Dudes who cuddle
give me more
One of my most potent takeaways from Heated Rivalry is how starved we are for non-romantic male-on-male affection. And yes, I know there was almost zero of that in the actual show, I’m talking about Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams.
Initially, I thought I was too evolved to watch it. It seemed click baity somehow, but I caught a few reels of Williams and Storrie, hugging, kissing, canoodling and being so god damn sweet to each other, I was hooked. And ever since I’ve been ruminating on why it’s so pleasing to see platonic boy friends touching each other.
The full exploration of those thoughts are for another time, but if you’re interested in consuming more bromance content, here’s a little list to keep you going.
Happy dude cuddle watching.
Reading
Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites. If you haven’t read any Hannah Kent, get amongst it. I’m slowly working my way through her back log and it’s just lovely. I’m a thrill seeker so her soft, slow books take some getting used to but once you’re in the flow, it’s golden.
Watching
The Edge. A good (but too long) survival thriller with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin from the 90s. It’s written by David Mamet who has recently gone MAGA so it’s interesting watching a movie of his that’s 30 years old, be extremely sympathetic to a billionaire character. Also interesting that someone who wrote Glengarry Glen Ross, the OG parody of real estate bros did a full 180 in terms of his politics. What is this world?
Listening
Aphex Twin. Fab lyric-less writing vibes. With lots of driving I also listened to From Here to The Great Unknown, narrated by Riley Keough and Julia Roberts. I don’t feel this book is getting enough airspace, it’s pretty astounding.
Wearing
Alpha60 dress, Alpha60 pants (these are the Coopers and I have 2 pairs of them), Witchery bomber jacket and Gorman shoes. This was worn for our annual boozy book club night where just go out together for fun. It was a very excellent night. I also got my hair cut and I’m working towards growing my fringe out and doing a flip thing. Thoughts?
Doing
Travelling two weekends in a row so lots of laundry and packing. I ducked to Canberra for the weekend and saw Trophy Boys which altered my brain chemistry. It’s a very short, extremely sharp play about a debating team at a boys private school. It’s equal parts hilarious and disturbing, the cast are incredible. If it’s travelling near you, definitely see it.
I also checked out the Body Adorned exhibit at NGA. If you have magpie proclivities and like trinkets, this will absolutely tickle your fanny. The John Brack and Noel Mckenna exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery is also gorgeous. Don’t get a chai at the cafe though, they use syrup, not leaves. Bleurgh.
Have a good day yeah?
Carly
xxx
Love all your recs! And I feel that a hair flip could be very chic xx
Carly! I wrote this whole thing as an email back to you before I realised I can't email reply to your newsletters anymore haha.
I very belatedly watched Heated Rivalry this weekend, and I'm so obsessed. I'm bursting - it's inconvenient to have an obsession now, when I'm a grown adult (I'm 37, have 2 kids similar in age to yours). In the old days of Livejournal that was where all the fandom and squee is, I did all that with LotR and PotC and now, there's nothing??? That's why I'm writing to you because it's too bad having this obsession all to myself. My husband finds it amusing but I don't want him to watch it with me, it ruins everything. It's even something I haven't asked my IRL friends about, in case any of them judge it or say anything to ruin it - some of the articles on Reddit sort of do that, the ones that hate on it etc. In the old Livejournal days I had my whole thing private to myself, could read slash fanfiction in peace and there was a whole community you could just be in even if I never wrote or commented. And now it's a huge deal when something this perfect and slash-like is now in the mainstream, it's the whole women are getting their fantasies now thing, and it's hard to have no one to be like THIS IS A HUGE DEAL! Just Reddit posts about how the sex is unrealistic.
Anyway so sorry to rant, please somehow send us these delicious platonic-bromance reels you speak of, I want more of Connor Storrie and anything Heated Rivalry