AADL 2022 STAFF PICKS: SCREENS

FILM & VIDEO

AADL 2022 staff picks for screens

➥ AADL 2022 Staff Picks: Homepage
➥ AADL 2022 Staff Picks: Words
➥ AADL 2022 Staff Picks: Audio
➥ AADL 2022 Staff Picks: Pulp Life 

 

AADL 2022 STAFF PICS: SCREENS
TV, movies, DVDs, YouTube, streaming, etc.:

 

AMANDA S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Nope
(2022)

Another great film by Jordan Peele. It was so cinematically beautiful, and that birthday party scene still haunts me. I didn’t find the film too scary as far as horror goes. It’s a must-watch if you want something different. {AADL}

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
(2021)

A lovely documentary about this everlasting gem of a show that changed children’s television forever. It goes behind the scenes with the cast, crew, creatives, puppeteers, and their families. It also delves into the history of its roots in education. {AADL}

Reservation Dogs
Seasons 1, 2
(2021, 2022)

This show is now in my top five of all time, and I’ve watched it several times. It is so funny, yet tender, and every line of dialog is so perfect and meaningful. I laugh and cry during every episode. The writers, directors, and lead actors are all Indigenous, as is most of the production crew. Filmed in Oklahoma, the series follows four chip-truck-stealing teens and others that live on the reservation with them. Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi. I’ll watch anything Taika is behind, and I highly recommend following him on Instagram. {FX}

Our Flag Means Death
(2022)

In this fun romp featuring a gentleman pirate and his dysfunctional-yet-means-well crew, we get swashbuckling pirates, shenanigans, queer characters, laugh-out-loud writing, and Taika Waititi as Blackbeard. Are you following him on Instagram yet? {HBO}

Somebody Somewhere
Season 1
(2022)

This comedy-drama is set in Kansas and features a middle-aged woman who heads back home while going through a mid-life crisis after the death of her sister. It was so real and delightful to watch this flawed character come out of her shell and find her true self and some true friends. This warm and bitingly funny show is a splendid display of humanity, and it’s not talked about enough. {HBO}

Yellowjackets
Season 1 
(2021)

This dramatic/horror/suspense/survivalist TV show presents a group of high school soccer players in the 1990s whose plane crashes in the wilderness on the way to a championship game. The show intertwines stories of how it all began, what went down in those woods, and a storyline set 25 years later where some of the survivors are in the present day. Is the horror and mystery over? This show was fantastic. {Showtime}

 

RICH RETYI — COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER

Severance
(2022)

The season finale was one of the most harrowing episodes of television I've ever experienced. Has your body ever been tensed up for such a long period of time that when all that stress is finally relieved, you almost can't walk? That. {Apple TV+}

Station Eleven
(2021)

Beautiful, terrible, warm, violent, mysterious, heartbreaking. I did that chest-heaving-wracked-crying thing in the season finale. {HBO Max}

What We Do in the Shadows
(2019–)

After four seasons it swerves a little here and there, but I love spending time with my favorite vampires and Guillermo. I keep waiting for the return of regular human bartender Jackie Daytona. Maybe in season five. {Hulu}

The Righteous Gemstones
(2019–)

Fortunate are you who have never seen an episode of the Gemstones. Two seasons in with a third coming in January, this show kicks butt. {HBO}

Summer Camp Island (2018-)
Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Infinity Train (2019-)
Owl House (2020-)
Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
Joe Pera Talks to You (2018-2022)
We have five kids ranging from kindergarten to high school senior, so finding shows appropriate for everyone and stuff everyone is into can be tricky. These shows check every single box. Plus, us grown-ups love them too! {Cartoon Network} {Disney Plus} {Adult Swim}

Brian and Charles
(2022)

We're all Charles Petrescu. A warm and superior film. Better the less you know about it. {Peacock}

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
(2021)

Another really warm and amazing film. That's also better the less you know about it. {IMDB}

Everything Everywhere All at Once
(2022)

I saw this such a long time ago. I probably need to watch this again tonight. Action, humor, it's so so good. {AADL}

Barbarian
(2022)

I'm always looking for horror movies that are actually scary. Here you go, everyone! Don't learn anything about this before watching. It's not quite what you think. {HBO}

 

SAM V. — DESK CLERK

A League of Their Own
(2022)

Same story as the movie but adapted for TV with excellent LGBTQ+ representation! {Prime Video}

 

AUDREY H. — LIBRARIAN

Harley Quinn
Seasons 1-3
(2019-)

Harley Quinn breaks up with the joker and strikes out on her own. I think that may have been the rough sketch for the feature film, but the HBO cartoon gets to be even wilder than the film and has three seasons to flesh out some classic Gotham villains (and Batman, naturally) in very silly and sometimes poignant ways. {HBO Max}

 

ROOSEVELT R. — DESK CLERK

Game Changer
(2019-)

{Dropout TV}

Everything Everywhere All At Once
(2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. {AADL}

 

CHRISTOPHER B. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Island of Lost Souls
(1932)

A godlike scientist conducting forbidden experiments on his own remote island? You know this pre-code dark horror will end badly for someone. Back in the '60s and '70s when cities had their own local horror hosts, this movie was aired by Cleveland's Ghoulardi (father of Paul Thomas Anderson) and was a strong influence on Mark Mothersbaugh and an early Devo. "Are we not men?" comes directly from one of Bela Lugosi's lines in the movie. {AADL}

Curb Your Enthusiasm
(2000-)

I was hooked from the beginning but ever since I saw Larry refuse to do a stop-and-chat I knew I had found a kindred spirit. Season 11 is just as funny and anxious as the early days. {HBO}

Twin Peaks
(1990)

Once when I lived in Seattle, I took my roommate's van out to explore without asking him. After almost getting stuck on a logging road, I played it safe and kept to known roads, driving aimlessly. Pulling into the town of Snoqualmie I was baffled at the ads for "Twin Peaks Pies!" What had I discovered? I didn't know the show very well because it aired at a time in my life with no access to television. But I did know it was some magic of David Lynch that had brought me to that place without me even knowing it was there. Now, having watched the show for the first time, I have a huge appreciation and love for the characters and the people behind it. I never did get the van home that day since it broke down while driving back to Seattle. Maybe I was meant to stay at the Double R Diner after all? Maybe one version of me did. Watch all the extra features on the discs! They are disarmingly sweet and nostalgic. {AADL}

Emily the Criminal
(2022)

Aubrey Plaza is fantastic in this lead role. She plays a caterer who can never quite make her bills and is just scraping by. When she finds a quick way to make some cash, she takes it. This is a thrilling modern noir that has you rooting for her to succeed even as she gets pulled in ever deeper. {AADL}

Between the Folds
(2009)

I thought I knew what origami was but I was so wrong. This movie is about people who see beyond the final shape to conceptualize the folds that will take them to their goals. They are true artists, innovating with something as simple as a piece of paper. One of the people interviewed makes the point that origami is an art that is neither additive nor subtractive but relies completely on changing shapes. The imagination and beauty here will leave you awestruck. {AADL}

Tina
(2021)

I love great music documentaries. This one about Tina Turner is a moving story of her rebirth and rise to stardom. With an indomitable will, she rose to international fame in her mid-40s, restarting her career from nothing. Not only is it a great story with so much fantastic music, but it raises questions about the cost of stardom and the media's role in shaping one's life. Us Thunderdome fans regret getting only a few scant seconds about Tina's contribution to that movie, but we will have to get over that small lapse in the director's judgment. {AADL}

The Menu
(2022)

I hate reviews that just mix up a bunch of stuff as a comparison but that's what I'm going to do. This is like a combination of Knives Out and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. It has some truly shocking scenes, an unexpected but perfect ending, and is wonderfully tense. Yes, Chef! {IMDB}

 

ALLISON J. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

I watched 215-plus horror movies in the past calendar year, and here are some of my favorites (minus a few that I’m saving for future episodes of the AADL podcast What Scares Us.

The Endless
(2017)

Two brothers return to the UFO death cult they escaped a decade ago, only to find that not everything is as it seems. A bizarre story that blends cosmic horror with sci-fi on a micro-budget. An amazing film that left me obsessed with directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. In addition to directing the movie, Justin and Aaron also play the two lead roles, wrote the movie, edited it, and served as cinematographers and producers. They’re really talented and I can’t wait to dive into the rest of their work (including ResolutionSpring, and Synchronic), which all take place in or reference the same universe as The Endless). Their new movie, Something in the Dirt, was released in November, and I can’t wait to see it! {AADL}

Nope
(2022)

After their father is killed in a freak accident, horse-wrangling siblings attempt to capture evidence of an unidentified flying object. One of the few movies that is actually worth the hype—the best movie of the year by far and one of my favorites of all time. Unbelievable performances from Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, and Brandon Perea. Themes of spectacle and exploitation abound and are unfurled in interesting ways throughout the movie. Not too scary or gory for the average watcher but intense and thought-provoking. Jordan Peele is quickly proving to be one of the most interesting filmmakers of this century. {AADL}

The Taking of Deborah Logan
(2014)

A documentary crew following a woman who has Alzheimer’s disease uncovers something sinister. A found-footage-type film that dives into the real-life horrors of Alzheimer’s disease mixed with its own unique mythology. Genuinely very unsettling at points. An incredible performance by Jill Larson as Deborah Logan as well as a great supporting role by Anne Ramsay as her daughter Sarah. {Tubi}

The Invitation 
(2015)

No, not the new one ... the 2015 movie where a man and his girlfriend attend a dinner party hosted by the man’s ex-wife and her new husband. Once all the guests have arrived the hosts introduce the new cult they’ve become a part of and invite the dinner guests to join. As you can imagine, things start to go wrong quickly. A well-crafted thriller with great atmosphere directed by Karyn Kusama (who you’ll see again further down my list). {Tubi}

Ju-On the Curse 
(2000)

The original straight-to-video movie that started the decades-long series. A nonchronological plot in which six characters have one thing in common: they’ve all stepped foot inside the cursed house of the Saeki family. I’ve seen this half a dozen times but watched it again this year before embarking on a rewatch of all the early entries to the franchise again. It holds up! It does a lot with a minuscule budget and is still the most well-crafted, most effective, and best movie in the entire series. Unnerving, unsettling, and one of my all-time favorites. {YouTube}

Hell House LLC
(2015)

A documentary-style found-footage film that follows a group of Halloween haunted house creators as they prepare for the opening of their newest attraction: Hell House. Unfortunately, they get more than they bargained for when 16 people die on opening night after an “unknown malfunction.” I was creeped out by this and enjoyed it a lot even though it’s pretty basic. {Tubi}

Halloween III: Season of the Witch
(1982)

A stand-alone cult film that’s hard to explain. Originally the famed Halloween series was supposed to be an anthology, with the sequels having nothing to do with Michael Myers or the characters from 1978's Halloween. But the only anthology-type installment of the Halloween series blends an absolutely bonkers plot with witchcraft and sci-fi elements to cool effect. It wasn’t the best but I weirdly liked this, although I’m sad I never got to see a traditional leprechaun (as I assumed I would after hearing about the Silver Shamrock masks). {AADL}

Dark Water
(2002)

The Japanese original (as opposed to the later American remake) is a dark meditation on motherhood. A divorced mother moves into a run-down apartment with her daughter and experiences strange supernatural occurrences, including a mysterious water leak from the floor above. I had seen this before but rewatched it this year out of nostalgia. I find it heartbreaking and devastating. The connections to the real-life death of Elisa Lam are equally chilling. {Tubi}

Cronos
(1993)

An antiques dealer finds a mechanical object that grants the owner eternal life … but with dire consequences. A very moving film, similar to The Fly (1986) in terms of themes with some cool Indiana Jones vibes mixed in there. I really enjoyed the main characters’ performances as well as Ron Perlman’s. {AADL}

Bedevilled
(2010)

A woman visits her childhood friend on the desolate and socially backward island they grew up on. I’m not usually into revenge stories but after seeing what happened to the characters here I was heartbroken and ANGRY. I felt for Bok-nam so much and was rooting for her all the way {Tubi}

The Fly 
(1986)

After an eccentric scientist’s experiment goes wrong, he slowly turns into a fly-human hybrid creature. Featuring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis (who were dating at the time), this film was the winner of an Academy Award for Best Makeup due to the gruesome and grotesque special effects needed for the scientist’s slow transformation into the Brundlefly. Fun, thought-provoking, and gross. {AADL}

An American Werewolf in London
(1981)

Two American backpackers are attacked by a werewolf while traveling in London, causing one of them to question whether he’ll become a werewolf under the next full moon. Amazing special effects by Rick Baker! The transformation sequence is one of the best in film history. This movie won the very first Academy Award for Best Makeup and has since become a cult classic. {AADL}

The Stepford Wives 
(1975)

A woman relocates with her husband and children to the community of Stepford, where she comes to find that women live unwaveringly subservient lives to their husbands. The obvious inspiration to both Jordan Peele’s Get Out and recent embarrassment Don’t Worry Darling. It’s also one of my all-time fave horror movies and a classic for a reason. {Tubi}

Censor
(2021)

A woman working as a film censor during the height of the Video Nasty controversy discovers that clues to real-life murders are hidden in the films she reviews. Soon after, a veteran horror director personally requests that she screens one of his old films and Enid notices that the events of the film parallel her memories of her sister’s disappearance during their childhood. She desperately searches to find out more about the origin of these films and their mysterious director. A well-made movie with interesting ideas and a similar feel to Saint Maud. Not very scary but atmospheric and weird. I liked it but wish there was a little more depth to the story. {AADL}

The Silent Sea
(2021)

In the near future, Earth is suffering from extreme desertification. Scientist Song Ji-an is asked to join a hand-picked team of elite personnel on a mission to the moon. Their destination? The abandoned Balhae Station, which suffered a catastrophic incident five years prior in which 117 personnel lost their lives, including Ji-an’s sister. Their mission is to retrieve a mysterious and sensitive sample and return it to Earth. Of course, not everything is as it seems. You might recognize Gong Yoo from Squid Game, Kim Sun-young from many different K-dramas (including Crash Landing on You, mentioned below), and fans of The Host and Kingdom will recognize the amazing Bae Doona among a very talented cast. The first Korean sci-fi series set in space and a fun and mysterious ride. {Netflix}

Malignant
(2021)

A woman begins to have visions of people being murdered, only to realize the events are actually happening in real life. There’s SO much more to the story but I won’t ruin it for you. Way better than I thought it would be. Super fun and campy with so much homage to other horror, particularly giallo. Thank you to James Wan for this ludicrous and indescribable gem. {AADL}

The Tingler
(1959)

Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m a sucker for William Castle’s gimmick movies. In The Tingler, a scientist discovers a parasite inside human beings that feeds on fear and causes a spine-tingling sensation. The only remedy? To scream! I’ve loved this movie for over a decade for a lot of reasons, but Vincent Price’s performance is great, the bloody bathtub scene really sticks with you, and the Percepto gimmick is one for the ages. {Tubi}

Barbarian
(2022)

If you like screaming, “No! Don’t go in there, stupid!” at the screen you are going to love this movie! A woman finds out that the rental house she reserved has accidentally been double booked—and it just gets worse from there. The director cites The Gift of Fear as inspiration and after having seen the movie, it’s easy to see why. A clever and heart-pounding thrill ride. {HBO}

Freaky
(2020)

A horror-comedy in which a teenage girl and a middle-aged serial killer played by Vince Vaughn accidentally swap bodies. A truly entertaining romp that’s more fun and funnier than I thought it would be. {AADL}

I Am a Ghost
(2012)

A troubled ghost meets a medium who tries to help her move onto "the next place." Barely a horror movie but I found it really interesting and unique. A movie funded by a Kickstarter and inhabiting a single filming location—it’s simple and straightforward but will leave you mulling it over days later. {Prime}

Survivor
(2000 - present)

This year I got COVID for the first time and there was truly nothing to do but hunker down and watch the easiest television shows possible. Survivor turned out to be the perfect fit and, as a result, my husband and I have watched 17 seasons in the past four months. What can I say?! It’s a fun, engaging show that twists and turns with every season. The early seasons are focused more on surviving on a deserted island while the later seasons focus more on intricate gameplay. There’s the intense psychological aspect of the games as contestants try to withstand bad weather, a severe lack of food, and no shelter. There’s also the social element as contestants try making friends and alliances with their fellow teammates while avoiding the classic backstabbing behavior of the series. And every new prize or puzzle or wrinkle to the game delights us, too. We love fan favorites such as Boston Rob and Sandra, and we’re excited to watch the remaining 23 seasons. {Paramount Plus}

Yellowjackets
(2021) 

This show is awesome! As a huge (repeat: HUGE) fan of Lost, this really hit the spot. While on their way to a national tournament, a team of high school soccer players experiences a plane crash that leaves them stranded in the Canadian wilderness. They try to survive in the wild with zero supplies for 19 months before they are eventually rescued and returned to their previous lives. The series flips between the present day and 1996 (when the plane crash happened) and follows four main characters throughout both timelines. The complicated plot unravels slowly and features mystery and hints of the supernatural. The four main roles and their 1996 teenage counterparts are perfectly cast, with stand-outs including Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sophie Thatcher. I can’t wait for the second season, which is set to be released sometime next year. {AADL}

Snowdrop
(2021)

Set against the backdrop of the real-life political turmoil of Seoul in 1987, Blackpink’s Jisoo plays a women’s university student who goes on a blind date with a guy she ends up liking. When she finds him later covered in blood, she decides to hide him from the government in her dorm room. This sparks both a romance and a hostile international conflict. It’s hard to believe this is Jisoo’s first starring role as she portrays a wide range of emotions with shocking ease. A great drama with an intricate plot and wonderful performances throughout. {Disney+}

Crash Landing on You
(2019)

A successful South Korean businesswoman goes paragliding near Seoul and is accidentally blown all the way into North Korea. She’s found by a North Korean army captain who decides to try to hide her and help her escape back across the border unharmed. Of course, things go wrong immediately and the two slowly fall in love despite their differences. The lead actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin have such great chemistry that earlier this year they were married in real life, and they welcomed their first baby together in November. An addictive blend of drama, romance, and comedy that anyone would love. {AADL}

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
(2020)

The story of orphaned brothers Gang-tae and Sang-tae who live together and move frequently from town to town after the latter witnesses his mother’s death as a child. Gang-tae works at the local psychiatric ward while Sang-tae (who is autistic) is a brilliant artist. One day, Gang-tae meets Moon-young, a famous children’s book writer rumored to have antisocial personality disorder. The two begin to fall in love and slowly heal each other’s emotional wounds. An amazing story with a unique premise that handles mental illness in a careful and respectful way. The real star of the show is Sang-tae, portrayed with such depth and nuance by Oh Jung-se. {Netflix}

Mystic Pop-Up Bar
(2020)

A prickly woman who runs a mysterious centuries-old outdoor pop-up bar visits customers in their dreams to help them resolve their real-life problems. She’s joined by her part-time employee and a former afterlife detective. A warm, heartfelt, and sometimes silly story with surprising depth that’s definitely worth watching. {Netflix}

Old Enough
(1991-)

A reality TV show where children 3-6 years old are filmed as they go out into the world to run basic errands all by themselves. This show has been on Japanese television on and off since 1991 but was recently picked up by Netflix for international distribution this year. The kids are all so cute and really try their best to grocery shop, make fresh mandarin juice, visit a busy fish market, take their parents’ clothes to the cleaners, or perform whatever errand they’re tasked with. Each episode is less than 20 minutes long so they fly by fast. Highly recommend it! {Netflix}

 

NANCY S. — DESK CLERK

The Sandman 
(2022-)

Neil Gaiman’s Sandman graphic novels were the first comics I ever read, so the universe has a special place in my heart. I was very, VERY nervous about how this was going to translate to TV. I’m beyond thrilled that the series turned out so amazing! Not only were iconic scenes pulled right from the pages, but the writers made interesting and exciting changes and additions to the story and characters. I love the rework of Brute and Glob into the character Gault. The replacement added nuance and emotion that was originally not in the comic—and quickly became one of my favorite characters in the world. But overall, the casting, acting, writing, costumes, and sets were, well, a dream come true. Mason Alexander Park as Desire and Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer Morningstar are definite highlights. A friend and I joked that Tom Sturridge as Dream reminded us why we fell in love with the broody character as teenagers in the 2000s. This is how page-to-screen adaptations are done. {Netflix

Andor
(2022-)

I had Obi-Wan Kenobi on my list to recommend—until I watched AndorObi-Wan was good, and I do still recommend it, but after only six episodes of this 12-episode arc, Andor is already my favorite Star Wars installment. Not only does the story and characters fit perfectly into Star Wars as a franchise, but it’s a beautifully written spy drama (which is hard to do even for historically rooted spy dramas). It’s a masterclass in dualities: show, don’t tell. Give a complex story with simple, human writing. Make every action and reaction, motivation and story, completely plausible for any person, which unfortunately is rare for science fiction. The deft way Andor and the other characters react to one another is exactly how a normal person would react to someone they don’t know or trust: suspicion, testing, verbal sparring. Nothing is dramatized beyond reasonability. In a word, the whole series is grounded, which is refreshing for science fiction, and especially for Star Wars. {Disney+}

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
(2022-)

I was prepared for experiencing this film to be emotional and difficult. I cannot find the words to describe the loss of Chadwick Boseman—so many people have said it better than I ever could, and I defer to their eloquence. I was so worried that Wakanda Forever wouldn’t happen, or wouldn’t be as good of a movie, and a million other reasons. So when I sat down in the theater, I didn't know what to expect. I was blown away by this deeply moving, nuanced, complex film from the second the silent title cards started to reel. Where Black Panther was a celebration of joy and identity, Wakanda Forever is grief and love enduring. The story told was one of how humanity processes, reacts to, and carries grief, vengeance, justice, and love on a personal and societal level. It’s also about memory and legacy. The two cultures of Wakanda and Talokan are perfect foils for one another—one chooses to withdraw and protect in its grief, and the other chooses to attack to protect what it has built in response to profound grief. I didn’t expect this level of complex writing and acting out of a superhero movie, but then again, Black Panther has never been “just a superhero” to me. Most impactful movie of my year, hands down. {IMDB}

Turning Red
(2022-)

As a Millennial who experienced the boyband craze of the late '90s to mid-'00s as a tween, this movie was pure nostalgia (and a little bit of cringe). There was something weird and magical about being a teenage girl during that time, and Turning Red bottled it so perfectly. I loved the puberty and coming-of-age story told through a Chinese-Canadian lens. Shapeshifting was a perfect way to discuss the crazy things that happen to humans as they grow up, in a way that was fun and relatable. Watching Mei and her mother navigate the minefield of puberty in much the same way my mom and I did was poignant and heartwarming. {AADL} {Disney+}

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
(2022)
 
While this was a pretty run-of-the-mill action movie, its real appeal came from the cast. The chemistry between Nicholas Cage and Pedro Pascal is magical—they're having such a good time together that it’s hard not to enjoy with them. Some of my favorite movies are ones where you can tell the actors are having a great time filming. I read after watching the film that Cage had to be convinced to be in it. I’m so glad he did because it was so much fun. {AADL

Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness 
(2022)
The first Dr. Strange film left a terrible impression on me. It didn't introduce Marvel’s magical universe well, and I just didn’t enjoy it. Multiverse of Madness did a lot of heavy lifting to overcome that first installment—and all the credit goes to Elizabeth Olsen. I also didn’t think that Marvel could sell horror after New Mutants flopped, but this film was SUCH a good horror movie! {AADL}

Lightyear
(2022)
 
I didn’t expect much out of this film, even after the trailer hooked me. I remember thinking, “Was a movie about Buzz really necessary?” The answer for me, it turned out, was YES, IT WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE FOUND FAMILY AND ROBOT CAT. It’s not Toy Story and wasn’t trying to be. I think this was the big point many fans got stuck on: Lightyear is its own thing. It tells the origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the character, not the toy who plays the character in the previous movies. (This caused some confusion for the public.) It was fun and heartfelt, and I will forever stan Sox. Disney knows a good marketing opportunity when they see one, and I’m a sucker for a cute animal robot. {AADL} {Disney+}

 

MARISA H. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

The Night House
(2020)

I love horror movies but rarely do any stick in my conscious brain for very long after viewing. For whatever reason, this film has wedged itself into my brain. While perhaps heavy-handed with the metaphor, it explores grief in a complex, compelling, and visually stunning way. {AADL}

Yellowjackets 
(2021-)

The New Yorker's review said it best with the headline: Horror and Hormones, Grief and Gore, in “Yellowjackets.” {AADL}

Truth Seekers
(2020)

Anything created by Nick Frost and Simon Pegg is pretty much a guaranteed “yes” for me. This silly, slightly spooky, and heartfelt show was a delight. Sadly there won’t be a second season, but fortunately, this wrapped up fairly well. {Prime}

Papergirls
(2022)

Based on the comic Papergirls by Brian K. Vaughan, this adaptation was very well done. The casting was perfect and the showrunners did an amazing job showing the scope of this world. Sadly, there won’t be a second season so try not to get too attached. {Prime}

Resident Evil
(2022)

I love the Resident Evil franchise and really loved this show, which is “loosely based” on the video game. This series follows two timelines of Jade Wesker: as an angsty teen; and as an adult trying to make up for past mistakes and making terrible choices along the way. It’s gory, it’s beautifully shot, and it’s laugh-out-loud hilarious. The reviews are love-it or hate-it, and I for one solidly enjoyed the ride. My only complaint is the tired fat-guy villain trope that’s so over the top that they have him eating in almost every scene. Why? And once again, Resident Evil falls victim to the curse of a streaming service canceling its run after one season, so we are forever left hanging. {Netflix}

1899
(2022)

This is a newly released mystery/horror/sci-fi romp. We start on a steamship set for America which comes across its missing sister ship. Since the crew and passengers are largely immigrants there is no shortage of speeches followed by “what is this person saying I don’t speak this language.” {Netflix}

Our Flag Means Death
(2022-)

This one is pure fun. Strangely accurate yet modern, hilarious, and an extremely queer take on pirating in 1717. {HBO}

 

EVELYN H. — LIBRARIAN

Station Eleven
(2021)

Emily St. John Mandel's Station 11 is one of my favorite books to come out in the last 10 years, and I’m generally not a huge fan of screen adaptations, so I wasn’t too sure how this project would land. I am here to tell you that this is one of the few instances where the screen version might be even better than the book. Parts of the plot were changed and expanded in ways that made the characters and stories even more interesting than in the book, the acting was superb, and the music gorgeous. Even if you think you aren’t ready to watch a show about a pandemic, give this a try. {HBO Max}

A League of Their Own
(2022-)

The second TV show I loved this year was Abby Jacobson’s reimagining of A League of Their Own for Amazon. She went far beyond the original movie to tell the stories that the studio wouldn’t tell in the 1992 classic. Unlike the original, in which Rosie O'Donnell was told not to cue her character as gay, this story is explicitly full of queer and Black joy. The season follows two baseball players, one white and one Black, as they pursue their dreams of playing baseball in 1940s America. An incredibly diverse group of writers brought these characters to life with dazzling realism, and the show moved me to tears multiple times. {Prime}

 

KATIE D-W. — DESK CLERK

Doctor Who: The Evil of the Daleks 
(2021)

If you’re a fan of classic Doctor Who, as I am, you may have been frustrated in the past to discover that many of the Second Doctor’s episodes were lost. Audio tracks with snapshots have been released, but more recently, they have begun animating the episodes. The animated episodes have the original audio. This is one of the story arcs I watched most recently, and I thought it was fantastic. It picks up immediately after The Faceless Ones, which was also great. I’ve really enjoyed being able to watch the Second Doctor’s adventures in order. {AADL}

Desk Set
(1957)

Katherine Hepburn stars as the head librarian for a special reference library at a TV station. Spencer Tracy stars as the computer genius who is trying to bring technology to the library. Misunderstandings and hilarity abound! {AADL}

 

ELIZABETH S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

The Midnight Club 
(2022)

Mike Flanagan, known for his resistance to the trope of the jump scare, set the Guinness World Record for jump scares in his most recent series, The Midnight Club. Flanaverse shows always make it on my staff picks list. This year, the approach was slightly different, aiming for a serialized show that could continue beyond its first season. Nesting stories told by terminally ill teens within the broader narrative, Flanagan made room for characters that had passed to feasibly return to the second season. Flanagan purposefully left questions unanswered, something new for his fans. It seemed we would get a second season—until it didn’t. Flanagan posted what would have happened in season 2 here. {Netflix}

Wednesday
(2022-)

Always a fan of The Addams Family, this reboot focused on the teenaged Wednesday Addams is a visual delight. The hallmarks of Tim Burton’s style are stamped on the production, down to details in Jenna Ortega’s iconic dance scene, which pulls inspiration from Beetlejuice and the goth scene of the ‘80s and ‘90s. {Netflix}

Archive 81
(2022)

Archive 81 was among my top favorites of the year. For me, it was a perfect combination of mystery, horror, and overall weirdness. Like The Midnight Club, a sinister cult is at the center of the mystery. {Netflix}

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities
(2022-)

I cannot recommend this anthology series enough. Guillermo del Toro presents eight contained horror stories, two of which he co-directs. Though some episodes are rated much higher than others, with The Autopsy being a clear favorite, I enjoyed the entire series. My favorite episodes are The Viewing and The Outside. If you’ve never learned to fear sentient lotion, The Outside will give you a whole new perspective. {Netflix

Euphoria
(2019-)

Since its debut in 2019, Euphoria inspired countless viral memes and sparkly makeup looks. It also maintains a reputation of being difficult to watch, which is true. In the end, I found it worth it to suspend my comfort levels. {HBO}

House of the Dragon
(2022)

Game of Thrones ended, and audiences were largely dismayed with the story they were given. This year, fans were introduced to a new show that focuses on the Targaryen family 200 years before the first installment. The show takes a different approach. Instead of following the same actors across seasons, we are shown brief periods in the characters’ lives through many generations. A cast of actors is often employed to play a single character. At times, this is more effective than others, with some characters seemingly unchanging and others aging in a pronounced way. Paddy Considine’s character, for example, is shown aging alarmingly faster than his brother (also a key plot point), depicted by Matt Smith. Considine’s performance is incredible, along with the larger cast. {HBO}

Stranger Things
Season 4
(2022)

Season 3 of Stranger Things did not grasp me as much as the first two seasons. I was unenthusiastic about the fourth season. I kept hearing good things about it, like, really good things. Still unconvinced, I finally got around to watching season 4, and it did not disappoint! {Netflix

The White Lotus
Season 2
(2022)

I have not, at the time of writing this, finished watching the second season. That didn’t stop me from including it, though! I absolutely loved season 1, and season 2 so far does not disappoint. {HBO}

Don’t Look Up
(2021)

A disturbingly accurate satire. {Netflix

 

SAM T. — DESK CLERK

A League of Their Own
(2022-)

This did not disappoint. Would very much recommend it. {Amazon Prime}

Everything Everywhere All at Once
(2022)

The costume design?!?!?!?!?!? Beautiful. The actors????? Awesome. All the emotions?!?!?!?!?!??? So good. {AADL}

 

REENA P. — DESK CLERK

Everything Everywhere All at Once
(2022)

This movie made me cry. Everything Everywhere All At Once is a film about Evelyn Quan Wang, a beleaguered Chinese immigrant mother who is deeply embroiled in family and business drama. Suddenly, her husband Waymond starts behaving stranger than usual, and things quickly go off the rails as she gets wrapped up in a multiversal conflict between herself and the void-craving Jobu Tupaki. As wacky as the martial arts choreography and special effects get, the heart of the movie is extremely strong. The entire movie is focused on Evelyn trying to repair her relationship with her daughter Joy, and slowly opens up into a movie about how important it is to share love—especially in the face of anxieties, fears, and doubts. {AADL}

 

JAN D. — DESK CLERK

Andor
(2022)

A TV series for the male lead of Rogue One (2016)? Sounds boring, right? Like Solo (2018), but with less swagger? Instead, Andor is some of the best content to come out of the Star Wars universe in a long time. Rather than the now-routine pulpy mash-up of science fiction, fantasy, westerns, and samurai films, Tony Gilroy serves up a slow-burning thriller that uses the Star Wars mythos to think about the nature of oppression, what motivates resistance, and what means are acceptable in fighting back. All this would already make it worth checking out, but Andor also features some great performances and top-notch writing that tacks between characters in different places (frequently on different planets) in a way that makes it all look easy. This show deserves more attention than it's been getting. {Disney+}

 

IRA S. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

12 Angry Men
(1957)

Twelve jurors must decide the fate of a young Puerto Rican man on trial for murder. We begin at the end of the trial when the jurors must collaborate on a unanimous decision on whether this young man will receive the death penalty. One man goes against the other 11 and is forced then to plead his case—90 minutes of one extended argument. {AADL}

Logan's Run
(1976)

Set in the year 2274, all of society lives under a computer-run bubble. We follow Logan 5, a sandman who's job is to capture "runners," people trying to escape a supposed rebirth, which occurs when you turn 30. The computer gives Logan 5 the impossible task of pretending to become a runner and find a supposed secret society that the runners yearn to get to. Logan 5 must rely upon others who doubt his intentions through the bowels of the city and out into the vast landscape he has never known. {AADL}

 

MARY L-P. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Chopping Mall
(1986)

This slasher has an impossibly unrealistic plot—independent thought in robots with high-tech '80s designs, teenage shenanigans that are as old as time with an '80s twist (think sex at the mall), and a story of survival that’s ridiculous. Yet this horror—or is it a comedy?—flick never fails to entertain or take itself too seriously. {IMDB}

The Howling
(1981)

Staying in theme with '80s horror flicks, this werewolf movie starts edgy and is realistically executed before it switches to fantastical. The effects themselves are nostalgic and oh-so-believable for the time. It's a simple mystery you'll probably figure out, but watch out for the twist. {IMDB}

The Fog
(1980)

Jamie Lee Curtis and her mother, Janet Leigh, get together in this thriller. Mostly suspenseful, this movie doesn't have too many deaths, and it will make you nostalgic for old-school radio. {IMDB}

The Shop Around the Corner
(1940)

Jimmy Stewart stars in this original story that inspired You've Got Mail. It has all the classic elements of an old Hollywood flick and leaves you guessing 'til the very end. {IMDB}

 

LUCY R. — LIBRARIAN

1899
(2022-)

If you watched another excellent show, Dark, the creators of that show are ready to take you on another wild ride of questioning reality. In this one, supposedly set in 1899, a steamship full of immigrants from various countries traveling to America comes in contact with another steamship but this one is empty except for a young boy. Each character plays a role in this mind-blowing series on Netflix. Supposedly this is going to continue for a total of three seasons. {Netflix}

Somebody Somewhere
(2022-)

Sam, played by the comedian Bridget Everett, is struggling with depression after her sister dies and trying to fit into her Kansas hometown. We are introduced to her other friends who struggle with acceptance. Helping each other and discovering ways to deal with the negativities, Sam finds that singing is her gift and proudly belts out the tunes to a cheering audience. Beautiful, relatable, and at times funny, this is a show that just keeps giving. Luckily, it has been renewed for a second season. {HBO}.

Moonhaven
(2022-)

The Earth needs saving so humans are sent to the Moon along with advanced AI to figure out how we can repair the damage by creating a peaceful colony there over many generations. Now the Mooners are ready to advance their ideas and return to educate and enlighten the Earthers. Unfortunately, there is a murder to solve (which has never happened here), and there are some on the Moon that rather not give the knowledge away so now a potential uprising. Earther pilot Bella Sway (Emma McDonald) is caught in the middle of all this (her mother decided to become a Mooner but left her on Earth as a child) to unravel the conspiracy to save both worlds. Excellent acting and worldbuilding. A second season is coming, too! {AADL}

Everything Everywhere All at Once
(2022)

Another reality-bending adventure tale taking place in multidimensions. Actress Michelle Yeoh plays the hero who has to travel between dimensions to ultimately save the universe, along the way she meets different versions of herself and learns about ‘verse jumping’ where she can acquire the skills, memories, and bodies of her other selves after performing bizarre actions. You will never think of hot dogs in the same way (watch to find out). {AADL}

Nope
(2022)
Strange things are going on in the sky above this horse ranch. This latest movie by Jordan Peele tells the story of Em (Keke Palmer) & OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) whose ranch the UFO is wreaking havoc while the local theme park tries to benefit from the encounters. Nods to classic sci-fi films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind peek through along with larger issues addressed like animal exploitation. This is a movie that makes you think long after viewing. {AADL}

Three Thousand Years of Longing
(2022)

Based on a short story by writer, A. S. Byatt, this magical, romantic story follows Dr. Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) as she unleashes a djinn (Idris Elba) from a bottle and then starts questioning the need for three wishes at all. She thinks they are a mistake and that he is just a trickster. So in order to convince her that he is not, he tells her three tales of his past and how he ended up in a bottle. Directed by George Miller of Mad Max fame, this is a far, far departure from those movies and well worth the watch. Beautiful scenery with fabulous storytelling and acting make this a must-see. {AADL}

Steth Let’s Flats
(2018-2021)

Love the Brit-coms and Steth Let’s Flats is hilarious with a touch of the U.K.’s Office humor but quirkier. If you are a fan of the show What We Do in the Shadows (vampire life in modern times) you will recognize the actress Natasia Demetriou from that show here. {HBO}

Interview With a Vampire
(2022-)
Forget the movie version of Anne Rice’s novel and head on over to AMC to watch this fantastic reimagining in series form. The first season is complete. Look for Rice’s Mayfair Witches series on AMC in January. {AMC}

Prey
(2022)

Yes, this is part of the Predator franchise, but you do not need to be familiar or even know about it to enjoy this horror movie set in the 1700s Northern Great Plains about a female Comanche warrior who figures out who to take down this elusive foe as well as dealing with the French fur traders invading their territory. Noted for being the first film with a full Comanche language dub. Very clever, and the pacing is phenomenal. Watch that dog too, he gives an amazing performance having had no prior training (rescue dog fan here!). {Hulu}

Barbarian
(2022)

Ever rent an Airbnb which turned out to have a questionable reputation? Maybe even a subterranean lair with some odd-looking humanoid dweller? Well, then you will relate well to Tess’s experience. {HBO}

 

EMILY M. - LIBRARIAN

Everything Everywhere All at Once 
(2022)
“You have to see this movie” people kept saying. “What’s it about?” I’d ask. “It’s hard to explain.” Yet somehow, that was enough to get me to mask up and go to the movie theater for the first time since 2019. And, well, after seeing it, I have to tell you, they’re right. It’s hard to explain, and it’s probably best not to know too much about the film going in, just be ready to roll along with the strangeness and let it wash over you. (A side recommendation: weekend matinees at the Michigan Theater with live organ music before the show.) {AADL}

How to With John Wilson
(2020-) 

Each episode allegedly sets out to answer a “how-to” question posed in the title but takes a turn for the strange. A large portion of each episode consists of Wilson providing seemingly straightforward guidance voiced over footage from New York City—be it people doing unusual things, street scenes, or oddly named businesses. The somewhat dry narration coupled with the absurd images makes for laugh-out-loud moments, but this show really gets me when it quietly slips into meaningful human interactions. This is best illustrated by the Season 1 finale “How to Make Risotto,” but for it to really have the full emotional punch, you really should watch the five episodes leading up to it. It’s worth it, I promise. {HBO

Tuca and Bertie
(2019-2022)
From its first season on Netflix to its second and third on Adult Swim/HBO Max, Tuca and Bertie is an utterly eye-catching work of genius. Created by artist Lisa Hannawalt (whose style you might recognize as the character designer of Bojack Horseman), Tuca and Bertie is the best representation of being a 20-30-something woman in today’s world that I’ve seen. Not a show to shy away from tough issues, Tuca and Bertie still makes me cackle with laughter in each episode. I’m just heartbroken that it was recently canceled (seemingly a casualty of the WarnerMedia / Discovery merger), though I’m still holding out a modicum of hope that a revival may still be in its future. {Season 1 - Netflix} {Season 2 & 3 - Adult Swim}

 

CHEYENNE F. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN 

The Worst Person in the World
(2021)

While I really liked Tár, I will be giving my annual “Complex movie about a woman making bad choices” award to Joachim Trier. Trier pulled no punches with the final film in his Oslo Trilogy depicting a somewhat hopeful but oft-depressing view of dating. Many publications will call this film a romantic comedy but I would argue it’s a “romance” in the same way Jules and Jim is a romance: heavy on the heartbreak, light on the catharsis. {AADL}

Hollywood Shuffle
(1987)

With renewed interest in satire as a media genre, I found myself going back to Hollywood Shuffle. I find a lot of current satirical media to be a little too close to handwringing by rich people with very little to say, but Hollywood Shuffle has a lot to say. Taking a look at the stereotypical roles black actors are often forced into, Robert Townsend used his (very limited) budget to tell a very funny story that I hope will grow in popularity with its February Criterion release. Plus, it’s my mom’s favorite movie so that should count for something. {AADL}

The Rehearsal
Season 1
(2022-)

What if you could rehearse a huge anxiety-inducing moment before you did it while being emotionally manipulated by a comedian who is experiencing his own inner turmoil? Nathan Fielder attempts to answer this question we’ve all had (all of us!), and the result is one of the more unpredictable shows on right now. {HBO}

The Living End
(1992)

This year marked the 30th anniversary of The Living End by a pre-Teenage Apocalypse Gregg Araki. When it comes to Araki’s earlier work, I’m consistently in awe of how solid his vision is despite the lower budget. Araki frequently drew comparisons to Jean Luc Godard (R.I.P.), and I think the parallels are at their strongest in this film. I think the soundtrack also deserves mention. {Prime}

It’s Such a Beautiful Day
(2012)

So many anniversaries! Don Hertzfeldt is a favorite director of mine, so naturally, I had to revisit this film on its 10th anniversary. The animated film centers on Bill, a man who suffers from an unspecified condition that causes visions and memory loss. Sometimes humorous and mostly philosophical, Hertzfeldt uses his typical low-frills animation to create a story that’s incredibly affecting. {Vimeo}

Funny Pages
(2022)

This coming-of-age movie was perfectly grungy, everything felt like it had a thin layer of grime over it. The balance between cringe comedy and Safdie-esque personal drama was perfect (as expected, the Safdie brothers did produce this) and my skin was crawling the entire time. {Amazon}

Succession
Season 3
(2022)

#TeamKendall {AADL}

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
(2022)

I just really like Knuckles and Shadow the Hedgehog. {AADL}

Mob Psycho 100
(2019-)

While the third season of Mob Psycho 100 is currently airing, I found myself returning to the last two seasons over and over again. I’m not one for “superhero” stories, but I’m drawn to the world of MP100, and its more emotional approach towards the concept of “powers.” Also, it’s an amazingly animated show, and I just like Mob. I think he’s cool. {Crunchyroll}

Everything Everywhere All at Once
(2022)

I think this movie will be on everyone’s list, so what can I say other than: Michelle Yeoh, we love you. {AADL}

Nope
(2022)

I also think this movie will be on a few lists too so what I will say is 1) Jordan Peele is amazing at making movies I want to see over and over again just to find more subtext I missed and 2) There’s a scene where a character does the Akira bike slide and that was really fun. {AADL}

Morvern Callar
(2002)

The subject matter of this movie is relatively grim, with the plot centering on a Scottish woman who travels using money her deceased boyfriend left her. But the frankness of it keeps the relatively simple story grounded. It’s quiet and quirky in the grayest way possible. It also surprisingly has a pretty great soundtrack. {AADL}

Smiling Friends
Season 1
(2022)

I love to have fun! {HBOMax}

Palindromes
(2004)

I also like to NOT have fun! Despite the bleakness of every Todd Solondz film, I do think he treats all of his characters in an extremely human way. This film is one of Solondz's less “grounded” works, where he utilizes 13 different actors with varying appearances to portray his 13-year-old protagonist. {AADL}

 

SAMANTHA R. — DESK CLERK

Only Murders in the Building
Seasons 1, 2
(2021-)

{Hulu}

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window
(2022-)

{Netflix}

Barry
Seasons 1, 2, 3

{HBO}

 

JASON O. — DESK CLERK

The Green Knight
(2021)

Based on the cover (you definitely can judge things this way!) I had little interest in seeing this movie. But boy was I wrong. The story is adapted from the 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and—according to Wikipedia—is a well-known Arthurian story. However, I went in knowing nothing about the film or the poem. Dev Patel stands out in his role as Gawain in this slow-burning fantastical tale of purpose and courage. His journey doesn't always feel linear, and there were questions I had about the many mystifying interactions he has along the way. Nonetheless, I was completely captivated by director David Lowery's film. It is a stunning visual jewel with absolutely breathtaking cinematography. And by the time Gawain came face-to-face with his fate, I began to consider my own story and what it means to be brave—something I couldn't have guessed would happen when I hit play. I recommend this film to anyone who loves contemplative work, and it's a great candidate for a rewatch and/or a discussion group. {AADL}

 

JENNY C. — DESK CLERK

Ranking of Kings
(2021-)

I cannot properly describe what Ranking of Kings is without a few spoilers. The series is an anime that has a very Studio Ghibli look to it, incidentally, as it tries to have a picture-book style to its art, but this is NOT a Ghibli project. It is based on a manga by Sōsuke Tōka, who has made it clear the story and art were influenced by fairy tales, especially Western ones. The story follows Bojji, a very small, mute boy who is the prince of a small kingdom.

One of the stand-out features of this story is how the protagonist communicates. He uses sign language with the castle staff, which are all required to learn it for his sake. What the castle staff doesn’t realize is that he’s learned how to read lips and can see all the terrible things people say about him. (The Tokyo Federation for the Deaf supervises the sign language depicted in the show, according to Wikipedia.)

Kage becomes Bojji’s friend early on and speaks up on behalf of Bojji for much of the story as well. Voiced by the incredible SungWon Cho (OK-KO, Borderlands 3, God of War Ragnarok) in the English dub, Kage learns how to understand Bojji despite the language barrier and pledges to help him. Kage is the last of a cursed people who were exterminated by other humans, and he looks like an oblong shadow with eyes and arms. 

This anime doesn’t have too much mature content outside of the violence (which mostly occurs in the second half). But I will give the following content warnings: abuse, xenophobia, genocide, blood, violence, death, and loss. I know, from the look of the show, you’d never expect all that. It probably isn’t great to share with young children due to the blood and violence, but bigger kids will likely love the story and the animation. The main themes of the story are loss, prejudice, and generational trauma. Oh, and of course: don’t underestimate someone due to their size or disability.

Little is explained in the first season regarding the show's name—the Ranking of Kings determines a kingdom’s power—but enough mystery surrounding it is revealed that I hope we get a second season soon! {Crunchyroll}

Cyberpunk Edgerunners
(2022)

This anime is possibly one of the best television adaptations of a game. While set in the same universe as the video game Cyberpunk 2077, this 10-episode story follows mostly original characters, with a few nods to the game and a reusing of its setting, sounds, and visuals. Cyberpunk ER and 2077 are based on the popular tabletop pen-and-paper role-playing game Cyberpunk 2013, which was created in 1988 by Mike Pondsmith. If you’ve seen films like Blade Runner or The Matrix, you’ll be familiar with this type of story. Edgerunners was created by Studio Trigger (Kill la Kill, Little Witch Academia, BNA), and has its signature fluid and energetic animation style. Much like the video game, the story follows an up-and-coming cyberpunk (a mercenary of sorts) trying to make a name for himself in Night City, an autonomous city located between L.A. and San Francisco. Edgerunners is several things but could best be summed up as a tragic love story that explores addiction and mental health. There are a lot of sad moments—and a lot of beautiful moments—when there isn’t bombastic and explosive action on screen. Content warnings: sexual content, extreme violence, drug use, classism, death, loss, and matters concerning mental health deterioration. Despite the brightly designed characters, this is NOT for children. {Netflix}

 

BRYAN C. — DESK CLERK

Kedi
(2016)

{AADL}

Seven Samurai
(1954)

{AADL}

Cunk on Earth
(2022)

{IMDB}

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
(2004)

{IMDB}

 

ANNA C. — DESK CLERK

Dropout TV
This year I discovered Dropout, which is a media service developed and operated by College Humor Media. Every show they have is incredible. I especially love Game Changer, hosted by Sam Reich, and its spin-offs Make Some Noise and Play It By Ear. Also on Dropout is Dimension 20, a D&D game hosted (for the most part) by Brennon Lee Mulligan. Each season features a different setting and adventure, and while every season is excellent. My favorites so far have been: Fantasy High, The Unsleeping City, Misfits & Magic, A Starstruck Odyssey, Coffin Run, and A Court of Fey and Flowers (ACOFAF). ACOFAF is the most recent campaign, and perhaps the best yet! I talked one of my friends into watching it, and I fear I turned them into a Dimension 20 monster. The cast is excellent, and they have so much fun. Dropout TV costs around $5 a month, but I think it's totally worth it! {Dropout}

Heartstopper
(2022-)

Directed by Euros Lyn, Heartstopper explores the relationship between two boys in high school falling in love. While it's an excellent standalone TV show, it's even better when considered within the context of its source material: the Heartstopper comics by Alice Oseman. You can tell that Oseman played a big role in the creation of the program. {Netflix}

Trixie Motel
(2022)

I'm a big fan of Trixie and Katya's show UNHhhh, so I was sure Trixie Motel would be excellent—and it did not disappoint! HGTV + Drag Queens anyone? I got the Discovery+ free trial to watch it and finished the show in less than a week. {Website}

 

AMANDA V. S. — GRAPHIC DESIGNER

The Bear
(2022)

I’ve watched it twice. It’s amazing. {FX/Hulu}

Reservation Dogs
(2021-)

The second season was even better than the first, and I’m anxiously awaiting season three. {FX/Hulu}

 

NATE P-M. — GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Severance
(2022)

I told a friend of mine this show's premise is like The Office + Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind + Black Mirror. Not sure if that's totally correct, but I thought it was really, really good. {Apple TV+}

Ted Lasso
(2020)

Late to the party, but boy did I have a good time. The heart and humor I loved from Bill Lawrence's Scrubs, but ultimately a much more refined product. One of my favorite new shows. {Apple TV+}

Beforeigners
(2019)
A high-concept sci-fi procedural in which "beforeigners"—people from different time periods (Victorian, Prehistoric, Viking)—appear in present-day Norway. Really fun and engaging (if you don't mind subtitles). It used to be on HBO Max, but it was one of the titles removed this year with the Warner+Discovery merger. Not sure it's coming back for a season 3. {IMDB}

Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time
(2022)

An interesting, if sentimental, look at the writer's life. Your mileage on the sentimentality may vary (the film was made by a friend of Vonnegut's, Robert B. Weide) but I liked it and thought the film didn't shy away from the rougher edges of Vonnegut's life. {Hulu}

Mad Max: Fury Road
(2015)

Also late to this party. Also had a great—albeit much faster-paced—time. {HBO Max}

 

ELI NEIBURGER — LIBRARY DIRECTOR

Kid Cosmic
created by Craig McCracken
(2021-2022)

I love cartoons, and showrunner Craig McCracken (Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Lab, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Wander Over Yonder) is my favorite cartoon creator. One of the early signers for the now much-reduced Netflix Animation Studios, Kid Cosmic dropped 3 short seasons and a total of 24 episodes over the course of a year. The titular Kid is a comics-loving dreamer who finds himself in possession of some rings of extraordinary power, and then things get complicated. Distinctively animated with an excellent garage-rock theme song, Kid Cosmic tackles some of the ramifications of superpowers, leadership, and self-delusion to a degree that your average avenger really ought to explore. {Netflix}

 

CRYSTA C. — DESK CLERK

Poupelle of Chimney Town
(2022)

This is such a terrific, heartwarming story told with beautiful visuals and a great soundtrack. Anyone familiar with Japanese rock music might recognize HYDE, who performs the opening theme "Halloween Party." Both the Japanese and English voice casts did wonderful jobs. The visual aesthetic is a blend of traditional Japanese and British Victorian, which results in a kind of steampunk feel. While not a Halloween movie, it does begin on Halloween (hence the theme song), and it is a fun film to watch for that time of year but not required. {AADL

Beyto
(2021)

Such a delightful movie! You see where all of the characters are coming from, and the solution they come to is unexpected but beautiful. {AADL

Silent Night
(2022)

I would put this under horror or sci-fi and not comedy, but I am not trying to win any film awards. It takes a while for the viewer to learn what exactly is going on, and it's pretty horrific. Everyone is great, but Matthew Goode delivers a particularly stellar performance. This is a film that I think back on often. If you like to approach Christmas with sardonic humor, this is the film for you. {AADL

Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop
(2022)

This is a lovely film with a terrific woman detective that I hope to see again. I haven't heard of any sequels in the works, but I can cross my fingers and hope for the best! {AADL

Lady of the Manor
(2021)

This movie is ridiculous and improbable, but I enjoyed it anyway. Judy Greer is a delight as always. {AADL}

Ghosts
Season 1

(2022)

This is the original series that the U.S. remake was modeled after. I haven't seen the U.S. Ghosts, but the original U.K. series is hilarious. I couldn't stop watching! {AADL

Fast Fashion: The Real Price of Low-Cost Fashion
(2021)

What an important topic! This is a concise and easy-to-follow documentary packed with good information. {AADL

 

ANDY B. — BOOK PROCESSOR

Mob Psycho 100
(2016-)

Originally a manga from ONE (the creator of One Punch Man), the anime adaptation of this manga is definitely worth a watch. Beautiful, creative animation, mixed in with a truly heartfelt story about a middle schooler who struggles to fit in and actively become a better person, alongside having incredibly powerful psychic abilities that sometimes go beyond his control. They've managed to combine drama, action, and real heart with dashes of comedy that really make it all feel very real. There are two seasons fully available, and a third is currently being released. Crunchyroll is the best place to watch it if you're looking to keep things legal. {Crunchyroll}

 

LOREN B. — DESK CLERK

Reservation Dogs
(2021-2022)
This extraordinary comedy series showed up several times in last year's AADL staff best-of list, as I'm sure it will again this year. It's delightful to watch actor Zahn McClarnon play the bumbling, endearing Officer Big in it—I'd last (and first) seen him embody a ruthless human killing machine in Fargo Season 2. Reservation Dogs co-creator and showrunner Sterlin Harjo gave an excellent radio interview that offers a look behind the scenes. {Hulu}

Everything Everywhere All at Once
(2022)
A multiversal, intergenerational, and existential love story. Behold a fanny pack used in self-defense! Weep at a floppy-fingered couple’s embrace! Cheer as one rock chases another down a cliffside! It’s very silly and (as the title suggests) over-the-top, but there’s enough subtlety and sincerity inside it to invite repeat viewings. (Which is only right.) {AADL}

 

CHRISTIAN A. — DESK CLERK

Dual
(2022)
Like my film pick for 2021, My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To, I picked up Dual having never seen nor heard of it. It’s sold like a thriller, which I suppose it would have to be, because I’ve tried to describe exactly “what” this film is to many friends and coworkers, and I couldn’t find the proper words. I loved every second of it, LAL’d often, and give major props to the mastermind behind the film, Riley Stearns, for having the artistic “gutz” to conclude the film as he does. {AADL}

The Twilight Zone, Season 2
“Meet in The Middle”
(2020)
Each episode of Jordan Peele’s loving “reboot” of The Twilight Zone starts with so much promise. Cool ideas, disquieting atmosphere, and fun callbacks to Rod Serling’s original masterpiece. But they often just ... end. Like 75 percent of them fade off in such a way that one is almost constantly left with the notion that the aforementioned cool idea is all the producers deemed necessary for putting together a full episode. HOWEVER, “Meet In The Middle,” starring the brilliant Jimmi Simpson (aka Liam McPoyle), is perfectly written, executed, and “concluded.” I shan’t give away anything about the plot, but I must say that the ending of the episode is so clever as to remaining totally open-ended in such a way that it definitely COULD be this, and it also definitely COULD be that, and the final result is maddingly satisfying and confounding ALL at one time already. {IMDB}


More AADL Staff Picks:
➥ 2021
➥ 2020
➥ 2019
➥ 2018
➥ 2017
2016