Lay Riotta

TV show or Movie: TV show

Where to watch: Netflix

Premise: Seven adults with autism dive headlong into a dating group to explore the unpredictable world of romance, tackling misconceptions about both themselves and how they want to live.

Cast:

What it reminds me of: Not really anything else! Besides the Australian version of the show, of course.

Why I like it: Reality shows are garbage. Dating shows are garbage. Reality dating shows are garbage. But in July 2022, Netflix released a show called Dating on the Spectrum that took place in Australia. Due to the pandemic, it took a while for season two to come out, but it was great following up with the people from the first season. 

I turned on Netflix the other day and saw that Netflix now has an entire first season of Dating on the Spectrum US. The show is extremely eye-opening as you learn about what it is like for those on the autism spectrum when it comes to finding love. Their parents, siblings, roommates, and friends are also interviewed and talk about what it has been like growing up with the person seeking love.

TV show or Movie: TV show

Where to watch: HBO Max

Premise: A woman is on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to a tech billionaire, who has implanted a monitoring device in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her and know her “emotional data” as she tries to regain her independence.

Cast:Cristin Miliotis, Billy Magnussen, Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezwei, Ray Romano, Caleb Foote, Patti Harrison

What it reminds me of: Black Mirror!

Why I like it: The cast is fantastic. Cristin Miliotis, who was on an episode of Black Mirror, stars as the wife of a tech mogul. It really makes you think about what it is like to be married to ne of these people. The technology and special effects in the show are fantastic. It is a very dark comedy. Ray Romano is fantastic. Billy Magnussen plays the role perfectly and is so off, distant, and disconnected from anyone and everyone. If you love Black Mirror, but wish an episode could be linear and develop into a series – watch this!

TV show or Movie: TV show

Where to watch: Hulu

Premise: The Thing About Pam details the murder of Betsy Faria, a cancer-stricken woman found dead in her home in Troy, Missouri, in December 2011. Betsy’s friend, house-flipper Pam Hupp, told the police she was the last person to see her on the night of her death after insisting on driving her home. The police suspected Betsy’s husband, Russ, as the culprit and arrested him, but when his conviction was overturned, holes appeared in Pam’s testimony, revealing a diabolical scheme. Meanwhile, television producers sought to devote several episodes from Dateline NBC to Betsy’s story, which uncovers Pam’s past and makes her a suspect in the case.

Cast: Renée Zellweger, Josh Duhamel, Judy Greer, Gideon Adlon, Sean Bridgers, Suanne Spoke, Mac Brandt, Katy Mixon, Glenn Fleshler.

What it reminds me of: It’s like a murder mystery done as a telenovela narrated by the person who narrated How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I know that sounds weird, but just watch five minutes of it and you will know what I mean.

Why I like it: This was Renee Zellweger’s return to television. And boy was it a special one. She is fantastic in this show. She is so easy to hate as this character. I also love Katy Mixon. She is great on Mike and Molly and Eastbound & Down, but I loved her on American Housewife and have re-watched that show a few times so far.

Anyway, I am not big into crime documentaries, but this was so interesting to watch. It was a total satire in itself and really didn’t take itself too seriously. This show is a who-dun-it show that takes place in a small town. If you are from a small town, you will appreciate a lot about this show.

This show was canceled after two seasons. Dumb! Go binge it now. It’s only two seasons. You can get through that in a night or two.

TV show or Movie: TV show

Where to watch: Hulu

Premise: The series follows “a young woman who – after being dumped by her longtime boyfriend – must deal with her own imagination in order to literally and metaphorically re-enter the world of women, and rekindle the female friendships she left behind.”

Cast: Kat Dennings, Brenda Song, Shay Mitchell, Esther Povitsky.

What it reminds me of: Man Seeking Women. It also has some Black Mirror to it along with Where The Wild Things Are.

Why I like it: This show is so fun. I really, really enjoyed Man Seeking Woman with Jay Baruchel. This show is like the sister show.

The hyperbole to it is really special. You don’t know what is real and what isn’t, at times. The cast is great and has some great co-stars such as Beth Grant and Luke Cook. Every one of us still has day dreams, and this show is like what happens if they come to life.