Would You Watch a Moderately Attractive Cast for 12 Seasons, let Alone 2?
Dear VTY girls,
I sit here, poolside at the Work’s backyard pool, and I contemplate what is more American than having unrestrained access to Netflix’s Purple Hearts and Amazon’s Red, White, and Royal Blue.
These movies, propaganda in their own way, feel to me to be the most American movies ever. The way that Purple Hearts make you appreciate the troops on both sides. Red, White, and Royal Blue makes you hate the British for not being as open minded as the American government.
The greatest propaganda in these movies happens to be trying to convince us that Nicholas Galtizine is the ultimate mc-hottie of our generation. I fear we will soon learn that Nicholas is a nepo-baby in some form or fashion. And while I do think he is attractive (especially in Purple Hearts) there is something a little off about his hotness. Maybe he has too much of an instagram face? Not sure.
While these movies are beautiful portrayals of what it means to be American, what is not American is pushing un-sexy people on us, but pretending they are super hot. Hollywood really made a mess of society by criticizing women too harshly, but I draw the line at not casting the sexiest, hottest, most beautiful people as leads. They may be able to fool some people, but they will not get me!
Writing this to you all to spread awareness about this issue, and hopefully inspire change in the entertainment industry. I hate to keep seeing movies flop. Think about last year’s big hits of the box office: Barbie, which had the hottest women in Hollywood, and Oppenheimer, which has the sexiest time period performers yet.
Just food for thought this week!
Very Truly Yours,
Grace
Dear Grace,
This letter is so unserious I am cackling. I agree that unsexy people in hollywood are an epidemic. Bring back the Brad Pits of this world! After watching purple hearts twice this week, I’m about ready to order Q a marine cosplay outfit. In other sexy media news, I, like much of the internet, have fallen for the PR (or maybe not?) relationship of Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton of Bridgerton season 3 fame. They seem so sweet together and I am simply choosing to believe it is real!
Also are you all familiar with the Matt Damon Ben Afleck “which could mean nothing” meme format? I recently discovered it and am obsessed with the idea that these two have a secret slowburn romance. If you need a refresher, this is what started it all:
And now the phrase “which could mean nothing” is commonly tagged onto things the former costars and longtime best friends lovingly remark about each other.
I’m coming off of 2 weeks in Texas with my very best friends (minus Kenzie, we missed you babes!) and I am feeling so refreshed. I might even say - feeling reborn - like the woman who maybe tried to kill avery and I at a hot yoga class called the feeling of laying in the fetal position in a pool of your hard earned sweat.
I am excited to return to IL and to hopefully share stories soon of my adventures in Lincoln Park (Q is going to teach me tennis!!)
Already counting down the days until our next pool party,
Sydney
Dear Grace,
I read this out loud while you and Sydney and I were in the same room and as you know nearly died from laughter. The line “will make you hate the British for not being as open minded as the American Government” is something I will chuckle about for quite some time. Some people will get it, some won’t, but those who do will realize… this is funny. #equalobjectificationunderlaw
Sydney just wrote her line about getting Q a marine cosplay outfit and maybe I should ask Claire to join boy scouts or something to get the same effect.
Syd and I actually kind of tandem writing our letters right now, and YEAH LET ME JUST SAY ASHLEY AT THE YOGA STUDIO TRIED TO COMMIT MURDER UPON US TODAY. (But she is fabulous we love her.)
We went to an advanced core power hot yoga class. I’ve never done yoga before. Yet, I have a complex where I think if I do something I will just be good at it, so of course I said, “where’s my mat?”
To be honest I think I proved myself right. While I did not master a headstand in my first class I did do a crow pose or whatever and actually ate down and survived the great yoga tribunal of 2024. Basically I’m a god.
So happy to spend time with you all this week, and will miss all being together like old times :,). Next stop Chicago to visit Syd!
Love,
Avery
Dear girls,
If you like a man in uniform, period pieces and patriotism, I suggest watching Masters of the Air on AppleTV+. I finished it while battling influenza. The men waving the stars and the stripes in front of my feverish gaze hypnotized me into filing the atrocities committed by God’s favorite country into my subconscious.
Bridgerton season 3 has disappointed me. I’ve watched season 2 so much that I’ve tricked myself into thinking that the show is consistently good, when I really only like season 2 and half of the first. It gets too strange for me from there. Ironically I think the chemistry between the new leads is better off-camera than on, but I also enjoyed the chemistry between the protagonist monkey and blue-eyed human girl in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
My boyfriend and I have recently had discussions about hotness on-screen and how much easier it is to buy-in to a show when the leads are attractive. Grace, I feel like you are thinking of a specific series with your criticism of the un-sexy and I wish to know what it is. I don’t particularly mind when they aren’t hot as much as I mind when they’re not equally attractive—like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. This whole discourse surrounding them feels like the Bostonian rebirth of the Larry movement in One Direction’s fandom. I wonder how they as a foursome feel about it all.
Sydney, have you seen Challengers? Perhaps you and Q can watch it for a nice date-night as preparation for your tennis lessons.
I missed you!
Mackenzie
P.S. Nicholas Galtizine is, ironically, British
Dear VTY Girls,
I’m reminded of the line from Saltburn where Rosamund Pike declares she has a “a complete and utter horror of ugliness. Ever since I was a child. I don't know why.” This really deeply resonates.
I am similarly not entranced by Bridgerton season 3 because of mr lip flip bridgerton. You mean to tell me that this is our leading man??? Be serious. I have also convinced myself he’s wearing colored contacts because there’s something just so uncanny valley about his whole face situation. Far too smooth. Rub some dirt on him. And shave those God forsaken sideburns.
I will remedy this issue for myself by kicking off my annual summer viewing of the entire Pirates of the Caribbean series. Magic, crystal clear water, sailing, dirty men in eyeliner – what’s not to love! Let me know if anyone would like to join via netflix party.
To my hot yoga queens – you are braver souls than I. For the past year I’ve really dug into my yoga practice (namaste) and I still want to vomit anytime I attempt hot yoga. But I do love the feeling of these crazy balances I am finally getting the hang of. The chaturanga arms I’ve developed also keep me going back.
My heart and soul feel so sparkly after being able to hang out in person instead of via our google meets (which do get me through the weeks).
After I finish this letter I must return to my (currently powerless!) house and pack for my weekend escape to the lowcountry (see: a luxurious airbnb in Charleston, South Carolina) Who knows? Maybe I’ll somehow be able to live out an Outer Banks experience in three days. I’ll send postcards. Kisses!
Very truly yours,
Julianne