Rachy’s Radar Returns
Guess what?! After an unplanned week’s hiatus, I’m back and so is the monthly media roundup! It’s been nearly a whole year since I officially shared with you what’s on my radar, aka what I’ve been watching, reading or listening to. Whilst, you could say, I never actually stopped as I did often let you in on my latest binge or recent song on loop in the weekly Bitesize Wonders series, I have missed doing these dedicated media roundup sessions. Hence, I’m bringing the series back.
Rachy’s Radar returns at a time when I’ve been able to seriously indulge in entertainment, so I am extra excited to share what I’ve loved lately.
In the past few weeks, I’ve been buried in tissues, syrups and capsule pills. The numerous cups of tea have been very welcome. I usually prefer them as a treat during a busy day though, but a good cup to warm my insides through my symptoms always helps.
With some time off work, and my days mostly spent under covers, I’ve been watching whatever I find on the web, reading more and listening to so much music I can barely keep up.
You know the drill, with no further ado, here’s what’s been on my radar:
On The Blog Lately…
Bitesize Wonders 35
STORYTIME: How I Accidentally Met My Favourite K-Pop Idol
FOUR YEAR BLOGGING ANNIVERSARY
REVIEW: Stuck With You by Ali Hazelwood
Wheelchair User’s Guide To Accessibility In Venice: What You Must Know
A Million Reasons To Live…
Watching…
The Grey Man.
Action-packed and immensely thrilling, ‘The Grey Man’ is an edge-of-the-seat kind of Netflix original movie. Ryan Gosling plays a criminal in jail who is given an opportunity to exchange his “killer skills” for a chance to become an asset to the C.I.A. As one of the few ‘grey men’ Gosling’s trained to become a hitman for the agency no questions asked.
On his latest mission though, Gosling realises it might be time for him to ask questions after all. The truth he unintentionally uncovers holds dangerous secrets that force him on the run from the government. Chris Evans, on the other side, plays a seriously psychopathic mercenary sent to eliminate him by any means necessary. Lies, secrets, gunshots and explosions. Well, that’s 2 hours I don’t regret!
Virgin River.
When a nurse practitioner, Mel Monroe, accepts a new job in a remote town it is instantly clear her desire for a fresh start is fuelled by a devastating past she wishes to forget. She quickly learns that in small towns like Virgin River, “the Wi-Fi is slow, but the gossip moves fast”.
As she forms new relationships and faces unusual challenges, Mel is forced to face the painful past she’s been running away from. Small towns are all about community and Virgin River is no different in that way. It’s a story that sheds a light on the messy process of healing from grief, how it’s never linear and often complicated. I binged all four seasons in a week and a half and had no complaints as the story sucked me in. Admittedly, I’ve grown to love every single character and I’m counting down the days till the new season is out.
It’s definitely on the calmer side in relation to most Netflix shows, but I think that’s its charm actually. Don’t get me wrong though, Virgin River also has its dangerous and exciting moments too!
Burnt.
Adam’s love for cooking is just as big as his ego. The only thing bigger than that is his desire to obtain a third Michelin star, and he will stop at nothing to get it. In the movie, Bradley Cooper plays a once top chef, Adam Jones, who dominated the restaurant scene in Paris as he tries to make a big return. Sadly, it’s his abusive relationship with drugs and alcohol that put his career on hold for a few years.
Adam chooses London as the city where he is bent on getting his carer back on track and hopes to do this with the help of old friends and acquaintances he tracks down. With a fiery temper, unresolved emotions and past demons that chase him still, will he be able to achieve his desired goal?
Personally, I found this to be an okay watch when I did. There were some parts of it that did feel a little draggy and the storyline was definitely scripted in a way that was a bit too cliché for a movie that was trying to be moody and serious. The story had deep themes and issues to chew on, but it ended up falling a bit flat for me. I don’t regret watching it, but I wouldn’t do it again. The movies had all the right ingredients but still lacked seasoning somehow.
Eve.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! That is very true in front of Ra-El who only sees vengeance and piping-hot rage. After the richest conglomerate in the country ruined her family as a teenager, they left her with a thirst for revenge she’ll stop at nothing to quench. Infiltration, lies, secrets, seduction and deception. Ra-El 13 years later is a temptress who will stop at nothing to get what she wants – an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life.
This Korean drama will leave you hysterical and screaming at the screen as insanity unfolds. There are a few things I’d change about the last three episodes. The ending was also a bit underwhelming in comparison to how strong the rest of the show was but nonetheless, I enjoyed it from the beginning to the very end.
Just Friends.
This movie screams “made in 2005!!”. Sadly, I don’t think it aged really well unlike many like it.
Overall, it did give me a few laughs, but it felt quite outdated to watch. The overexaggerated comedy, whilst intentional came across as super cringy to me. I love the actors and would watch anything Ryan Reynolds acts in, but Just Friends was barely watchable. That or I seriously lost my sense of humour.
Lincoln Lawyer.
Do you prefer working from home or the office? For Mickey Haller, a brilliant Los Angeles lawyer, the correct answer would be neither. Mickey’s work is carried out from a car and not just any car, but the Lincoln. Things take an interesting turn when Mickey finds out a lawyer he used to know was murdered and had unexpectedly left him his practice just a few days before. With the new practice, Mickey also inherits a murder trial involving a famous video game developer that has the attention of the whole country.
The search for the truth begins in episode one and each piece of the puzzle gets fit together one by one till the end of the first season. Just when I thought there wasn’t much else to watch on Netflix, I was proven wrong. I am looking forward to the next season for sure!
Reading…
The EveryGirl: The One Purchase That Helped Me Finally Achieve My Reading Goals
Skylish: Musings of growing into adulthood
Cup Of Jo: How to Invite a Disabled Friend Over
What Olivia Did: Gettin’ Cosy: The Late Night Pyjama Edit
Jenny In Neverland: I Don’t Actually Know Anything About Blogging
Melina Elisa: WHY DO I STILL FEEL THIS WAY?
Derbyshire Delights: Let’s Go To Cromford, Derbyshire
Current bedside read: The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas
Listening…
As opposed to sharing YouTube videos like I used to, I thought it would be more fun to create a Spotify playlist that pulls together in one place all the tunes. I intend to update this playlist regularly so feel free to check back into it often. If you use apple music – sorry?
Feel free to save it and like it cause I’ll be keeping it up for you. Perhaps, you may find your next favourite JAM.
Your restless romantic roamer
