Though the My Favorite Things link-up is no longer running, I still wanted to post about my recent favorites every once in a while! For the time being, I’m still using the same name for the post series until I figure out a new one. Here is the last My Favorite Things for the year!
Show: Westworld
Westworld is a HBO show based off of the 1973 film written and directed by Michael Crichton, who you might recognize as the author of Jurassic Park. You know, the book/movie about a dinosaur theme park that goes horribly wrong. Well, Westworld is a Western-themed park with realistic robots as hosts, and as you can guess, things start to go wrong as the hosts do things outside of their programming.
The show is really well done and is filled with surprises and plot twists. I just finished watching the first season, and I’m still in awe! There’s a lot of unanswered questions in the beginning that slowly unravel, and there’s also a few different storylines going on. I love media that explores artificial intelligence, so I’m really interested in seeing how they’ll continue in second season!
Show: Yuri on Ice
I’m a sucker for sports Anime, even though most of them are sooo exaggerated. 10 minute matches will stretch 5+ episodes, and characters will do moves that are impossible. Imagine my surprise when I watch Yuri on Ice, a men’s figure skating Anime, and it’s none of those things. The skating is in real time with realistic programs that are choreographed by a retired professional for the show. It’s impressive how smooth the animation is for something as complicated as figure skating.
To back up a bit, Yuri on Ice focuses on a Japanese figure skater, Yuri Katsuki. I love his character because he feels very relatable. In the beginning, he lacks confidence, and though he’s considered a top skater, he cracked under pressure and ended up failing at the Grand Prix finals. It’s exciting to see him slowly build up confidence, and his relationship with his coach, Victor, is adorable. Every episode makes me smile so much!
Movie: Arrival
Arrival is probably the best movie I’ve seen this year so far. It’s about 12 alien vessels that suddenly appear around the world. Every 18 hours, it opens up so that people can communicate with the aliens, or rather, attempt to. Due to the language barrier, no one knows why they’re here. The US government brings on a Linguist to try to communicate with them and learn their language. As much as I love Independence Day, it’s refreshing to see a movie where an alien visit doesn’t automatically mean a war. Arrival is such a smart movie that left me thinking about it and wanting to watch it again.
Tea: Tisane
It’s been getting cold at night, and all I want is a hot cup of tea. Tisane has been my choice lately since it doesn’t have caffeine, and I don’t have to worry about it keeping me up at night. (I know Tisane isn’t technically tea, though, since it doesn’t use tea leaves.) I’m currently loving a blend called Immortal’s Blend from the Steeping Room! It’s a mix of apple, hibiscus, papaya, and blood orange, so it’s a very fruity taste. I’m a big fan of fruity teas, even when drinking black or green tea, so this is right up my alley. Plus, I love the color of it!
Other than that, I’m still very much loving Diablo III and am spending way too much time in it. I’ve also been busy with Christmas shopping lately and finishing up the last quarter of the year at work. I’m sure I’ll have more favorites to write about after the holidays are over!
I swear every single friend of mine who is into anime either spends time playing mystic messenger or watching yuri on ice. Lol, i don’t though. I have lost interest in anime now, even though I still do watch good anime films like Kimi No Na Wa / Your Name by Makoto Shinkai. Anything like that and/or from studio ghibli, I will still watch.
I haven’t watched westworld either. I heard that it’s really good. Hm, for some reason I still haven’t found the urge to start on a new show. I’m basically waiting for season 2 of Stranger Things and am busy waiting and watching DC Comics tv series, especially the flash and arrow.
OMG How could I not know about Arrival!? I should watch it. I’m so easily intrigued by indie movies so thank you for bringing the light to me lol.
Ah, tea-wise, I’ve been enjoying peppermint tea at night or when i need something to refresh my stressed mind. It’s also caffeine free so it doesn’t keep me up at night since i’m already insomniac without caffeine.
I love how the “My Favorite Things” series is still going strong on your end! I haven’t seen any Western-themed show before but the trailer looks pretty interesting. It’s something I can definitely stand watching (doesn’t seem like it has as much gore as The Walking Dead). It’s cool that sports Anime are on the rise! Some of the things that the characters do are pretty exaggerated sometimes but that builds the momentum in the show XD. With the cold weather coming around, tea sounds like a good drink to sip on!
Yuri on Ice! Yuri on Ice! EEEEEEEEEEEE! I can’t believe I hesitated to watch this! This show is amazing, and it’s really fun! The ice skating routines are to die for, and I was thrilled that they are being choreographed by a real skater 😀 Of course the shounen-ai aspect of the show also makes me love it even more XD;;;
I cannot wait to watch the rest of it! I hope Yuuri wins the Grand Prix Final, but that seems a bit cliched, but it would be a great ending 😀
I also watched Arrival and I was pleasantly surprised. Tyrone wanted to watch it and all I knew about before we went to the cinema was that it was about aliens, so I assumed it was going to be a typical alien fighting films. But I really enjoyed it and the time just seemed to fly by.
I am also watching Yuri On Ice and I agree – it is so cute!! I love all the relationships in the anime. I actually haven’t seen an anime in a long time so I’m glad I picked it up!
I don’t think I’ve had any super fruity teas but I love blood oranges! They’re so good.
Westworld sounds like a show that I would really enjoy. I’ve really liked everything I’ve read from Michael Crichton (he has a book about pirates that I loved!) so this sounds really good! Also, who doesn’t love Jurrasic Park? 😉
I’ve noticed you and Tara both tweeting about Yuri on Ice. xD I love watching figure skating, it’s always something that I have to watch during the winter Olympics. I’m always so impressed at how graceful and beautiful it is, so this sounds like it would be right up my alley.
I haven’t actually heard of Arrival (I feel like I am so out of the loop with all of the movies that have come out recently!) but all of your recommendations sound on point in this post so I will be adding it to my to-watch list. 🙂
Loads of people I know are talking about Westworld, and from what you’ve said it sounds like a really interesting show. I’ll probably end up watching it at some point, but my to-watch list is just so long at the moment!
OMG Yuri on Ice. I’ve heard so much about it, and I’m desperate to watch it. I love figure skating, and it sounds like a really amazing anime!
My sister has been raving about Yuri On Ice (she’s a massive anime fan!) and keeps telling me to watch it. It sounds like such a cute, fun little anime. 😀
Arrival sounds like such an awesome movie. The story reminds me of a game I used to be terrified of as a kid that my dad and I used to play. I forgot the name but it had a similar plot with the aliens appearing! Haha, next time I go to see a movie I’ll see if Arrival is showing!
James Marsden was on Ellen recently promoting Westworld and it definitely sounded interesting. Maybe if it comes to Netflix one day I will watch it! I would also like to see Aaroval one day. Looks like a fascinating film. Plus Amy Adams is pretty great. As for you tea addiction, there is nothing wrong with that! You should see what I just purchased from Steeped Tea for Christmas!!! And a lot of it is just for me lol. Ah.
I really need to have tea more often. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve had it. I’m a soda guy. Sue me.
Westworld sounds like an awesome show – it makes me wish that I had HBO. The Arrival is on my To Watch List…it makes you aware of the importance of communication and language. I’m not currently drinking any tea…I’m consuming Peppermint Mocha. 🙂
Yuri on Ice is amazing! My husband calls it Yaoi on Ice. I laugh so much. <3
Ohhh I really wanna try that Tisane now! I’m always looking for new flavors of hot drinks that won’t ruin my diet. The sucky thing with most tea I have to be careful that I don’t have a reaction, due to a weak stomach or allergy. Like, green tea is out of the question unless I wanna get really ill. Red teas and Black Teas tend to be okay though, it all depends. XD
Yuri on Ice is such an adorable show. It really made me smile with each episode too. It has been a long time since a show has done that to me.
I really enjoyed Westworld, Ryan and I recorded it on Sky and binged watched the entire season. It’s so good!
I’ve not seen Arrival but it sounds like my kind of movie, I’ll be adding it to my watch list and telling my dad! He loves sci-fi movies.