Happy July friends! I write this from sunny & cool Palo Alto, which is a significant improvement from muggy & humid DC. Here for a short minute, but taking a breather at a coffee shop to write this month’s issue of The Rabbit Hole, because there’s some good stuff I’m excited to share. As noted in my last issue (the reboot), to make this more manageable for myself and everyone (anyone out there?) who reads this, the Rabbit Hole will be three bite-sized recommendations of great content every month. Here we go:
#1 Breakpoint (Netflix docuseries)
I’m a sucker for a good sports docuseries. Last summer, I watched All or Nothing: Arsenal, an Amazon Prime series that covered the English Premier League football team under the leadership of Mikel Arteta, and I became a rabid Arsenal fan as a direct result. This is somewhat hilarious because my husband has been a lifelong Arsenal fan (dubbed Gunners), and tried and failed many times to convert me. Cut to me post docuseries, and I now casually talk match stats, follow the club & players religiously on social media, and can easily recite Arsenal FC history.
Breakpoint, which can be streamed on Netflix, is made by the same filmmakers who did Formula 1: Drive to Survive (bookmarked for me), and highlights the next generation of tennis stars. I’ve long been a casual tennis fan, but know very few players beyond Serena Williams, Djokovic, Federer and Nadal. Beyond the fact that the series is beautifully shot (lots of match highlights to keep you on the edge of your seat), you’ll end up falling in love with a few of this younger generation of tennis players, their stories, and what drives them on and off the court (my faves are Ons Jabeur from Tunisia and Frances Tiafoe from the US). Tennis is such a lonely sport, and the series does a great job touching on how mental the game can be. A great watch as we get into the final few matches of Wimbledon too (Jabeur faces Sabelenka in the semi-finals tomorrow!).
#2 The Bear (Season 2, FX/Hulu)
Season 1 of The Bear was one of my favorite television shows of 2022, and season 2 is now a contender for that same title for 2023. Quick summary for those who have never heard of this show: a young chef who has worked at famous restaurants around the world returns home to Chicago to take over his family sandwich shop after his brother passes away. Season 1 was extremely intense, with a frenetic pace that is reminiscent of many restaurant kitchens. While Season 2 had some intense episodes (episode 6: The Fishes was…woof), the overall tone was a lot lighter. As much as I *loved* season 1, season 2 was arguably more enjoyable for me, and we got to peek deeper into every character, from watching Marcus adventure and learn at Noma in Copenhagen (fun side note: this episode was directed by Ramy Youssef!) to seeing Richie lean into his charismatic potential at an upscale restaurant in Chicago. I enjoyed season 2 so much, in fact, that I’d stop myself from bingeing the whole series so I could drag it out for as long as possible. (As I write this, I’m itching to watch it all over again!) Just in case you need another reason: fun guest stars are abound in season 2, from Jamie Lee Curtis to Olivia Colman.
#3 Past Lives (Theaters)
I’d been wanting to see Past Lives ever since it won an award at the Sundance Film Festival, and finally got to go last weekend (thanks to my friend Anne for being my movie date!). The film tells the story of two childhood friends/crushes who lose touch when Na Young (now Nora) immigrates from South Korea to Canada, and reconnect when Hae Sung tries to find her on social media as adults. It’s a story that’s honest and real and true; how our lives can take us on such dramatically different directions, even if at the time it doesn’t feel that dramatic. What I loved the most about this film was how decidedly not trope-ish it was (if trope-ish is a word). In every other version of this movie, girl meets boy, they fall in love, get separated, and then reconnect and after some drama, end up together. I won’t spoil the movie for you, but there are no villains and heroes here, and for that reason it sits with you so much more. Past Lives is in theaters right now (if you can, support independent films by going to the theater!), but should be streaming soon.
That’s all from me this month!
See you again soon,
Kals.