HACKS Season 2 | THE ESSEX SERPENT | THE KIDS IN THE HALL
Pop Culture Weekly Round-Up 13/05/2022
Hello, everyone! I hope you are well and ready for some Pop Culture recommendations for your weekend. This week was a long one, it felt almost like a month. Summer is in full swing here and I’m trying to enjoy it before the city gets swarmed by tourists. So it has been hard to keep my normal work-related tasks and still find time to enjoy the good weather. I’ve been waking up very early and going to bed very late. And by now ( I’m writing this on Friday afternoon) I’m exhausted! But hey, I won’t let that stop me from going to the beach as soon as I press publish on this newsletter lol. Anyway, enough of my “problems”. In this week’s newsletter, I talk about the second season of one of my favorite shows of 2021, HACKS. I love this show so much and I’m so glad is back. I had a lot of fun watching the six episodes that were made available for me and I’m pretty sure you will enjoy them too. I also talk about the very well directed and acted Apple TV+ show, THE ESSEX SERPENT. And last but not least I share my thoughts on the reboot of THE KIDS IN THE HALL. I didn’t know I wanted a reboot of this show but as soon as I heard the opening theme, nostalgia kicked in and I realized that I missed it so much. And as always there is a playlist of five songs I listened to last week.
QUICK THOUGHTS
THE ESSEX SERPENT is a six-episode adaptation of Sarah Perry’s bestselling Victorian novel of the same name. It follows the newly widowed, Cora (Claire Danes), who, having been released from an abusive marriage, relocates from Victorian London to the small village of Aldwinter in Essex. That’s when she becomes intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area. In Aldwinter Cora also meets vicar Will Ransome (Tom Hiddleston). He is a well-known pillar of the community but finds himself in conflict with the locals when the serpent mythology resurfaces after a tragic situation. Despite the title, the series is not about a snake. Sure, stories of a mythical beast roaming Essex's Blackwater Bay will definitely spark your interest. But there's a lot more going on here than just monsters. A forbidden romance, a debate of science versus faith, and some very interesting side characters, such as Cora's friend, Martha (Hayley Squires). She is a passionate socialist and political activist whose drive to improve the overcrowded slums in London and develop social housing is a priority. And also Luke Garrett (Frank Dillane). He is an arrogant, sarcastic doctor whose unorthodox approaches have propelled him to the top of his profession. THE ESSEX SERPENT is captivating, carefully researched, and has great production values as many other excellent Apple TV+ dramas. However, it takes a few episodes to get into it. So I would suggest you wait until at least half of the episodes are out. That will definitely make watching the series a better experience.
THE ESSEX SERPENT drops two episodes on May 13 and then weekly every Friday through June 10, Apple TV+
THE KIDS IN THE HALL are back with a brand new sketch show on Amazon Prime Video. The reboot of the beloved sketch comedy series has all the original cast members returning and many favorite recurring characters as well. The reboot also includes guest appearances from Paul Bellini, Pete Davidson, Kenan Thompson, and more. Old school fans will be pleased to find out that the TKITH can still deliver. The show originated in 1984 and completely disrupted TV comedy back then. With members of the cast dressed in drag and sketches that addressed sensitive subjects at the time such as religion and sexual orientation. I remember watching the show reruns in the mid/late 90s and having a blast. And it definitely helped to shape my sense of humor. So needless to say I was very excited when I heard they would be coming back for more. And I liked what I saw. They worked hard to pursue fresh ideas and new material, and the show wasn’t all about nostalgia. Even though nostalgia does play a small part in this reboot, they didn’t rely too much on it and that really worked well for the show. I believe that the TKITH reboot will not only please its original audience but will also create new fans.
HACKS Season 2
HACKS is so funny and entertaining. I loved season 1 and was very excited for season 2. And I’m glad to say that the series is off to a fantastic start. At least in six of the eight available episodes for review, HACKS is still super sharp and fresh. In season two, the dark mentorship between legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her young, entitled Gen Z writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) continues to evolve as the two travel across the country workshopping Deborah’s new stand-up act.
This season starts off just where Season 1 left off. Deborah and Ava are about to depart on a tour to work on new, more autobiographical material. The tension in the duo’s relationship is again the main topic of HACKS Season 2. They certainly love to interact with each other through caustic humor. Although there is less of a rivalry between them this time around and more mutual cooperation.
One of my favorite things about HACKS is how the show masterfully manages the delicate balance of drama and comedy. The writing in the show is top notch and the stories that unfold are insightful, genuine, and engaging. Jean Smart continues to be absolutely incredible and the chemistry between her and Hannah Einbinder is palpable. The supporting characters are also great and they all got some very well-written and funny scenes. I highly recommend checking this show out and I can't wait for the last two episodes.
HACKS debuted its second season THURSDAY, MAY 12 with two episodes. The eight-episode season continues with two new episodes a week, concluding on June 2.
TOP 5 SONGS
These were the 5 songs on heavy rotation in my house last week. You can listen to them on Spotify and YouTube.
I cannot wait for the new KITH!!