lol I have movies like that, I feel ya.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen it, so I don’t remember! A rewatch is in order.

Hahaha I’m sure I did, because I definitely screamed down that hill while flailing my arms. I also love that movie, I grew up watching it every time I visited my grandma who also loved it.

Yeah if you’ve only really been down the highways and other dense roadways in the area, it absolutely feels more populated. When I lived there, I used to go on drives with the intention of getting lost and finding my way back, only choosing a general direction as my guide (north, south, coast, etc.) and avoiding highways at all costs. This was before smartphones so it was quite easy, and I took the most incredible trips down these tiny side roads in these random rural areas all throughout and around Sonoma County. My favorites: Russian River/Guerneville, Calistoga, Bodega Bay, and Occidental. Also if you ever get the chance, driving from Bodega Bay down to San Francisco (or vice versa) via Highway 1 is divine.

As for your mention of the driving scene in The Birds - it would have to be Highway 1 they were depicting, as it goes right through Bodega Bay and is right up against the coast. It is indeed more remote and smaller feeing (mostly 2 lanes iirc) in that area and the main ‘thruway’ so to speak. Highway 101 is ~30 miles inland and goes right through Santa Rosa. Both highways take you to San Francisco from Sonoma County.

I imagine the area was much less populated and well connected to larger cities inland when the film was made 63 years ago.

However, I also imagine Hitchcock intentionally picked locations that were remote and harder to access to give more of an isolated feel.

I lived between Sebastopol and Bodega Bay in the early 2000’s and definitely saw a lot of farmland and isolated residences in the area, a stark contrast to areas like Santa Rosa and even the Russian River area. I’ve visited since leaving and feel like the area has developed a lot even in the relatively small span of time since I lived there, that’s why I feel confident saying it was much more isolated and quiet at the time of filming.

Fun fact: I’ve ran down the same hill from the schoolhouse like in the scene where the birds are attacking the kids! I’ve been to that school a few times and it was always completely empty.

I feel that so much, and agree that the new episodes that center around ‘of the moment’ issues/trends feel very manufactured and forced vs. funny commentary like early seasons did. There’s a subtlety that’s been lost and it feels artificial.

Very interesting, and thank you for this. As a former resident of Sonoma County and frequent visitor of Bodega Bay, I’m afraid my cynicism prevented me from recognizing one of my favorite places. Appreciate your kind correction internet stranger!

Oh wow, that makes perfect sense. I’m sure this happens a lot, and it sucks that this is the priority over telling an actual story.

Thank you for confirming, my partner and I talk about it every time those episodes come up. We’re convinced this is also the way they’ve gone in other recent episodes, particularly the late season football episodes.

I love the gang, love the actors, but I don’t love feeling like my favorite show has become a means to acquire and flaunt over the top wealth at the expense of great comedy.

Anyone else feel that the ‘Goes to Ireland’ episodes were created so the cast could write off the trip? These are my least favorite episodes, and I say this as a huge fan who has been watching this show over and over again for over a decade.