2025/Q4 ~ What I Was Watching (Oct, Nov, Dec)

Time for my quarterly TV/Movie review ... what kept me motivated while working out in the home gym, and what Hubs and I relaxed to upstairs.  Here's what I was watching in October, November and December of 2025. 

• Andor: Hubs had wanted to watch this one ... I'm not a super StarWars fan, and found it just okay. He ended up watching the second season on his own. 
• Pluribus: I hadn't heard of this one when Hubs brought it up, but TONS of buzz after, and I was glad we had gotten it in. It was intriguing. 
• Dead to Me (Seasons 1-3): I had watched this some years ago but thought it might be a good "together time" watch, and Hubs enjoyed it. 
• Handmaid's Tale (S5): We haven't kept Hulu all the time, but as I'd added it (more to get Disney for Andor) I figured I'd return to this world. 
• Devil in the Family: Another one of the "when we have Hulu" shows I had on my radar. As this happened in Utah, and I'd read the book by the oldest daughter, it was an interesting followup for me. Hubs ended up watching it after I gave him a nudge. 
• Smash (S1-2): I'd seen the first season years ago and felt it was time for a rewatch, and I didn't even know there was a second season.  I had to buy the first season (not streaming anywhere) but it was added to Prime not long after my purchase. Watched some while traveling. 
• Acapulco (S2): I'd liked season 1 ... downloaded this to my phone to watch on the plane during a family vacation. 
• Paradise: I'd heard a bit of buzz about this, but went into it cold, therefore the twist at the end of episode 1 really caught me. LOVED the music, haunting covers. I recommended it to Hubs. 
• The Patient: Kept my interest.

• The Count of MonteCristo: We'd enjoyed the 2002 version, and Hubs wanted to see this 2024 one. It took a while before it was available in the US ... watched via Hoopla. 
• Hamilton: Rewatch for me ... I was surprised at how much I remembered/knew.
• The Greatest Showman: Another rewatch. Musical mood and Disney access. 
• The Jane Austen Book Club: Not intentional, but a rewatch (I hadn't remembered I'd seen it). 
• The Lost Bus: This was good, action packed. 
• Thunderbolts: I was a little surprised I liked this as much as I did. 
• Snow White: This had been attacked ... some was okay, but it wasn't great.
• Turning Red: I'd heard of this one, figured I'd give it a try ... just ehhhh for me.
• Reefer Madness: Umm ... not sure what to say about this one. "A musical ... "
• Christmas Plus One: Obligatory Christmas movie

What have YOU been watching?

 

2025/Q3 ~ What I Was Watching (July/August/September)

If I'm down on the treadmill or elliptical in our home gym ... I have a show/movie on to keep me entertained and motivated. Hubs and I also often wind down at the end of the day getting in a tv series or movie. I enjoy keeping track of what I'm watching, so here's the list from the third quarter of 2025.

Eleven movies. I got into a bit of a "musical mood" ...

The top three were with Hubs upstairs, eight downstairs in the gym.

• Come From Away: On AppleTV. Hubs and I had gone to the touring musical and really liked it. This is a filmed version of the stage play, so exactly what you see if going to it live (but you can also have subtitles and closeups!) Several of the actors here were the same ones we saw. 
• RENT: I'd watched this before, and I'm very familiar with the music. Made Hubs sit through it with me ;) 
• Nonnas: Hubs and I didn't have anything picked out, and I recalled seeing an ad for this and had noted it had pretty good reviews. Cute.
• Extract: Several big names here ... weird story. Didn't love it.
• K-Pop Demon Hunters: I'm not sure where I heard the song "Golden" but it was STUCK in my head and I love it! I figured I needed to give the movie a go ... I enjoyed it. 
• Matilda: I'd watched the original movie not long ago. Here I went with the musical version ... not one I liked that much. 
• La La Land: Rewatch ... like it, don't love it (so why did I rewatch it?)
• Waitress: I'd seen the movie version and ... struggled with some of the storyline. I hadn't thought I'd watch this musical version, but I decided to give it a go. I actually quite enjoyed this (even though I still struggle with the infidelity storyline). 
• Dear Evan Hansen: I've heard the title but really didn't know anything about this ... I liked it. Maybe one song hit home. 
• Legally Blond: I have seen the original movie, thought it was cute. Had to turn to YouTube for the musical version. Glad it still had subtitles. I really enjoyed this!
• Oklahoma: Back in my high school musical days, I played Laurie in Oklahoma. That was 35+ years ago. I was surprised that some of the lines/music was still totally in my head, and other parts I'd forgotten. Surprisingly darker than I remember ...

Television Series ... We still had AppleTV for most of this quarter. I'd gone to cancel after our 3-month promo (from buying a new phone I think?) was up, and was offered two more months at $6.99 I think? I did cancel it before being billed full price, although Hubs is interested in the latest season of The Morning Show (episodes still dropping ... I prefer to wait until all episodes are out before starting). 

• For All Mankind: Seasons 2, 3, 4 ... I'd already watched the first three seasons, I hadn't realized there was a fourth. I introduced it to Hubs, and we watched the first season together last quarter, and finished up the series (so far). The first two seasons were the best. 
• Wednesday: Hubs and I had watched Wednesday (S1) last year, and he cued it up as the second season dropped. I wasn't feeling it though, and he picked up on that and was okay dropping it. I'm not sure how far we got into it ... just a couple of episodes I think. 
• Sugar: I hadn't heard much about Sugar but saw it was rated fairly highly on IMDB. Interesting and fun "detective noir" and ... I totally called the twist (even though I was half joking when I said it). While we liked it, I don't think we'll be watching a second season (if there is one). 
• The Couple Next Door: I got a little deal on Starz, and tuned in to this show getting a bunch of buzz ... I didn't make it through the season though, gave up on it.
• Acapulco: This was super cute! A little bit of a "Princess Bride" feel with the telling of a story, then shifting into the story. Just so many fun things. I started S2 and I'm not exactly sure why I didn't continue on, I guess I just needed a change (and then cancelled). I think I'll come back to this at some point.
• Bad Sisters: A murder mystery ... definitely making us watching suspect everyone. I wasn't really surprised at the reveal. It was good.
• The Buccaneers: Definitely felt like this was playing off of Bridgerton's success. I liked the first season okay, but had to push a little to finish and am not planning on continuing on. 

So, that's a What I Was Watching wrap-up!

Movies - Girl Power

What I'm Watching Wednesday ... My Move to Movies

Hubs and the boys have been hitting quite a few movies over the years ... but because I have BOYS and they are a little older, some of the Disney fairy tales weren't really on their lists.  I tried to catch the various Disney shows over the years ... my boys liked "Frozen" although they didn't see it in theaters. I remember when we first got the DVD, I made sure I watched it start to finish during a workout day, before I saw bits and pieces as the boys watched it upstairs.

When I first made my move to movies ... I started with these three.

I'd heard quite a bit of buzz about Moana. A couple of my boys had watched it in school (Mythology and History).  It was on Netflix, so that was an easy one for me to start with. It was cute, I liked it ... there was energy and excitement, which is something I appreciate when watching while working out. 

Then, there were the live action fairy tales, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. I had to borrow Cinderella from the library, but didn't have to wait long for my hold to come in. Beauty and the Beast had a ton of holds .... but then it was added to Netflix for instant streaming.

I liked Cinderella. I liked the Disney cartoon version, but I was glad this wasn't a live-action recreation of that. It had it's own unique approach. One of my favorite movies as a teen was "The Slipper and the Rose" ... another Cinderella retelling. I've never cared for the Rodgers and Hammerstein version. I starred as Cinderella in a different stage version during my teen years. 

As for Beauty and the Beast ... I couldn't help but think with as much CGI as was required to make the beast and the household come to life, that it was suited for animation so much better. I really liked the original Disney version. This just didn't really do it for me. I know there is a stage adaptation, but I haven't seen it.

What will I watch next?

Making the Move to Movies

The last movie I saw in the theaters was "The Force Awakens" ... it was December 2015. I went with Hubs and the kids. It was actually their second time, they'd scored tickets to an early opening, but that showing had been too far, too late and just too crazy for me.  That was the only movie I'd been to in a while, and I haven't been back since.

Ticket prices continue to climb, that's just one deterrent. Another is the "required" movie treats ... candy and popcorn. It's not the movies without that, right? Between the caloric intake, and the lack of energy output (simply sitting) ... it's just hard when attempting to lose weight.  I'd catch the occasional movie once it hit DVD or streaming. When I could watch it at home, either in the gym while working out (no popcorn or candy either!) or with Hubs (in bed, which I prefer to sitting. I don't "sit" well for long). Those often DID include popcorn, but I like that we can stop the show if needed ... and can have captions. I like captions!

But still ... I tended to stick with TV series (JenB TV) to watch as I worked out. It was just easier to make a commitment to a show, and know that was what would keep me entertained as I worked out for the next few weeks. If I stopped mid-episode, it really didn't matter that much. With a movie, I really felt like I needed to finish it the same day I started (closure!) and sometimes I wasn't getting in two hours of exercise in the gym.

A couple months ago I decided to make the move to movies while I work out. With school starting up, I figured I'd get back to my hour of elliptical in the morning, and then I could hit the treadmill twice (30min each) later in the day ... that would finish up most movies. I have quite a few to catch up on! Now I'm not a Star Wars fan, but I figured since it was a Star Wars movie that had been the last I'd seen, I'd start off with a Star Wars now ... Rogue One. 

Eh. I'm not really a Star Wars fan. My family is ... #3 was a fanatic for a while! Now the latest installment is making waves ... but I'll be waiting a while to see it myself. And I'm okay with that.

I've enjoyed my move to movies. While I liked the continuity of a TV series, and it would often hook me and keep me coming back ... it's also nice to have a totally different story every day. From fairy tales, to horror, to paranormal post-apocalyptic to historical ... I'm getting a wide variety of entertainment in my gym. So in addition (or instead of) my TV Tuesday posts, I'll be sharing some of the movies what I'm finally getting around to watching.  I'm going to try and keep my "What I'm Watching" page a little more current (mainly for me *Ü*).

Any movie recommendations for me?