Achona staff pick their favorite shows/movies
January 3, 2023
As 2022 came to a close, we asked the staff at Achona to reflect on their favorite television shows and movie releases from the past year. From gripping dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, here are the top picks of the year, as chosen by our team.
Isabel Bequer: Abbott Elementary
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“Abbott Elementary” is a mockumentary sitcom about a second-grade teacher, played by Quinta Brunson, who works at a fictional, predominantly Black elementary school in Philadelphia. The show follows her and her colleagues as they navigate the challenges of teaching at an underfunded and mismanaged school.
Raquelle Elson: Do Revenge
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A former queen bee at an elite private high school forms a secret alliance with a newcomer to get revenge on their respective partners, who have both revealed damaging secrets about them.
Mykhia Pursley: Derry Girls
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The show centers around a group of teenagers – Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle, and James – as they come of age in Derry during the “Troubles,” a period of political conflict in Northern Ireland. Set in a Catholic all-girls school, the series follows all the friends as they encounter humorous and absurd situations while also dealing with the social and political issues of the time.
Winsome Storm: 9-1-1
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The series follows the lives of Los Angeles first responders: police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and dispatchers. Explores the high-pressure experiences of the first responders who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking, and heart-stopping situations.
Olivia Payne: Heartstopper
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Heartstopper is a television series based on a series of graphic novels by Alice Oseman. It follows the love story of Charlie, a high school student, and Nick, a popular classmate. The show is known for its heartwarming and romantic portrayal of a same-sex relationship, and it provides a positive and uplifting depiction of a teenager coming to terms with their sexuality.
Olivia Book: Love Is Blind
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The show features 30 individuals, equally divided between men and women, who are looking for love and live in the same metropolitan area. The series involves a unique dating setup where the men and women are placed in separate, enclosed spaces called “pods” and can communicate with each other through a speaker, but cannot see one another. This setup lasts for 10 days.
Smith Cassidy: Elvis
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This series tells the story of Elvis Presley, a famous rock and roll singer, and actor, as seen through the eyes of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. A significant aspect of the show is the portrayal of Parker’s exploitation of Presley for financial gain.
Kinsley Warbritton: Euphoria
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Euphoria is a television series that follows the lives of a group of high school students as they navigate love, relationships, drug use, and mental health issues. The show explores complex and controversial topics such as addiction, trauma, and the impact of technology on modern society.
Brooke Fetchel: The Summer I Turned Pretty
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The Summer I Turned Pretty is a television series based on a trilogy of novels by Jenny Han. It follows the love triangle between a girl and two brothers, as well as the dynamic between mothers and their children, and the enduring bonds of female friendship. The show is a coming-of-age romantic drama that explores the complexities of relationships and self-discovery during the pivotal summer months.
Alaina Salathe: Wednesday
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Wednesday Addams is a witty and cynical character who attends Nevermore Academy and quickly becomes involved in a murder investigation. As she delves into the case, she meets and interacts with many people, some of whom become friends and others who become enemies.
Nicole Bianchi: Manifest
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The show revolves around the unexpected return of passengers and crew members on a commercial airplane who had been declared missing and presumed dead for over five years.
Maddie Hines: Grey’s Anatomy
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This show follows the professional and personal lives of medical interns, residents, and attendings as they progress in their careers and become more experienced doctors. The series focuses on the challenges they face as they try to balance their personal relationships with their demanding work in the surgical field.
Sophie Odmark: Too Hot to Handle
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The show takes place on a tropical island where attractive singles come to socialize with one another. However, there is a catch: in order to be eligible for a $100,000 prize, they must refrain from engaging in sexual activity.
Kimberly Egoavil: Emily in Paris
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Emily in Paris is a show about a young American woman who moves to Paris for work and navigates her new job, life, and relationships in the city. It features fashion, food, and the city’s vibrant nightlife scene.
Mrs. Kosaka: I’m Your Man
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The show follows a scientist based at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin who agrees to participate in a study in order to secure funding for her research. As part of the study, she must live with a humanoid robot designed to be the perfect companion for her for a period of three weeks.
These are just a few shows and movies our staff enjoyed in 2022. What were your favorites of the year?