becomingkate

So, season 2 of 13 Reasons Why is out today, and I know of many people who are refusing to watch it. Recently I had an interaction with someone on twitter who I'd never talked to before because she saw a comment I made on how I don't think 13RW romanticized suicide. She explained to me that the way it was portrayed, it looks like the main character, Hannah, who killed herself, wasn't heard until she died. And I see her point. None of the things that happened to Hannah were brought to light until after she made the tapes, and released them prior to her suicide.

However, I do not think this is a prime or even a good example of what happens. This is entertainment. And I understand middle schoolers and high schoolers are reading and watching this and might think that it is an accurate representation of what would happen to someone who was bullied and abused like Hannah was. This is where adult involvement in what our kids are watching and reading is so important.

If I knew of a child or teen who watched/read this, I would tell them: the adults in her life were negligent. Even her parents were too busy for her. Her school counselor was painfully unaware of what to do in the situation. But: There are people who care. Here is a list of websites, phone numbers, facilities, where you can go and talk to any number of people who are there to listen and help you.

There is no part of the show where she goes to someone who helps her. Everyone turns their back, is unaware of the issues, or betrays Hannah's trust. It's an awful story. BUT IT IS NOT A TYPICAL STORY OF HOW THINGS WOULD GO. It's sensationalized entertainment. It's a soap opera. If you're looking for an after school special where she goes and gets help and lives a happy, successful life, 13RW is not it.

You can't take one example of a situation and boycott it because it's inaccurate. It's one story. One representation. And I think that the backlash against it has helped open the communication so that people like me who didn't understand the problem with it can talk to people and get a new perspective. I encouraged that person who talked to me on twitter to keep speaking out against it so people can understand why it's problematic.

I know that kids and teens and even adults don't all critically think about things and they accept fiction as truth, but I don't think that's the storyteller's problem. That would be like if horror movies were banned because they make people not want to go to summer camp, sleep, or buy a doll.

So, I understand why you wouldn't want to watch 13RW because it's triggery or you feel it's badly portrayed. That's okay! And I'm glad I have a better understanding of its problems. But I'll still be watching it because I think in order to understand a problem you have to look at all sides of it, good and bad.

I just went to see what tag I put on my entries last year about the first season, and found a bunch under the television tag. You can go read those, if you want.

Crossposts: https://becomingkate.livejournal.com/274211.html

Let the obsessing begin!

I logged into the college website today to see if any announcements had been posted. Sometimes profs like to sneak in messages like "Be sure to bring the textbook to the first class" so they can see who is keeping up, LOL. Of course most people don't do that. I found one syllabus for my Computers class, which I don't have until tomorrow. It looks like the text is optional. I think that class might be reasonably easy, since I have a good grasp of internet, but I've never really done any Office programs except Word, so I hope to learn something there.

My first class starts at 11. Nice that I don't have to rush to get there, but kind of wish it were a bit earlier. T/Th I have two classes back to back (and across the hall from each other, lol). Wednesday I only have Computers.

The weird thing is I can only find one of my profs on ratemyprofessor.com. One of my classes lists two profs, maybe a prof and a TA. Maybe the other prof is new. So I feel a little anxious about that. But the history teacher is supposed to be good-sounds very similar to the history class I had last year.

I watched a few minutes of The Alienist last night before bed. I thought it might fill the gap that The Knick left, being about psych/forensics around the same era in New York. It didn't grab me though, but it might be because I was getting tired. I hate first episodes where they introduce all the characters in like the first scene and I'm like wait, who's that? But I do like Luke Evans, so I'll give it a chance.

I loved The Knick-nobody I know of watched it, but it was this great hospital drama set in early 20th century New York. I loved the characters and story arcs, and it had Toby from This Is Us who is just great, and he was in a mostly platonic but flirty relationship with a nun, and they were awesome together. The season ended with a doctor wanting to get into psychology. In the days of early psych research they used to isolate people (amongst other not as nice things). But at the end of the last season it shows the doctor pulling up a chair to the patient and talking to him. And then it freaking ended!

Crossposts: https://becomingkate.livejournal.com/268131.html

So, we finished Breaking Bad on NYE. It was good! I was satisfied with the end, and I expected to cry-I even got a tissue in anticipation when we got up for a snack midway through. But I didn't cry.

( Here there are Breaking Bad spoilers )

Crossposts: http://becomingkate.livejournal.com/105704.html

I watch quite a bit of TV. I don't know how many shows the average person watches, so maybe I'm on the low end but I feel like I watch it a lot. I record these and watch them throughout the week. Here's a little rundown (no spoilers, just basic plot points and vague mentions of characters):

Super Fun Night: A sitcom. Starring Rebel Wilson as Kimmie, who you might know as Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect (a movie I love some parts of but also hate at the same time). She is so funny. I like the show because it's a real look at an awkward woman in her 20's that doesn't focus on or make fun of the fact that she's overweight. (There were a couple visual gags involving Spanx in the first episode, but that was it). She's insecure about how she looks and is socially awkward but she's likeable and fun. She has 2 room mates/friends who are also awkward and dorky but likeable, and her good friend Richard clearly has a thing for her but is involved with his and Kimmie's coworker Kendall who is a (stereotypically) beautiful but uptight woman. It's touching and laugh out loud funny.

The Michael J Fox Show: Another sitcom. So, along with NKOTB, MJF was one of my first celebrity crushes, and I mean it was big. After Family Ties, Teen Wolf and Back to the Future he started doing movies that were too mature for me to watch at the time so I kind of lost track of him. I wanted to watch The MJF show to see what it was like. It's cute. It's a little weird seeing Marie from Breaking Bad in such a wholesome role. LOL. It's a funny show about family and supporting each other despite your flaws. It's a little repetitive in its themes, like MJF always wants to do the right thing but often causes problems by trying to do this. The brother and sister have your typical dynamic, but the aunt is funny and quirky.

American Horror Story: Train wreck. But I can't stop. Immortal people, people back from the dead, witches, ghosts, zombies, mythical creatures it's a stew of pretty much every paranormal setup and mashup you can think of. And I love it. Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett and Jessica Lange are amazing. Each season is a different story set in a different time and place, but they bring back some actors for each season, which makes it interesting.

The Goldbergs: A sitcom about a family, set in the 80's. It reminds me a LOT of the Wonder Years. It's funny and touching, and is based on the real life of the creator. And since it's about the 80's I recall a lot about the decor, the fashion, the music, and the pop culture references. It's a great nostalgia show.

Once Upon a Time: Crazy, plot, so much going on I can't even explain it. The stories of fantasy characters are followed in a number of different timelines: real world, past fantasy world, present fantasy world, and a number of different locations in that fantasy world. It's so convoluted and crazy and I love it.

OUAT in Wonderland: Not as believable as OUAT the original (funny to say that about a fantasy show, but I just believe in the original more-it seems to have more heart and not just people prancing around being evil). It's hard to strike gold twice with that kind of show, I think. This one features Alice, Jafar, The Red Queen, the White Rabbit, the knave of hearts and a genie that Alice fell in love with when she went to Wonderland. She ended up back in the real world but was recruited back to Wonderland and is now searching for her genie. It's kind of meh, but I like the whole fantasy theme so I'm sticking with it.

We both watch Breaking Bad, but we only get to an episode every few days. We already know most of the ending, but I still find it worth watching. I LOVE Gus (played by Giancarlo Esposito). Seriously, his game face freaks me out. Look up the "A Man Provides" speech on youtube. That's what I'm talking about. Funny enough, Giancarlo Esposito was also in a role in OUAT the original. I love Breaking Bad too, but my husband doesn't like it as much.

I forgot The Walking Dead! I don't like this show as much as I did before. There are so many extra characters now, that I don't know most of their names still, and it seems like they are all disposable. I was delighted when Kyle Gallner was in one episode (he has been in horror movies such as Jennifer's Body and Kevin Smith's Red State, and I may have a little crush on him), but he was only in that one episode. I'm just disappointed that it has turned into the crazy politics and dynamics of the group, although I was pleased by the character they focused on in the last episode and I hope there will be more of that.

Oh man I also forgot Game of Thrones! I'm not crazy about that one...I can't even follow the story. But what little I do pick up, I like, and my husband loves it.

We're also waiting for Doctor Who! Soooooon!

Crossposts: http://becomingkate.livejournal.com/98583.html

I think I'm due for an extra long mental health candle working tomorrow. Sigh. I just can't deal with the arguing and the inconsistencies anymore. I actually walked outside today after a big meltdown. I thought I shut the door behind me but I looked back and it was open, and our dog, bless his heart, was just standing there looking at me. Normally he would have bolted.

I said about 2 years ago that I wanted to write up a list of basic parenting guidelines we should follow, like how to react when he needs to be punished, how to deal with it when he won't eat dinner, etc. We never got around to making that list, and we still have issues when it comes to these topics, and more. I don't know how to get our shit together. I'm really at a loss.

I watched the last episode of Derek today, not realizing it was the last one. For some reason I thought there was more than one season out. I sobbed through the whole thing, took a breather and went back for more and realized that was it. Bummer!

Crossposts: http://becomingkate.livejournal.com/89784.html

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Entries tagged with television

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Just for giggles: the tv shows I watch

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