Bang Theory reruns and 48 Hours (my dad) & House of Bryan (my mom). This month, I selected Mad Men. I'd heard all the rave reviews, scrolled past the live tweet sessions during it's final season, vaguely registered the Peggy Olsen meme, and watched everyone celebrate when Jon Hamm finally won an Emmy in 2015. But I'd never seen an episode until this month. Hey... hey guys. The show is good. (I am definitely the first person to make this observation). We're currently halfway through season 3, because we have terrible timing - the show was pulled from Netflix on March 1st - but my parents like it so much that my dad wants to buy the whole series on DVD. THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED FOR HIM.

Before this month, I had tried to watch the pilot of Crashing three separate times. Each time, I ended up aborting seven to ten minutes in. But I am incredibly glad that I gave it another shot and powered through the first episode. The series is so damn funny (and at times uncomfortable). I ended up watching all six episodes in a single night, staying up way too late and keeping a hand clapped over my mouth so my laughter didn't wake the whole household up. Watch the (unfortunately, solitary) season on Netflix!

I decided, after finishing Crashing, that I needed more Pheobe Waller-Bridge in my life and immediately began Fleabag. It has an extremely different style and sensibility than Crashing but is so interesting and different. I haven't quite finished the first season yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

- the movies -

My general feeling about the movies I watched this month is: "Meh."

The Heat was funny - Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy are great - but I was comparing it to Spy in my head the entire time, and for me, nothing is going to win out over Spy. Mother's Day was very blah and it featured Julia Roberts in a truly terrible wig, but it was fine? La La Land was sweet, the music was good, and Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone are wonderful together, but it was mostly forgettable.  

- the books -

Last month, I fell into a bit of a reading slump post-vacation, but came into February raring to go and read eight books.

Here are some (approximately) tweet-length reviews of my favourites of the bunch:

The Wangs Vs. the World by Jade Chang -- A delightfully dysfunctional family struggling with bankruptcy, disenfranchisement, and communication issues. Funny, smart, emotional.

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen -- Dessen's latest novel deals with grief, love, marriage, & dating in such a compassionate way; remains one of my favourite contemporary YA authors.

Dead Girls Society by Michelle Krys -- This book needs a sequel. The cast of characters - a diverse group of teen girls - are determined, brave & duplicitous. The twists are legitimately twisty and the ending is equal parts hopeful and anxiety-inducing. Seriously, sequel.

Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman -- I finished this novel two weeks ago & I cannot stop thinking about it. Set in the '90s, Girls on Fire, focuses on passionate, violent, intense female friendship and is absolutely unputdownable.

The other books I read this month were: Where We Belong by Emily Giffen, To This Day: For the Bullied and Beautiful by Shane L. Koyczan, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith, and The Assistants by Camille Perri.

- podcasts -

In February, I started a new job! It's a grown-up, adult job in an office, and I am very excited about it, but it also means waking up at 5:30am and commuting nearly three hours a day. Podcasts have become my best friends.

I've written about Ask Me Another before, but I hadn't listened to it in months and months. Now, it is my favourite thing to listen to on the morning drive to work. It is always funny and high energy and the trivia games force my brain to wake up in the morning. In the afternoons, I've been alternating between Embedded (from NPR), Criminal, and Missing & Murdered: Who Killed Alberta Williams (CBC). There's something kind of perfect about listening to people talk about crime and murder while stuck in rush hour traffic. These trivia and crime podcasts have been occasionally interspersed with Bad With Money With Gaby Dunn and Missing Richard Simmons. Bad With Money is funny and honest and provides good information about loans, debt, investments, and so much more. Missing Richard Simmons is utterly fascinating. Dan Taberski, a filmmaker who was a regular in Richard Simmons' fitness class, searches for the fitness guru. From the website: "On February 15, 2014, fitness guru Richard Simmons disappeared. He stopped teaching his regular exercise class at Slimmons, cut off his closest friends, and removed himself from the public eye after decades as one of the most accessible celebrities in the world." Only three episodes have aired so far, but I'm already invested.

- other -

Dear Evan Hansen is a new Broadway musical centered on the title character, Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety disorder who becomes tangled in a family tragedy following the death of another teen. The cast album was released on February 3rd and I have been listening to it constantly ever since.

I hope you all enjoyed the shortest month of the year, and as always, happy reading, watching and listening!