2025: Let's Go

New year, new distractions

Just to give you an insight into my current state of mind. I’ve had a bad back for about a year and a very bad back for the last 3 weeks so I’m feeling uncharacteristically grumpy and intolerant.

Why am I telling you this? Because incessant moaning makes me feel 2% better but also because I am renewing my vow to only bring you good things this year. I’m too pissed off to be accommodating or generous. I don’t want to waste my time on anything that I’m not enjoying and nor should you.

As you know, that doesn’t mean that everything I recommend will be high art. I have no reservations about slumming it in the low brow and feel zero shame about enjoying Love is Blind, series 42.

This is a little trawl of some appealing things that are coming in the next few months.

Wishing you all a happy new year full of quality entertainment and robust back health.

TV: Severance, Season 2 

I’m still feeling anxious from the season finale of the first series of this very weird and wonderful show. January feels like the perfect month to bring back a dystopian drama about a group of office workers who undergo a medical procedure to separate their professional and personal selves. I just started rewatching series one in preparation. In fact, if anyone reading this is a fan, would you tell me in the comments? I have a question about the premise that I need some help working out.

17th January, Apple TV

FILM: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy 

I’m very aware of how horribly underrepresented film is in this newsletter and it pains me to say it but I just don’t really like any new films. They’re mostly bloated, boring, over-hyped and always an hour too long. I have no interest in seeing yet another new Superman or Avatar film, the Michael Jackson biopic or any of the upcoming Marvel Cinematic blah blah blah. Having scoured dozens of lists, this is the only film I actually want to see at the moment. I may feel more receptive to others after some codeine.

P.S My definitive ranking of the Bridget Jones films is as follows: 1, 3, 4, 2

(and I haven’t even seen 4 yet)

14th February

TV: Love Is Blind, Season eight

They’re basically pumping out one series a month at the moment, aren’t they? Perfectly ridiculous ambient television. I’ve had more sophisticated things to say about this show in the past which you can read here.

14th February, Netflix

TV: The White Lotus, Season 3

Against all odds, the second series was good so I have high hopes for a third. Netflix’s The Perfect Couple tried to do sexy murder mystery in a beautiful setting and failed miserably. The only good thing about that show was the opening credits.

16th February, Sky Atlantic

BOOK: Great Big Beautiful Life, Emily Henry

A new Emily Henry can never come soon enough. Plus there are so many adaptations of her other books in the works at the moment, I’m hoping at least one will be ready in 2025. April

BOOK: The Names by Florence Knapp

This is almost certainly going to be one of the books of the year. I snagged an early copy and inhaled it over Christmas. It’s 1987 and Cora goes to register the name of her new baby son. He is Bear, a name chosen by his 9-year-old sister. He is Julian, the name Cora has set her heart on. He is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his image. Three versions of a life and the infinite possibilities a name can spark. So clever. May

BOOK: Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley

You will be shocked to hear that I’m excited to read another book about people falling in love. This one is being hyped as “one of the big literary love stories of 2025, set against the political upheavals of the past decade.” 8th May

Dates yet to be announced…

TV: And Just Like That, Season 3

I’m going to contradict my introduction and admit that this show is basically despicable but I really like Sarah Jessica Parker and the absolute dregs of my lingering affection for SATC means that alas, I will watch it.

TV: Hacks, Season four 

Weirdly underrated, excellent sitcom. 

TV: Too Much 

The new Lena Dunham rom com I’ve been wanging on about for about a year. Do hurry up, Netflix.

TV: Ministry of Time

I’ve written already about how much I enjoyed the book, a fun sci-fi romantic adventure. Now it’s being adapted by Alice Birch of Normal People fame. Promising.

TV: The Last of Us, Season 2

Great zombie apocalypse telly.

Sky Atlantic/Now

A few things I’m enjoying this week:

Watching: The Traitors, obviously

Reading: Butter by Asako Yuzuki

Listening to: Blank Check (nerdy film podcast I used to love but haven’t listened to for ages. They just started a new Steven Spielberg mini series)

What are you looking forward to watching and reading in 2025? And how is your back? Talk to me in the comments and tap the little heart if you enjoy these posts so more people can see them.

See you next time!

Hannah