𝘾𝘼𝙋𝙏𝘼𝙄𝙉 𝙆𝙄𝙍𝘽𝙔.

It's just double homey cause I just get to catch up glimpse of mum and some people I've grown up with around her which makes it a perfect little bandaid whenever I get homesick and time difference makes a call impossible. and yes, I get terribly homesick and if there is no pub in sight I might as well be useless if push comes to shove. I think the vicar of dibley might have walked so the hot priest in fleabag could run but please never ever quote me on that – because I am aware only one of them died. just roll with it. oh visual spectacle it was an will be in the future I am sure, I have no doubt that they'll absolutely wow everyone again this time around, especially with nicola finally getting her moment to shine. I do have to say I did think season two getting slightly...mixed reviews for a lack of steam was rather hilarious – steam is what the kids say, is it not?

the warm embrace of home, even if it's just through the screen. homesickness is a real beast, isn't it? sometimes the simplest things like hearing familiar voices or seeing familiar faces can provide that little slice of comfort we all crave. pubs are a good stand-in, but they can't quite replicate the feeling of home. "the vicar of dibley walking so the hot priest in fleabag could run" is a line i didn't know i needed until now. i swear, if someone starts a dissertation on the evolution of clergy in british comedy, that line should be the opening sentence. nicola always brings something extraordinary to the table, so it's great to hear she'll finally get her moment to shine. and oh my, "steam" has taken on a life of its own, hasn't it? there's something rather amusing about what gets people's engines running, whether it's steamy romance or, well, lack thereof. how quickly the audience turns when they're not presented with their expected dose of, shall we say, heated encounters.

preach it to the fucking choir. lazy days in comfy loungewear are the best and i really don't understand how it's not considered normal to just spend a few days on the couch, re-gaining that energy because being social can be so exhausting. oh. sounds like the front row got lucky that night. what do you enjoy more - doing theatre or tv or movie productions ? you get me, that's exactly the sentiment i wanted to throw in here, so happy my rusted french skills didn't betray me here. you had an emo phase ? sounds wild. i was gonna say it's almost a comfort show until i remembered all the shit happening on there. especially with freddie dying. i'll never get over it.

if there was an olympic event for lounging in your pyjamas with a tub of ice cream, you bet i'd be aiming for the gold. society's got it all twisted – there's something absolutely therapeutic about pressing pause and enjoying one's own company. about the "front row incident"... we don't talk about that. choosing between theatre, tv, or films is like asking someone to pick their favourite child. there's a raw, immediate energy in theatre that's just electrifying. tv offers the chance to dive deeper into a character over an extended time, and films, well, there's something almost magical about creating a concise, powerful narrative in a short span. each has its own charm. which one do you prefer as a viewer? i'm sure that your rusty french isn't that bad. besides, there's always room for improvement, right? emo phase? oh lord, yes. i think we've all had those teenage moments where everything feels, well, a lot. had the heavy eyeliner, listened to bands whose lyrics sounded like they were written by shakespeare on a moody day. tell me you had a similar phase, too. skins, bloody hell. that show was a rollercoaster. freddie's demise was just... i mean, who approved that? they owe all of us several boxes of tissues.

so you are an adventurer after all, not sure why, but that actually hardly feels surprising. it has outlived holby city which I think is almost a shame, mostly because I would have loved to see what else that show would have been able to come up with to keep going. But as long as coronation street is still on I'll always have a piece of home on the telly wherever I go, so there's that. which makes me wonder, what's your comfort show? other than the first season of bridgerton of course, thank you very much. see, not much drama there but i do consider myself fortunate that I did not sign a contract for the entire runtime of the show – and while I do think we did not have earthquake, fire, or death it did help but Rege never wore clothes for the latter half of the season.

never judge a book by its cover, love. there's an adventurer's spirit lurking beneath this sarcastic exterior."holby city" and "coronation street." the classics! whenever life seemed tumultuous, there was always the reassurance that weatherfield's cobbles would still be there. "corrie" is like the beloved grandparent of british tv – you're not sure how they're still going, but you're damn grateful they are. as for my comfort show? hmm... it's got to be "the vicar of dibley." dawn french in her comedic brilliance, and who can resist the infamous chocolate gag? and about "bridgerton" - it's such a visual spectacle, and no, i'm not only talking about rege-jean page, though he's certainly a sight to behold. but you're right, the lack of natural disasters is made up for with all the, ahem, heated drama. actors sure have their ways of making everything interesting. hats off to you for being a part of that whirlwind. though, honestly, who needs plot devices when a dashing duke decides to abandon his waistcoat?

you know, sometimes i laugh at your puns - mostly out of pity, but every blue moon you come up with something quite creative and the laugh of pity turns in to something far more genuine. but you're right. can you see me jumping on to any actual trend? i think the entire world and myself included, would go slightly mad the day that happened. shame for you that you never caught me on my days of being a jack kelly understudy. i still have nightmares over that final note in santa fe though, so perhaps more like just your luck. hey, newspapers will always be cool (i am under oath and contract to always stand up for newspapers, send help). i thank them every day for getting me in to the whole scheme of tap dancing. however, i imagine they have moments of being thankful they introduced it to me, much laced with complete and wholehearted frustration and pain. especially the nights i couldn't sleep and somehow thought i could tap dance silently. they rudely let me know, there is no such thing, which i came to realize at a later date. i can only agree to the lot of it. there's no better place than the theater, whether you're on stage or just indulging in the magic from the stalls. never. i know you're always on a busy schedule. had plenty of people dear to me come and see it. now did i miss seeing you there? sure. but bad friend? you couldn't possibly ever be.

come now, you flatter me, mikey – even if it's out of pity half the time. a laugh is a laugh, and i'll take it where i can get it. honestly, if you jumped on a trend, i'd assume the fabric of reality had torn somewhere. it's the unexpected things about you that make you so delightfully entertaining. jack kelly is quite the role, mate. and "santa fe," well, to nail that final note, one needs lungs as expansive as the grand canyon so i'm rather gutted to have missed that performance too. newspapers leading you to tap dancing? there's an origin story i wouldn't have guessed. time for you to make a musical about it. there's always a thin line between passion and... well, rousing the neighbourhood with your nocturnal tap escapades. look, missing a show or two doesn't define one's value as a friend. time is a fickle thing, and sometimes it just doesn't align. but the sentiment, the support, and the camaraderie – those are constants. as long as those remain, we're golden. perhaps one day, i might just catch you tapping away, no matter the hour.

it's so frustrating. like you're really gonna make me get up from this couch and be social ? works better than a therapy session sometimes. i guess it's worth its money one way or another. speaking of embarrassing moments though - now i gotta hear the story of your most embarrassing moment. because i have a feeling it's gonna be a wild one. chapeau to all of you actors out there because i could never. i also haven't worked on my french in years, so i'm not sure this is the correct word to express my sentiment. skins however, lives in my mind rent free. well, to be fair effy and freddie do. i don't remember much of the rest. it's always a fifty-fifty chance speaking this out loud and not receving any backlash.

the ever-present pressure of societal norms! why can't the world just let us be, eh? if wallowing in comfy loungewear was an olympic sport, i'd be going for the gold. my most embarrassing moment? well, without revealing too much, let's say it involved an unfortunately timed wardrobe malfunction during a live theatre performance. i'll let your imagination fill in the gaps. the show must go on, as they say. and on it went, much to the surprise of the front row. ah, "chapeau." a touch of french flair, i see. it indeed means "hat" but also used to show respect or admiration. so, i'm taking that as a nod to my wild tales. "skins" always takes me right back to my teenager years – specially my briefly lived emo phrase. freddie and effy — what an emotional rollercoaster that was! some characters just stick with you, don't they? worry not, you're in good company here. we can revel in the nostalgia together.

my parents were pretty bohemian, but we all had our chores and i couldn't watch tv without completing mine first. i called dibs on walking the dogs, since it was the easiest task on the list, plus i managed to get fresh air in the meantime. how embarrassing would it be to admit that i still regularly quote that show? "the o'connor residence, lord of the house speaking" is far too satisfying of a way to answer the telephone. i was lucky enough to meet dame routledge some years ago and what a legend she is. these hypothetical photos, would your parents happen to have any of them laying around? most of my work is here now and i did over a year of flying back and forth between london and los angeles and the jetlag nearly finished me off. couldn't do it. you absolutely shouldn't buy me several rounds of vesper martinis then, those are hazardous when i try to keep a secret.

aren't your folks a pair of sneaky geniuses? embedding the idea of responsibility with a dash of outdoor fun? bravo to them. ah, "the o'connor residence, lord of the house speaking." such a hyacinth way to answer the phone. trust me, there's no shame in quoting classics. i do reckon some phrases become part of one's dna after a while. meeting dame patricia routledge is a brush with royalty, isn't it? bet she's even more of a hoot in person. as for those hypothetical photos... well, let's say if they existed, they'd probably be stored under lock and key, guarded by a trio of fierce geese and possibly a rogue squirrel named nigel. it's all very hush-hush. constantly commuting between london and la? shit. i'm already feeling the jetlag just thinking about it. i remember from experience that’s quite the feat of endurance. vesper martinis, huh? a drink named after a bond girl, no less. challenge accepted. if i ever come around to making you spill your secrets, well, i promise they'll stay between us and the olives.

that's the beauty of rewatching things. once in a while at least. teenagers are dramatic, but wow do they take it to another level. i think that watching my mom watch and speak about it is more entertaining than the show itself. you would think it's worthy of an emmy with how invested she still is.

you hit the nail right on the head! teen dramas always seemed to take the angst and ratchet it up to an eleven. everything was always life-or-death, even if it was just about who borrowed whose mascara. but watching someone else, especially someone from a different generation, get so ensnared by it? now that’s true entertainment. i imagine your mum clutching her pearls (or tea, whichever's closer) and audibly gasping at every plot twist. one could almost make a drinking game out of her reactions. you know, sometimes it's less about the show and more about the shared experience. watching your mum get that emmy-worthy invested? priceless. it's these tiny moments and inside jokes that make it all worth it.

well, isn't that just the way? when you're swamped, all you can think of is lounging about and watching shows, and when you've got the time, you can't bring yourself to press play. life's got a wicked sense of humour, doesn't it? "friends," though? oh, i get you. once hailed as the modern-day gospel for how 20-somethings navigated life, love, and uh, lobsters. but watching it now, with a slightly more jaded eye, it's a mixed bag. some jokes still tickle, others make you wonder what you were chuckling at in the first place. but isn't that the charm of getting older? our tastes evolve, our patience wears thin in places and deepens in others.

save the cheerleader, save the world," they said. and we all fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. but just like many things from the past revisiting them with older, wiser eyes can sometimes be a tad... underwhelming? some shows are like that pair of neon leggings you thought were absolutely fabulous at the time but now make you question your life choices. you're spot on. as we grow older, the allure of flashy gimmicks and convoluted storylines fades. we start appreciating consistency, depth, and authenticity.  hello to you too, by the way. i must say, for someone i've never met, our banter feels comfortably familiar. what's your name again? leo?

For real. I was pretty disappointed. I really wanted something more out of it. Here's another can of worms. Game of Thrones was something I loved. So many people hated the ending and I was like well - you can't always get what you want. It was pretty crazy. I didn't have that much of a problem with it though, but everyone was freaking out like wanting it remade to fit their narrative. Degrassi makes me cringe now but yeah, it was pretty cool back then.

game of thrones? that one? people acted as if their tea was made with cold water, the outrage was absolutely unreal. the way i see it, endings are a tricky business. not every story will finish with a perfect little bow on top. some people need to remember it's just telly, not a life commitment. and degrassi? bloody hell. that show looked like a guidebook on how not to handle teenage issues. looking back, sure, it’s cringeworthy, but wasn't everything we loved back then?

once in a great while, the opposite happens, and you notice the details that you didn't pick up on the first time and it makes the experience that much better. it doesn't happen often, but once in a while i think a second watch can make you like something even more. the real reason i even considered watching dawsons creek was because my mom wanted to rewatch it and is enthralled in seeing my reactions to it. im happy i can count it as quality time.

oh, absolutely. it's like when you've tasted a dish and then on the second helping, you're like, "oh, so that's what coriander tastes like." sometimes, a second go-round helps you truly appreciate the nuances. dawson's creek? oh, blimey! that takes me back! the dramatic staring into the distance, joey's confusing love life, and dawson's overly complicated teenage philosophy. it's one of those shows that's deliciously cringeworthy but also heartwarming in its own peculiar way. watching it with your mum? priceless.

yes, that's the one. i can't believe you know it as well. the amount of nostalgia that's hitting me right now, wow. i used to get up early in the summer so i could walk the dog and make myself breakfast before flopping in front of the telly and be mesmerized by that silly little show. most of the things you loved as a kid haven't aged well, so i shan't ever go back to rewatch them. aside from keeping up appearances, that is. the bucket woman will always be famous. please tell me there's pictures of you in butterfly clips, because i need it in my life. i'm in california these days, so maybe you'll join me for a cold bevvy on the beach soon? only a few more months to go and then you shall be able to see it. i'll do my best not to spoil the movie for you.

the image of a young josh diligently completing all his morning tasks just to enjoy telly time is truly heartwarming. goodness, keeping up appearances! hyacinth bucket (or "bouquet" as she'd have you believe) – what a character! it's one of those classics that never lose their shine, isn't it? some comedies just stand the test of time. oh, trust me, if there were pictures of 'vanessa' in butterfly clips, they would be locked away in some high-security vault never to see the light of day. but for the sake of our little chat, let's say they're out there, floating in the winds of embarrassment and 90s fashion regrets. california? what a change from the drizzling british weather. cold bevvy on the beach sounds absolutely smashing. how tantalisingly cryptic of you. you better keep those spoilers locked tight. there's nothing quite like the thrill of a first watch.

oh, bless your tardy little heart! waiting to hop on the bandwagon so you could avoid the weekly agony of cliffhangers. i respect the strategy. and, oh, 'the vampire diaries'? classic teenage fixation. i remember thinking, 'really? vampires, again? and they're...brooding?' but i get it; the allure of two drop-dead (pun intended) handsome blokes fighting over one human lass like she's the last pint in the pub is somewhat irresistible at a certain age. then, you grow up, realize adulting is a thing, and wonder why nobody ever bothered to get a proper job in that show. i'll give you credit for attempting a re-watch, though. that's like voluntarily going back to your teenage years. brave and perhaps a bit mad, aren't we? but hey, cringe-worthy as it may be, it's a cultural artifact—a monument to our teen fantasies and lack of good judgement.

and i felt like it was all working out for me with new shows even, until netflix ruined my plans and went all 'second batch of that season of that show you've just binge-watched in a day without leaving your couch once is coming soon' and i've never been more disappointed. guess i gotta stick to the already wrapped up shows. you don't like going back to your teenage years ? revel in the glorious days of puberty hitting and having to deal with high school and the lack of good judgement ? always a bit mad, but i feel like we all are. aren't actors actually the maddest of the whole lot of public figures out here ? like it's a criteria to be if you wanna become a brilliant one ? don't tell me you have no teenage show you went back to at least once, i won't believe you.

netflix has a penchant for doing that to everyone. just when you think you've got your life sorted, they pull the rug from under your feet. classic netflix. as for the teenage years, who doesn't have a love-hate relationship with them? a time when your biggest problem was which embarrassing moment of the day would be gossiped about first – good but also cruel times. actors are mad as a box of frogs, the lot of them. i mean, who willingly pretends to be someone else for a living? bonkers. if we're spilling secrets... i might've revisited an episode or two or all seasons of 'skins.' have you ever watched it?