We watched a LOT during the latter half of 2022, but we didn’t record any podcast episodes because we were also doing a fair bit of working and vacationing. With that in mind, we decided to write about what stuck with us the most. So, even though this newsletter is written in June 2023, it’s actually about 2022. Trickster vibes!

Also, we decided to change the name of the newsletter from He Said, She Said to Deet Speak given that even though we watched and enjoyed most of the same things together, we didn’t always feel the need to write about them.

WAKANDA FOREVER

Super Star Agni: This was the first film we saw in theaters since the beginning of the pandemic. Definitely a great film to watch on the big screen.

With the loss of Chadwick Bozeman in 2020, the future of the Black Panther franchise and its place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was in question. But, like many modern productions, the real lives or deaths of the actors inform the lives of their on-screen counterparts. In the case of Wakanda Forever, this translates into the death of King T’challa and how the Kingdom of Wakanda copes with that loss and its newfound vulnerability without the protection of the Black Panther. 

While there were a good number of great action scenes with top-notch special effects, the tone of the second film is more somber and reflective than the first, understandably, and it was also more woman-centered and woman-led in a truly organic way. The slower, more aquatic pace of the film also allowed the actors to show more emotional range and allowed the audience to take in the wondrous and vibrant locations and set pieces. A great tribute to Chadwick Bozeman and a fine film in its own right.

WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES

LRK: This is a biopic series on Hulu about Somen (aptly pronounced as “Show-men”)  “Steve” Banerjee, the founder of the Chippendales enterprise who hired someone to burn down rival businesses and even commit murder out of competition. Kumail plays Steve, and I think he had a really good performance as this stoic, awkward, prideful guy. That said, I don’t think his vibe matched what I was able to see of the actual Steve Banerjee. Still, it was an enjoyable series with good music and intriguing thrills.

SSA: I had no idea the Chippendales legacy was borne of true crime. More interesting than I had initially thought and worth the watch, though, like LRK said, the actual Somen seemed looser than Kumail’s nerdy, stiff portrayal.

RAMY

SSA: Created by Rami Youssef, Ari Katcher, and Ryan Welch, Ramy is an acclaimed show on HULU about a self-obsessed, second-generation Egyptian American, Ramy Hassan, who tries to be a good muslim, but can’t seem to get out of his own way. We get to know Ramy’s family and friends along the way, which does well for world building, and like Master of None, some of the secondary character episodes turn out to be the best episodes of the series. This raunchy, cringe dramedy is one that gets better as it progresses. I enjoyed season three the most, with its bizarre twists, and look forward to the next season, which is said to wrap up the show.

LRK: I would definitely file this Hulu show under something that gets even better with age. I like how Ramy and each of his family members tries so hard to be and do good and messes up in so many ways.  I love the way it ended with Ramy being so delusional and throwing away all his money in gratitude to some lesson he thinks he’s learned.  It’s kind of weird to root for him not to grow, but I think the very slow pace of his growth does make the show entertaining.

MO

SSA: Created by Mohammed Amer and Ramy Youssef, Mo is similar to Ramy in that a young, second-generation man, Palestinian American in this case, balances life between multiple cultures and generations. It should be noted that the Mo character played in Ramy is not the same Mo character played in this series. Mo, the show, is also a compelling dramedy that features a character who also gets in his own way, but the vibe of the show is different due to Mo’s comedic stylings and approach to personal issues. My only gripe is the plot escalation, which seems unnecessary. Mo has been renewed for a second season, which I believe will be the last one.

MAJA MA

LRK: This Madhuri Dixit starrer on Prime delivers on some good family fun and humor while also raising sensitive issues in a way that feels targeted at disarming slightly more conservative audiences. I don’t want to give spoilers to anyone who might not have seen it, but it’s nice to see Madhuri Dixit in this role, and also, the very fact that this movie has not been a big deal is kind of a big deal.  I laughed out loud at these two characters Bob and Pam, who are shown as these tacky rich conservative Indians from Texas.  I thought the commentary raised through their characters was actually cleverly done. The movie is worth a watch.

RESERVATION DOGS: SEASON 2

SSA: This coming of age story of  four Indigenous teens was shot on location in the capital of the Muscogee Nation. I was initially concerned that the show would be one-note, per the pilot episode, but the show has proven it can be powerful, insightful, funny, and endearing all in the same episode and it is a testament to how stellar a show featuring Native folk can be with an all-Native writers room. Definitely worth the watch.

LRK: Yet another show that goes under Season 2 being even better than Season 1!  I loved how in this season of this Hulu coming-of-age dramedy featuring Indigenous youth, we got to delve deeper into some of the characters that we had just gotten a small intro to earlier; I particularly enjoyed the aunties-gone-wild moments.  The season had a good mix of despair, resilience, and humor.

RRR

SSA: I was late to the RRR train. I was initially turned off by the CGI animals in the Netflix preview and “noped” by it to something else even though it had high ratings. I detest cartoonish CGI animals that much, save for the live-action Jungle Book movie (2016). Once I started to hear how great RRR was from an NPR reviewer that I trust, and that the entire film was a three-hour, awe-inspiring, masala spectacle which uses CGI to create a mood, I gave it a shot and was not overall disappointed. I say overall because, while the essence of the film is big and bold and lots of bro love and undoubtedly ups the scale of what a modern-day epic can be, the CGI animals muted the buzz.

BLACK STAR: NO FEAR OF TIME

SSA: Black Star is Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def). The Brooklyn duo is named after The Black Star Line, a shipping company founded by Marcus Garvey.Their 1998 album, Black Star – Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, was mostly produced by Cincinnati producer, Hi-Tek. The album was a mixture of conscious bangers that harken back to the era of classic hip hop with artists such as Public Enemy and Blacksheep. Their latest, No Fear of Time, is produced by Madlib, known for his beat making through sampling of old records, which span everything from hip-hop, jazz, and soul to German rock, industrial music, Brazilian funk, and Bollywood. That may sound like the album would be all over the place, but it’s a much more mellow and reflective affair, which is apt given the personal growth the group has undertaken. That may also sound as if the album is less energetic, which it is in some aspects—there are fewer “bangers” than the 1998 album, but the album as a whole is a mood that you can sit through. One catch is that the album can only be listened to on the Luminary podcast platform. From what I understand, the duo didn’t get their proper monies from the last album and wanted to release this album more on their own terms.

夏が続くから NATSU GA MADA TSUZUKU KARA

SSA: Teaching English in Japan in the early aughts hipped me to a lot of Japanese bands. One of my favorites is a Japanese rock band called 9mm Parabellum Bullet, which usually plays on the harder, speedier end of the spectrum. This song, however, is on the lighter side (but still rocks) and is essentially a love or friendship song or one of longing, from what I can tell with my limited Japanese.  The chorus basically says “Summer continues when I’m by your side. Anything can happen on these magic nights,” etc. etc. A very catchy summer tune.

SORT OF: SEASON 2

LRK: This HBO series about a Pakistani Canadian non-binary millennial holds up, and I enjoyed this season just as much as season 1. Saby does some growing up and has some pretty intense and sad experiences in this season too. I wasn’t expecting the direction that the romance subplot seems to be taking and I’m not sure if I like it, but I’m intrigued for the next season.

SSA: I didn’t catch all the episodes, but what I saw of this dramedy was enjoyable. Some of the issues raised are kind of heavy, though, the series leans more toward the drama genre than comedy. 

Masaba Masaba: Season 2

LRK: I thought Season 2 of this Netflix series with Masaba Gupta and her mother Neena Gupta playing fictionalized versions of themselves was even better than the first.  I’m so glad Masaba has gotten this opportunity and recognition as an actor—she is so real and watchable, and her show is so effective as an ad for her clothing line too because I’ve totally bought a bunch of her stuff! The end of the second season teased that we may see her father in the third season, which should be interesting.

SSA: To be clear, I really like Masaba’s vibe and feel the show is such breath of fresh air. That said, I can’t get into prolonged “will they/won’t they” plot lines, and the second season doubles down with two love interests. Yes, heartache and relationship messiness are a part of our personal and professional lives, but I find most cinematic depictions do more to distract than endear. Exceptions are Jim and Pam from The Office and Janine and Gregory on Abbott Elementary. Like LRK mentioned, Masaba’s seasonal clothing lines featured in the show are available for purchase on her website, which is A-One marketing! I look forward to seeing what happens in season three.