2022 is officially over where I am in the world, so here's a little wrap up on my 2022 and a few final best lists. I won't do worsts, because as much as I like ranting, I do also want to end on a happy note, so here's my list of the best films, TV shows, and books I've had the good fortune of experiencing this year.
Films:
Honestly, you can tell my progression with different obsessions with different actors throughout this year through my wonderful and clearly very, very objective rankings. In case it isn’t clear, though, I started the year off with a slight obsession with Kristen Wiig (understandable, and I’m still hoping American Pie will hurry up and show its face to the world), then fell in love with Angelina Jolie (Eternals’ Thena will always be one of my soft spots), then had a small dalliance with Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestly owns me and I’m not ashamed of that), and finally ended up with the age-old lesbian obsession with Cate Blanchett. Look, I don’t make the rules. I don’t actually think I loved any film that was put out this year enough for it to make this list, so even though this is a ‘best’ list for films in 2022, these are the films that I found to be the best out of all the films I watched, not the new films.
1. Carol (2015)
Do I even have to explain this anymore? I can’t believe I just watched this this year, but yeah. Carol. Forever probably going to be my number one. I can’t even tell you how much I adore this film. My heart literally hurts every single time I open the film and hear the beginning chords of the soundtrack.
2. Don’t Look Up (2021)
I actually really, really enjoyed this film and I don’t think it deserved all of the hate that it got. The ending in particular is still stuck with me, and even to this day just thinking about that last scene makes goosebumps rise on my skin, so for that alone this film is in my top five for the year. I’ve already talked about this, too, though, so I won’t get into it here. Suffice to say: watch it.
3. The Handmaiden (2016)
I had way too much fun analyzing this film, which is why it’s here. I talked about this as well, somewhere in this blog. Watch it. That's, once again, all I have to say.
4. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
OK, I know this is old, but I fell so in love with the entire way that Miranda Priestly was created that I couldn’t help but watch this films about a billion times. It’s one of my guilty pleasures, except that objectively I can see why Ocean’s 8 isn’t the best film ever, which is why that film isn’t on this list but this film is. Subjectively, objectively, this film is astonishing. I will die on this hill.
(I will also say, though, that at this point I can't tell if I love the canon because of the canon or if I love the canon because of the fan fiction. Seriously, I've just spent the last two days obsession over Disarming Athena and the an argument of witches series on Archive of Our Own. I don't care if we don't talk about fan fiction when we're talking about the canon: these are so good I could honestly see them being published and I am forever obsessed. Thank you, next.)
5. The Celluloid Closet (1995)
I touch on this in my December Wrap Up, so I won’t go into details here. Just know that if you’re interested in film history, in queer history, or even are just looking for an entertaining documentary– this is the one. Look no further. With that being said, I now have a full list of queer/queer-coded films that I have to watch.
TV Shows:
I watched a few good shows this year, and most of them were actually rather recent (unlike my film list, oops). There were a few that I think I would like to mention, like Wednesday (Greatest Disappointment because of how high my expectations were as a die-hard Addams family fan. It sucked not because it was terrible, but because it massacred the characterization for Morticia and Gomez and most of the members of the Addams family) or Euphoria Season 2 (once again I have a huge problem with the characters here, or rather the lack of characterization here).
1. Arcane (2021–)
Biggest surprise of the year. I don’t watch animation very often, and I don’t play video games. Then I watched this show, and I immediately fell in love with all of the characters. I mean, Jinx, Vi, all of them were so amazingly written and the show is crafted in such a way that you can’t help but be amazed at the writing. I would recommend watching schnee on YouTube if you want to get my thoughts: I can’t say it better than they did. You can read my review here, but I would still go watch schnee because I can’t say anything that someone else hasn’t already said better.
2. The Sandman (2022–)
Once again have a full review out, but this show? Stunning visuals, beautiful storytelling, compelling characters. It would be my number one if Arcane hadn’t surprised me so much.
3. Good Omens Season 1 (2019–)
Neil Gaiman strikes again, and once again I have a full review out that you have to check out if you want my full thoughts. Overall, though, I have to say I loved the plot, I loved the way the Apocalypse unfolded, and I’m still a bit in love with the love that Aziraphale and Crowley have.
Books:
I read some pretty good books this year, some of them for school some of them for me. But honestly? I just want to talk about my number one. That’s why this list is pretty short.
1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
I’m shocked I don’t have a full review out, because oh my God. Oh. My. God. This book? This book is everything I could ever hope for and more. I don’t even know how to put into words the way that each and every story within the story of Evelyn Hugo killed me on a personal level. The book is about the life story of fictional Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo (think of her fame as in Marilyn Monroe type bombshell fame, though they’re not similar beyond that) and her seven husbands and (I don’t think this is a spoiler alert but it might be so look away now if you haven’t read it) her one true love. I came into the book not knowing anything (not even the queer stuff in here), so I was shocked and surprised and I want people to have that experience as well, so don’t keep reading if you haven’t read the book yet. Trust me on this.
OK. I can’t even begin to put into words how much I adore this book. Instead, let me just write down a few quotes from the book and you’ll get what I mean.
“She’s gone now,” Evelyn says, “The love of my life is gone, and I can’t just call her and say I’m sorry and have her come back. She’s gone forever.” … “I should have apologized and sent roses and stood on top of the Hollywood sign and shouted, ‘I’m in love with Celia St. James!’ and let them crucify me for it.”
This quote, from Evelyn to her long-time friend Harry: “If there are all different types of soulmates,” … “then you are one of mine.”
“She always made sure the bad was outweighed by so much good. I… well, I didn’t do that for her. I made it fifty-fifty. Which is about the cruelest thing you can do to someone you love, give them just enough good to make them stick though a hell of a lot of bad.”
“And to anyone tempted to kiss the TV tonight, please don’t chip your tooth.”
That last quote, and I can’t explain why, constantly pops up in the back of my mind. I don’t know why, maybe it’s because it’s a reference to earlier in the book (and earlier in the characters’ lives, like decades earlier), maybe because it’s just something so stupid and public that for two women who have hidden their love for their entire lives it’s like shouting off the rooftops for the people who know what to look for. But either way, that last quote, it’s constantly in my mind.
I don’t think I can put into words what makes this book so special to me, but for now, it’s that last quote, and the image of chipped teeth and decades of love.
2. A Children’s Bible
I loved the ambiguity and simple insanity of this book. That’s really what I love about it, and its so incredibly unique that even now I can’t think of a single other book I’ve ever read that is similar to it. I have a full review out, but just know that I would totally recommend this to everyone.
Final Words
And that closes my final wrap up on 2022. It was a good year for me, even if some things didn’t go my way (got deferred from ED/EA, broke my knee having a water fight– that was embarrassing– at school, and I can’t remember anything else because I have the memory of a goldfish). Overall, though, my 2022 was filled with joy and laughter and plain happiness for the most part, and I’m so glad that I got to share some of that with you all here.
Goodbye, 2022, and hello, 2023. I hope you treat me kindly.
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