Was I under the spell of my Fall road trip, Halloween, or trying to avoid the looming election? As I reflect on my watchlist it was quite random. My streaming included new releases, classic Halloween movies, and falling in love with my favorite TV show all over again. This edition will also include reviews of two streaming services that were new to me.

Frndly.tv (7-Day Trial)
Ok, I admit it: I am that person; the one who wants to waste countless Fall weekends watching Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas movies. I know that all the movies are pretty much the same, but when the world seems to have lost its mind, the monotony is relaxing. Earlier this year, I cut cable and the search for a streaming service began. Through my research, I learned that the HallmarkNOW service may not offer the current year’s batch of films.
First, I tried Frndly.tv. The service offers live and on-demand viewing of 15 family-friendly channels – including all 3 Hallmark channels, UPtv, Game Show Network, QVC, and Curiosity Stream. The cost is very reasonable, starting at $5.99/month for the basic service, while it’s $7.99/month to add DVR and HD view. There is no contract, so you can cancel anytime.
While the service offers what I’m looking for, it seems a little glitchy on my FireTV. While watching one of the movies, it looped the same scene and wouldn’t continue the movie. On the other hand, the OnDemand window is about 48 hours, and played without issue. The jury is still out, but I may cancel before my free trial is up and try another option.

HBOMax (7-Day free trial)
Months after its premiere, I finally signed up for a free trial of HBOMax. While I am impressed with their streaming catalog (I love that they offer access to Turner Classic Movies), I’m disappointed that the service is not available on the Firestick and Roku – the devices I own. I had to wire my computer to my TV in order to watch the content I wanted to watch. Until they address this issue, I will save my money.

A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote

The West Wing aired on NBC from 1999 to 2006. For years, fans of the show have been begging for a reboot or update on our favorite White House employees, but creator Aaron Sorkin has stated that he is not interested in taking on such a project. The fandom, however, was given a gift in the form of this special. The original cast and crew reunited to perform a stage presentation of an episode from season 3 called Hartsfield Landing, which has a theme of voting. The commercial breaks were used for PSAs about voting in America. The special was filmed in a theater with no audience present, all COVID-related precautions in place to protect the actors and crew, and acted as a fundraiser for the non-partisan group When We All Vote.
I loved this special. In fact, as soon as I heard the theme, I cried. It was awesome to see my favorite cast work together again and it just gave me all the good feels. As John Spencer passed away in the final season of the show, there was one casting change. Sterling K. Brown was cast to fill the role, and his performance was flawless.
The special is currently available to everyone in the US, even if you are not a subscriber. Just follow the link above to watch it. If you want to see the original episode, it can be found on Netflix.

 

Amazon Prime
The Boys Season 1

I know I’m late to this show, as season two released at the beginning of September. The Boys is based on the comic books of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The show flips the superhero tropes on their collective heads by asking and answering two questions: What if superheroes were handled by a public relations firm? Are superheroes actually nice?
I find this show to be wild. The writers just let their imaginations run with this theme. Still, I found some of the scenes to be pretty graphic, so I have to watch it in small doses. It’s a good watch, but just be warned that this is not for children.

Savage X Fenty

Savage X Fenty Fashion Show appeared in September, and it was just what my inner diva needed. New York Fashion Week is not accessible to those outside the fashion industry. Plus, in the age of COVID-19 a fashion show with audiences would not be possible.
Savage X Fenty is a lingerie brand by Rhianna, and has always been about inclusion. This launch was no exception, as the show included all gender identities, bodies of all sizes, celebrities, and people of all ages. It was astounding to behold. Now that I say that, in fact, this should be the rule and not the exception. Everything was well-choreographed and the transitions were seamless.
If you are looking for some fashion inspiration, watch this show.

 

Netflix
Enola Holmes

Based on the books by Nancy Springer, Enola Holmes is a tale about the intelligent, independent, younger sister of Sherlock & Mycroft Holmes. An original creation of Springer, the film starts with Enola searching for her mother who has gone missing, then quickly turns into a mystery surrounding a runaway Viscount.
I found this movie entertaining, even with the unusual casting of Henry Cavill as Sherlock. The costumes and set design were beautiful. The movie was well-paced and amazing to watch. There were even a few cliffhangers left for a second film, so let’s see what happens.

 

This Fall, I also took a road trip through Northeastern America. Along the way, I visited Salem, Massachusetts and Sleepy Hollow, New York, so I also watched two classic and campy Halloween films in the spirit of those cities. They were both fun to watch and easy to follow.

Hocus Pocus (1993): Three 300 year-old witches are brought back to life and wreak havoc on the town of Salem.

Sleepy Hollow (1999): An adaptation of Washington Irving’s tale of the Headless Horseman.

 

For this month’s The Movie Remix, Constance and I reviewed all of the Carrie movies. Check out the video, and let us know if you agree or disagree with our thoughts.

Well, that is what I streamed in October. Links to everything are provided. Have I missed another show or movie you think I should watch? Let me know in the comments below.