Quick reviews of my purchases last year

Due to the pandemic, most of us have resorted to consumerism. I admit i have also been on a buying spree in 2020. One year later, here’s a quick review of how they’re doing so far

One of the most difficult purchases was looking for a new sofa. Most sofas only reach up to you shoulders, no head rest. I searched far and wide and online for a nice one with fabric upholstery so that it wouldn’t be too hot. Found the perfect one at Sanyang. And  surprise, it reclines and also converts into a bed! The only drawback is that the fabric is kinda rough so i like to put a bedsheet over it.

Early 2020, we bought a panasonic fridge. It looks very classy in black, though i understand the trend now is stainless steel. The freezer works really well, too well, actually. We have to put the meat out overnight to defrost it. The freezer space is huge but the crisper for veggies is tiny because it shares space with the motor ? Also, a design flaw is that the fridge light is right in front so you can’t really see the stuff in the back unless you turn on the kitchen light.

For summer, we bought a toshiba inverter fan. Really cool and quiet, with various modes like the silent mode and the night mode. I don’t know if the inverter really saves us money but what’s funny is that after a certain number of hours, it turns off by itself! 

Finally, i bought a 50 inch TCL c15 qled as a reward for myself. It’s my first android tv and i read good things about it. Cable and bluray looks great but what i love most is watching netflix and appletv in dolby vision! The sound is good, too, with lots of settings that can be adjusted. What i have noticed though, is that sometimes, when i switch from netflix to tv or switch settings, the tv will reboot by itself. Other than that, perfect for lockdown binge watching!

Best of 2020 quarantine edition

What a weird year. Lockdown forced me to finally get Netflix so my parents wouldn't get bored. So while some of my choices would never be on critics' lists, these were the ones that comforted me on what is probably the longest year of our lives 

Best tv shows

I loved Schitt's Creek and the antisuperhero series, "The Boys" 

but i also fell for "Kim's Convenience" and "Cobra Kai" because of their family-firendly stories that didnt insult our intelligence, either

 I felt such a loss after watching the last episode of "Call my agent". I hurried through some scenes of "Crash Landing on You" and I finally found out about "Avatar, the last airbender" 

I loved some episodes of "Black Mirror" but what could be scarier than living an actual episode? 

Oh, I also played catch up with "The Crown" but while everyone lauded Gillian anderson as Thatcher, I found her portrayal of her too old and mannered. 

But my guiltiest pleasure was watching "House Hunting international" because it was escapism at its best and aso most mundane. 

  Worst TV show 

I totally regret wasting my time on a show called "The Duchess" where an American woman has such a dysfunctional relationship with her daughter that she willfully breaks the heart of her impossibly perfect boyfriend.

 Dishonorable mention goes to "Space Force" which somehow managed to make some of the best comedians unlikeable. 

  Best movie

This might be cheating but the Best movie I saw this year was the remastered version of "Kisapmata" I streamed it before christmas and we were all transfixed at the horror of the faher figure played by Vic Silayan. More disconcerting was how a movie about Marcos' dictatorship and rape of the country still felt familiar today.

 Most disappointing movie was "WW84" After that wonderful debut, Patty Jenkins got the full control and it was a mess. One comment that captured it perfectly was that the plot felt like an 80's movie, too.

  Best songs 

I loved Dua Lipa's "Levitating" and Doja Cat's "Say So", especially that retro music video.

  Best and worst comics 

Somehow, the X of Swords arc of X-men promised to be the best build up but also a disappointing event. The set ups was more thrilling than the actual duels. some challeneges were rushed and downright silly! But the resolution which humanized Apocalypse put the scales back in the "Best" category

A great Wonder Woman story was Wonder Woman :Dead Earth where Diana wakes up in a post-apocalyptic future where Diana must fight mutated Amazons to save mankind. This ain't your Gal Gadot Wonder woman

If indie comics are your thing, search for "This one summer" by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki and just let the tears flow as a girl comes of age while on vacation with her suddenly emotionally distant mother.