This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, tv shows and movies being covered in Fangirlish Feels of the Week wouldn’t exist. We stand with SAG-AFTRA.
We watch a lot of TV and movies! And we read a lot of books too, not to mention the time we spend on TikTok. In case all the reviews, interviews, news, and features didn’t give you a clue (wink, wink), we come together to highlight all those great moments that our favorite shows, movies, and books give us throughout the week. On these Fangirlish Feels of the Week, there are five categories and many thoughts! Ready?
Here we go!
Moment that made you collapse into a puddle of FEELS
Shana: The women’s team final at gymnastics Worlds. There was a lot of texting names in all caps, with a bunch of crying emojis in between. Not a perfect meet, by any means, but a perfect podium and so many happy tears.
Ashley T.: Rutherford and Tendi gave me ALL THE FEELS this week on Star Trek: Lower Decks 4×06 “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place.” Fake marriage! Saying things they like about each other and finally realizing those feelings are more than just close friendship! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Amanda: I could choose like 10 different moments from the artistic gymnastics World Championships, because it’s been such an emotional competition so far, but I’ve got to go with Philippine American gymnast Aleah Finnegan qualifying to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
I’ve watched Aleah grow up in the sport for the past 11 years, remember when her Instagram handle was something about the 2020 Olympics, and was devastated when she didn’t make U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021.
In addition, as a fellow first generation Filipina American, seeing Aleah represent the Philippines at Worlds and finally fulfill her Olympic dream literally made me cry. I feel like a proud older sister whenever I watch her and can’t wait to see her represent the Philippines on the biggest stage.
Ashley W.: Going off of what Amanda said, I wrote a feature over four years ago about Aleah Finnegan, and it went into detail about her Olympic ambitions for Tokyo 2020 as part of Team USA. That ultimately didn’t work out for her, and I remember being so heartbroken for her back then.
So to see her try elite gymnastics again, compete for the Philippines at World Championships, and make it to the Paris 2024 Olympics is so heartwarming. I’m so happy for and so proud of my fellow Filipina American.
Rachel: Since everyone else covered gymnastics (SIMONE BILES!!!), I’ll go with the thrill of seeing the Two Rivers friends all reunited and fighting against the Dark in the season two finale of The Wheel of Time. These characters have all grown over this season and their united front was a joy to see.
WTF Moment of the Week
Ashley T.: It’s still Strike o’Clock somewhere so I’m still saying WTF. Now by the time this is published, the SAG-AFTRA strike could be over, and for that I will be glad, but until then, you get a WTF from me, studios.
Shana: The entire second half (roughly) of The Morning Show 3×05. What a shitshow. (And also what Ashley T. said.)
Rachel: I think I’ll go with the zombie storm troopers in Ahsoka. That was creepy!
Tik Tok That Made Me LOL
Shana: A friend sent me this one. It has everything: Halloween, relatability…and a little bit of a personal attack for being so old.
Lizzie: This me, ok?
Lyra: I will never be cooler than this cat. Never. In my entire life.
What We’re Reading This Week
Rachel: I started Tessa Dare’s A Week To Be Wicked. I’ve enjoyed other historical romances of hers, so I think this one is going to be a good time.
Lyra: I started re-reading the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. It’s an urban fantasy about a werecoyote who owns a garage, minds her business, and does her best when shit goes down. I really like her especially because she gets fucked up. She gets hurt, heals up, and tries again because she’s not a quitter. And that showing of vulnerability is rare in urban fantasy with badass female protagonists.
Lizzie: Have you ever read Horseradish by Lemony Snicket? It’s the kind of book that’s a very easy read because it’s mostly these short little essays, and I’ve just been browsing through it all week. Some of them hit haaard.
What We Rewatched This Week
Ashley T.: I watched a couple of spooky favorites again this week: Beetlejuice and Phantom of the Paradise. I love the found family aspects and humor of Beetlejuice, and I get big feels about Phantom of the Paradise.
It’s an interesting hybrid of Phantom of the Opera and Faust. But instead of selling his soul for knowledge and power, our tragic hero is only looking for real love. Isn’t that what we all want? It breaks my heart in the best way possible and is worth looking up if you’ve never seen it.
It’s a 1974 rock opera with songs by Paul Williams (who also plays the villain) and is directed by Brian De Palma pre-Carrie, with a pre-Suspiria Jessica Harper as our leading lady. What more could you want?
Amanda: On Wednesdays, we wear pink — unless you’re me and you wear it every day. Even though I’ve owned the Mean Girls DVD since the year it came out, I watched the iconic film on October 3rd on TV.
Ashley W.: I’m one of those people who, when there’s a new Marvel project coming out, I will rewatch past projects to prepare myself for the narrative ahead. And I rarely do rewatches because I need a refresher, but just because it’s nice to revisit.
So, with Loki season 2 premiering this week, I had to do a rewatch of the show’s first season to prepare the time traveling shenanigans to come. Plus, Loki is easily one of the better Disney+ series that Marvel has made, so it was fun to experience again.
Rachel: I continued my Pacy/Joey rewatch of Dawson’s Creek with the glorious season 3. I watched the “Four to Tango” episode, where that storyline really starts to kick in for the long haul. Pacy calls Joey a “goddess” in that episode…Man I love this couple.
