Read Watch Listen 2020
I’m long overdue with my yearly recaps so this is me playing catch up! As the world fell apart at the seams, these works of art patched me up again.
Read
My ability to focus was shot in 2020 for obvious reasons, but two science fiction series managed to capture my attention and imagination. The Xenogenesis trilogy by Octavia Butler delved into the psychology of humans and aliens—and yes, they were truly otherworldly—cementing Butler as my favorite science fiction author. Hank Green’s sequel, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, left me in tears with its existential and life-affirming story. It felt like a love letter to humanity in all its mess—exactly what I needed to maintain tenderness and hope in 2020.
I also enjoyed Patrick Ness’ latest, Burn, an alternate Cold War-era adventure featuring dragons, and poet Ocean Vuong’s fiction debut, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, which was rich and poignant, though a bit over my head. Other reads: Honest Advent by Scott Erickson, I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown, Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans, Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren, Divided by Faith by Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith, and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things by Sarah Bessey.
Watch
The second-to-last film I saw in theaters before lockdown was Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a truly astonishing film which has cast a spell on me that has yet to be broken. (The last film I saw was Pixar’s heartfelt Onward, which deserves more love than it got.) Probably my favorite film of 2020 is The Half of It, an achingly sweet coming-of-age story from Alice Wu, which I’ve since rewatched regularly. I’m a sucker for an animal film, so of course I loved First Cow, a film that is about a cow, yes, but also about what it means to be a peaceful and innocuous person in a cruel and dangerous world. One of the favorites from my “Quarantine Film Fest” virtual movie club was Atlantics, an eerie Senegalese film about the souls of maligned construction workers returning to demand their stolen wages.
Twenty-twenty was a good year for romance! Palm Springs skillfully explored its Groundhog Day premise with its own thematic twist (another welcome addition to my favored genre of sci-fi romance). Happiest Season delivered a warm but bittersweet story for those of us who get the Christmastime blues. I loved to hate Anya Taylor-Joy in Emma (my introduction to her work) and Lovebirds was an entertaining romp grounded by the endearing chemistry between Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani.
Movies you can watch with your parents: Uncorked, The Personal History of David Copperfield (Devvvvvvvvvvvvv!), and Jingle Jangle. Movies you probably shouldn’t watch with your parents: Da 5 Bloods, I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Jesse Plemmons FTW). I also enjoyed Charlize Theron in Old Guard and Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering with You, a gorgeous follow up to Your Name.
TV SHows
Schitt’s Creek quickly became my soothing fixation show. I think I rewatched it [redacted] times before the year was over, and it remains my go-to in moments of both panic and contentment. I also revisited New Girl, a show that merits every ounce of its fandom’s enthusiasm. Carole & Tuesday, an anime about two up-and-coming musicians on Mars, was a sweet story about friendship featuring lovely heart-forward songs. On My Block drew me in with its quirky and endearing cast (protect them at all costs), then sent me off in unexpectedly strange and emotional directions. Julio Torres’ unintelligible humor has had me hooked since his comedy special, My Favorite Shapes, and Los Espookys is the eccentric culmination of his fever dream vision. Space Force snuck up on me, particularly Jimmy O. Yang’s rom-com subplot that had me giggling and feeling soft.
For shows with a bit more edge, Michaela Cole’s I May Destroy You was whip-smart and nuanced with fully human characters I still think about often. Casual, a show about siblings during a particularly messy time in their lives, had me sobbing in the finale. I’m still livid that High Fidelity was canceled after a single pitch-perfect season.
Listen
This was an angsty year, so unsurprisingly I found catharsis in the likes of SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama, Ungodly Hour by Chloe x Halle, and Kid Krow by Conan Gray. No song captured the frozen dread of this painful year like “All My Weight” by Hollis, which I had on endless repeat. I also found comfort, energy, and solidarity in my faith through Power Perfect by Kings Kaleidoscope and Restoration by Lecrae. I enjoyed new releases from The Naked And Famous (Recover), Logic (No Pressure), Duncan Fellows (The Sadlands), and The Oh Hellos (Boreas and Zephyrus). Other new-to-me artists I discovered this year: Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, HAIM, Chika, Yaeji, Moses Sumney, VanJess, SHENZI, Griff, and UMI.