"I Like to Watch" is a collection of lyrical, well argued essays written by The New Yorker’ s TV critic (and, as the cover notes, Pulitzer Prize winner), Emily Nussbaum. Like Nussbaum, I prefer TV to movies. i like how a story - and characters - can develop over multiple seasons, can change and morph into something new. That being said, I’m not a super fan - I don’t watch a whole lot of it. That didn’t hinder my enjoyment of this book, though. Even essays about shows I haven’t seen (e.g. True Detective) were fascinating - Nussbaum is a truly talented critic. I like how she wrestles with who deems culture to be “high” or “low,” as well as whether you are truly watching a show "wrong” if you’re not watching it how its creators intended. Her essay on #MeToo and “what [we should] do with the art of terrible men”, as she puts it, is excellent. (though since she is a self-professed Buffy lover (as am I), I did wish she’d also mentioned Joss Whedon and what you do when a bad man creates a strong role model for women.) Nussbaum grapples with her own culpability (she knew about the Louis CK story before it broke, although in fairness it was kind of an open secret), as well as how to move forward. I also loved her essay on Jessica Jones and Buffy’s sixth season (two of my favorite things), and how they both interrogate gaslighting, sexual violence, and resentful men, as well as her discussion of the bleakness of the Americans, and why it works. Thoughtful, engaging, and funny - highly recommended.

I really enjoy Emily Nussbaum's work, in general, so this was a pleasure to read. Her Pulitzer is well-deserved.

Most of these essays appeared originally elsewhere, so your mileage may vary, in terms of what you get out of this.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the digital ARC, in return for an honest review.