Motivational Quotes Monday: On the Art of the Binge-Watch

Good morning, friends!! Alert the press!! I’m finally getting out of the house for the first time in 24 days! TAKE THAT, WINTER. Seriously, though, it feels great to be back at the library and not huddled up at home trying to stay warm! Although, I do miss being able to binge-watch to my heart’s content!! I fully believe that there’s an art to binge-watching, don’t you? And honestly, I think I’ve almost got it down to a science — it’s relaxing, addicting, thrilling and intoxicating! Where would we be without some quality TV time in our lives?? Here are five quotes all about the magnetic power of the mighty binge-watch…

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House of Cards: In Praise of Claire Underwood

Claire UnderwoodThere’s a scene in the second episode of House of Cards‘ sixth and final season that pretty much sets the stage for everything that’s to come. Newly minted President Claire Underwood is speaking with a male judge. With her trademark straight-as-an-arrow back, she looks the judge directly in the eyes, and says, without missing a beat…

“The reign of the middle-aged white man is over.”

Never in the history of television has so much been conveyed in just 10 words. And, 10 powerful words at that!

After I heard those words, I let out a rousing cheer! Yes, I knew the TV wouldn’t answer me back, but I couldn’t help it; I needed to express my emotions in that moment — sort of the same way I did when Claire, in the season five finale, looks right at the camera and declares, “My turn.”

These words, after all, have been a long time coming — both on House of Cards (bye, Kevin Spacey) and in real time, especially in 2018. I can’t help but feel like this show came along at the right time. Since its debut in 2013, the Netflix original series has managed to accurately tap into the cultural zeitgeist of the times. The similarities between the fictional world on the show and our reality are dangerously close, to say the least.

We started the final season on Friday, and I’m loving every minute of it! It’s been a slow-burn binge-watching experience at times, and sometimes, you got to feeling like nothing was ever going to happen. And, then, BAM. So. Much. Action.

Claire UnderwoodBut Claire Underwood? She pounces. She doesn’t hesitate. She doesn’t falter. She doesn’t let anyone put her into a cute little box. Women are feeling the same way these days. We’re done. We’re done playing the role of the dutiful wife. We’re done playing the role of the second-class citizen. We’re done being made to feel invisible, as if our feelings and experiences don’t matter. We’re done being silent. Claire is raising her voice, and so are we.

Make no mistake: Claire is an awful person. She’s done some horrible and utterly unspeakable things, but that’s exactly why I love her so much! It’s so refreshing to see a character like her on TV. She’s the quintessential female antihero, and that’s not something we’re used to seeing. In men, yes. In women, it’s quite the rarity. The majority of female characters are delicate and demure; there are those who are tough, like Buffy Summers, but they mustn’t be evil. So to see Claire embrace her evilness in such a Machiavellian way is nothing short of revolutionary. In fact, she’s one of the first antiheroes who makes zero apologies for herself or her actions. Men can do this and we’d call them brave. But women? They’re dangerous and need to stop rocking the boat — insert all the sarcasm here.

Even back in 2014, critics were acknowledging the abundance of male antiheroes…

“From Dexter to Tony Soprano to Walter White, television has been dominated by the male antihero for decades. The protagonist who we pretend to despise for his immoral deeds, yet can’t help but root for and admire, has become more prevalent while his female counterpart remains widely non-existent.”

And IndieWire points to the innovation of Claire’s character when stacked against other female antiheroes…

“Claire Underwood isn’t the first attempt to create a female anti-hero, and she has much in common with many of the TV women who came before her, but she does push the trope further, testing just how far a female character can venture from what’s expected of women before she becomes utterly unsympathetic.”

So maybe we’re not “supposed” to root for women like Claire Underwood. Maybe we’re supposed to revile them for their heinousness. Well, I’m not going to. I’m going to celebrate her and all characters like her for the bad-ass women they are. They own who they are and, especially in 2018, there’s incredible power in that!

Claire UnderwoodAre you watching the final season of House of Cards, friends? Are you constantly on the edge of your seat like I am? Do you cheer at the TV…? Maybe that last one is just me… xoxo 

5 Things I’d Love to See In The New TV Season

New TV SeasonMove over, Christmas!!! This may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m of the firm belief that September and October is the most wonderful time of the year!! Truly, you can go ahead and keep your sparkly tree and your perfectly wrapped presents with bows on top. For me, it’s ALL about the new TV season!

Right now, we’re deeply committed to watching every episode of NCIS. Seriously, I can’t get my mom to watch ANYTHING else — it’s all Gibbs, all the time around here!

I’m not complaining, of course, but I always think about the state of TV shows around this time every year. Partly because I’m still thinking about the on-the-edge-of-your-seat cliffhangers from the previous season. And partly because I like to daydream about what TV shows *could* be. TV is about escapism, sure, and Lord knows that we need some distractions in this current political climate, but TV is all about storytelling. At its core, it’s a medium that has incredible power to make powerful statements in a powerful way — the new TV season should be just as powerful too!

So, what would I love to see this year? Here are five plots and situations that would be aces in my book…

A time when there ISN’T a happy ending: Because, well, life isn’t always rainbows, sunshine and unicorns. Sometimes the storm clouds descend and it would be refreshing to see how characters would handle that. And I’m not talking about the kind of plot where the characters get into a jam and then — magic! — everything is resolved by the end of the episode. Nope. I’m talking about total unhappiness and things don’t get better.

Mental health is front and center: Today is World Mental Health Day, so this one is particularly timely. It’s time to shatter stigmas on the small screen, to pull back the curtain on something that so many people struggle with. No shame, remember?

More women with disabilities in leading roles: I wrote about this for Glamour a couple years ago and I’m still holding out hope for that role! I mean, not for myself — although, Hollywood, if you’d like to cast me, my schedule could be open in a hot second! Seriously, though, similar to mental illness, it’s time to shatter stigmas! Women with disabilities are ready for their close-up!

Musicals! Musicals! Musicals!: Maybe I’m just biased because I’m still obsessed with Glee and have watched the series TWICE so far, but there’s nothing quite like a toe-tapping good time in the form of music. And let’s not forget, you can express a lot with just the right song. Journey power ballads, anyone??

The fall of the patriarchy: This, honestly, is what I’m most excited about, particularly as House of Cards kicks off its last season on November 2nd (Claire Underwood FTW…) and the reality of our cultural landscape just seems to get worse every single day. Women will take over the world. Mark my words on that!

New TV SeasonWhat TV shows are you watching these days, friends? What are your favorite TV genres? What would YOU like to see during this new TV season?? xoxo

[Top photo via The Telegraph]

My Essay on CNN Opinion: “Why Olivia Benson Is the Role Model We Need Right Now”

Olivia BensonTwo words: Olivia Benson.

The world continues to be a very scary place. And, frankly, that’s putting it mildly. In the last week alone, the dizzying array of headlines have made me sad and seethe with rage — all at the same time! Maybe that’s why I love the timing of my newest op-ed for CNN Opinion about the 20th season of Law & Order: SVU and the enduring legacy of Olivia Benson.

I’ve mentioned before just how much I love SVU: I’ve watched all 19 seasons, all 400+ episodes. Through it all, I fell in love with the character of Olivia Benson. She’s such a strong, powerful force and always an advocate for survivors. She’s the role model we need right now. The one to stand up and give a voice to people who deserve to be heard — and, more importantly, deserve to be BELIEVED.

I feel no shame when I now routinely ask myself: What would Olivia Benson do??

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, in which I examine how Olivia’s compassionate work with sexual assault survivors feels especially poignant right now, considering the cultural and political landscape…

SVU has always sought to pull back the curtain and present a full picture of sexual assault, with careful attention given to the victims’ journey. It’s gritty and uncomfortable at times, but its power lies in its unflinching honesty…I can’t help but think Olivia Benson is the female role model we need in 2018. Especially in the era of #MeToo and violence against women, a TV show like SVU has never been more relevant — or more needed. What’s happening every week on SVU is also happening across the country.

It’s not often that a character on TV so accurately reflects the cultural landscape of the times. Through the fictional world of Olivia Benson, the show is able to tap into something very real and be an advocate for survivors of sexual assault. In our culture of “escapist TV,” real can be quite rare.

Olivia BensonYou can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! Love you all… xoxo

P.S. I’m signing off early this week and taking a four-day weekend!! I look forward to seeing you all back here next Tuesday…cheers to a relaxing weekend, friends!!!

 

My Essay on The Washington Post: Sesame Street’s Missed Opportunity With Bert and Ernie

Bert and ErnieDid you hear about the kerfuffle surrounding Sesame Street and Bert and Ernie last week? I was super disappointed in Sesame Street’s response after the writer of Bert and Ernie said that he wrote the characters as a couple. The show basically said the two are just friends. The show had an opportunity to make a powerful statement and have a great teaching moment.

Well, I was so frustrated by the whole thing that I channeled all of my rage and anger into…

MY FIRST PIECE FOR THE WASHINGTON POST!!!!

After almost two years of trying to land a WaPo byline, I finally did it!! It’s been quite an exciting week!!! And, yes, I still feel like I’m dreaming…did this REALLY happen???

I sometimes think people have this idealized view of what writers do. Lest you think the life of a writer is all leisurely strolls through meadows waiting for the muse to strike, here’s a play-by-play of how my piece for The Washington Post came to be in less than 48 hours…

*Pitched the idea Tuesday afternoon
*Editor accepted Wednesday morning
*Wrote piece Wednesday morning
*Turned in piece Wednesday at noon
*Piece published Thursday morning

Seriously, though, it was ALL worth it. A byline in The Washington Post was my big writing goal for 2018. After multiple rejections from FOUR different sections of the newspaper, I was getting discouraged, but I’m so glad I kept pitching!! I felt so honored to write about a show that shaped my childhood. Sesame Street is all about learning and they could have taught children that family comes in a variety of forms, not just a man and a woman.

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, which has sent me down the YouTube rabbit hole of nostalgia ever since I wrote it…

One of the hallmarks of “Sesame Street” has been its ability to maintain its relevance despite being on the air for almost 50 years. It’s changed with the times, to bring in the news of the day and break it down in a way that children could understand. Whether they were tackling huge issues or some more nuanced aspect of everyday life, the puppets have been a great teaching tool. Children learn about their world through those puppets, which is why it’s so important that the residents of “Sesame Street” reflect the culture and time period. “Sesame Street” could have used this as an opportunity to teach children that families come in a variety of forms.

For children who have LGBTQ parents, this type of representation would be invaluable. They may not know anyone like them at school, but if they can look at the TV and say, “Bert and Ernie are just like my dads,” it would be incredibly validating.

Bert and Ernie Bert and ErnieYou can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! Love you all… xoxo