January is all for about cosy nights. I spent most of the month reading, watching TV or journaling. As a result, I’m ahead of my reading challenge for the year and binge-watched a lot of programmes. I want to have more adventures in London this year, and I started with a bang, managing to squeeze in a trip to the theatre and a museum visit.
Adventures of the Month
The V&A have a tradition of having epic exhibitions examining fashion designers, from Christian Dior to Mary Quant. Now, it is the turn of Coco Chanel, which is just as exceptional as the previous shows. My other adventure in January was to the Savoy Theatre to see the recent adaption of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite. This version stars husband and wife Matthew Brodrick and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Watched
Blue Eye Samurai
Streaming Service: Netflix
Driven by a dream of revenge against those who made her an outcast in Edo-period Japan, a young warrior cuts a bloody path toward her destiny.
Cast:
Maya Erskine as Mizu
Masi Oka as Ringo
Darren Barnet as Taigen
George Takei as Seki
Randall Park as Heiji Shindo
Kenneth Branagh as Abijah Fowler
Rating: ☕☕☕☕☕/5
Blue Eye Samurai is an aesthetically gorgeous anime that deals with adult issues. This programme is not suitable for children.
The fight scenes in this animation are both visually beautiful and extremely bloody.
My favourite part about Blue Eye Samurai is the contrasting storylines between Mizu and Akemi. They provide a fascinating look at feminism in Feudal Japan.
The Brother Sun
Streaming Service: Netflix
When his family is attacked in Taiwan, a member of the triad, heads to LA to protect his mother and oblivious younger brother.
Cast:
Michelle Yeoh as Eileen ‘Mama’ Sun
Justin Chien as Charles Sun
Sam Song Li as Bruce Sun
Joon Lee as TK
Highdee Kuan as Alexis
Rating: ☕☕☕☕☕/5
The Brother Sun is an intense family comedy with some excellent fight scenes. Like other gangster-family shows, it looks at the relationships between parents and children, expectations and protecting the family. Set in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles, this show has fun Asian twists, from the overbearing Asian mum, Mahjong aunties and lots of mentions of yummy food. I loved The Great British Bake Off references, the Jurassic Scene and the whole episode at John Cho’s house.
Echo
Streaming Service: Disney+
Five months after the events of Hawkeye, Maya Lopez is being pursued by Wilson Fisk’s organization, leading her to return to her hometown in Oklahoma, where she must come to terms with her past, reconnect with her Native American roots, and embrace her family and community.
Cast:
Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez
Chaske Spencer as Henry Black Crow Lopez
Tantoo Cardinal as Chula
Devery Jacobs as Bonnie
Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin
Rating: ☕☕☕/5
Echo is the first Marvel programme under the “Spotlight” banner. A stand-alone programme, a chance to showcase more grounded, character-driven stories from the Marvel Universe. Whilst this wasn’t my favourite Marvel programme, I loved the exploration of Native American mythology and the use of sound to mimic Maya’s deafness.
The Traitors
Streaming Service: BBC
Twenty-two players arrive at a castle in the Scottish Highlands as ‘Faithful’ contestants, hoping to win a share of a prize fund. Among them are the ‘Traitors.’ A group of contestants selected by host Claudia Winkleman on the first day, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithfuls and claim the prize for themselves.
Presenter: Claudia Winkleman
Rating: ☕☕☕☕/5
I loved the first season of The Traitors last year and was unsure how they would top it this year. However, this season has even more twists and turns! (I will never be able to drink fizzy Rose again). As a result, The Traitors become compulsory viewing in January!
Also watching…
January Reads
Listened To
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