June's 📺 Watchlist | 📢 HEAR ME OUT: All-Consuming Crime Capers, Rich People Problems & Regency Core
Crime, wealthy ˈwü-wü' voodoo, and Regency stuff
Cleric-al Crimes
“There’s a new vicar in Grantchester. His name is Alphy Kottaram. Remember that name. We’re all better off for him.” - Beth
Grantchester S10 PBS 🕵️♀️🔍📝
Logline: A Hot, compassionate, well-read vicar partners with the local constabulary to solve murders and tackle social issues of the day, including civil unrest in England during the 1960s.
The Rizz Factor: The chemistry between the old school policeman, Geordie (think a more PC, modernized Archie Bunker), and the wise-for-his-years, strapping village vicar is where this show finds its dramatic gold. This season, Rishi Nair, a former soap star, takes center stage as the new vicar, and we get to know more about his backstory. Unlike the previous billionaire boyfriend vicar, Will, Rishi grew up as an orphan, so the subplot of Geordie helping him find his mum is particularly endearing.
📝 A Note, if you will: This season featured back-to-back episodes with a young woman or older girl as the murderer. I think the writer’s room either got bored or perhaps needs some women in the room.
All said, I binged the 8 episodes in two days (or nights, rather):
70s Mod Squad-Style Crime Caper for Dark Winds Fans (And Others)
“You had me at Sawyer from Lost.” - Beth
Duster S1 HBO|Max 🕵️♀️🔍📝 🏎️.🚨🏛️
Disclaimer: There’s just something about crime shows set in the early ’70s Southwest that lights me up. That clash of cultures, the wide-open desert roads, and that lingering Wild West, go-for-broke energy? It calls out to my repressed, rule-following, buttoned-up Northeast soul. My latest quasi-obsession? Duster. Set in 1970s Arizona, it brings the grit and swagger. (Dark Winds still holds court, but Duster carves its own lane.)
The Skinny: Brought to life by the mind of JJ Abrams (Lost), Duster feels like a reunion tour, though not that kind. And no, we’re not talking about his daughter Gracie (a megastar in her own right). This is the Abrams OG crew: Greg Grunberg (Alias, Felicity, Heroes) as a scrappy FBI boss and Josh Holloway as a hired driver (of a duster) for a crime boss. So maybe it’s less full band, more Simon & Garfunkel, but for us, longtime fans, the Easter eggs hit just right.
With Rachel Hilson (Love, Victor) as the sharp and soulful Nina, and Asivak Koostachin as her quietly intense FBI partner Ewan, the cast brings it. Sprinkle in Holloway in a deliciously Sawyer-esque role (a good guy making all the wrong moves for the right reasons), and the chemistry is magnetic. Stylish, smart, and full of emotional twists, this one’s a must-watch.
AI Bonus Effect: Richard Nixon makes a cameo.
The Verdict: It’s not a binge; it’s a slow-burn treat. And for this double Air sign? A delicious reminder that the best things are worth the wait (or so they tell me)… with maybe a little teasing along the way.


Does crime [with a vibe] do it for you all year round?
SMOKIN’ HOT Chicken Shop Dates
alt heading: Taron Egerton: The Smoke Show
Smoke S1 Apple TV+ - Light it up, Babe 🚬 🔥🧯
The Spiel: Smoke is Apple TV+’s new crime drama starring none other than Taron Egerton, a certified triple threat (face, voice… and probably feet? Let’s not rule it out, please). You might remember him from last year’s gritty, beloved Black Bird, another Dennis Lehane gem. It turns out that Apple likes its Egerton served with an edge. Here’s what had to say ‘bout that one:
The Egerton Effect: Taron Egerton stars as Dave Gudsen, a fire investigator called in to read the ashes and uncover the truth. He’s chasing down two suspected serial arsonists, lighting up his city, and teaming up with Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country), a fierce, no-nonsense detective with a target on her back and a vengeful ex-boss (Rafe Spall in a very non-Trying role) who’s not done with her yet.
The Scoop: First episode goes slow, but by the second one, it’s cruising at high altitude, and the ending twist is spectacular. I’m here for all the iterations of Egerton, though his side-hustle/passion project attempt at being a writer on this show, I could do without that version.
Pop Trivia (and mild spoiler alert): If you're into this show, do yourself a favor and watch the latest Chicken Shop Date with Idris Elba, the star of Hijack, that other sweaty-summer Apple TV+ thriller from a few years back.
Let’s just say... after this series, I will never look at a fried chicken joint or that vat of bubbling oil the same way again. Ever.
Rich People Problems
alt heading: Yes, still watching Nine Perfect Strangers
🔷 Nine Perfect Strangers, Season 2 🍄🍄🍄🍄
Shroom, Shroom, Vroom, Vroom: Nicole Kidman, who is everywhere these days, takes a turn as a Russian wellness guru running a culty psychedelics retreat for mostly rich, troubled people, with tons of baggage. We’re talking, Imelda Marcos’ shoe collection has nothing on their issues.
Side Note: I was a shy kid, so sometimes I like to imagine who would be my imaginary friends in any given show, hence the next paragraph:
The Posse: If I could insert myself into any friend throuple or quadruple, it’d hands-down be the pack that is Agnes, Brian, Wolfie, and Tina. Their chaotic, ride-or-die, eye-rolling energy is unmatched. And episode six’s “f*ck, marry, kill” moment in the wine pool? Peak season perfection. Nothing’s topping that. Especially the moment Agnes, a former nun, without hesitation responded “Imogen” to the “kill” question. You’d have to watch the show to appreciate that.
Clickbait Worth Your Time 🔗
In other rich people problem dramas, check out my thoughts on John Hamm’s Your Friends & Neighbors. [Read Wealthy People Living in Suburbs Doing Bad Things]
I enjoyed
’s perspective on the decline of middle-class representation on the boob tube.
🍿 Movies about Rich People & The Voodoo That They Do SO WELL:
It’s All About The Fashion
Buccaneers Season 2 is back, and I’ll fully own it: My obsession might have less to do with plot and more to do with the pure fashion fantasy. Call it a love affair with luxe fabrics, rebellious corsets, and every slow-motion strut down a marble hallway.
🎤🔥The mic drop moment in episode 1, when Nan wore the red dress to the “Black and White Ball” was the catalyst for a scandal so fierce it echoed through every manor house from Mayfair to the Dorset coast. Episode 2 kept the vibes strong with a dreamy chanson cover of “Good Luck, Babe,” giving us full Bridgerton-era meets pop-fantasy realness.


The Buccaneers aesthetic feels like a Vivienne Westwood fever dream, equal parts punk, lace and petticoats, set to the soundtrack of Chappell Roan’s glitter-pop anthems or Olivia Rodrigo’s “All-American Bitch,” the perfectly unhinged Season 1 theme.
Time for another guilty pleasure, albeit no corsets this round, but still dripping in drama. The Gilded Age is back on HBO/Max, and fresh off her scene-stealing White Lotus finale, Carrie Coon is serving steel and shade. This season? She’s taking no prisoners, not even her own daughter.


Let’s Discuss
What are you currently watching?
Do you ever have TV imaginary friends? Like people you’re pretty sure would be your kind of people if they existed in real life?
In case you’re wondering what I’m up to…Apart from watching all this and working almost full time, I enjoy reading a lot [Goodreads], and
’s latest was one of my favorite so far this Summer, in the theme of romance and not just because I start singing the Taylor Swift song every time, but that certainly doesn’t hurt either. [It’s a Love Story]I recently watched Moneyball for the first time. You can find my rating and brief review for this film, as well as for all the movies I watch, on Letterboxd. I don’t post all my reviews here.
Thank you for reading!
First, yay to Holloway’s hair.
Second, I love the idea of fictional characters being your friend especially as an introverted person myself.