What I've Watched | High Fidelity, Little Fires Everywhere, Unorthodox

Available only on Hulu

High Fidelity

When I heard about the gender-flipped High Fidelity series coming to Hulu and starring Zoe Kravitz, I was intrigued! I had seen the movie forever ago and I remember liking it to a certain extent but it didn't leave a strong impression to me. But this updated version? SO GOOD. Zoe is effortlessly cool  as Rob, the record store owner obsessed with pop culture, Top Five lists and her most memorable heartbreaks. She manages to balance Rob's neurotic and not-so-great moments with honesty and  vulnerability. I can't emphasize enough just how much she rocked this role. And I loved her two best friends, Cherise and Simon. Their banter and antics made me laugh so much. But even though the show is such look back on heartbreak, it's also a love letter to music. How a single song or a perfectly curated playlist can carry all this emotion and weight. I don't know if Hulu is planning to do a season 2 but if they did, I would absolutely tune in. The series was a total level up from the movie in my humble opinion.

Available only on Hulu

Little Fires Everywhere

Reese Witherspoon has been a rockstar at producing so when I heard about Little Fires Everywhere, I thought to myself that I should pick up the book before it aired. Then I found out Joshua Jackson (aka Pacey, my love) was cast and I knew I was definitely going to read it and watch the series. I ended up hating the book but even so, I could easily picture it on screen and just as I expected, Reese and Kerry Washington along with Liz Tigelaar (she directed Life Unexpected, an old fave of mine) made an incredible adaptation. It follows the seemingly perfect Richardson family, who live in a "progressive" suburb, and a mother-daughter duo who end up becoming a part of their lives. They took everything that was in the book and gave it so much more depth. They touch on racism, sexuality, social and economic differences, motherhood–the list goes on. It's a show that will really make you think and if at times it feels like you don't like a single person on the series, that's kind of the point. None of them as supposed to be perfect but instead we're given honest, raw looks at flawed individuals. But as great as the writing was, props have to be given to the casting, which was 100% on point.  And if you were a teen in the 90s like I was, be prepared to be hit with the nostalgia. I can't recommend watching this show enough.

Available on Netflix

Unorthodox

Unorthodox is the story of a young Jewish woman named Esty who runs away from her husband and community to start a new, secular life in Berlin. It's told over the course of only four episodes but it packs such an emotional punch. Esty's story is beautifully and heartbreakingly told. Not only was I pulled into her journey but I learned so much about the community too. I admittedly don't know much about Hasidic Jews and it was interesting to learn about their beliefs and upbringings and to get a peek into their daily lives. I actually didn't even realize there was such a big community in Williamsburg! It can be sad and tough to watch though, especially knowing it was inspired by a true story, and when you see all the restrictions and scrutiny Esty had to face. But you can't deny the richness of their culture and how much their community and passing on their traditions means to them. Ultimately, I thought the show ended on a hopeful note and I can see why they chose to end it at 4 episodes. If you want to watch something different (which this certainly was for me), check this out! (Also, I hope the lead actress Shira Haas gets an Emmy for this role because she was fantastic!)

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