Watch Before You Go: Pandemic Winter 2.0
If you’re like me, then mentally you’re still in 2019, but joke’s on us because it’s 2022 now as the beginning of the third year of this god-forsaken pandemic creeps into view. You might be traveling now, you might not. Who knows what the rules are anymore? Not the CDC! Not me!
But if any future travel for you is still not-soon-enough and the slog of winter’s got you down, here’s a mix of TV and movies to transport you out of town. Unless, of course, you live in one of these cities. But in that case, you can let them take you back to what it was like to be there during a time before covid.
Insecure (Los Angeles)
After five awesome seasons, Issa Rae’s “Insecure” recently wrapped up, and the fifth season did not disappoint. Watching it while I began watching the “Sex and the City” reboot, “And Just Like That…” made me appreciate even more how good it was. There were tons of LOL moments, the realistic friendship plotlines, and it just felt so relatable overall. And it inspired this post because it has a very LA, sun-soaked vibe that made me want to head west.
The Olympics (Beijing)
OK the thing about trying to live an ethical life is it pretty much ruins everything you once loved, and for me that includes the Olympics. I used to obsessively watch them, especially the winter Olympics, which has my favorite Olympic sports that I don’t do myself, like figure skating and skiing. No shade if you’re still watching. TBH, I think the biggest reason I am not watching is less ethical and more about the fact that all our TV is streaming now, and I’m too lazy to navigate Peacock. Anyway, watching Sabrina get surprised with a plush Bing Dwen Dwen on “Good Morning America” is the only Olympics I’ve watched so far, and I’m not sure how much of a taste that’s giving me for Beijing, but hey.
Emily in Paris (…Well, Paris)
As objectively wonderful as “Insecure” is “Emily in Paris” is objectively bad. I mean how bad it is is the topic of much discussion, but there’s something about it. I’d recap what it’s about, but honestly, what is it even about? Some obnoxious American bitch goes to Paris and she’s peppy and scrappy (I guess) but also kind of a dick. It’s kind of like candy corn (if you’re in the “I like it” camp like me) — it lacks substance, it makes your head hurt, and it’s kind of bizarre, but you can’t stop consuming it. One thing that DOES make it redeemable, however, are the many shots of Paris.
Sex and the City (New York City)
Speaking of terrible TV, like “Emily in Paris,” I love to hate “And Just Like That…” It did, however, make me nostalgic for the original, so Scott (who has never seen it) and I are going back and watching it from the beginning. “Sex and the City” is very much a story about female friendships, but it is also a love letter to New York City, and since the first time I watched the series was in college in NYC, it’s giving me feels (besides just my usual disdain for Carrie and my unmatched loathing for Big).
Lost in Translation (Tokyo)
I had never seen “Lost in Translation,” and since Scott was in the mood for it one day recently, we watched it. Naturally, I am uncomfortable with the ambiguity of the plot (or lack thereof), but that’s also what makes the movie interesting. The overwhelming character of Tokyo did make me think of, well, my trip to Tokyo, but it also made me nostalgic for a BIG trip.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Savannah)
Because of COVID, I haven’t been on any said big trips recently. My biggest trip was to Savannah, Georgia, for a weekend with Carly pre-Delta when we all thought the pandemic was about to be over (lolololol). Before we went, Scott and I watched “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” based on the Southern Gothic novel of the same name, and possibly the only movie that exists with Savannah as its setting (I didn’t bother to Google to see if that’s true, don’t @ me). It was…interesting. And it definitely gave me a good preview of Savannah — so many recognizable places!
What travel content are you watching these days?
-Staci
