E-Mail 2018 Roundup

2018 ROUNDUP

Welcome to E-Mail's first annual year roundup! In this space today, I will be sharing the best content that I watched, listened and consumed in the year of 2018 (also known as 20gayteen)

2018 was the year that I got heavily into podcasts! The year where I saw stand-up comedy. The year where I stan'd a kpop group. Good content this year, so let's get into it!

Ladybird 📽

Ladybird was the best film I saw in 2018! Written and directed by the darling Greta Gerwig, Ladybird is a coming-of-age com/dram film about the tumultuous relationship between mother and daughter. The film really moved me and I felt really introspective after seeing it. The soundtrack is atmospheric and the acting is stellar. 

Bon Appétit 🔴

I really got into the Bon Appétit youtube channel in 2018, specifically the series 'It's Alive' with Brad Leone and 'Pastry Chef Attempts to Make Gourmet' with Claire Saffitz. The style of videos from BA is really relaxing and easy to watch. It's not preachy or heavily styles, it's more like catching a friend making a recipe and asking them how they do it. It's Alive is all about fermentation with the insanely-likeable Brad with on-point video editing by Vinnie. Gourmet series is an interesting watch as Claire makes gourmet versions of name brand goodies. It's a wholesome channel and I always highly recommend it to anyone who listens!

Red Velvet (Bad Boy) 🎵

Red Velvet...what can I say about RV? It's my favourite Kpop group, and to be honest, my favourite music group this minute. My favourite song of 2018 is Bad Boy, released by the group in January, which really says something for it to be the crowning song of the year. The song follows the velvet side of the group and boy it is GLORIOUS. The lyrics make me feel confident and empowered, the beat is unlike anything I normally listen to (R&B with hip hop elements) and the dance routine is outstanding.

If you want to experience Red Velvet, but don't know where to start, I recommend this megamix!

My Brother, My Brother, And Me 📻

Ah, the three brothers! MBMBAM is the titular podcast from the McElroy bulging box of content that got me heavily into podcasts in 2018. The podcast itself is an advice podcast for the modern era, where the boys; oldest brother Justin, middlest brother Travis and sweet baby brother Griffin, answer Yahoo Answer questions, as well as user submitted questions. Each episode has a guaranteed belly laugh and the community formed around it is rather wonderful.

They boys make a LOT of stuff, to name a few Wonderful, TAZ, TMBWBITWD

If you want to understand who these boys are, watch an episode of their TV show

If you already know about the boys, listen to The Good Boys Girls where two fans discuss all the McElroy content! 

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina 📺

I nearly forgot to include Sabrina in this collection which is horrifying, as this show made me a bit witch-mad for a good month. The new Netflix series about Sabrina Spellman, and her entry into the world of magic. The show is dark, amusing, highly aesthetic and addictive! It took me a while to get into it so don't dismiss it too soon!

The Marvellous Mrs Maisel 📺

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, a show about a 1950's housewife who abandons her picture perfect life to be a stand up comedian. Aka the BEST show I saw this year. I remember hearing about the show in a roundup from 2017 and it piqued my interest. I gave it a watch and boy was I wrong to sleep on this. I feel like this show perfectly hits everything I love in a tv show; comedic timing, fast plots, enviable costumes, songs that make you want to listen to nothing else, strong female leads, good use of side characters... god it's such a good show. I would shout from a rooftop if I could. Season 2 hit amazon a few weeks ago, so catch up so we can talk about it!

Haley Blais 🎵

Haley! A lot of her songs cropped up on my 2018 most listens and there's a good reason why, bloody great music! I found her through a drunk fringe trim video and stayed ever since! Her music is folky, current and incredibly re-playable! The lyrics are quite something and the melodies stick in my head for days! I don't know how to talk about music, but..just listen okay!!!

The Good Place 📺

The Good Place, where the wrong person is put in the 'Good Place', and paired up with an unlikely soulmate, is also a very strong television contender! Into the 3rd season now which you can catch on Netflix. It's a show I cannot predict, it's strong and funny and has a wonderful ensemble cast. The episodes of late have admittedly been a bit hit or miss, but the shows premise is SO strong and unique that it had to go on the list. 

Chris Fleming 👏

I had to whack Chris on the list! Seeing Chris Fleming this October was a big moment for me, as I spontaneously decided to go and see his first standup tour in the UK as I miraculously had the right combination of days off! I've only started to venture to London by myself this year as the big smoke truly terrifies me, and with no one free to join me, I got on a coach and went to a comedy club in soho. The show was strong, the first of his tour so he was a bit nervous but god it was good. Chris has a kooky sense of humour that I cherish. Watch this clip to see what I mean!

Hamilton 🎭

Alexander Hamilton! AKA the musical I booked a year and a half in advance to see! The WONDERFUL Adzie accompanied me when my original companion fell through, and we had a lovely time seeing the hit American Musical in London! Experiencing the show in the theatre with our knees very squashed is definitely different from listening to it sat in your towel on the bed for far too long. The choreography was stunning and despite the show running for a good few months now, the cast received a SO! Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius and a babe, so listen to this 2 and a half hour monster! And if you already know about Hamilton and desire more, check out Lin's Hamildrops which he released all throughout 2018!

Joe Lycett 👏

Joe Lycett! Joseph, Joseph, Jospeh. More stand-up comedy I saw in 2018, which I caught with oldest pal James (we were memorable heckled by Joe himself over James' twitter bio at the time, which was 'mass dom top' which he then had to explain to the very conservative audience) I like Joe, he's a good lad. I was introduced to him by an ex, and I remember sitting on the floor watching his stand-up, knowing I was going to like this Lycett bloke. And I saw him live! A bisexual legend, watch him above!

Queer Eye 📺

Queer Eye captured my heart this year. It took me a long time to watch these wonderful men (not boys) as I had a case of 'thats too popular so I'm going to ignore it' which is frankly unreasonable. The QE group go beyond their Netflix sensation, as they're even more wonderful IRL. Jonathan has grown on me immensely, and following his ice skating education is enthralling. The show itself is emotional, inspiring and meme-worthy. I just want them to generate content forever.

I really hope you enjoyed this 2018 roundup! I enjoyed making it!

See you in 2019!