As a self-proclaimed TV aficionado, I devour nearly everything that hits the screen. So, I decided to channel my viewing habits into this weekly column, giving you a glimpse into my television and movie consumption. Here's what I binged during the first week of August 2024.
With Lady SanDiegoVille off on an adventure for most of the week I had plenty of time to indulge in some quality TV time (actual setup pictured above). Here's what I watched from August 1-7 and my reviews, rated on a one-to-five taco scale - because it’s San Diego, after all. I'll try to keep spoilers to a minimum, but no promises.
With Lady SanDiegoVille off on an adventure for most of the week I had plenty of time to indulge in some quality TV time (actual setup pictured above). Here's what I watched from August 1-7 and my reviews, rated on a one-to-five taco scale - because it’s San Diego, after all. I'll try to keep spoilers to a minimum, but no promises.
The Bikeriders (streaming for a price on various platforms, free on Peacock starting August 9) – This film delves into the fictionalized origins of the real-life Outlaws Motorcycle Club, with Elvis-voiced Austin Butler and one of my favorite actors, Tom Hardy. While it managed to keep my attention, it had a peculiar vibe and a layer of cheesiness. I couldn’t tell if it was aiming for an old-school feel or just suffered from subpar acting. Either way, it didn’t quite hit the mark. I’m giving it 2.5 tacos, all wrapped in leather jackets and served with a side of whiskey-soaked fries by a guy with a hunky voice and sideburns.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (streaming for free on Hulu) – I've been a huge fan of the Planet of the Apes reboot movies, but this is my least favorite of the bunch. Unlike the Caesar trilogy, which takes place three centuries earlier in the timeline, this one lacks the character development that made viewers care about the prior-era primates. The new main character, Noa, looks nearly identical to his predecessor, which is a strange choice but obviously meant for familiarity sake. This edition somehow doesn't look as good in terms of CGI as the movies from 2011 through 2017. It took me two tries to get through this movie, which is a testament to its pace. This one gets 3 tacos, one suspiciously hairy, and all served with a banana-flavored margarita.
Betrayal: A Father's Secret (Hulu) – A true crime, three-part docuseries based on the Betrayal podcast, this one is as compelling as it is disturbing. Having listened to the audio version, I knew what was coming, but the production was top-notch and there was enough new information to keep me watching. If you're not a true crime person, don't even bother, as this one contains tough material, centered around a disgusting pervert husband (spoiler alert) who is into minors. 3.5 tacos, all very much age-appropriate and consenting. Sorry, I shouldn't even make jokes here.
Love Island U.K. Season 11 last ten or so episodes through the finale (Hulu) – Now, let’s talk about my not-so-guilty pleasure: Love Island. Yes, I, a civilized adult male with responsibilities, am utterly obsessed with watching a bunch of twenty-somethings pretend to fall in love while barely wearing clothes. And you know what? I’m not even a little bit sorry (I've watched every season of the U.K., USA, and Australia editions). There's something incredibly cathartic about seeing beautiful people navigate the rocky shores of forced and trivialized romance while I'm comfortably nestled on my couch judging them and their choices. It's akin to viewing a nature documentary, but instead of lions on the savannah, it's perfectly groomed humans with suspiciously symmetrical faces.
The drama, the betrayals, the accents and slang, the moment someone has to pack their suitcase and leave the villa - it's pure, unadulterated entertainment. It's Shakespeare, if Shakespeare wrote exclusively about people named Ayo and Mimii arguing over who hooked up with whom while in "Casa Amor." And let's be real: there's a certain joy in screaming at the TV because someone's "head has been turned" after 24 hours of shallow, meaningless chats about "where there head's at" and how many Instagram followers they have.
With reality star Joey Essex and his not-so "secret mission" as the glaring highlight, this one gets 5 tacos, all perfectly seasoned by a shirtless, ripped 20-something dude, served by a buxom beauty, and bursting with cheeky flavor, much like the reality drama that keeps me coming back for more.
The drama, the betrayals, the accents and slang, the moment someone has to pack their suitcase and leave the villa - it's pure, unadulterated entertainment. It's Shakespeare, if Shakespeare wrote exclusively about people named Ayo and Mimii arguing over who hooked up with whom while in "Casa Amor." And let's be real: there's a certain joy in screaming at the TV because someone's "head has been turned" after 24 hours of shallow, meaningless chats about "where there head's at" and how many Instagram followers they have.
With reality star Joey Essex and his not-so "secret mission" as the glaring highlight, this one gets 5 tacos, all perfectly seasoned by a shirtless, ripped 20-something dude, served by a buxom beauty, and bursting with cheeky flavor, much like the reality drama that keeps me coming back for more.
WWE Summerslam (Peacock) – Somehow the online algorithm gods figured out that I was once a big-time professional wrestling fan during the 1990s "Attitude era", so a year or so back they started inundating my social media feeds with current content. And it worked! Now, when my better half is sleeping or busy, I try to keep up with the ongoings of modern WWE sports entertainment. This past weekend, Summerslam took place, which is the second biggest show of the year for the company. Without providing any spoilers, Internet-celebrity Logan Paul is such a surprisingly amazing talent in this arena, what a natural who I never thought I'd like. Also, I'm sorry, but Cody Rhodes sucks. He needs to be stripped of the belt! 3.5 tacos, powerbombed onto the plate, with one half-taco getting a surprise steel chair to the guac - because you never know what’s coming next. YEAH!!
House of the Dragon Season 2 finale (MAX) – The sophomore season of the Game of Thrones prequel series was divisive, with many criticizing its slow draw compared to the first. While I didn't love much of the season to the level I did the one prior, I enjoyed the character arcs that took place and how they developed into what they came to be in the final episode. Sure, it wasn't as exciting as it could have been and one or two more episodes would have been great, especially since it will probably be two years until it returns, but it was visually stunning and I was on the edge of my seat for most of the episode. This one gets 4 tacos, served on a dragon scale platter, but with one taco slightly charred - because in Westeros, you never know who’s getting burned.
About My Father (Prime Video through a free trial of Starz) – Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco plays a hotel manager version of himself (same name and all) in this corny-yet-surprisingly-funny film co-starring Robert DeNiro as Maniscalco's hair-stylist, Italian immigrant father. Based on the trailer, I thought this would be unwatchable, but I laughed quite a bit. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you're into goofy movies and enjoy Maniscalco as a comic, you should have a good time. Maybe it was that my expectations were so low, but I give this 3 tacos, all made with peacock meat and covered in Ragu. P.S. Sebastian Maniscalco is performing here on Friday, August 16, at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University.
At Witt's End: The Hunt For a Killer (Hulu) – This true crime docuseries about a cold case murder that took place in Arkansas in 1994 is a total of four parts. I made it through two and a half of them before calling it quits. It started off decent enough but then became monotonous, confusing, and clunky. I love the true crime genre, but this one wasn't for me. This doc gets 1.5 tacos - all cold, old and undercooked.
City of Lies (Prime Video through a free trial of Starz) - Johnny Depp and Forrest Whitaker star in this 2018 crime thriller about an LAPD detective that obsessively investigates the murder of rapper Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace. While this film gets confusing at time, it reveals so much I never knew about the case and essentially pins the murder on Suge Knight and Death Row Records as perpetrated by the corrupt cops they have on the payroll. I really enjoyed learning about this and the acting was great - 4 tacos, served with a side of Moet and Alizé, because when you’re diving into the gritty mysteries of hip-hop history, you need something smooth to wash it down.
Every San Diego Padres Game (channel 305 on Spectrum) – The boys are looking great, except for that Friday night contest against Colorado at Petco Park, they've won every game this week. The month started strong with them finishing a two game sweep against the Dodgers. Then they won a home series against the Rockies, a terrible team that always seems to beat us. Then they had a barn burner of a game 2 against Pittsburgh that they won in extras. Manny seems like he's back to his old self. Xander is better than he's ever been as a Padre. And Jurickson Profar may be having the top season of his entire career. My goodness, do I have hope, and that scares the crap out of me. I'm just trying my best to remain optimistic and believe the Friars can keep up these winning ways, as they have a stretch of games against subpar opponents. I adore this team right now, but that could all change in an instant. LFGSD!! 5 tacos, all Puesto Short Rib Quesabirria, because that's what I usually eat at any Padres home game.
Marmalade (Hulu) - This thriller kept me excited the entire way through, thanks to stellar performances by Joe Keery (yes, that’s Steve from Stranger Things and the guy behind the hit song "End of Beginning") and Camila Morrone (from Daisy Jones & The Six and famously known as Leo DiCaprio's ex, who sparked all those 'dump them when they turn 25' memes). It's a modern Bonnie & Clyde romance thriller that’s full of surprises. Trust me, it’s better to dive in blind and enjoy the wild ride. 4.5 tacos, all on pink tortillas and drizzled with a sweet but spicy sauce - just like the unexpected twists in Marmalade that’ll keep you hooked. But that half taco? It's the one you dropped in shock during the big reveal.
Other recommendations from what I've watched in the last month or so: TikTok Murders (Peacock, a true crime docuseries that mostly takes place in San Diego, sad but very current and intriguing); Demolition (MAX, a dark comedy/drama from 2016 starring Jake Gyllenhaal, I really recommend if you can laugh at tragedy); Love Island U.S. Season 6 (Peacock, even better than the recent season of the U.K. version); Cobra Kai Season 6: Part 1 (Netflix, I've loved this series since the very first it came out on the now-defunct YouTube Red - it's so cheesy but in the best way possible); Interview With A Vampire Season 2 (AMC+, this is one of the best, most underrated series to come out in the last five years, watch it all); The Accountant (Netflix, this action/thriller from 2016 starring Ben Affleck was so badass and I loved every minute of it); and Presumed Innocent (AppleTV, a crime drama thriller series starring Jake Gyllenhaal that had my entire family trying to predict the outcome and discussing weekly via text - it all wraps up neatly in eight episodes).
And as far as actual tacos, this week I ate a hard shell beef taco from Vallarta Express and a fish taco especial from the original location of Rubio's Coastal Cantina. If ya'll like this article, I will keep it up. Send me your television and movie suggestions by emailing [email protected] or send a direct message to SanDiegoVille's Instagram.
And as far as actual tacos, this week I ate a hard shell beef taco from Vallarta Express and a fish taco especial from the original location of Rubio's Coastal Cantina. If ya'll like this article, I will keep it up. Send me your television and movie suggestions by emailing [email protected] or send a direct message to SanDiegoVille's Instagram.