A Year in Review
Happy New Year, everyone! I know we’re not quite free of 2025 yet, but I thought I’d take the time now to list some of my favorite content/art/media/rot I’ve consumed this year.
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I promised myself to watch more films this year, and less reality television, and I sort of made good on that promise by watching a hundred films I’d never seen before! I still watched a lot of reality television, though. Here are my favorites and least favorites of the year.
Top Four of 2025:
Drop Dead Gorgeous: I saw this at a 10:30 showing at Metrograph in the East Village. Lennon and I got drinks at Bar Belly beforehand, and we were worried it might be too late for us to stay awake– we’re early risers. But the film kept us awake, and LAUGHINGGG. Save for an overuse of the R slur, it’s a fantastic farce. Alison Janey! A young Denise Richards and Kirsten Dunst!
Charade: We got a projector this winter, and it was the reason I watched so many films this year, because I got to watch them in BED! It made a regular night in feel like a slumber party! We watched this one one night when I was sick with a cold. Lennon had seen it before and did that fun thing where he watched me watch it. Such a good espionage film, so funny and silly! Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn!
Jawbreaker: I watched this as a double-feature with But I’m a Cheerleader at the Angelika. If possible, I highly recommend watching a cult classic in theaters, as the audience adds to the experience. It was nearly as rowdy as a Rocky Horror screening.
I’m Still Here: We saw this in the heat of Oscars season, and Lennon had to mop me off the floor after our viewing. As the daughter of IRA soldiers,* watching a film about government disappearances was an emotional gut punch. An incredibly important story, especially as America descends into fascism!
*If you’re the British government, this is an exaggeration.
Bottom Four of 2025:
I Used to Be Funny: I watched this in preparation for I Love LA, which I still haven’t watched, by the way, and because I loved Rachel Sennott in Shiva, Baby. Unfortunately, this movie was neither a moving drama nor a dark comedy, as I think it was trying to be. The needle drops were crazy, though.
The Room Next Door: It was such an interesting concept, and one that I’m passionate about (I got morbidly fascinated with assisted suicide during quarantine), but the dialogue was SO PAINFUL. Watching Tilda and Julianne try to save it was pitiful.
The Materialists: You cannot convince me that Dakota Johnson is a talent parallel to Pedro Pascal or Chris Evans, I’m sorry! She is one note, and that one note is a sympathetic woman with bangs! It’s actually insane that this film is written by Celine Song, the writer/director of Past Lives. Because there was no dialogue! This film was written like it was a monologue competition! The world is so small, no characters have any friends or family, and the assault subplot is thrown in so recklessly!?! Dakota Johnson’s character at one point says verbatim, “I don’t want to hate you because you’re poor, but I do!” The one saving grace of the film comes in the final wedding scene, but really, this feels like it was the script Song wrote before Past Lives, which some producer took interest in.
The Brutalist: Girl, they had us in the first half! And then they used r*pe as a narrative tool, which is cheap! Come to think of it, none of the intimacy in the film is consensual, and that’s left completely untouched, narratively. The end of the film was jarring–they go to Israel? It’s the destination, not the journey?! We’re using AI to create architectural models and fake Hungarian accents?? BOOOOO. Love Adrien Brody.
As previously mentioned, I’m a fiend for non-scripted television, and my tastes will reflect as such. In 2026, I’ll try to watch more prestige television, considering I write TV scripts, and should like–study the art form, or whatever. UGH.
Severance: After three years of being recommended the show, and ignoring people, I binged watched Season 1 as Season 2 was being released, and let me tell you what–if it took three years to get television that good, that’s fine by me!! Three years for a shitty 6-episode season of Bridgerton? Girl, what are we doing? Obsessed with Ben Stiller, would risk it all for Britt Lower and Adam Scott.
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: I am a Real Housewives of Salt Lake City loyalist, and resisted Secret Lives for a long time as a result, but truly, these women make perfect television.
The Traitors: I went to a watch party at Club Cumming for an episode, and nothing has ever been more fun in my life. It is easily the most camp show on Bravo. Gabby Windey, Bob the Drag Queen?! I’m counting the days till the next season.
Dancing with the Stars: I watched DWTS in high school, but had stopped watching after they fired Tom. I came back this season for Jordan Chiles, but stayed for WHITNEY LEAVITT. Obviously, Robbie deserved to win. Controversial, but I hate Alix Earle as a content creator, so that ruined her on the show for me.
All’s Fair: So so so so bad. I love it.
Here we go with my real vice. More than movies or television, I consume a lot of literature. I assure you, reading is no better than watching television, especially if you did what I did in 2024 and read mostly faerie smut. Still, a harmless hobby and good for your brain! Don’t come for me, readers! This year, I read more literary fiction, since I spent the better half of 2025 writing my litfic novel. Here are my favorite reads of 2025, in a one-line review.
Heart The Lover: This book was so good, it pissed me off.
Hamnet: I sobbed so hard, for so long, I was hoarse the next day.
Such a Fun Age: I read this book in one Amtrak ride. Thought about it for days.
Bunny: A book that’s fucked, but doesn’t fuck. You know?
If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English: A masterclass in the metanarrative.
Evenings and Weekends: Oh, how painful it is, living in the in between!
Miss Major Speaks: Required reading.
Butter: I’m scared and also hungry!
I try to keep a diverse music portfolio, but this year I kept brat on repeat. These are the songs that slipped into the mix!
“Fleeting” by Sarah Kingsley
“Sympathy Magic” by Florence and The Machine
“Current Affairs” by Lorde
“Hearing Damage” by Thom Yorke
“Selfish” by Little Simz and Cleo Sol
“Oddloop” by Frederic
If you haven’t read my piece on concerts, read it here. Essentially, there’s nothing I love more than going to a show. Here are my favorite live things from this year!
Every time Lennon performed with Pebbles Palace: Watching people do what they love, with people they love, it’s great!
Swan Lake at the New York City Ballet: Yeah, it’s the fucking NYCB, what else would I have to say other than that they were great?
The Live Boob: My friend Ashlon’s zine release party! I am so proud of her and everyone who read that evening! Women! Writing! Writing women!
Book Club Radio: Rave Rave Rave Winter Wonderland Themed No Phones Rave!
Japanese Breakfast at Brooklyn Paramount: They were great, of course. But really, the highlight of the evening was the opener, Ginger Root. They came on like thirty minutes late because the power went out at the venue, and then at the end of the set, the girl in front of me collapsed into my arms! Nothing like a live show!
brat at Barclays Center: yeah, dude, again, it’s Charli baby.
That was my year! Other things happened: I got engaged, I moved three times (soon to be four), I wrote a novel, and my hair is so long now it covers my boobs! Dreams do come true! But no one cares about any of that stuff, it’s all about CONTENT CONSUMPTION, BABY!
