January

I'm trying to resume more regular blogging this year, so here's the first entry for 2026. 😊

People You Meet On Vacation ( Netflix )

I didn't know about the novel this movie is based on, and watched it because I found the trailer appealing.

So I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Instead of spoiling things with a detailed description, I'll just summarize it as a lovely slow burn romance.

What this has going for it are 2 immensely likeable leads - Emily Bader ( adorably goofy ) and Tom Blyth ( uptight in a hot way, if that makes sense haha ).

Major credit goes to whoever cast them, because the on-screen chemistry is off the charts, which is always essential for this genre since we're rooting for the couple to get together.

From a personal perspective - call me old school, but I have zero interest in dating sites / apps / blind dates due to a high index of suspicion towards strangers ( not to mention all the extra effort needed to get to know someone from square one ).

I'm a firm believer that a strong friendship is the best foundation for any successful relationship. There's significantly more mutual understanding, tolerance, trust and respect. 

I've seen a lot of relationships implode, so I don't believe in drama or changing someone to fit my expectations, or vice versa. 

For fellow fans of slow burns, I also recommend the swoony Netflix series, One Day. 😊

The Pitt season 2

After season 1 swept fistfuls of major awards these past few months, I was very excited about its return.

3 episodes in, I am happy to report that it is surpassing S1 in many ways, and is on its way to becoming my 2nd favourite TV series ( after Succession - its fellow HBO MAX gem ).

Aside from the constant flow of interesting cases and hyper-realistic moulage and props, the humour really stands out, especially in episode 2.

I found myself chuckling frequently, especially during a heated scene between overachieving medical students Victoria and Ogilvie while assisting with a DKA resus.

It's quite a departure from the mostly sombre tone of season 1, but greatly welcomed to offset the constant stress of the ED environment.

During my stint in the public sector, my colleagues and I also used jokes to get through our shifts. Those were good memories. 😄 

Episode 3 ended on a cliffhanger, indicating the impending crisis coming next week. More thoughts on The Pitt will follow soon.

How To Train Your Dragon In Concert - 17 January, Esplanade Concert Hall

This was my first show for 2026, and it was marvelous!

I was already ecstatic about the venue, and the acoustics ( the best in the country, IMO ) made the experience truly amazing.

The highlight was Test Drive, my favourite piece from the film which I'd never heard performed live. 

Hearing it in person gave me goosebumps! 

Special mention goes to the conductor ( didn't catch his name ) who got the audience revved up by encouraging us to clap and cheer anytime we felt like it ( and the fans delivered! ) and the cosplayers who contributed to the festive atmosphere.

But the true star of the evening was, of course, John Powell's beloved score, which has become synonymous with the franchise ( the same way John Williams' music is tied to Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Superman ).

As a lifelong fan of movie music - whether classical, pop or rock - this was a dream come true ( the first HTTYD was released in 2010, so it was a 15-year wait ).

A pity Mr. Powell himself couldn't come to Singapore to conduct ( like Justin Hurwitz did for the La La Land in Concert shows ), but I'm happy enough with what we had. 😊

And a big thank you to my young doctor friend and ardent HTTYD fan for joining me.

We had a great catchup during the pre-show dinner, and it looks like we first met the same year HTTYD came out? 

Time is passing too quickly. Making me antsy haha.

In other news, work has been busy but generally tolerable. 

I'm sticking to my 2026 mantra - go with the flow - and so far it's worked pretty well. ( I think the large number of concerts makes a difference haha. )

Am also in the process of planning a trip for Q3 ( first one will be in April ). 

And trying to meet up with friends, whose great company I always appreciate.

It's a bit difficult at the moment due to my packed schedule, but I will try to see you all from March onwards after things settle down. Thank you for your patience!

How To Train Your Dragon 2025

This was the movie I most wanted to see this year - a live action remake of my favourite animated film, which was released in 2010.

The publicity campaign started ramping up a few months ago, which is when I got a good look at the cast, CGI dragons and various scenes.

And I knew immediately that this was going to be a hit.

3 weeks after opening, it has grossed $464 million worldwide, and is still going strong, thanks to the upcoming 4 July holiday. 

I watched it 2 days after returning from my travels.The movie was so good, I forgot all about my jet lag and exhaustion for 2 hours.

With a $150 million budget, the production value is superb, especially the dragons which are beautifully rendered.

The most important character - Toothless, of course - is absolutely flawless in every way!

The supporting cast - including Gerard Butler and Nico Parker - are great, but the film entirely hinges on Mason Thames' performance as Hiccup.

And he does an AMAZING job.

Kudos to director Dean Deblois for selecting him from a pool of more than 300 hopefuls.

Mason fits the role perfectly, and watching Hiccup evolve from a mousey, awkward wallflower to a full-fledged hero was thrilling.

Maron's scenes with Toothless are also a testament to his acting skills. I watched behind-the-scenes footage of him interacting with puppets for these sequences, yet he's able to display such raw emotion, tugging at our heartstrings and making us reach for our tissues.

He impressed me so much that I rewatched Black Phone ( I saw it a few years ago but didn't like it ).

This round, just for Mason alone, it was time well spent.

HTTYD 2 is already in the works, with rumous that Cate Blanchett may play Valka, Hiccup's mother. ( She voiced the character in the 2014 animated version. )

Crossing my fingers that it will happen!

I'm also now a big Mason Thames fan, even more so after he revealed he loves River Phoenix and Pacific Rim - like me!

Hope he'll continue to make sound career choices and do well in the industry. 

Finally, don't forget John Powell's iconic film score, which gets updated for the remake.

I listened to the 2010 version repeatedly when I was in Iceland.

The combination of Celtic style music with beautiful scenery made me incredibly happy. :)

If you haven't watched the movie yet, it's still screening at cineplexes, so catch it ASAP.