040. 2020 Index: Television, In Rotation: Skincare
Sharing the best tv of 2020 and new skincare I’m currently testing.
Hi! I’m Maggie, and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter about slow beauty and slow living. If you enjoy and would like to support this newsletter, click the button below! No pressure but thank you if you do.
Television was dealt quite the curveball in 2020. However, the few series that debuted last year delivered nothing short of outstanding quality. When I sat down to compile my list, there were only three that popped into mind.
ZeroZeroZero (Prime Video)
For longtime subscribers of the Tender Forms Off-Camera Newsletter, you might have guessed this would make its way on here. Back when the newsletter just started, I decided to do a recap series (Newsletter 003, 006). While I didn’t get too far in, I still want to finish it someday if only for myself. That’s how much this series means to me. It is by far, the best television show I can think of in the past decade: succinct, visually stunning, some of the best storytelling to date.
It had so many things going against it: multiple languages and international locations, three storylines along the same timeline, an ensemble cast, and a story we all know too well. It’s tough to get even one of these things done right when it comes to film and television, yet the team succeeded in all of them.
I don’t think anyone aside from yours truly would venture to say it features some of the biggest names in entertainment, but it does precisely that! First and foremost, there’s Gabriel Byrne (even if SPOILER ALERT: his character doesn’t make it far into the series). He is such a credible and seasoned actor, having been in ‘The Usual Suspects,’ ‘Dead Man,’ and more recently the A24 horror film ‘Hereditary.’ Not to mention his lead role in the award-winning HBO series, ‘In Treatment.’ Then there’s Andrea Riseborough, my woman crush of 2020. What an extraordinary actress. She possesses something so few in the entertainment industry genuinely possess: the ability of a chameleon. She shifts, transforms, becomes someone new, engaging, faulty, fierce, funny, timid that you don’t even recognize her in each. I’m surprised she’s not more well-known, considering she’s fast becoming another seasoned actor, having been in features since 2006, and in Paramount Network’s ‘Waco’ back in 2018. I just saw her in ‘Possessor,’ and I can’t stress how badass this woman is. I already have and continue to expect greatness from her.
Then there’s Dane DeHaan. Of course, as with any actor, it’s subjective whether or not one thinks they’re “good.” I’m one who thinks he is. I’ve watched most of his catalog, surprisingly, and no matter how flawed the film is, he’s at the very least good in it. But there are times when he, too, can be extraordinary. I remember seeing him back in the early seasons of ‘In Treatment’ (yes, the one and the same with Byrne) and wondering who this kid was. Since then, he’s done a myriad of indies and blockbusters, but ‘ZeroZeroZero’ is his best work to date.
And we have to talk about the unbelievable international stars that I was not previously aware of. Harold Torres is incredible in this series. He commands attention, and whenever he was on screen, I couldn’t look away. He has a beautiful, raw energy to his acting despite his character’s quiet, storm beneath the surface demeanor. He pulsates and can blow any time but never does. That’s an incredible feat to achieve all season long. He’s, of course, very well-known in Mexico and has garnered several acting awards already.
The grandfather and grandson duo deliver equally magnetic performances. Adriano Chiaramida, who plays the former, is a seasoned Italian actor having started his career in the early 80s. Giuseppe De Domenico, who plays the latter, is a newcomer, and I would’ve never guessed. Having only started in 2017, it makes his performance that much more impressive.
The cast and crew are phenomenal to say the least, and the series felt like an odyssey despite its short 8-episode season. Whenever I think about this show, I’m instantly transported back into it, and that’s very much thanks to its impeccable pacing and atmosphere. ‘ZeroZeroZero’ is sharp television. If you’re going to devote any time to television, let it be to this.
The Great (Hulu)
“A thoroughly good time.” That’s what my review would be if you asked me to be concise. This would not have been a success if either lead were paired with someone else. Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult are the best castings of their roles. For some reason, I expected the pairing not to work. It does because they don’t have much contact with one another for the majority of the season. This allows each to shine within their realm, so to speak.
This was a hilarious series. It extracted so many laugh-out-loud moments for me, which I adore when watching any film or television. I loved the contrast between the bright, rich color palette of the series and the darkness of the storyline. Hulu modernized a classic retelling and offered enticing, memorable gems. While Fanning is indeed fantastic in this, Hoult is the true diamond in the rough. One scene seems impossible to ever have happened in reality or in fiction, yet he somehow pulls it off.
I’m torn whether or not I would want a sophomore season. It ends so beautifully; why ruin it? Unless they come back with the same secret sauce…but what if they don’t do it as well this time around? See my dilemma? We’ll let the fates decide.
Industry: Season 1 (BBC Two, HBO)
What. A. Sleeper. Hit. I watched the trailer before it released and had absolutely no interest in the series. But then I watched the season premiere and was blown away. This is a raw, unapologetic, volatile, heartbreaking series. What is perhaps worse is that the main cast is young. They have so much ahead of them, but watching them fumble, fall, dive just makes you want to protect them from the wretchedness of the unforgiving world!
The series follows a group of recent university graduates fighting for a coveted full-time position in one of London’s top (if not the top) prestigious investment banks. All but one are London bred, spanning a wide range of classes. The ‘one’ is a middle class, Black, American woman played by Myha’la Herrold. To describe her performance as transcending and phenomenal would be downplaying it.
There’s a terrific balance of relatability and insight in this series, which I found lacking in most throughout 2020. Relatability is essential for a viewer to feel an emotional connection with the characters and show, bringing them back to watch the next episode and the next. Insight provides a new perspective and feeds the curiosity. Both are executed exceptionally well. Not only is each character filled with depth and arc, but the relationships between them push and pull, resulting in new exciting avenues.
I was incredibly taken by one particular relationship that I find is so rarely portrayed on television these days—that between a mentor and mentee of the opposite gender. We’re made to think this type of relationship can only go and end in one way. Still, the series shows a refreshing take on it, cementing that perspective is everything, and more often than not, perception can be deceiving.
‘Industry’ is an incredibly rich series. Watch it. *A second season has been ordered, and I can’t wait!
A Teacher (FX on Hulu)
Given the premise of the series (a tv adaptation of the feature film in the same title), I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. The two lead performances are spectacular, and it’s an incredibly well-paced series. Word of caution: this series really toys with your emotions. Considering its “taboo” subject of grooming, it’s no small feat that it makes you root for a couple you shouldn’t root for. The most exciting aspect is that much of the series is devoted to the aftermath, something rarely shown and discussed. And that portion is incredibly gripping. Each episode has a short run-time of 20 minutes, so you could binge this in one day. And in all honesty, it’s worth it.
We Are Who We Are (HBO)
You know you’ve crossed the threshold into “old” when you realize you have no idea what it’s like to be a teen nowadays. I love seeing these generational differences in the trials of growing up. ‘We Are Who We Are’ unmistakably has the DNA of Luca Guadagnino’s filmmaking. It’s highly romantic in story and visuals, and each episode a slice of life. What was most compelling was the setting and circumstance. These teens are part of military families living on base and overseas, no less. To me, the experience of living on base is already unfamiliar. Yet, this series takes it to another level by placing them in a foreign country with a different language. That’s what I love about Guadagnino’s work. He’s such a keen observer and wise educator. He places facts in front of you, leads you to a new vantage point, and leaves you to learn something new. And underneath all the new settings, languages, lifestyles, and lessons is a base filled with love.
World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji (Prime Video)
We watched plenty of docuseries this year, but none stand out more than this one. The season is filled with so much humanity, hardship, and love, it undoubtedly will tug at those heartstrings. It was also one of the most inspiring watches. There’s nothing like physical ability in raw nature to truly show what someone is made of and how far they are willing to go.
Devs (FX on Hulu)
Have we come full circle? This was the first tv series I wrote about back in Newsletter 001. You might remember that I, more or less, despised the show. And that’s really because it had all the makings of something extraordinary and fell very short. However, I’m adding it here because there is much merit to its visual treatment. I stand by my original thought that this would make an excellent music video series to an album or playlist. Have it on mute and play your own music on top of it. That’s the best way of viewing this, and the visuals will certainly stay with you.
For the past month or so, I’ve been introducing new items from Naturallogic* and Earthwise Beauty* into my skincare routine and keeping them in rotation. Most of these will be first and second impressions, but they’re standing out in my memory; usually a tell-tale sign, there will be more to come!
*Full disclosure: I’m fortunate to have such thoughtful friends who pass items along to me. All the following were gifts from friends, and I will be sharing more on that soon!
Naturallogic Alpha Beta Enzyme Resurfacing Mask* ($60, 2floz | 60ml)
I’ve used this three times now and love the results. I like to use this when I feel my skin needs a jump start. And it does that just. Gently exfoliates with an amount of Glycolic Acid my skin can actually handle and leaves my skin smooth, hydrated, and glowy.
Naturallogic Rarefy Flawless Complexion Oil* ($72, 1floz | 30ml)
With a quick look at the ingredients, it’s no surprise my skin loves this oil. It’s got blue tansy, hemp seed, raspberry, and tamanu. This is an excellent morning facial oil, incredibly silky, and creates the perfect base for makeup. Not to mention its fantastic ability to hydrate, calm, and help my skin breathe throughout the day. A winner in my book so far (it’s been roughly three weeks). A note on scent: all I get is blue tansy. I’m not the biggest fan of blue tansy scent-wise, but my skin loves it as an ingredient. The plus side is the scent dissipates quickly!
Naturallogic Elemental Advanced Hydration Red Wine Essence* ($72, 1floz | 30ml)
WOW. I’m not an essence user, so I can’t speak to how this compares with others. I can’t even say I truly know what an essence does, but I know I love this one. Smells of delicious red wine and the milky peach tint is a feast for the eyes. Sinks in so quickly and leaves my skin hydrated, toned, and overall feeling great. I’ve been using this strictly in the evenings just because I need a bit more moisture at night. I’ve also been loving my current morning routine, so I haven’t felt like I needed this extra step. But I imagine when my current toner runs out, I’ll replace it with this!
Earthwise Beauty Imhotep’s Balsam Face Mask* ($14, 4.2g | .15oz)
My skin’s been having some extreme dry patches lately with the colder weather and heater running. I’ve only used this once so far, and I mixed only a 1/4 teaspoon with pAra’s Soma, and what a lovely experience it was! The scent on its own is beautiful, but I love the two mixed. This has a fantastic ingredient list, including astragalus (which I love), comfrey root, and licorice root. The first time early on into the mask session, there was a very slight tingle. It only lasted a minute or two, though, and the rest of the session was beautiful: instantly, deeply hydrating.
Earthwise Beauty Catharsis Face Mask* ($14, 4.2g | .15oz)
This technically isn’t my first time trying this, but something interesting happened that’s worthy of note! I tried this early last year (2020), and it just didn’t work with my skin. It was much too potent no matter what I mixed it with, and the texture of the powder was somewhat grainy and harsh on the skin. However, this new sample jar I opened seems to work splendidly! The texture of the powder is so different: this one is a finely milled powder. I also combined it this time around with pAra’s Soma (yes, I’ve just decided that mixing Soma into every powder mask makes it infinitely better). The mask was cooling, calming, and decongesting. I’m loving this batch. It just goes to show that revisiting items that didn’t work out the first time can yield surprising and great results!
Thanks so much for reading! What tv shows were your 2020 favorites? Are you trying anything new in your skincare routine? I’d love to know! Remember, you can always leave a comment or reply directly to this email to chat.
As always, I hope you have a great start to your week. See you next Sunday!
I finished up Industry - thanks to your recommendation! I agree with the relatability aspect you mentioned about it and the rare portrayal between a mentor and mentee. I can't wait to see where season 2 leads. I also just watched the trailer of The Great, omg! wants to make me subscribe to Hulu.
Have you watched the Netflix series Dark? I get the sense tha you may like it. It is German production with English voice-over. If there is one thing I loved about the shpw besides the storyline, it is thr music. Such a mood setter. Love to hear from you and your opinion.