Monster Hunter = My New Dream Job (Supernatural - TV-14)

Prepare yourself for a bit of personal backstory.

I heard of this show several years ago and, honestly, was never quite interested. That is...until I joined Tumblr. GIFs of Supernatural popped up on my dashboard often, mainly due to a friend of mine who also loves the show. It began to feel like an inside joke that I didn't get because I wasn't in the group! Obviously, I had to check it out. When I noticed it was on TV, I watched a couple of episodes. My first episodes ever were 8.2 and 8.20. Then, I got busy and forgot about it until this July. I started from the beginning and was in love by Season 3. I just finished Season 8 this week. (Seasons 1-8 are currently available on Netflix.) It's now my personal goal to get through Season 9 on Hulu by the television premiere of Season 10 on Oct. 7. 

Video credit: The CW Television Network

This show means a lot to me, personally, because some of the main themes in the story arc mirror themes I'm dealing with in my own life and seeing those presented as real and valid in a television series is...special. You don't see television get deep very often.

First of all, I am always shocked that this show doesn't have a larger fanbase in my hometown area. The very first episode opens in Lawrence, KS, of all places, and is Sam and Dean's hometown. Lawrence is about 20 minutes from my own hometown! The apocalypse, in the show, takes place just outside of Lawrence's city limits. Much later in the series (Season 8), Sam and Dean take refuge in a hunter group's abandoned lair in the rural area of Topeka, KS. Seriously, my friends, I feel like we need a memorial here for these brave souls who have been keeping us safe from the supernatural since 2005.

The basics of the show are simple enough. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester are brothers who pride themselves in being the best monster hunters in the Midwest. They are always on the road taking on cases and battling angels, demons, ghosts, and all other manner of hellish creatures. The only recompense for their job is the knowledge that another individual, another family, is safe.

Photo credit: www.ign.com

As I said before, this show deals with some pretty intense themes - not necessarily what you'd expect from a show about 24/7 Halloween. God, guilt, and trust come up OFTEN and it's really cool to see how they deal with these as regular human beings...who just happen to hunt demons on the side.

Granted, Supernatural is NOT for the average television junkie. It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea content wise, especially if you're not one to make room for religious coexistences and bending.

But I love that it breaks all of the rules of television - sending the characters to the 'real world', various sitcom humor...and the king of Hell watches far more Disney than you would think. And oh my gosh...Felicia Day's appearances are the greatest.

GIF credit: rebloggy.com

There are times that the plot gets lost or tiresome and the emotions get hazy or seem exaggerated - which is to be expected from a show of this nature. But, personally, I LOVE THIS SERIES. It's created a place for itself very close to my heart and I am officially a fan. Rating: 3.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

My Brain Hurts...In the Best Possible Way (Sherlock - TV-14)

I've been Sherlock-ed! This freaking show. Let me tell you. Sherlock is a BBC made television series based on the infamous legend of Sherlock Holmes. Each episode is a modernized tale taken almost directly from the original novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Complexity and completed tales are allowed because each episode is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long... So be quite aware of this before you try to watch an entire season in an afternoon.

Photo credit: www.scmp.com

The show features Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek: Into Darkness - Khan, The Hobbit - Necromancer) as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Arthur Dent, The Hobbit - Bilbo Baggins) as his partner Dr. John Watson. Seasons 1-3 are currently available on Netflix with three episodes per season. If you watch this show - ye be warned - you will get attached and you will want more. However, Sherlock is not expected to return to British television until 2016... and who knows when it will become available in the US.

GIF credit: www.tumblr.com

I was immediately attached to Sherlock because of its movie-like detail. It has developed theme music and pretty incredible special effects. Each episode takes you on the twisted journey of solving a case and wraps it up completely by the end of the episode - no loose strings. At the same time, the central plot involving the main characters continues and develops from episode to episode.

Sherlock, himself, is instantly lovable. I'm not kidding you. Male or female, you will either fall in love with this man or you will wish you were just like him. Benedict Cumberbatch is fantastic at portraying a man who is honest about his social-ineptness as well as being insanely brilliant. And that, of course, makes him quirky, ridiculously sassy, and utterly hilarious.

GIF credit: www.tumblr.com

There's also an obvious theme of brotherhood throughout the series. Sherlock and John grow close quickly and maintain a strong bond that carries through the story. Of course, that leads to plot development when life takes interesting turns...

I definitely recommend Sherlock to anyone looking for a show that includes genuinely British men, a show for the not-so-average-crime-series lovers, or a show that takes A LOT of investment. Rating: 4.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

A Robin Williams Tribute (Flubber; Goodmorning, Vietnam; The Birdcage; Aladdin)

Today, I will discuss four films featuring the late, great Robin Williams. Since his death, Netflix has added numerous shows featuring this lost actor. And since September 7th-13th was National Suicide Prevention Week and September 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day, I thought it was only fitting to feature Robin Williams for this week's post. Now I'm sure you're thinking, Ugh, another tribute post. Well get over yourself. Because he was a fantastic and talented man and he deserves to be commended for his good work.

The four films I have for you today are Flubber, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Birdcage, and of course Disney's Aladdin.

Flubber (1997):

Image credit: www.streetgridmanila.com

Ah, Flubber. I was just tiny when this movie was released on VHS! It has always been one of those films that is difficult to find and ridiculously satisfying to watch. I was insanely happy when I saw that it had been added to Netflix Instant Play. If you're looking for a film with a good moral lesson that will satisfy your inner science geek, choose Flubber. Rating: 3/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987): 

GIF credit: staffmeup.com

I watched this movie specifically for this project. Never had I seen it before. And let me tell you, it was a marvelous experience. As a history buff, I loved the attention to details in this movie. It spouted a bit of political commentary about American foreign policy and overseas involvement. And even though this movie was made twenty-seven years ago about a war that ended forty years ago...it's still very much relevant today. Rating: 4.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

The Birdcage (1996):

 

YouTube credit: Bob Keefe

It felt weird watching this movie again... I was watching The Birdcage with my family the night Robin Williams died. When we found out the next morning, it was shocking. Someone with so much light and laughter still had his demons to face. The Birdcage is hilarious. The film features Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as partners who own and live above a nightclub. We laughed the whole way through. So if you're looking for a film that will make your heart happy, I think you'll find that The Birdcage will suit your fancy. Rating 4.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

Aladdin (1992): 

Image credit: disney.wikia.com

Right in the feels. How could one have a Robin Williams movie night without including Aladdin? The beloved Genie sings some of the most recognizable Disney songs in this fantastic film. And who says it's just for children? Aladdin sits in a category that anyone at any age can appreciate with just a little heart. Rating: 5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

Happy marathoning!

An Introduction

Well, before I begin logging my spectacular adventures through the bottomless chasm that is Netflix... Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself and why I am beginning this blog.

So this is me. I like root beer and I suck at selfies.

(Photo credit: myself.)

My name is Katie Wade and I am a lover of the internet and media. I'm addicted to television and movies and I find that the best way to indulge is through Netflix. Some would say that I consume an unhealthy amount...but I justify it by saying that as a media major, it is essential that I keep up with available media content. I just like stories, okay? In any form that they're told. Books, music, theatre, etc...they're used to tell stories and I enjoy them all. But movies and television are different in that the stories are visually presented in the greatest of detail. It's so easy to get attached to specific characters and their plots. By watching, I take time to get to know them. I invest in them. I guess that's why I like Netflix. It houses my favorite characters and stories in a place that I can visit whenever I want. And that's pretty darn cool.

So why did I choose to start logging my Netflix-istential experience? (Get used to the puns...more are coming your way.) Well, for starters, this is a project for my media class. And in brainstorming, this is what came to mind. If you're here looking for simple movie/series reviews... This is not the blog you're looking for. While I'll likely include my thoughts and recommendations about my current binges, more often than not, I will look deeper into the material and the messages it tries to convey. I'm an intuitive mind and I like to analyze. Let me do my thing and I promise you won't be disappointed. Those is the ground rules. 

So come along with me and my good friend, Laptop, as we travel deeper into the abyss of Netflix. 

(GIF credit: http://meredithbroadwater.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/college-summer-expectations-vs-realities/)