Smash or Pass - March Edition

The books, movies, and shows I liked (or didn't) this month

March was a big month for me and I’m happy to say that despite being forced back into the world of cubicles and commutes, I got a fair bit of new fiction under my belt.

For the monthly smash or pass, I decided not to include any rewatches, as that’s kind of cheating. I’m also not including anything that I “second screen” my way through. So with those caveats out of the way, here’s what I had for March.

Shows

When season 1 of Invincible came out on Prime, I loved it. But I didn’t tune into S2 when it first premiered. This month, I binged all of season 2 and the new season 3 (and wrote about it). Despite some grousing in the fandom about perceived lack of animation quality, I loved both seasons of the show and heartily look forward to the next one.

VERDICT: SMASH

Audiobooks

Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

I was surprised at how much I liked 50 Cent’s business book. It’s not his first, but it was the first one with a blurb that sounded like something I’d like and would be helpful. Right on both counts.

As a warning, this man read his book in a monotone, which was surprising. I’ve seen him on screen. He can act. So maybe he just wasn’t feeling the sound booth? Whatever the case, the book is outstanding, but listen to the sample before going with the audio version.

VERDICT: SMASH

World War Z by Max Brooks

I’m relieved I chose the audio version for this one, as I’m fairly certain I would have DNF’s if I’d attempted the ebook. It’s basically the big book of post-apocalyptic worldbuilding. If all you want to do is look at what the world looks like after zombies emerge (without bothering yourself with a plot or character arcs), this is how you do it. It’s well done, to be clear. But not quite my cup of tea. Bless the full cast for making it engaging enough for me to finish.

VERDICT: PASS

Movies

The Substance

It’s as good as they say, and Demi was ROBBED of the best actress Oscar… but I couldn’t enjoy it. Some movies strike too deep a chord to be enjoyed the way they deserve and this is one of them. Like Welcome to the Dollhouse before it, some excellent movies just hit the wrong way.

It’s available to stream on Prime. Do not eat while you’re watching it.

VERDICT: PASS

Mickey 17

A scifi comedy about clones designed to be expendable and what that means for the human spirit. Mickey 17 is the first movie I saw in the theatre since Baby Girl (immediately after which I struck down with plague). I loved it, as I tend to focus on story and character vs scientific feasibility (you can see the difference in perspective when I was a guest on Echo Chamberlain’s stream).

VERDICT: SMASH

Ebooks

I read Hell Bent (FINALLY), by Leigh Bardugo. This is the sequel to Ninth House, and it didn’t disappoint. It had a slower start, and took a few more twists and turns than it needed to. But it was a good sequel and I’m glad Bardugo has announced the Alex Stern series will continue.

VERDICT: SMASH

And on a personal note…

This month, I had to report back to the office after 8 years working at home. It was a massive adjustment, even though I have a reasonable commute of about 30 minutes. Let it be known that I do not like it.

My work attire and workstation BEFORE

My work attire and workstation AFTER

VERDICT: PASS

*I’ve applied for a job at Netflix that I want so bad I can taste it (it’s remote), so if you’re the praying sort, I’d appreciate the thought.