How is it OCTOBER already?!? This year has been flying by and we now have less than 3 months left of 2019. Even though I don’t get to experience my favorite season here in Miami because it’s essentially summer all year long here, I love fall and the months leading up to the holidays. There’s just something so special about this time of year. Anyway, the start of October means it’s time for another monthly favorites post so I’m sharing what I loved during the month of September.
YouTube Channel: Deep Look
I randomly came across the Deep Look YouTube channel a few weeks ago and it is now one of my favorite channels. Deep Look is run by PBS and they make short science videos, usually less than 5 minutes long, that dive deep into something really specific, often about an animal. From watching their videos, I have learned so many random facts that I probably would have never thought to inquire about. For example, I learned that elephants can hear through their feet, the suckers on octopus arms can smell and taste, and how sea otters fur keeps them warm. I love animals and I love learning random facts so I feel like this channel was made for me. If you like watching nature documentaries or like learning random science facts, then this channel is for you.
Album: Lover by Taylor Swift
If you have not listened to Taylor Swift’s new album, go do yourself a favor and listen to it. I have not been able to stop listening to it since it came out in August and I think it might be my favorite album of hers. Lover is a masterpiece of an album and, I dare say, Taylor’s best body of work thus far. It is fun and romantic and showcases Taylor’s lyrical prowess and authentic way of storytelling.
I think what I love most about this album is that it embodies love in all its forms: romantic love, familial love, friendship love, and self-love. It’s too hard to pick a favorite song but a few that I love are “Cruel Summer,” “Lover,” “Paper Rings,” and “Daylight.” Overall, Lover is a wonderful album and I think you should give it a listen if you haven’t already.
TV Show: Unbelievable
Unbelievable is an 8-episode limited series on Netflix that is based on true events. The moment I saw the trailer I knew this was going to be a fantastic series. The show follows two timelines. The first is set in 2008 and follows Marie Adler, a teenager who is charged with lying about being raped. The second is set in 2011 and follows two female detectives, Karen Duvall and Grace Rasmussen, as they piece together clues to find a serial rapist.
This is such an important show and everyone involved did an excellent job handling the subject matter with the sensitivity it deserves. The show touches on some key issues of sexual assault cases, such as the way some victims are treated after an assault and the way some insensitive officers handle such cases. In the first two episodes, the show perfectly depicts how sexual assault cases should and should not be handled by law enforcement. The contrast between episodes one and two is so infuriating and you’ll understand what I mean if you watch the show.
The reason I think Unbelievable is such a significant and powerful show is because the events portrayed are an all-too-common occurrence in America. According to RAINN, “1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime.” On average, there are over 430,000 rape and sexual assault victims aged 12 or older each year in the United States. Out of every 1000 rape cases, only 5 perpetrators will receive a felony conviction.
These are alarming statistics and more of an effort needs to be made by law enforcement and our society as a whole to reduce the prevalence of sexual assault. A show like Unbelievable can bring about awareness while telling a compelling story with top-notch acting and writing. This show is a must-watch.
TV Show: The Politician
When I first learned of this show and its incredible cast, I knew it was going to be good. With the likes of Ben Platt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Lange, Lucy Boynton, and Zoey Deutch starring in the show, how could it not be good? The Politician is a dramedy by Ryan Murphy. It’s about Payton Hobart, played by Ben Platt, and his quest to becoming student body president of his posh, Southern California high school. The show doesn’t take itself seriously and is essentially a satire. It makes fun of the current political climate in America, high school, the wealthy and the poor, liberals, political correctness, and more. Best of all, Ben Platt sings not one but three songs throughout season 1! Also, the opening credits song, “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens, is a current fave at the moment.
The Politician is not my favorite show in the world but I thoroughly enjoyed it. You can watch all eight episodes of season one on Netflix and the show is already confirmed for a second season.
Documentary: Hello, Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea
Famous comedian Chelsea Handler made a documentary about white privilege called Hello, Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea. I really appreciate that Chelsea Handler made this documentary. It might not be all-encompassing or as in-depth as some might like but it’s a step at bringing more awareness to this topic. It might also serve as a wakeup call for some people. I like that Chelsea isn’t afraid to have difficult conversations and talks to a range of people throughout the film, from black activists to oblivious white people. She also emphasizes that, even though white privilege is a touchy subject matter amongst white people, it is a white person’s problem and we need to be discussing it.
You can watch Hello, Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea on Netflix. It’s about an hour long so give it a watch if you have some free time.
Let me know in the comments what songs, shows, movies, books, etc. you have been loving lately!