February lineup
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Colin from Accounts on Binge: If you haven’t yet watched this show, what have you been doing? Start immediately.
Created by and starring real-life spouses Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, the series begins with quite possibly the best meet-cute ever - brewery owner Gordon (Brammall) is distracted on his drive to work by a quick boob flash from med student Ashley (Dyer), and runs over a stray dog. He’s in his 40s, she’s just about to turn 30, and the only thing they seem to have in common is the dog, who Gordon wants to euthanize when he hears the vet bill. Instead, Ashley talks him into saving the dog, whom they dub ‘Colin from Accounts’ and somehow they wind up living together before they actually begin dating.
It tracks that these two are married in real life, because they have the best chemistry. Their witty banter is smart and laugh-out-loud funny. All of the characters are refreshingly human and normal - complex, flawed, eccentric and most of all loveable. This show is original, wonderful, quirky and effortless. It’s tge type of show I will continue to rewatch for years.
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Succession Part 1: The Murdochs from The Fin: If you loved the TV show Succession, get up to date on the real-life succession drama from the family that inspired the show… and don’t they know it - the Murdochs played the Succession theme song at Rupert’s 90th birthday party and Rupert’s divorce from his most recent wife included a clause that prevented her from sharing story ideas for the show (!!).
Rupert Murdoch wants to amend the multi-billion-dollar family trust to ensure his eldest son, Lachlan, retains control of his companies when he dies. The remaining four children, James, Elisabeth and Prudence opposed the move to change the terms of the trust and commenced legal action. Spoiler - in December ‘24, a Nevada Court sided with the three siblings, blowing up Rupert’s the succession plan.
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The Wedding People by Alison Espach: This book is full of heart and humour and I absolutely loved it, 5 stars! It tackles heavy issues such as depression and suicidal ideation with such grace and a delicate hand that they don’t overshadow the joy in the book. It’s overall an incredibly hopeful story about life and the chance encounters that can set us on a new course. It’s a reminder about the power of human connection, the importance of showing kindness to strangers and the freedom that comes from being honest with yourself and others.
When Phoebe arrives at the opulent beachside Cornwall Inn, she is the only guest who isn’t part of the week-long extravagant wedding that everyone else is checking in for. Phoebe has dreamed of coming to this hotel for years with her husband but now she is here - but she’s alone and at rock bottom, determined to one last decadent splurge on herself. The bride has meticulously accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield, except for this accidental attendee and her plans. After meeting in the elevator, these complex women strike up an unexpected friendship that saves them both.