Entertainment Blind Spots
Monday Newsletter: 4/18/2022
We’ve all been through this scenario: You’re at a get-together, maybe it’s a family thing or it’s a party for your friends who just bought a new house, and the conversation comes to a lull so then someone interjects to liven things up:
“So are you all watching anything good lately?”
There might be something offered at first that everyone is watching. Inevitably, you get enough people joining this discussion that you will then find someone who is watching something that you haven’t watched yet. And they will let you know how much you are missing out by not watching said show. It could be that the show came out last week or it could be twenty years ago. But you are living a very incomplete life until you watch this particular show. That is, until you are missing the next big show two months from now when you’re at another party (but really at the rate things are coming out now you’ve got about a week, tops). And here’s the thing, there’s been times where I’ve nodded my head and pretended I watched this show too because in today’s world, to admit you haven’t watched something is the equivalent of being a caveman trying to make fire with twigs in a cave. Hell, I’ve outright lied and said I watched something when I hadn’t at all because I didn’t want to be a social pariah.
This happens with more than just television too. There are people seemingly waiting to pounce on you for what you are missing out on. But let’s please break free of this entertainment shaming, friends. There is simply too much to watch, read, listen to, etc. at our disposal and not enough time. We have to make choices and some things will be left on the cutting room floor. Or perhaps they’re just shelved in hopes that one day we’ll pick them back up. There’s no need for shame here, so I’m going to share some of my entertainment blind spots so we (or really just me, let’s be honest here) can start to break free of these ridiculous cycles. There are plenty more, but here’s some “egregious” misses that I currently have:
Better Call Saul. I’ve watched 2-3 episodes max. I also don’t believe you all who say this has surpassed Breaking Bad.
I didn’t finish The Wire. Okay, that one hurt to admit. I have half of season four and all of five to finish. I plan to correct this sin during the summer.
West Wing. I really like the episodes I have watched, but it’s just something I will have to come back to at some point.
Musically, I have a lot of gaps: Prince, Radiohead, Rolling Stones, David Bowie just name a few. I want to give these artists more of a look soon.
Specific writers: Jane Austen, James Joyce, and honestly Shakespeare. I’ve read a few of his works, but not enough probably.
At some point I’m going to carve out a day and watch Lawrence of Arabia but that day has not yet come.
I have never watched Ghostbusters all the way through…
So again, there’s way more than that but I can’t think of them all and I’m tired of thinking about it. I just need to get those off my chest. I am curious though, what are your blind spots?
Remember, this is a safe space…