As a Teenager, "Teen Dramas" Bore Me

As a kid, I was told I had an old soul. My parents told me that as a baby, I acted the closest to an adult a baby can act. Even now, I'm told that I don't look or act like a freshman in high school. So I guess I'm not surprised that I don't care for the "typical teen dramas" that so many people my age are obsessed with.

Granted, I've never given them much of a chance. I watched maybe a season of Pretty Little Liars and only watched The Vampire Diaries because a friend of mine wanted someone to rant to (aren't I a great friend?). Everyone on my Twitter feed recently has been obsessed with Grey's Anatomy, and while it isn't specific to teenagers, the only solid argument for it is the hot doctor (who is more than twice my age). But is that a bad thing?

My new philosophy for this year is not to judge other's interests, and while so far this doesn't make it sound like I'm doing a great job, I have nothing against these shows. In fact, sometimes I feel left out of the discussion. The closest to a typical girl phase I've had is when I watched all of Make It Or Break It one summer when I was eleven. I don't remember the last time I was obsessed with a character simply because they were attractive (maybe Loki??). I've never seen Teen Wolf or One Tree Hill, and I don't plan on it. It simply doesn't interest me. But will I judge my peers for watching it? No. Should you? absolutely not. I choose to spend my time binge-watching The Office, and I wouldn't want someone judging me for that. I think teenagers get a bad rep, but it's really just a conflict of interest. From the perspective of a teenager, we have our own interests, and you have yours. Girls obsessing over Justin Beiber don't judge men for obsessing over football players, do they?

Do you agree/disagree with this? Let me know! Tell your friends!

Parks and Recreation Review - "Mockumentary" Strikes Again

(all reviews are my own opinion)

Stars: 4 out of 5
Binge-watch-ability: 9 out of 10
Maturity Level: Upper end of PG, definitely (Mild Sexual References and Language)

(credit: netflixlife.com)

I don't quite remember why I started watching Parks and Rec. I'd heard about it from friends, but never really checked into it. Maybe it showed up as trending one day, but I know that I was very quickly obsessed, marking possibly the first show I ever really binge-watched.

This show focuses on Leslie Knope, a member of the Parks and Recreation department for a struggling small town in Indiana. She, as well as the other members of the department, go through various hilarious adversities and relationships, all while dealing with the problem that is their town's government. The show ended in early 2015, with 125 episodes over seven seasons.

Anyone who knows anything about Parks and Rec knows that the first season of the show is pretty rough. It's a struggle to find the characters. Thankfully, the six-episode season is over quickly, and paves the way for some pretty amazing stuff. Starting with the second season, the comedy, characters, and stories improve tremendously. It was at the start of this season (which includes gay penguins) that I really became hooked. The abundance of unique characters find a way to work together that is captivating and addicting. The "Mockumentary" style, much like that of The Office, proves to be very successful.

If I remember correctly, I spent the first month of my summer watching this show from beginning to end, leaving me, admittedly, emotionally empty after realizing that it was over. I have no doubt that every character is relatable in some way, the relationships are adorable but not suffocating, and it's just great comedy. I would recommend this show to everyone, from teenage girl to actual government employee.

If you enjoyed this review, share it with your friends! Let me know any suggestions in the comments or email me at jordanbaylescontact@gmail.com!

3 Shows I Stopped Watching

Not all shows are great, as we all know. People get bored, producers get lazy, and stories get old. Here is a list of the shows I personally stopped watching, for these reasons and a few more. Stay tuned for another edition of this, in which I talk about a couple typical teen dramas I ventured into, and why I stopped watching them.

(I don't think there are any huge spoilers in this, but read at your own discretion)

1. Doctor Who 

Don't get me wrong, I love Matt Smith, but once his era began, this show started going downhill for me. It didn't feel like there was much of a story anymore, as compared to the story arc over each of the previous seasons (with possible one of my favorite TV characters ever, the Tenth Doctor). I did love Amy and Rory, however, and watched show until their unfortunate departure.


2. Supernatural

I don't hate this show, I think it's fun to watch, but I simply got bored of it. Over time, the stories got too similar, with a few too many filler episodes. There definitely was a period of time in which I was emotionally attached to this show, but it got to the point where I felt like watching it was a chore. I made it up until about halfway through the fifth season. I don't have any hard feelings about this show, though. I might casually watch a few episodes every once in a while in the future.

3. Once Upon a Time

I don't think I should even be including this show, because I barely gave it a chance, but I'm talking about it anyways. I think the concept of it is really interesting, but right away something that I can't quite put my finger on turned me off. If I remember correctly, I just got bored, or wanted something out of it that it wasn't giving me. Also, I don't really like the main character, so that's a pretty big deal breaker. If you're into overplayed drama paired with your favorite troubled Disney characters, this is the show for you, but I'm just not into that.

Do you agree with this? Do you actually like these shows and think that I'm a terrible person for not liking them? Let me know in the comments and share with your friends!

Bob's Burgers - Review

(all reviews are my own opinion)

Stars: 3.5 out of 5
Binge-watch-ability: 6.5 out of 10
Maturity Level: Somewhere between PG and PG-13, a typical Adult Swim level cartoon (Sexual References, Mild Language)

(credit: adultswim.com)

I started this show partly because I needed something to watch, and partly because I had seen it all over social media. Me starting this show wasn't me trying to fill the void that had been created in the absence of another show, it was rather from boredom. That trend has stayed; I hardly ever watch this show because I'm compelled too, it is more because I simply don't have anything to do. 

This show focuses on Bob Belcher and his family, who run a ragtag burger business in the center of the city. It gives the impression that the burgers are really good, they just don't have a lot of attention, due to various hindrances. Each character has their own personality, which results in them dealing with their own set of problems. The show currently has 6 seasons, but only 4 are on Netflix currently. Each season has a different amount of episodes, but the amount on Netflix totals to about 70.

Bob's Burgers is great for watching casually. Usually, I'll be doing something else and I'll decide to turn it on just to have something in the background. Despite this, I do really enjoy the show. It's hilarious, it's clever, and it has a ton of character and heart. I'm not one for watching cartoons, so I'm used to being super involved in the plot of the show and watching a ton of episodes in a row. This show allowed me to kind of return to watching something casually, much like how I would just turn on whatever was on Nickelodeon when I was a kid. 

So this review seemed very all-over-the-place, because I think it's pretty hard to just sit down and watch this show, unless you can be entertained by the typical cartoon show plot; stories only contained within the episode rather than an overall plot of the show. Ultimately, I would recommend this for casual watching, something to have in the background. It's funny and definitely deserves the views, but if you're looking for a new show to become obsessed with, this one isn't for you. 

I hope this review was helpful! If you have any questions or suggestions for me, comment below or email me at jordanbaylescontact@gmail.com. 

What am I watching right now?

Hello everyone! I hope that you are enjoying this blog so far, and have found at least one of my reviews somewhat useful.

Because the task of watching shows on Netflix is (while extremely fun) a rather long process, I decided to update what shows I am currently watching, because some of these make take a while to finish. I also added a list in the sidebar in case you are ever wondering what I'm watching and I haven't published a post about it recently.

The Office: This show took me a while to start, mainly because the first season is a little bit of a drag. I am now about halfway through season 2, and it's picking up a lot of steam. It's funny, it's quick, and it's a great way to procrastinate doing homework. Also, Jim and Pam are probably one of my favorite couples ever.

Making a Murderer: Honestly, the only reason I haven't finished this one is because I don't have the time. It's something I've noticed in a lot of other shows; if the episodes are longer, I'm less compelled to watch it unless I have the whole day (the amount of Saturdays that I designate as "Netflix days" is not something to be proud of). Nevertheless, this show is super interesting, and I really do want to try and make the time to watch the rest of it. Expect a review of this show coming very soon!

Jane the Virgin: I have only watched the first episode of this show so far, and I'm not super impressed. I'm hoping that with most shows, it picks up after the first couple episodes, but it's not really something that I'm anxious to watch right now. A good show to turn on while eating dinner, though.

If you are watching any of these shows, let me know what you think in the comments below!

How I Met Your Mother - Review

(All reviews are of my personal opinion)

Stars: 4.5 out of 5
Binge-watch-ability: 9 out of 10
Maturity Level: If you've seen Friends, its about the same. Normal TV-14 type content. (Sexual References, Mild Language)

(credit: gossipcop.com)

Of all the shows that I've watched, I would say How I Met Your Mother is the one that I finished the fastest, especially considering how long it is. I started this show randomly the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday), simply because I was bored. I received no strong recommendations from friends, it was simply on my own accord. And it will go down in history as one of the few shows that I have actually cried while watching. 

This show follows Ted Mosby, a hopeless romantic who is ready to find someone to settle down with, after his two best friends Lily and Marshall get engaged. With the help of his friend Barney, he meets Robin Sherbatsky, who he instantly falls in love with. The show then continues with the hilarious, and sometimes rather sad, adventures of the five friends. It's a classic sitcom, with inside jokes and relatable characters. The show ended in March of 2015, with 9 seasons and 208 episodes. 

Before I started watching this show, I sited Parks and Recreation as the show I watched the fastest, finishing it in about two months. This show, however, I finished in about half the time. I recall some days during the weekend that I started a season the same day I finished it. And if I remember right, I watched about ten episodes in a row the first night I started it. I was totally addicted to this show. For some reason, whether it be the story line, the characters, or the sense of mystery, I watched this show like a drug. 

How I Met Your Mother is essentially one long flashback, which is what sets it apart from any other sitcom. It gives off a sense of mystery, because certain details of the story have either been forgotten or not told yet. Some of my favorite parts of the show were when Future Ted told stories about him and his friends in college, which provided for some very hilarious backstories. Needless to say, I would strongly recommend this show. It's emotional, it's dynamic, and it's absolutely addicting. 

I hope you enjoyed this review! If you have any questions or suggestions, comment or email me!

Sherlock - Review

(Keep in mind all reviews are of my personal opinion)

Stars: 4 out of 5
Binge-watch-ability: 5 out of 10
Maturity Level: I'd rate it PG-13 (Violence, Mild Language).

(credit: christianpost.com)

I started watching Sherlock because I had seen it all over Tumblr (back when I still used it). I am a huge fan of Doctor Who, so I figured that I would enjoy this show, which is also produced by BBC and written by Steven Moffat. I was a little skeptical because I was more of a fan of Russell T Davies era Doctor Who, but I checked it out anyway. 

This show follows the classic detective Sherlock Holmes and his partner John Watson in a modern day London. Each episode is a different mystery, while still having a story arc over the entire season. For example, the two could be solving a separate mystery then be interrupted by the main villain, Moriarty. 

If I'm being completely honest here, I don't think I've ever watched more than one episode of this show in a row. Don't get me wrong, the show is amazing and extremely clever, but each episode is like a movie. One episode of Sherlock is 90 minutes long, with only 3 episodes in each season. There are currently three seasons, making a total of nine episodes. To me, this is the biggest problem if you are looking for something quick and easy to watch, because while incredible, this show is not quick nor easy to watch. Another annoying yet understandable flaw of the show is that new seasons come out every two years. 

Unless you enjoy re-watching TV shows, this is the type of show that will entertain you, but not consume your entire life. I started this show in the summer of 2013, after two seasons were out. The third season began at the beginning of 2014, and by that time, I had almost forgotten about it. I was delighted to see a new season, however. No matter how far apart the seasons are, this show does not disappoint. The characters are well-thought out, dynamic, and unpredictable, leaving you on the edge of your seat. The crimes/mysteries are extremely entertaining, the way they are solved even more so. While the binge-watch potential of this show is pretty low, I would still highly recommend at least checking it out. And if you're anything like me, you'll start thinking in a British accent for a little while after. 

I hope this review was helpful! If you have any questions/comments/suggestions, email me or leave a comment below!