There’s no shortage of media to absorb these days. It feels like there’s something new dropping every week. If there’s one thing I’m extremely good at, it’s starting things and adding them straight to the backlog.
Games, shows, movies – my backlog is constantly growing faster than I can actually get through it. So, I thought it might be fun to start a small recurring series here where I talk about what I’m currently watching and playing.
Nothing too formal or review-heavy, just quick thoughts on what I’ve been spending my time with lately. Sometimes it’ll be new releases, other times it’ll be older stuff I’m finally getting around to.Think of it as a snapshot of what’s currently taking over my screen time.
Screen Time. I like that.
With that said, let’s get into it.
What I’m Watching
Ted Season 2
Seth MacFarlane’s foul-mouthed teddy bear returned to our screens earlier this month, and this was one I was really looking forward to.
Following Johnny (Max Burkholder) and Ted (Seth MacFarlane) as they navigate their high school years is nothing short of hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times throughout the eight-episode run.
The family dynamic is also great here, with more screen time given to the supporting cast. A real standout is Alana Ubach who plays Susan, she steals so many scenes. There’s some heartfelt moments in here too, specifically between Matty (Scott Grimes) and Blair (Giorgia Whigam).
Honestly, I think this series might be the best thing to happen to Ted, easily outdoing the movies. The sitcom format works incredibly well, and this colourful cast of characters makes each 30-minute episode a joy.
One Piece Live-Action Season 2
If you had told me a One Piece live-action show would break the anime adaptation curse, I would’ve laughed at you.
It’s arguably one of the wildest and most absurd anime I’ve ever watched, so the fact that the live-action series manages to capture that energy as well as it does is honestly impressive.
I’m a big fan of the anime (currently about 600 episodes in), and I really enjoyed the first season of the Netflix show. The cast was the highlight there, and that continues to be true in season two. Watching the Straw Hats on screen together is such a treat, and you can tell making this show must have been a blast.
The biggest compliment I can give it is that it truly wears its heart on its sleeve. It’s goofy, it’s silly, and that’s exactly what it needed to be.
The weakest part of the show for me, though, is the action involving Luffy.
His powers are meant to feel like a reflection of his grit and determination, but that doesn’t quite translate here. Instead, it often feels like he’s constantly struggling against his opponents. I understand the need for stakes, but when he ends up feeling like the weakest character in the show, there’s a bit of a problem.
It definitely isn’t for everyone but for those willing to buy into the absurdity, there’s a lot of fun to be had.
What I’m Playing
Resident Evil Requiem
Capcom is, without a doubt, one of the best studios around right now. For a franchise that’s been running for over 30 years, it’s incredibly impressive that they’re still putting out games that feel like genuine Game of the Year contenders.
Taking the best elements of Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Requiem is a perfect blend of horror and action.
Having two playable characters, Grace and Leon, was a really smart decision. Grace’s sections lean more heavily into horror, played in first-person and packed with tense moments and jump scares. Then you switch to Leon and suddenly you feel like an absolute weapon, tearing apart zombies with your hatchet and blowing off heads with a shotgun . It’s incredibly satisfying.
The story mostly kept me engaged, although it does start to lose momentum toward the back end of the game. That’s kind of par for the course with Resident Evil though, the more the story reveals, the more convoluted it tends to become.
Overall, I had an exceptional time with this one and it’s definitely a highlight of the series for me.
Marathon
There’s been some controversy around this game and it’s received a lot of hate, purely for just existing to be honest.
Marathon is Bungie’s latest new IP, a first-person extraction shooter with a beautiful art style. I wasn’t especially interested in it at first, but I figured I’d give it a shot anyway.
I have to say, I’m actually enjoying my time with Marathon so far.
The art style is gorgeous, the gunplay feels tight and responsive, and the matches feel genuinely tense. I’ve been playing with a team of friends though, so I can’t really speak to the solo experience, although from what I’ve heard, it’s a much scarier endeavour.
There are definitely some kinks to work out, but the game has only just launched. With a bit of time and support, I think this could grow into a great multiplayer experience.
I just hope the lower-than-expected player count doesn’t scare off the heads at PlayStation.
Let Bungie cook for a second.
What’s Next?
Like I said there’s a lot of stuff to get through so there’s no lack of things to talk about. I’m hoping to put some more hours into Marathon and start Primal Season 3 very soon.
Let me know what you’ve been enjoying or not enjoying, and feel free to drop me a recommendation.
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