Valentine's Day Special❣️
I can feel my heart, it's beating in my chest
I can’t remember the last time Valentine’s Day felt so shoved down my throat. Perhaps it’s the algorithm but the amount of TikToks I’ve seen that are like, “Reasons why you shouldn’t be sad you’re single on Valentine’s Day this year.” Like bitch I wasn’t until now.
No I kid. I’m fine. It’s a nice holiday. I like seeing everyone’s boyfriends on social media because I’m nosy. If you insist on posting a 10-photo slide on Stories, I reserve the right to be a bitter hag. In high school, I told my mom about a classmate who got a Valentine’s Day gift from her mom so every year since then she gets me a pastry. When I was in DC, she ordered me V-day Insomnia Cookies all by herself. Let’s see if she remembers this year. I know she can’t wait till she doesn’t have to do this anymore.
There’s actually like no meaningful news going on, except maybe Selena’s new project with Benny Blanco. But I don’t even care because I don’t want to know anything about how that relationship works. Keep it to yourselves. Also it just hit me yesterday that his name is Benjamin.
So as to not waste a post, here are some of my favorite love/Valentine’s Day-related media from over the years:
Taylor Swift: “Enchanted,” “You Are In Love,” “Call it What You Want,” Guilty as Sin?”
Beneath this Scorpio exterior, I will always love her airy love songs the most. I chose these four on a whim but I do like the trajectory: her naive fairy tale outlook, the mundanity of it all (and also one of her best fourth wall breaks ever: “You understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars / And why I’ve spent my whole life trying to put it into words”), but then also self-love and emotional cheating because that’s important too. Can never get too comfortable.
Bob’s Burgers: “V for Valentine-detta” (season 8, episode 8)
This is my favorite Bob’s Burgers episode of all time. There’s just no stronger display of familial love than this show and this episode (“The Plight Before Christmas” is a close second). Anyways, you all should watch it even if you’ve never watched Bob’s Burgers. And then you should go back and binge all of Bob’s Burgers because it’s one of the best shows on television.
Mad Men: “A Day’s Work” (season 7, episode 2)
Unlike Bob’s you can’t really jump into Mad Men but I highly highly highly recommend to anyone who has never seen it. The costuming, the acting, the humor is amazing. Also this very cute moment from season 7.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: “It’s Comedy or Cabbage” (season 3, episode 5)
I don’t think any words will do him any justice so just look at him instead.
Emily Henry: Beach Read, People We Meet on Vacation, & Book Lovers
I think these are her three most romantic books. We all know how I feel about her, so I won’t go on about it. But if for some reason any of you haven’t read her yet, I recommend going in publication order.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
This movie was kind of a cultural reset. For the teen romantic comedy at least. The colorful aesthetics, the soundtrack, the Asian representation (I suppose canonically, Wasian). I love all of it. This movie always puts me in a good mood.
Gilmore Girls: “Let Me Hear Your Balalaikas Ringing Out” (season 6, episode 8)
TO BE LOVED IS TO BE SEEN.
Valentine’s Day
This movie lowkey slaps. It’s so dumb but it’s so sincere, so you can’t help but smile. Here are a definitive ranking of the couples:
Taylor & Taylor
Shirley MacLaine & Joe from “The Princess Diaries”
Bradley Cooper & McSteamy
Emma Roberts & Her Musician Boyfriend
Jamie Foxx & Jessica Biel
Anne Hathaway & Topher Grace
Ashton Kutcher & Jennifer Garner
Grey’s Anatomy: Meredith Grey & Cristina Yang
They are one of my favorite representations of female friendship in pop culture. Perhaps slightly codependent but I fuck with it. The one thing. The one thing I hate. Is that they are the reason “my person” entered everyday vernacular. And I cannot. Stand. It. If I have to hear one more time someone being like “Ugh I can’t wait till I find my person.” Shut the fuck up. Say boyfriend. Say man. Say partner. ANYTHING BUT “MY PERSON.”
Gone Girl
They were made for each other, what can I say.
There are more favorites, obviously, but these are the one’s I thought of right now.
Happy Valentine’s Day to those who celebrate. Thank you for reading! Love you!
This list is so epic and so millennial-coded and I love it.