What I'm Watching This Week - TV: House of The Dragon, Love Island, The Bear, World Cup, and More
- Luke Loew
- 5 minutes ago
- 12 min read
We're back with another "What I'm Watching This Week" after a long hiatus, mostly due to travel and lack of free time to lock into new shows. Now that I'm back in SC, I'm working through my new shows -- while watching a couple others with Emily -- and of course, grinding as much World Cup as possible. There's still plenty of shows on my to-do list (Widow's Bay especially -- but also Cape Fear and Star City are particularly hot on the list) -- but I've made some headway on a few new releases, am catching up on some others, and am up-to-speed on the biggest show of the summer (thanks, Emily).
After each blurb, I'll give each show a Bean's Score from 1-10 scoring how highly I recommend watching each. I'll only go into spoilers on House of the Dragon's 3rd paragraph -- so if you're not up-to-date on that, you've been warned.
Jump around to the shows you watch/are interested in watching -- don't be discouraged by the length of the blog, just pick the sections you're interested in and go from there! Without further ado,
House of the Dragon - Season 3
Episodes 1 & 2 - HBO Max
HOTD summer is fucking back -- and back with a bang. After a 2-year hiatus between Season 3's premiere and Season 2's conclusion -- a 2nd season that also started hot but ended poorly in my opinion -- the new season wasn't as hot on my radar as past years. I think part of that is due to the success of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms -- a GOT property that was a massive success and was different than what we've seen from the franchise. And part because of that lackluster conclusion to Season 2 -- but after 2 eps of Season 3, it certainly seems like HOTD is back.
But before getting into what I found to be 2 very good episodes -- it can't be understated what poor-planning this was from the creators of HOTD and HBO. Season 1 was 10 episodes, and Season 2 was 8 episodes after news broke that they were going to go for 4 seasons total with this show. That caused the latter half of Season 2 to be a bore -- and it's clear to anyone who's watched S3 that these first two episodes should've been the penultimate and finale episodes of Season 2. But because they want to squeeze every cent possible off of this cash cow, they pushed it off 2 more years. And this planning is why I'm not getting my hopes up too high for the rest of Season 3.
That being said -- these 2 episodes were pretty fucking great. SPOILERS AHEAD. Watching the recap before Ep 1 was necessary -- as I completely forgot Rhaena was out in the Vale trying to lure Sheepstealer, and that Addam claimed Seasmoke, and that Alicent had brokered the deal with Rhaenyra to come take the Throne. The Battle of The Gullet is obviously the headline -- a battle that I thought was entertaining and exhilirating to watch, even if I had nitpicks on the visuals/tactical decisions. It was a good push-and-pull throughout the battle sequence with Allyn and Lohar fighting intertwined with the Dragon-Drama. The biggest moment of course being the death of Jacerys at E1's conclusion -- which wasn't shocking for me, but a good reminder that no one's safe in this show. E2 had plenty of big moments as well -- Aemond and Vhagar laying waste to Harrenhall (and Aemond taking a dagger to the back), Daemon and Rhaenyra storming the castle, Otto Hightower's (short-lived) return. These episodes moved at a blistering pace -- we saw all the core characters + some new ones -- there were tons of huge moments -- and it has set the table for more chaos to come. I just wish they gave it to us to conclude Season 2 instead.
Bean's Score: 9/10 (1st 2 episodes of S3)
The Bear - Season 5
Episodes 1-4 - Hulu
If you had asked me in 2023 what my favorite show on TV was -- I would've told you The Bear, and it wasn't a particularly close race. The first two seasons of The Bear were transcendent TV -- it had an indescribable quality to it that I couldn't get enough of. The characters, the writing, the tension, the comedy, the film-making of it -- if I had this blog back then, I'd have raved about it to no end. But with Season 3 and Season 4, it lost some of that magic. For me it got repetitive and stagnant -- two things you never want your show to become. It was almost as if they were recycling things we've seen in the past and intentionally keeping it's character's in the same place rather than continuing arcs. (For what it's worth -- I liked Season 4 a lot more than 3 -- hence why I came back for Season 5).
I've knocked out the first half of it's latest and final season -- which I knew very little about coming in, due to the lack of marketing and press-touring the cast/creators have done. In many ways, it feels like a return to the vibe I loved in Season 1 -- chaotic and confined, confrontational but compassionate. But in other ways -- it stays the same as what I haven't loved in recent seasons. We're 5 seasons in -- we know these characters intimately at this point. I want to see them grow -- I want to see them change and evolve. But through half a season, I haven't seen enough of that. Carmy is still Carmy, just more monotone and morose. Syd is still Syd -- just at a heightened state with more responsibility. Fak is still an emotional 10-year old in a 40-year old's body. Uncle Jimmy is still pissed off Uncle Jimmy.
The reason Season 2 of The Bear is so great is because we see people evolving -- like Marcus going to Copenhagen and finding his passion in this job through staging with Luca. And Richie staging at Ever in the "Forks" episode -- finding his purpose and place in this new venture (the best episode of The Bear in my opinion). The show has become too comfortable moving laterally with these characters -- but I'm holding out hope that changes in the back half of Season 5. It's still a show I enjoy watching, but it's trajectory has been on a decline since Season 3 began. They still know how to throw 100 mph fastballs with cameos though -- and the fact that the casting director has been able to get people like Jamie-Lee Curtis, Jon Bernthal, Olivia Colman, John Mulaney, Bob Odenkirk, Will Poulter, Sarah Paulson, Josh Hartnett, fucking John Cena -- all to pop in and out for roles from recurring to cameo, will always be wildly impressive and cool to me.
Bean's Score: 6.5/10 (Season 5 so far)
Bean's Score: 10/10 (Season's 1 & 2)
Bean's Score: 4/10 (Season 3)
Bean's Score: 6/10 (Season 4)
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness
Episode 1 - HBO Max
Larry David is back with an HBO Comedy -- which is all I needed to hear to give this show a watch. Only one episode out now, releasing weekly on Friday Nights -- but this show is a sketch-comedy going through historical events and situations with the classic Larry David twist. It's Curb Your Enthusiasm scenarios set in places like the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Rosa Parks on the bus, and the creation of the telephone. It's everything you expect in terms of goofiness from a sketch show, with the relatability and outlandishness of Larry David's world-view. I enjoyed the first episode and will continue on with it -- more to come.
Bean's Score: 8/10
Love Island USA - Season 8
Episodes 1-23 - Peacock
My timeline with Love Island the past 2 years has been the exact same -- Emily starts watching it, I catch bits and pieces of early episodes, say "How on Earth can anyone enjoy watching this horrible trash show?", then get slightly more invested with every episode, and eventually reach the point where I ask Emily if we're watching tonight. I'm not proud of it. I hate myself for it. But this show is like what I imagine doing Hard Drugs is like -- you know it's bad for you, but when you're doing it, it feels so right.
I'm not going to break down the storylines and mindless challenges and all that shit -- because this blog is already going to be too long. But I am going to give my Islander Power Rankings (through Sunday Night's episode -- haven't caught up on Monday's ep just yet) -- with my thoughts on everyone still left in the Villa.
Islander Power Rankings
Tier A: Bryce, Trinity, Caleb, Kayda, Dylan
Bryce and Trinity are #1 couple, they're who I'm rooting for currently to win it. Nic/Olandria vibes from last season, think they're both authentic, and they crack me up. Caleb is my guy -- has been screwed over multiple times and may not be the most exciting character at the villa, but always rooting for him. Kayda is funny, kinda crazy, very hot -- and I wish she'd get away from Zach. And Dylan and Carl are my favorite newbies -- Dylan is hysterical and a goofball (I'm sure Kenzie will screw him over just like Caleb) and Carl is just a dorky jacked dude with a heart of gold -- glad he got to come back.
Tier B: Jen, Titi, Amora
Jen is a sweetheart -- she's kinda similar to Caleb and I wish they had coupled up and had it work. Titi just cracks me the fuck up -- "I'm Titi" when her and KC came back was electric. Haven't seen much from Amora, hoping she stirs shit up with Melanie/Sincere now that she's back.
Tier C: Melanie, Zach, Jaiden, Parmida, Gal
Parmida is crazy, very hot, but haven't seen enough of her for me to care. Jaiden is quiet and hasn't had much to do yet -- but is also hot, and with my boy Caleb, so I hope she grows on me. Gal's just a loser to me -- but too early to judge too harshly. Melanie has made a jump from the bottom tier because I think she's a good friend and she makes things exciting -- but she needs to get away from Sincere (Caleb + Melanie? the Tiktok edits say so). I go through waves with Zach -- the bromance with Bryce is funny, but he's a tool that was just as bad as KC/Corbin/Sincere in Casa, his girl was just removed for being a racist.
Tier D: KC and Aniya
This was my favorite couple in the early parts of the season, but as it progressed, I liked them less together. I think they can both shoot back toward the top in new couples -- Aniya with Carl, KC with Titi -- but I'm sick of their drama and think they're both delusional in their own ways about how things went down.
Tier E: Kenzie
I know a lot of people love Kenzie because she's crazy and does the splits and yada yada yada. This girl fucking sucks. Is never happy in a coupling no matter how well she connects with a guy -- constantly exploring other dudes -- screws over Caleb without an ounce of regret. She is horrible -- even though her being dumb and doing the splits in random situations makes me laugh.
Tier F: Corbin and Sincere
Tier F -- the WOATs. Corbin was almost saved into Tier E just because his AI-ass voice is hilarious and I like doing Corbin voice to Emily. But he's such a douchebag. And Sincere is just all over the place -- I liked Sol a lot, so a big part of my disdain is how he did her dirty. But he's just a bad communicator that lies constantly and has gotten worse as the season has gone on.
Bean's Score: 7.5/10 (Garbage that I genuinely can't stop watching)
Hacks - Season 5
Episodes 1-6 - HBO Max
Very late to the party with the Final Season of Hacks -- a criminally under-rated HBO comedy series that I'm always shocked to hear more people haven't seen. Since it's debut in 2021, it's not only been one of the most consistent shows on TV in terms of release schedule and quality -- but one of the funniest shows on TV. If you don't believe me, believe the Emmy's -- who have given it 12 Emmy's, 1 for Best Comedy, and 4 for Jean Smart -- the star playing an aging Comedian trying to stay relevant in the latter stage of her career.
I've never been particularly locked into the plot of this show -- and I don't mean that as the insult it sounds like. The over-arching storyline works -- I think this most recent season is one of the stronger ones of the series -- but that's not the main draw. It's the chemistry between the two leads -- Smart's Deborah Vance, and Hannah Einbinder's Ava Daniels, who is Deborah's writer turned friend -- that carries the show. And it's populated with all sorts of great side characters -- Jimmy and Kayla, Robbie Hoffman's Randi, Kaitlin Olson as Deborah's daughter DJ, Mayor Pezzimenti, and Christopher McDonald's (Shooter McGavin) Marty are my favorites -- and great side plots. The one-liners, running gags, and bits throughout every episode keep me coming back -- and it's one of my favorite comedies of the 2020s.
Bean's Score: 8/10 (Season 5 so far)
Bean's Score: 8/10 (Show as a whole)
World Cup 2026
Group Stage - Knockout's - Fox
If you read my blog a few weeks ago when the Group Stage was kicking off, you know that the World Cup is the exception I make every four years in terms of watching soccer. And as expected, this year's World Cup has been incredible already, and we've barely made a dent in the Knockout Stage.
The story of the Cup for me as a red-blooded American has obviously been Team USA's strong showing in the Group stage -- clinching 1st in their group after a 4-1 win over Paraguay, and a 2-0 win over Australia. They had a hiccup against Turkiye in Game 3, a heartbreaker 3-2 loss while sitting a healthy amount of starters -- but even with that loss, there's a lot of positive buzz for this USA team entering the Knockouts. They've drawn Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1st round -- the Battle for St. Louis -- in a game we should win. If we get past them, we'll draw the winner of Belgium vs Senegal -- two good teams, but beatable teams. If USA can win twice and get through to the Quarterfinals, it'll likely be Spain or Portugal awaiting them -- instantly becoming the biggest game in Men's soccer history for the US since at least 2002, their last QF appearance.
But outside of the US Team, I'll give you the Cliff Notes of the Group Stage if you haven't been locked in:
Mexico dominated Group A 3-0-0, but South Africa was the surprise, placing 2nd ahead of South Korea to advance (and promptly losing 1-0 to Canada in the 1st Knockout).
Canada and Bosnia limped through Group B to advance with Switzerland winning the group.
Brazil and Morocco owned Group C as expected, winning twice and drawing against each other.
Australia and Paraguay advance behind the US in Group D.
Group of Death Group E saw 3 advance -- Germany, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador -- the latter needed a win vs Germany in game 3 and got it.
Group F was tough as well with Netherlands winning it, but Japan and Sweden advancing as well.
Group G was the weakest in the field, Belgium winning it with a 1-0-2 record, and Egypt sneaking through.
Spain had a draw in game 1 vs the surprise team of Group H, Cabo Verde, as both squads advance.
France looks like the best team in the field going 3-0-0 in a great Group I -- while Norway and Senegal move on behind them
Argentina waltzes through Group J, Austria and Algeria both advance after an electric final game -- 3-3 Draw with each side scoring a 90th+ minute goal
Colombia wins Group K 2-0-1, Portugal advances despite draw with DR Congo -- who also move on
England wins Group L, Ghana's draw with England pushes them through, and Croatia gets 2nd to move on
Now for the Knockout Stage -- of which we've already seen 4 great games. Canada beats South Africa 1-0 as I mentioned -- but Monday, Japan vs Brazil got things off to a HOT start. Japan scored first and took a 1-0 lead into halftime -- but Brazil battled back in the 2nd half, scoring in the 56th to equalize, then scoring the game-winner in stoppage time 90+6' to advance to the Round of 16. Heartbreaker for an incredibly fun Japan team.
In Game #2 -- Cinderella wouldn't be denied. Like Japan, Paraguay scored 1st and had the lead going into halftime -- only for Germany to knot it back up in the 54th minute. The score remained 1-1 through regulation -- and it looked like Germany were to advance after scoring a header in Extra Time, only for it to be overturned by VAR for a penalty (was it a cupcake call? You decide -- I thought it was the right call). The game went to Penalty Kicks and was tied through 5 shots. On the 6th shot, Germany airmailed, and Paraguay cashed in for the win to advance. Just an outstanding game.
And for those that stayed up for Morocco vs Netherlands -- you got to see the Game of the Day, Game of the entire World Cup to me. Of all the match-ups in the Round of 32 -- this game featured the two highest quality teams, as both are Top-10 (arguably Top 5-7) teams in the field.
A physical, aggressive brand of soccer was on display the whole night between these two sides. They were deadlocked through 72 minutes, until Cody Gapko of Holland broke the tie with a goal. He fell to his knees immediately crying -- because just days before the game, his partner lost the pregnancy of their unborn child. Such an emotional and special moment. Morocco continued fighting -- they dominated possession for much of the 2nd half/Extra time, and had some great chances down the stretch -- finally scoring in stoppage time to tie it again. Extra time was more of the same -- Morocco controlling the ball, but no goals. In PK's, Morocco wins it 3-2 on a clincher from Ismael Saibiri -- bring the end to an unreal game.
The rest of the Round of 32 will be played throughout the week -- I'm pumped for Ivory Coast/Norway and Mexico/Ecuador on Tuesday, USA plays Wednesday, Belgium/Senegal should be good, Portugal/Croatia on Thursday, Colombia/Ghana Friday -- and the match-ups only get better from here on out. Now's the time, folks. Lock in.
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