Pumpkin spiced seasonal depression
the October issue.
The leaves turn brown; the coffee gets hot, the clothes get layered. In much shorter terms, it’s Autumn. The time of year when everyone decides to rewatch a cosy nostalgic show (a la Gilmore Girls), the PSL comes back into every cafe you walk past, the nights become longer and darker, and it’s downright dreary every time you leave the house, you have to make half-arsed plans to go on a Halloween night out where everyone has to dress up, but you just cannot be arsed because, well, its autumn now and you’ve lost all your energy.
The bears were right; we should all just hibernate.
Sorry, can you hear me over the sound of Jeff Buckley’s album Grace playing behind me? Airpods in, leather jacket on, dark lippy applied, this is my month, my season, MY TIME! These next few months are going to be my best yet, you know what they say: life doesn’t begin until 20. decide to wear your boots instead of new balance. This version of me cares way more about my style than any other of my previous 100 incarnations. I’ve embraced tying my hair back, wearing the Gabriette lip combo, applying eyeliner on my waterlines, and listening to Pretty Reckless on my otherwise mundane ride to work. Is this what it’s like to develop a sense of style? Is this how my peers feel when they commit to an aesthetic? Am I a cool girl now? Has my frontal lobe fully developed?
Of course not. These are the rambling thoughts of a manic woman-child who ultimately is too self-conscious to embrace any sense of difference from the norm. I will always end up sitting in my pyjamas, staring at a laptop screen, waiting for something to write about. Sure, the change of weather can change the clothes you wear, but it can’t change who you are. Do I embrace that, or do I keep trying to be the girl in the Pinterest board? The clean-messy girl with perfect hair and smudged eye makeup? Who can wear leather and jeans and knitwear and boots without every fabric feeling uncomfortable? Can I be her, should I just pretend I am?
Sitting down to write anything on here has proved difficult, as shown by my lack of posting throughout the whole summer. I’ve sat, awaiting something to write about, not realising that the wait is what kills you. So, let’s make this the best autumn post you’ve ever seen.
P.S. The perfume of the month award goes to the classic ‘glossier you’, which has got me three compliments in the one day I’ve worn it. Love that.
Help, Evie- what should I be watching?
I am so glad you hypothetically asked. The best thing about the classic autumn depression cycle is you can consume SO much TV and all the films you’ve missed.
The new stuff-
English teacher (available on fx + Hulu (us) & disney+ (internationally))
English Teacher, created and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez, is a show focusing on a gay English teacher, Evan, teaching in a high school in Texas. It’s a fun watch, and you just can’t help but love it. Episodes are released weekly- so there is always time to catch up.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu (US) & Disney+ (internationally))
have you been living under a rock if you haven’t seen this yet? I mean, how is mom-tok going to survive this? If you love reality TV, insane drama, swingers scandals, tiktokers, Ben Affleck’s second cousin and the contradicting rules of the Mormon church (like they can’t have coffee or alcohol- but my girlies are doing ket????), this show is definitely for you. all episodes are available and trust me, you won’t regret it.
Nobody wants this (Netflix)
I need not explain this one here, as I have a whole post dedicated to this show! You can read it here.
Grotesquerie (Fx + Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)
Honestly, I have no idea what’s happening in this show, which isn’t uncommon in a Ryan Murphy show. Ryan Murphy and I are NOT friends; I simply put this show on in the background so I could see Travis Kelce’s acting debut. Watch it if you want, or don’t.
high potential (ABC & Hulu (US) awaiting further release worldwide)
I’m yet to watch this one, unfortunately, but will that stop me from recommending it? Fuck no. Anything with Kaitlin Olson is an immediate 10/10, and taking the concept of one of my favourite shows ever, psych? Yeah, I’m sat.
Will & Harper (Netflix)
A new Netflix documentary follows Will Ferrell and Harper Steele as they road trip across the United States, discussing the changes to Harper’s life since she came out as a trans woman during the pandemic. For a more detailed review, click here.
The Substance (in theatres now)
If you do live under a rock, maybe you haven’t heard about the body horror film directed by Coralie Fargeat. Starring Demi Moore and Margret Qualley, The Substance follows Moore as Elizabeth Sparkle, a fifty-year-old woman whose life completely changes as she ages out of Hollywood. Determined to reclaim her womanhood, she uses the mysterious ‘substance’ to create a younger, better version of herself (Qualley). It’s a complete gore-fest that is not for the weak-stomached, and it leaves a lasting impression.
my newest watches are fully inspired by endless tweets taking up my timeline. Industry (available on Max and BBC iPlayer) and Interview with the Vampire (Netflix and BBC iPlayer) - you will hear all my thoughts in newsletters to come.
Let’s get spooky
October isn’t October without a bit of a scary vibe. Whether it is the haunting of Hill House, supernatural or Ghostbusters- there is a perfect Halloween watch for everyone.
Supernatural (only seasons 1-5 in this house, though)
Has your dad been on a hunting trip and not come home in a few days? You might want to join the Winchesters in the first five years of their crusade against the supernatural. The early seasons of the show have the perfect vibe for a perfectly spooky autumnal watch. The humour, the horror, the colour grading and the soundtrack make it iconic; just don’t watch it past the season 5 finale if you want to remain a fan, it’s for your own good, I promise.
Donnie Darko
The most October film ever October. Donnie Darko is the 2001 Jake Gyllenhaal film that makes no sense to the general public. Drew Barrymore, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jenna Malone and Patrick Swayze complete the star-studded cast of the film that follows troubled teenager Donnie and his manipulative hallucinations of a giant bunny rabbit named Frank. The premise sounds odd, but the 4.0 rating on Letterboxt speaks for itself, just be ready to google what the ending really means and what exactly one suck a fuck.
Anything by Mike Flanagan, the king of horror TV shows.
Need I elaborate? Hill House, Bly Manor, Midnight Mass? All bangers.
scream queens
ignore what I said prior about Ryan Murphy. The first season of this show is laugh-out-loud funny with amazing thriller material. Unfortunately, it was an iconic series that produced even more iconic memes.
Buffy, the Halloween series and most major horror franchises are perfect October watches to get you into the Halloween spirit.
Coming soon…
all the stuff that has not quite happened yet but is gonna happen soon
‘Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat’ by charli xcx (releasing 11th October 2024)
The remix album!!!! the thing we’ve been dreaming of.
The Abbott Elementary crossover is going to be with… It’s Always Sunny in Phillipelphia? excited to see how the fuck that works and i cannot wait.
‘babygirl’ staring nichole kidman and Harris Dickinson is still a few months away- but after that trailer… i’m seated. i am ready. i will be in that cinema.
‘The apprentice’ (yes the donald trump film) starring sebastian stan and Jeremy strong is only a week away, jeremy strong in anything is a perfect selling point to me.
Everything else.
the bits ive not had chance to mention elsewhere
molly gordon and jeremy allen white were spotted kissing, the internet reacted excatly as you would expect.
i saw joker: folie à deux. hated it, do not recommend. they dont lean into the musical element properly, the writing is questionable, the ending is laughable. Do not bother.
netflix only has one season of the real housewives of salt lake city available. what if i want to watch it all huh? what then.
The sydney crumbl cookie drama has consumed my life, if you dont know, get to know.
The new huda beauty foundation is actually really good- not sure if i recommend it as much as my nars light reflecting and natural radient, but its top 3 for sure.
thats all folks! see you soon. love you all xx
