April 27, 2025

Week 2 | 4.27.25

» Is Apple TV in its Icarus era?

• I have been a staunch defender of Apple TV from the beginning and have been quoted multiple times as saying “Apple TV is the best streaming service.” However, recently they have tested my unwavering support with their new show, “Your Friends and Neighbors.” On the surface this show has everything I should like:

  • Apple TV

  • John Hamm

• However it is missing one crucial factor of good tv:

  • Heart

• “Your Friends and Neighbors” is so utterly soulless and it’s making me angry and depressed. This show had promise! It undoubtedly also had a sizable budget! Something I’ve loved about Apple TV so far is that all the shows felt like someone really cared about them, even if their vision wasn’t for me. It felt exiting that Apple was giving people the budget to make fun, inventive, new projects and not just churning out drivel like some of their competitors (cough, Netflix). However, this show feels like a writers room just threw a bunch of ideas together, put a slick Apple TV vibe over it, and called it a day. One mediocre, over hyped show is certainly not a death sentence for a streaming service, but with the combination of this show and “The Studio,” I wonder if their ability to attach big names to projects is beginning to overshadow their previous track-record of shows that actually felt like someone cared about them.

» Two book recs I read recently:

• A book for those waiting for their Emily Henry holds to come through: “Back After This,” by Linda Holmes

• Cecily Foster is a podcast producer who has been single for many years after a messy breakup. She’s roped into a new podcast dating show concept by her lowkey-jerk of a boss as a way to save her & her best friend’s jobs. Under the guidance of relationship coach/influencer Eliza, Cecily sets out to go on 20 first dates, and hopefully find a connection. She does, but it’s not with anyone Eliza has found for her…

• For fans of: podcasts, books read by their authors, and big friendly dogs.

• A book for those looking for an engaging mystery with a compelling full-cast audiobook: “The Stranger Diaries” by Elly Griffiths

• Clare Cassidy is a high school English teacher who spends her free time researching the life of (fictional) Gothic writing R. M. Holland. Her coworker is found dead with a quote from the author’s most famous short story and Clare is pulled into the investigation.

• For fans of: books within books, full-cast audiobooks, and teens who are into the occult.

» Happy “Challengers” Day to all who celebrate

• That’s all.

» Question for the week:

• What’s your favorite little phone game of the moment? (I need a new one.)

Until next week,

<3 Brenna