The life and times of a movie/tv fiend are never easy and our DVRs do get a good workout. November 20th is finally upon it and with that date so many long-awaited series are finally beginning or coming to an end. My mind is on overload trying to figure out what to start first. Stay up til midnight and watch Netflix’s latest or indulge in Amazon Prime’s new series.
This weekend will see many moviegoers (myself included) viewing the culmination of Katniss Everdeen’s journey as the Mockingjay in the Hunger Games series. I’ve already secured my tickets and seats for a Friday night showing with a friend and then another showing on Saturday with work friends. This should be doable, right? Absolutely, but it makes my plan to binge-watch Netflix’s Jessica Jones AND Amazon’s The Man in High Castle a bit…challenging.
The collective PR machines for Mockingjay and the two new series have been working overtime in the past few weeks. Anticipation for the fourth and final installment of Hunger Games has been a living thing since last we saw Katniss and company last year. Mockingjay Part I left us on a cliffhanger with our heroine watching poor brainwashed, physically and mentally wrecked, Peeta screaming and struggling against the tethers binding him to prevent another attack on Katniss or harm to himself.
Finally, this weekend the chapter will close on this story as Katniss and her compatriots rally together to take down the powers that be once and for all. It’ll be interesting to see what twists and turns from the final book will be included. Who survives and which loss will break your heart even more. Whichever, I’m ready to watch my favorite “Girl on fire” just one more time and the boy with the bread.
Also, accounting for most of my time this weekend will be Netflix’s latest offering to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jessica Jones. The 13-episode series stars Krysten Ritter (Don’t Trust the B- in Apt 23) as the titular former superheroine and David Tennant (Doctor Who) as Kilgrave. In just a few hours, the series will be available for mass binge-watching and I’m certain there will be quite a few people playing hooky and calling it an early weekend. Jones is a superhero turned private investigator with a dark and twisty past. The only thing that could make this series look even more appealing would be if a certain Devil dropped in for a visit at some point over the 13 episodes. One can hope.
Amazon’s The Man in High Castle also premieres this weekend, releasing all ten episodes at once. The series creates a world in which the Nazis and Japan won World War II and currently occupy the former United States. Alex Davalos, Luke Kleintank, and Rupert Evans star in the alternate reality drama. The pilot was first made available last year during Amazon’s pilot season and was easily one of the best things that the streaming service has put forth so far. Imagine what North America would be like conquered and literally divided by the Germans and Japanese. Networks of spies, double (and at times) triple crosses and resistance fighters attempting to get beyond the propaganda.
I don’t know about you, but I’m putting away my laptop and turning off my ringer for the weekend. Don’t call me, I’ll call you. What say you? Ready to watch Katniss take down the Capitol once and for all? Have plans to binge Jessica Jones or The Man in High Castle? Or are you thinking of taking your time with it? Also dropping Nov 20th? Adele’s new album! The weekend hasn’t even started and I’m in overload just thinking about it. Hit the comments and share the thing clamoring the loudest for your attention this weekend.
