Hindsight is 2020 – It's Me Emily

Typically, my year-in-review is something profound about how the year went and the message I learned. Well, 2020 was a year of a lot of learning. But I’d rather not talk about it all now. Instead, I figured I’d offer something that really did define my 2020. My complete list of books, tv shows, movies, and podcasts watched and listened to in 2020 – over 150 entries long.

I actually started the list pre-pandemic because I’m someone who in any given year usually does consume a lot of media whether it be tv, movie, whatever. I LOVE going to a movie theater to watch the newest film rather than wait for it to get streamed, come out on DVD, or however else other people watch their movies. And I thought 2020 would be just the same. LOLOLOLOLOL. But hindsight is really 2020. I’m so glad I decided to start the list back in January because, with quarantine, 2020 became the year for me to tap into my true self and watch soooo many new things.

I’m posting this around just before 7p CT on New Year’s Eve, but my family may or may not watch a movie together tonight (we did in fact watch ‘The Midnight Sky’). For now, I leave it at a total of 180 entries (181). Now, this list only includes every NEW thing I watched/read/etc., not even counting movies and shows I re-watched (for example, FRIENDS for the 4^th time or all the Christmas movies during December) or all the music I consumed (ie. folklore and evermore about 100 times) or all the YouTube videos I watched (I’m subscribed to about 20 channels that post weekly content). No, this list is just the new media I consumed and entertained myself with this year.

Enough babbling, here’s the complete list with a bit of commentary for some of my faves and ones I need to explain lol.

List of Books/TV/Movies/Podcasts of 2020

You – Season 1 – jumped on board finally and binged the season while I was in Australia
Anne with an E – Season 3 – SUCH A GREAT WHOLESOME SHOW I’M SAD IT’S OVER
Little Women
Bombshell – if you wanna get pissed at Trump and white rich man again, Bombshell is for you.
The Defining Decade by Meg Jay – a good read for anyone in their 20s
You – Season 2
Grace & Frankie – Season 6
Onward – the last movie I saw in a theater before the shutdown. Made me cry as all Pixar movies do.
Cheer – Season 1
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
Love is Blind – Season 1
Looking for Alaska – Season 1
Tiger King – Season 1 – who didn’t watch this with their quarantine crew?!?!?
The Circle – Season 1
Hillary – increased my respect for Hillary Clinton and reminded me how much it hurt when she didn’t win in 2016
Spinning Out – Season 1
The Act – Season 1
The Politician – Season 1
Little Fires Everywhere – Season 1 – loved the book; great adaptation with performances from Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon
The Talented Mr. Ripley – enjoyed this via Zoom with KHaas during the quarantine days. Such a thriller, a hot Jude Law, apparently quite a classic, give it a watch.
Molly’s Game
Happiness Continues – a Jo Bros doc that made me reminisce on their concert from 2019
Outer Banks – Season 1 – lol another one everyone watched in quarantine
Julie & Julia – 2020 gave me the chance to finally give this a watch.
Step Brothers – never had watched the movie in its entirety before so Gaia made me watch it.
This is Us – Season 1-4, & 5(Fall 2020) – after years of knowing I needed to catch up and watch This is Us, quarantine finally gave me the chance. It was always the one that was on my “to watch” list but I had promised myself that I could only finally dedicate time to it once anything else on my list was finished. And then, season 5 started back in the fall with a few episodes and I got to watch in real-time with my Mom 
The Iron Lady
Riverdale – Season 4 – yes, don’t sh*t on me, I’m still watching it bc I’m not a quitter. Seriously, it’s like I can’t not finish a show when I get started watching it. I watched all 7 seasons of PLL!!
The Bold Type – Season 4 – MY FAVE SHOW ON TV!! If you like feminism, NYC, women, fashion, and more, this is the show for you. Gives me ‘Sex and the City’ vibes and I absolutely love it! But, as a FYI, the show needs to work on their diversity and representation in the writer’s room.
Good Trouble – Season 2
Supergirl – Season 5 & Crisis on Infinite Earths – Supergirl is the only show I watch in the CW-DC Universe. And I needed to catch up at that start of the year with their ‘Infinite Earths’ crossover with the rest of the CW-DC shows in order to understand Season 5.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – Interactive Special – a clever idea to keep the show going; I enjoyed clicking through it, but I could only do it once before I got bored with it.
A Secret Love – OMG the sweetest documentary about these two lesbian women that spent like 50 years hiding their relationship from their family. Made me sobbbbbb!!!
The Fundamentals of Caring
A Marriage Story
Hollywood – Season 1
Taylor Swift City of Lover Concert
Becoming – Michelle Obama’s documentary to complement her book.
Dead to Me – Seasons 1 & 2
The World According to Jeff Goldblum – Season 1 – there is something about Jeff Goldblum that is so calming to me so I really needed this mini docuseries that covers random topics like ice cream, shoes, etc.
If Beale Street Could Talk
Love Island UK – Season 6 – one of the first shows my household dove into during the quarantine lockdown. We were completely obsessed and I freaking love Paige and Finn. Such a cute couple.
Just Mercy – WATCH IT!!
13th – such an important documentary about the 13th amendment. WATCH IT!!
The Hate U Give – I actually watched this earlier in the year on a plane ride from Australia so it should be much sooner on this list, but I forgot until now so here it is. A great and important film give it a watch.
13 Reasons Why – Season 4 – wrapped up watching this show after many years. I know it’s controversial and I have my thoughts on the show we can discuss more, but again, I don’t quit, so I watched this show all the way until its final season.
Room – again, a movie I used 2020 to finally see.
Fuller House – Season 5
She Did That – not the greatest documentary in terms of its quality but, it showcases Black female entrepreneurs which is such an important topic to highlight and support!
Queer Eye – Season 5
Selma – WATCH IT!!
American Son – Kerry Washington gave a great performance, and it was such a compelling and saddening way to share this story.
Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker
Love Life – Season 1 – my first introduction to an original HBO Max and it was a good one!! Anna Kendrick is hilarious and it’s just a great show about the realities of love lives.
The Bachelor – Season 24 (Peter)
The Bachelor – Season 13 (Jason) – I knew the story of Jason’s season bc he freakin left Melissa Rycroft and I was sad for her. With the Bachelor needing to do something for us all during quarantine, they added his season to Netflix and our house caught up on it. I still somehow managed to spoil it for my roommates even though this aired 10 years ago.
Listen to Your Heart – Season 1 – again, Bachelor put this singing show out for us all in April, and tbh that time just feels like a fever dream.
Bachelor GOAT – Bachelor’s final attempt to give us something while we waited for new seasons.
All American – Seasons 1 & 2
The Politician – Season 2
Across the Universe – Gaia made our house watch it. Fairly good I will say.
Into the Unknown: Making of Frozen II
Athlete A – shocking, saddening, disgusting, what these Olympic athletes went through.
Knives Out – last thing I saw in LA with my roomies at a drive-in theater!
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes by Suzanne Collins – prequel to The Hunger Game series and explains President Snow’s beginnings.
Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness
Ford v Ferrari
Fast & Furious Movie Marathon- decided to binge them all in order bc I never watched them that way. I jumped into the movie series years ago at the 5th one and then went back to catch up.
World of Dance – Season 4
Down to Earth with Zac Efron – LOVE THIS MAN!!! America needs to be doing soooo much better to save this earth and not destroy it with big money and unethical practices. Zac basically shows 10 places that do it so much better.
Sleepless in Seattle
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich – UGH!! I had thoughts after watching this one. Again, I felt disgusted, heartbroken, and pissed after seeing all the SHIT he did.
Pretty Woman – I KNOW! I had never seen Pretty Woman in its entirety. Oops.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Space Force – Season 1
Sweet Magnolias – Season 1 – kind of like a Hallmark Christmas movie if that’s your tone, but I’m hooked lol.
West Side Story -2020 let me finally watch it.
He’s Just Not That into You – same with this.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith – same with this. RIP to Brangelina.
In Time- same with this.
Green Book
Harriet
The Kissing Booth 2 – LOL. WORSE THAN THE FIRST.
Love Wedding Repeat
The Half of It
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme
I Still Believe
Loving – crazy to me that just over 50 years ago, interracial marriage wasn’t legal.
Black is King
Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce
Insatiable – Seasons 1 & 2 –a controversial show that I’m glad only had 2 seasons, but I decided to give it a watch just to see what all the fuss was about.
Bad Times at the El Royale
Friday Night Lights – 2020 let me finally see it.
Jojo Rabbit
Pretty in Pink – I KNOW! Another one I’m shocked I hadn’t yet seen, but again, 2020 let me finally watch it.
Work It
Definitely, Maybe – 2020 let me finally see it.
A Simple Favor
Under the Tuscan Sun – UGH!! I WISH I CAN TRAVEL RIGHT NOW!! Want a European trip so bad!!!
Hunger Games Marathon – ok, this one also should have been on this list way sooner, but I forgot to add it till now. Did a Hunger Games Marathon with Lizzie and Gaia back during quarantine.
Chicks in the Office Podcast
What We Said Podcast
The Michelle Obama Podcast
Marvel Movie Marathon – this one took a few months to complete but I watched all 24 Marvel movies, minus the horrible Hulk movie, in order.
Mirror Mirror
Love in the Time Corona
Richard Jewell
Selena + Chef – Season 1, Thanksgiving episode – so calming if you just need something to throw on and be content with.
The Disease to Please by Harriet B. Braker, Ph. D – I conquered my disease to please (well I’m still working on it, but yes) and I’m going to keep doing better. No more walking all over me.
Phineas & Ferb: Candace Across the Universe – I don’t care what you say, Phineas & Ferb is one of the greatest shows ever and if there’s a new movie, I’m going to watch it.
Expecting Amy
Harry Potter Movie Marathon – needed another good marathon so I binged all 8.
Mulan (2020)
Hearts on Fire – Praying with Jesuits
Love, Victor – Season 1
RBG – A LEGEND. I legit watched this a week before she died, and I cannot believe we lost such an incredible woman.
Where’d You Go Bernadette?
Moneyball – my dad said my brother and I needed some education on the topic.
Three Identical Strangers
The Devil All the Time – Tom Holland. That’s it.
Dancing with the Stars – Season 29
Pirates of the Caribbean Movie Marathon – one more movie marathon for good measure. And for a series, I actually hadn’t seen.
Marshall – WATCH IT!! Incredible performance from the late Chadwick Boseman.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
The Social Dilemma – technology is destroying us (I say as I type on my computer about watching tv and movies with my phone in my hand)
Normal People – Season 1
Euphoria – Season 1 + Part 1: Rue – jumped on board & then they released a special episode in Dec!
Emily in Paris – Season 1
Spies in Disguise
Unpregnant
21 Bridges – was on a kick of movies to honor the late Chadwick Boseman.
Secret Society of Second Born Royals
Enola Holmes
Away – Season 1 – really recommend this show! Great performances and such a concept.
Autumn in New York
Clouds – SOB FEST 2020
Rebecca
The Witches
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Maleficent
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet – UGH! AGAIN!! WE ARE KILLING OUR PLANET AND WE ALL MUST DO BETTER, ME TOO!! PLEASE LET ME HAVE A WORLD TO BRING MY KIDS INTO.
Bachelorette – Season 16
After We Collided – HORRIBLE. DO NOT WATCH. BAD. BAD. BAD.
Becoming (Disney +)
Once Upon a Snowman – I thought this was going to be a cute little 30-minute episode but it was actually only like 6 minutes but still, it was Disney and Frozen and Olaf so I was happy.
Holidate
Operation Christmas Drop
Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine
The Bible: New King James Version – y’all already knew I finished reading the whole Bible. Good read. Great learn.
Cats – OMG. HAHA. I had to watch it bc they put it on HBO Max just to see what it was really like and I think the plot is just horrible. It was no actor’s fault just straight up whoever wrote Cats made it bad.
The Right Stuff – Season 1
The Crown – Season 4
The Return by Nicholas Sparks – love me my Nicholas Sparks :’).
Princess Switch: Switched Again
You and Me Both Podcast
Shawn Mendes: In Wonder
folklore: the long pond studio sessions – TY TAYLOR SWIFT FOR SAVING 2020.
Shawn Mendes: In Concert – relived my birthday concert from 2019 all over again with this beautiful concert movie.
The Queen’s Gambit
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You – HOLY CRAP this one should be waayyyyyyyy sooner on the list, but it wasn’t until I got my Spotify wrapped (the song ‘Nobody Compares to You’ is on the movie soundtrack) that I went back and realized I didn’t add it!! Silly, Emily
Godmothered
The Undoing
The Weakest Link: my whole fam watches together every week and it’s so nice to have something we all enjoy watching together
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
High School Musical: The Musical – Holiday Special
The Prom
Happiest Season
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical – Matthew Morrison is Will Schuster; Will Schuster is Matthew Morrison; try to change my mind.
Miracle on 34^th Street (1947 & 1994 version) – can’t believe I had never seen either version of this movie.
The Photograph
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
A California Christmas
Wonder Woman 1984 – not as amazing as the first movie but still worth it to go see. My first movie back in a theater since March.
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – the late Chadwick Boseman’s final performance and it was beautiful. What an amazing soul.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – such a fantastic book!!! I read it in just one day and had me shooketh right at the end. 10/10 recommend
Soul – pixar does not fail us
On Pointe – Season 1
Death to 2020 – don’t mean to finish on what sounds like a very depressing note, but this is actually a comedy/parody of the retelling of this year’s horrific events by several comedians. Figured I’d give it a quick watch before the end of the year.
The Midnight Sky