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Welcome back to (re)Viewing Last Month: November and December 2025, my monthly recap of the movies and television series my husband and I have been watching! We were on the road visiting family for the holidays in December so we didn’t watch much. I accidentally skipped November, which was a good watching month, so I’ve decided to review both in this post. Works appear in the the order in which we finished them.
Title: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Season 3
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? Yes; the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood
Have I Read the Book? No
Reason for Watching: I love this character and her costumes
Source: Hoopla
This is the only series that I watch alone, on nights when my husband is on call at the hospital. That works out well because I can unabashedly swoon at the will-they-won’t-they of it all between Phryne and Jack. It’s taken me years to watch all three seasons and I’m sad to have finished the series. If you’ve liked previous seasons, you’ll like this final season too.
Where do I go from here? I’m looking for recommendations! I’ve started Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries but there aren’t many episodes of that one.
Title: Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? Yes; the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood
Have I Read the Book?No
Reason for Watching: Finished the TV series
Source: Hoopla
After loving the television series, I was so disappointed that this movie was not good. Not good at all. Other ratings are pretty high though, so it must just be me. The situation between Phryne and Jack has changed between the end of the series and the beginning of the movie and there’s absolutely no explanation. Phryne has always been mischievous and cavalier but she genuinely cares about the people in her circle. She came across to me as very callous in the movie, right off the bat. It soured the entire thing for me. There are also supernatural elements and Phryne suddenly has more in common with Indiana Jones than the lady detective I’ve come to know and love. The whole thing was a giant mess as far as I’m concerned.
Title: Only Murders in the Building, Season 5
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? No
Reason for Watching: Continuing a series we love
Source: Hulu
My husband and I truly love this series and were excited to finally start the newest season. It was good but it felt a bit silly and the characters were suddenly making even more questionable decisions than usual. I really didn’t even follow the resolution. I still liked it, and I’m curious to see where the next season goes, but I hope the writers stop before they ruin a good thing.
What I would love to see is a spin-off series about Detective Donna Williams (Da’Vine Joy Randolph). She steals every scene she’s in as far as we’re concerned, and just look at the talent she’s sharing those scenes with! Let’s make that series happen!
Title: Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, Season 1
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? Yes, the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Have I Read the Book? Yes
Reason for Watching: We love baking shows and Harry Potter
Source: HBO Max
This was going to be a win for me, no matter what, but it was even better than I hoped. The pieces these bakers created were magical. Are we sure they weren’t hiding wands somewhere? Actors from the movies appearing as hosts and guest judges added even more. I love judge Carla Hall from other shows since I share her sense of humor. I was unfamiliar with judge Jozef Youssef but I think he was possibly even more delighted by the bakes than I was! This is utterly charming if you’re interested in it at all.
Title: Miss Scarlet, Season 5
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? No
Reason for Watching: Continuing a series we enjoy
Source: Checked out the DVD from the library
I can’t get in to details without major spoilers for earlier seasons so I’ll try to keep this vague. I miss one or two side characters and love some new characters, though I wish one of the new characters had a different job. I really love the direction Ivy’s character arc has taken. We’re excited to start watching season 6 since it premieres in the US this Sunday, January 11!
Title: The Umbrella Academy, Season 4
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? Yes, The Umbrella Academy graphic novels by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá
Have I Read the Book? The first two. I preferred the Netflix series
Reason for Watching: Finishing a series we enjoyed
Source: Netflix
We loved the first season of this show. We still liked the second season pretty well. Season three started falling apart and season four was an utter failure as far as we’re concerned. I have absolutely no idea where a new, major character came from. There are some entanglements that felt icky. Most of the main characters are depressed and their lives are disasters. Klaus is by far our favorite and he was largely not present, at least not in any way that felt familiar. There aren’t really any answers about anything, even in this final season, so I recommend just stopping after season two.
Title: Christmas in Homestead
Seen before? No
Based on a Book or Story? No
Reason for Watching: We’ve visited the filming location
Source: Checked out the DVD from the library
Neither my husband nor I are really Hallmark movie fans. I’m not judging anyone who is; my mom loves them. So this wasn’t the best fit for us but when we learned that it was filmed in Dahlonega, Georgia, a town we visited while my husband was working nearby, we were curious. We found the plot predictable and a bit too insta-lovey. If you find that vibe comforting, you will enjoy this one.
Title: White Christmas
Seen before? Yes
Based on a Book or Story? No
Reason for Watching: We watch it every year
Source: Streamed on Prime Video
We do love musicals and this is our favorite Christmas movie. Danny Kaye is hilarious, Vera-Ellen is an amazing dancer (as is John Brascia, her partner in the more athletic dance scenes), and you really can’t beat Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney’s singing. This is a comfort watch for us every year.
That’s it for us. What did you watch last month? Anything you would recommend? What do you think of our choices?
1 Comment
I didn’t know Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking existed until now! I’ll definitely have to check it out.