Things That Made Me Happy

Another year is winding down, and it's time to reflect. Personally, I found a lot of enjoyment in writing. I've been writing here for a full year now, and it's been a lot of fun sharing my thoughts with you. It's also led to me writing on other blogs, and I had a blast writing reviews and doing recaps of the new dragon show over on TheWorkprint.com.

There was a lot of stuff that made me happy this year that I personally had nothing to do with! Imagine! Rather than do a “Best of” list, I’m just going to run down some of the things that have made me happy over the last twelve months. I hope you enjoy them too!

Peacemaker Opening Credits

The year started off with a bang with James Gunn’s series about the loser vigilante Peacemaker. I didn’t have high expectations going in, since I was pretty meh about Gunn’s The Suicide Squad movie and the Peacemaker’s role in it, but this was an extremely compelling show about people trying to change their station in life and fending off an alien invasion at the same time. And the dazzling credit sequence let you know you were in for a ride. I dare you to hit “Skip Intro” on this. 

Alan Ritchson as Reacher

I already wrote at length about how much I enjoyed Reacher on Amazon Prime this year. However, the show would not work at all if it were not for the affable hulk in the starring role. Ritchson brings charm and charisma and ass-whuppin’ skills to a character that is really only described as “big” in the novels. I literally cannot imagine anyone else doing this part and having it work even a tenth as well. As a fan of the novels, Ritchson is the perfect Reacher. Let's have another 20 seasons of him wandering across the country and curb stomping fools.

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

This is a charming and unassuming novel that I can’t stop thinking about months later. An Orc barbarian is tired of adventuring, so she decides to open a coffee shop. And she makes a bunch of new friends. And that’s it. And it’s delightful. I sincerely hope this becomes a series and the biggest conflict in the book is something like “there’s a cinnamon shortage, so they can't make the rolls.” 

Matilda’s Musical Numbers

A late entry. I watched this with my wife and mom at Christmas and we were all utterly delighted. We’ve all seen the stage version, and we all loved the movie version. Matthew Warchus’ direction, the production design, and the choreography are all first rate and all show off Tim Minchin’s music and lyrics at their best. They do what a movie musical should, expand the world of the show to something that cannot be captured on a stage. The School Song (which works in the alphabet in very creative wordplay) and Revolting Children (with its dynamic choreography) are highlights, but they’re all great.

“I Do Not Like Hijinks”

Strange New Worlds has just been killing it this year. A fantastic throwback to the classic Trek of the 1960s, this is much more episodic and loose and just plain fun than most of the Treks of the last two decades. As a reviewer in Esquire put it, hijinks are an integral part of Star Trek’s DNA. For all of their messages about racism and ideals about equality, there’s always room for Spock to mind-meld with a lasagna monster or for an avalanche of Tribbles to fall on Kirk or for Scotty to get rip-roaring drunk on Romulan Ale. 

Likewise, SNW finds time to have the characters get transported into a medieval story book and have Spock switch bodies with his fiancé. Trek is such fun when it embraces some of the inherent goofiness in the concept. (Are you listening, Discovery?)

Benoit Blanc’s Bathing Costume and Zoom Call

All of Glass Onion is fantastic, especially the sharp writing and its takedown of techbro culture and billionaire personality cults (timely!). But really, what’s better than peeking in on Blanc’s zoom call with his buddies Angela Lansbury, Stephen Sondheim, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Natasha Lyonne? 

And this bathing suit has pretty much guaranteed them a nomination for Best Costumes. 

Andor Monologues

Star Wars has never been known for its monologues.Which makes it all the more impressive that you can say “What a fantastic monologue in Andor, right?” and the response will be “Which one?” Luthen, explaining what he sacrificed? Marva, encouraging rebellion from beyond the grave? Kino Loy telling his fellow prisoners there’s only “One way out?” Or Nemik, reading his manifesto? Pick one, they’re all great and Tony Gilroy needs to direct the next trilogy. 

Bheem Crashes the Governor's Ball in RRR

If you haven't seen RRR yet, do yourself a favor. Don't let the three hour run time deter you. Try watching the first 15 minutes or so. I guarantee you'll be saying "Ok, just 15 more minutes" until the whole thing is finished. Nothing made me fist pump this year quite like seeing one of the stars burst into the English governor's ball to rescue a member of his clan. 

That’s a few of the things that I enjoyed and found comfort in this last year. I hope you have a similarly long list and find wonderful new things to enjoy in 2023.

Victor Catano lives in New York City with his wonderful wife, Kim, and his adorable pughuaua, Danerys. When not writing, he works in live theater as a stage manager, production manager, and chaos coordinator. His hobbies include coffee, Broadway musicals, and complaining about the NY Mets and Philadelphia Eagles. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @vgcatano and find his books on Amazon