05 | sal's Best of 2022

In this issue: Our Flag Means Death, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Russian Doll, Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Darlings and House of the Dragon.

Hello and happy new year!

I hope 2023 is off to a great start for you and wishing you a happy, fulfilling year ahead.

It’s a little strange to start off the new year reminiscing over my faves from 2022, but life got in the way which led to publishing this later than planned. I appreciate you bearing with me! 🫶🏼

Since this is my “best” of the year list, it’s all but guaranteed that I’ve answered the SYWT? question with a strong yes. So this issue will focus more on why you should definitely watch these titles.

Let’s go!

Our Flag Means Death

Genre: Queer Period Comedy

Language: English

Gist: After having a mid-life crisis, rich landlord Stede Bonnet runs off to become a pirate (and fails miserably).

Review: I’m going to start off by saying this show is not for all, mainly because it is hard to accept queer stories (like this one) that are not packaged for heteronormative consumption.
Despite it ironically being set in the 1700s, OFMD is a massive, massive step forward for queer stories in contrast to everything that is depicted on TV today. It hinges on telling unique, truthful, unapologetic stories, even if it comes off as a little whacky. Plus, it’s plain entertaining to see Stede try to be a “gentleman” pirate while his own crew members choose mutiny and constantly throw him overboard.

Stede: But the last one of the scariest of them all. Instead of killing with weapons, he kills with … kindness!

SYWT? Try out one episode!

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Genre: Legal K-drama

Language: Korean

Gist: Woo Young Woo is Korea’s first autistic lawyer — an accomplishment that makes her professional and personal life slightly more difficult than usual. But she tackles these problems with her genius-level IQ and unbound love for whales.

Review: Media often shies away from stories about people with special needs and autism is one of those areas where people feel like they don’t have the proper tools to navigate through it. So, let this show be your soft guide.
Right from debating what is the correct term to address autistic individuals and understanding the spectrum to downright prejudice about it, Extraordinary Attorney Woo deals with all these subjects in a healthy, wholesome way.

SYWT? You. Cannot. Miss. This.

Russian Doll (Seasons 1 & 2)

Genre: Fantasy Comedy-Drama

Language: English

Gist: Nadia, who keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party, must find a way to stop the loop.

Review: The time-loop trope is one that I enjoy a lot, so it was a proper thrill to see it explored so well in Russian Doll. The writing for Season 1 is absolutely tight, especially because as the viewer, you’re bound to wanting to figure out what’s causing the loop and how Nadia can escape it (that is, if she can). When you reach the end of that journey, it’s pure magic.
Coming to S2, although I did enjoy it, it is a slight let-down compared to how brilliant S1 was. The good news is that both seasons are independent of each other, so you don’t necessarily have to watch S2. If you do, proceed with managed expectations.

SYWT? Yes!

Everything, Everywhere, All At Once

Genre: Absurdist Comedy-Drama

Language: English

Gist: A Chinese immigrant mother discovers she’s the key to stopping the multiverse from exploding… and her enemy may be someone she holds dear.

Review: This movie is all about straddling between existentialism and nihilism, and then connecting it to the larger lived immigrant experience — Is there a purpose to life? What is it? Is that purpose a burden for individuals from marginalized communities? Adding to this, it also has a big commentary on mother-daughter relationships. When they said everything, everywhere, all at once… they weren’t kidding.
This film is such a chaotic burst of colors, emotions, and ideas — much like what’s going on inside our minds, if I’m being honest. It feels like someone finally dropped the act that we have it all held together, and put on a visual display of how we process things, the good and the bad. And knowing that you’re not the only one strapped onto this insane rollercoaster is slightly comforting.

SYWT? Of course!

Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Genre: Drama, Romance

Language: Korean

Gist: A daughter discovers her mother Na Hui-do’s international fencing achievements and romances through her diaries.

Review: I put off watching this show as much as I could because it couldn’t be as great as everyone was making it out to be. Folks, it wasn’t great. It was so much more.
I’ve said this before, but there is so much beauty in the most simplistic emotions. And as we follow Hui-do’s life, be it meeting her role model, becoming Korea’s top fencer, or even navigating her first love, it is truly a celebration of youth that will take you back to your special days.¹
This story haunted me for months after I finished watching it and is the embodiment of the quote, “It would be a privilege to get my heart broken by you.”

SYWT? Yes, even if it costs you your emotions and a dozen tissue boxes.

Darlings

Genre: Dark Comedy Thriller

Language: Hindi, Hinglish

Gist: Stuck in an abusive marriage, Badru finds the courage to teach her husband a lesson he’ll never forget.

Review: It’s not easy to depict domestic abuse, especially the kind that can’t escape due to societal norms. But Jasmeet Khan does a fantastic job of carrying this bittersweet essence in a train of humor. This movie would not be half as great without its star cast — Vijay Varma really proved himself with his Hamza, who was so well-loved and hated at the same time. Alia Bhatt and Shefali Shah both are on a streak of hits this year!
My only complaint would be that it stretched a little toward the end, without really making a point. Still, this is one of the best Bollywood movies I’ve watched this year — an ambitious project that definitely paid off!

SYWT? Please do.

House of the Dragon

Genre: Fantasy Drama

Language: English

Gist: 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, a civil war breaks out within House Targaryen over the succession of the Throne and electing the first Queen in power.

Review: When I heard there was GOT spin-off in the making, I was not at all interested in watching it — not because GOT S8 left a sour taste in my mouth, but more so because the show had been so intricate yet larger than life that nothing could come close to recreating it!
What surprised me is that HOTD is so narratively different than GOT, which is why it really pulls you in. Both Milly Alcock and Emma D’Arcy deliver stellar performances that make you root for Rhaenrya, a Targaryen heir much like Daenerys, who had to constantly fight for what is hers. Unlike GOT, HOTD has more emotional beats that zero in on different characters, adding a stunning² depth to the backstabbing schemes and political turmoil. Might I add, the production value is also unreal!

SYWT? Without a doubt, yes!!

We’re all done for today! It was super nice to recollect some of the shows and films I enjoyed in 2022 and I hope you give them a go as well.

What I want to know is what was your BEST TV show and film of the year! Let me know in the comments.

Before I go:

1. One of my favorite poems, Anxiety: A Ghost Story.

2. If you’d like to read the previous issues, here’s a link to SYWT’s archive.

3. Looking for any title in particular? Cue the database — This has the list of movies/TV shows covered so far with ratings and links to the newsletters they were reviewed in.

4. What’s stuck in my head:

Until next time,

sal.

1. It also helps that Twenty-Five Twenty-One is set during the late 1990s, an era that I personally believe is most romantic.

2. Read it in Olivia Cooke’s voice, will you?