Rebecca's Recommendations

As a self-proclaimed professional fangirl, I have the need to expand the fandoms I am in. As such, here is a list of 21 music, book, movie, and TV recommendations from the past few years of my life. These works are listed in no particular order.

Music

The TLDR from this section? I’m a big fan of songs that tell stories. (Film/TV scores are great too, but with only 5 picks I was limited.)

Satisfied by Renee Elise Goldsberry, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton

A whirlwind of emotions as you go from introductions to meet cute to yearning to a marriage to sisterly love. Plus, it’s a delight to watch them “rewind” on stage.

Eraser by Ed Sheeran

The burdens of fame, coping with vices, and coming out the other end. A great song for if you’re tired but you need to keep going.

She Used to Be Mine by Sara Bareilles

Funnily enough I first heard this song used in So You Think You Can Dance, and little did I know one of the dancers would later have a successful music career (Tate McRae). At the time, I also had no idea it was originally written for the musical Waitress.

Anyway, I love this song because you can interpret it in different ways: The speaker could be talking about an external “she” or an internal “she”. Either way, it is a powerful ballad about regretting where you are at but finding the desire to pull yourself out of it.

Split by 88rising, NIKI

For the immigrants who struggle to define home. While I am not an immigrant, the themes of having warring cultures in your head resonated with me.

If We Have Each Other by Alec Benjamin

A heartwarming, wholesome, and catchy song about all the different kinds of love in our lives and how the relationships you build are all you really need.

Honorable Mentions

• Tears of Gold by Faouzia
• Legends Never Die by League of Legends, Against the Current
• Audition (The Fools Who Dream) by Emma Stone
• All Too Well (10 Minute Version) by Taylor Swift

If you’re also someone who listens to the words closely, here’s a playlist with my favorite songs with cool lyrics.

Books

A lot of my taste in books is stuck in my pre-college years, but that doesn’t mean the books are bad!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. What more do you want???

In seriousness, I love this book because it was my gateway into the Grishaverse. It has impeccable world building, characterization, and plot. The characters are smart, sharp, and distinctive. They feel like real people even though the things they accomplish together are incredible. And it’s not your chosen one storyline - this is about the criminals, outcasts, and rebels. If you want Ocean’s Eleven but in a fantasy world, this book is for you.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

A beautiful, heartwrenching, and powerful coming of age story about being Pakistani-American in a small California desert town that spans 2 generations. This book doesn’t pull punches, is excellently paced, and has well-written twists. The characters behave like real people who deal with real issues.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

A whimsical story about a book lover. (What can I say, as a book lover I am biased.)

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

A historical sci-fi novel that interrogates how racism takes root.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

A look into the life of Michelle Obama.

Here’s my Goodreads if you’re curious. Looking at this reminds me I need to read more haha.

Movies

After years of franchise films from Marvel and Star Wars, I’m trying to diversify my taste. A24, indies, film festivals, and arthouse films here I come… but perhaps not yet. (In my defense, I went to Tribeca 2023.)

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

The real multiverse movie that came out that year. Absurdly funny, philosophical, emotional, Asian-generational-trauma, LGBTQ+, action. It really does have everything everywhere all at once. I saw this 3 times in theaters.

Short Term 12 (2013)

Aside from seeing the beginnings of many Hollywood stars-to-be, this film deals with its subject matter – learning to care for traumatized kids while dealing with your own trauma – with a lot of heart.

Knives Out (2019)

A crowd-pleasing, laugh-out-loud, and twisty murder mystery with a side of social commentary about immigration politics in America.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Stunning animation in a multitude of styles, thrilling action, a budding ship, and the age old free will vs. determinism with a multiverse twist.

Inception (2010)

It’s dreams all the way down with a stellar ensemble cast.

Honorable Mentions

• Black Swan (2010)
• Baby Driver (2017)
• Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
• Zootopia (2016)
• Booksmart (2019)

TV

There’s so much good television out there I had to give the TV category 6 slots instead of 5!

Andor (2022)

A political spy thriller, Andor is the “adult” Star Wars TV show we’ve been waiting for. Love morally gray characters? Anti-facism themes? Grounded plot and excellently written monologues? This is for you – regardless of your prior knowledge of the Star Wars universe.

Daredevil (2015)

While this is technically a Marvel TV show, I would describe it as a crime drama that happens to be about a superhero. Superbly acted and written, Daredevil is about the struggles and triumphs of Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), lawyer by day, vigilante by night. Opposite him is the terrifyingly cunning Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio). This show doesn’t pull punches (figuratively and literally) and has stellar stunt work (including impressive one-take fight scenes in each season).

A new Daredevil show is also in the works, Daredevil: Born Again, with some of the cast from the 2015 show reprising their roles.

Arcane (2021)

Every frame looks like a high quality wallpaper. The character dynamics are varied and full of rich emotional depth. The soundtrack is great to listen to even outside the context of the show. The writing touches on classism, police brutality, poverty cycle, dangers and wonders of new technology, and the nature of family. Watch this show, even if you haven’t played the games (in fact it’s kind of better if you haven’t).

Dopesick (2021)

A limited series that spans multiple timelines and follows the lives of different people, all affected by the opioid epidemic in the US. This was a heartwrenching watch and important especially if you have no idea about the opioid epidemic or the role of Purdue Pharma in perpetuating it.

Mr. Robot (2015)

A surprisingly accurate depiction of a hacker aiming to disrupt the capitalist system while dealing with mental illness. It’s also known for its unique cinematography which makes characters feel isolated in the frame. Definitely worth watching blind – do not search up anything about the show, otherwise you will probably get spoiled.

The Last of Us (2023)

An adaptation of the video game of the same name, The Last of Us took the world by storm last year, and rightly so – with an emotionally devastating but also endearing story about a grizzled survivor and his job to transport a young girl across the country for the chance at a cure. Although it is set in an apocalyptic world, the focus is not on the zombies (called “infected”) but rather on the human systems and relationships that emerge from the wreckage.

Honorable Mentions

• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013)
• Mare of Easttown (2021)
• Beef (2023)
• Barry (2018)
• Only Murders in the Building (2021)
• Abbott Elementary (2021)
• The Good Place (2016)

If you’re interested in all of my TV/movie recommendations, check out this IMDb list I made (and will continue to update). I also recently made a Letterboxd!