Summer Vibes.

Random notes, a new spoiler post feature, a song, a film and sunscreen.

Greeting from Portland.

As many of you know, I tend not to call much of anything a “vacation” these days, for many reasons, historic and otherwise, but the main gist is that ever since I got this place in Portland three years ago the trade off is basically this is where I spend my “vacation” until and if there’s a shake-out in funds that would pony up a trip to Europe or something, which seems unlikely.

Plus, I always write on vacation. Or “vacation.” And as for that historic reference, I have spent close to two decades having all my friends (and family) mock the idea that someone who watches TV for a living or even writes scripts for an alleged living is really actually working.

I would casually mention that I was exhausted and needed a vacation and someone would say, “Yes, definitely, you should just chill out and watch some TV on the couch … Oh, wait.”

That kind of thing. And they're not actually wrong, are they? I have said forever that I’m not breaking rocks here. Even in this new scattered/shattered media landscape and a completely revamped/imploded entertainment industry landscape, where everybody is scrambling to adjust/survive, life is still pretty great. No complaints.

So, yeah, I guess this is “vacation,” but I’m still watching and writing. Maybe the pace will slow a bit, but maybe not.

I mentioned in the comments to the last Observer post that I was answering many of them from the dreary confines of the DMV, which, I would like to point out, is serious dedication for only $50 a year or $6 a month. I was getting shit done, though, and proud of it. Capped off the pre-vacation getaway with a blood draw, a physical at the doctors, a CT scan of my neck, a trip to the DMV for a long overdue new (probably terrible) photo and updated address, two excellent birria tacos at El Patron (Bay Area), a few random TV episodes a fantastic film (“The Worst Person In the World”), a surprise action banger (“Kate”) and a slapdash packing job.

I’ll take it.

This is Viewing Partner KB’s actual vacation since she has an actual job, so we’re super excited to explore around the Portland Pied-à-Terre because the last time she was here in January she was sick the whole time. Lots of plans. Already stacking up the food hits, including last night at legendary Ken’s Artisan Pizza, ranked in the Top 50 of pizza places in the world.

(Portland is unarguably one of the great food cities in America but even I took some getting used to it being considered one of the best pizza cities anywhere; somehow that snuck up on me over the last three years despite all the media accolades it gets about its pies; I haven’t been to them all yet, but I will, and my current favorite is Scottie’s, by the slice, if you’re ever up here).

“Spoilt.”

Alright, a quick and hopefully well-embraced housekeeping note: Based on lot of readers saying it would be a good idea (especially you, Paul Costigan), I’m going to launch “Spoilt,” a feature for paid subscribers where certain popular shows get their own spoiler-laden deconstruction from me and spoiler-heavy comments from readers.

“The Bear” is the obvious pick of recent shows, but I’ll probably launch with that plus a second separate show that may or may not have been popular enough for the masses of you to riff on. We’ll see.

I don’t think the feature will appear too often because if there’s a (great or near-great) series where most people are going to be talking about it, I’d probably do a Box Set episode-by-episode deconstruction instead, and everyone can comment on those episodes as they happen. And I’ll say there are not a ton of series that truly merit their own spoiler-heavy discussion, but I’m open to tossing a few into the ring (movies, too, if they seem to fit the mood).

She’s definitely not…

“The Worst Person In the World.” (2021).

Joachim Trier, the Norwegian-Danish director who has a finely tuned sense of detail and heart-and-head-cracking emotional realism, was nominated for an Academy Award for this film (which also appeared on the New York Times 100 Best Films of the 21st Century, that I recently wrote about).

Days later — still processing.

I completely loved it for multiple reasons. Prominent among them in my recollections at the moment, is that this film reaffirms how important it is to have stories told to you from around the world, in different perspectives than what you’d get here as an American. I had (and still have) that same feeling from the “Families Like Ours” Danish TV series I also just wrote about.

The other lingering emotion from the film is realizing in the moment how intimate “The Worst Person In the World” is and how much nuance is happening in every scene. Truly impressive.

Here’s the links to the posts as a reminder:

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“Long Hot Summer.”

Somewhere in my forgotten Apple Music archives is a playlist with this title (a Style Council song if you’re keeping track at home) that I’m going to build out further on Spotify, since it was a measly 16 songs:

• “Long Hot Summer.”

• “It’s Summertime,” The Flaming Lips.

• “Summer Teeth,” Wilco.

• “Working Girls (Sunlight Shines)” Pernice Brothers.

• “Constructive Summer,” The Hold Steady.

• “Summersong,” The Decemberists.

• “Summerlong,” Kathleen Edwards.

• “Sunny Afternoon,” The Kinks.

• “Sun Is Out,” Apples In Stereo.

• “Blister In the Sun,” Violent Femmes.

• “The Sun On His Back,” Camera Obscura.

• Looking At the Sun,” Matthew Sweet.

• “Summertime,” The Sundays.

• “Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset,” Modest Mouse.

• “It Must Be Summer,” Fountains of Wayne.

• “Summer Single,” John Wesley Harding.

That’s a pretty stellar list, he says to himself, but I’m also kind of surprised I didn’t include this gem from the iconic Jonathan Richman:

I’m going to argue that this is the best-written song about summer ever. It’s just a legendary nine verse plus intro-bridge-outro collection of sentiment and wisdom and, yes, feeling, that you can’t shake. A long, totally brilliant song. Here’s one of my favorite verses:

When the cool of the pond makes you drop down on it
When the smell of the lawn makes you flop down on it
When the teenage car gets the cop down on it
That time is here for one more year
And that summer feelin' is gonna haunt you one day in your life

I’ll take any summer song suggestions you’ve got in the comments. In the meantime, don’t forget your sunscreen and I’ll check back in soon. Oh, also, let me know if you’re on vacation, staycation, or “vacation” if you are.

Together we’re going to build something this summer.*

*: