“We’re building something here… we’re building it from scratch. All the pieces matter.”
“As you wish.”
When a character on the tv series, “The Bear” ends his phone call with this, I gasp out a startled sob. My husband raises a bewildered eyebrow. “It’s a reference to Rob Reiner and “The Princess Bride,” I explain, “It’s a substitute for “I love you.” Rob Reiner, of course, could not appear in the series’ final episodes due to his tragic death. This sweet, subtle nod from the writers is a perfect example for the reasoning behind my “Put the Phone Down!” list of shows.
When a storyteller offers such a rich, deep tapestry that all the pieces matter, you are cheating yourself if you don’t give it your full attention. The comedian, Josh Johnson explains it as the difference between art and entertainment, “Art can save your life. Entertainment, by and large, is escapism.”
Don’t get me wrong. I love my escapism. Social media reels and romantasy on my kindle reign supreme. It can be a Herculean effort to turn my phone off to give something my full attention. So much, that when I checked my screen time calculator recently, I realized I’ve given up months of my life in dribs and drabs I’ll never remember.
Thus, my ever-evolving list of “Put the Phone Down!” shows that reward attention, patience and a full appreciation for others’ journeys. I watch them with various family members on a rotating basis because I discover something new with each viewing, and I get to enjoy their revelations.
I was bummed that my middle son saw the “Red Wedding” episode of “Game of Thrones” without me (iykyk). I was delighted that my eldest barked out the same laugh as I had during a courtroom scene in “The Wire” when the gangster, Omar compared his shotgun to the defense lawyer’s briefcase, “It’s all in the game, though, right?”
Lately, I’m obsessed with “Widow’s Bay,” a brilliantly written horror-comedy series filled with hilarious nods to other well-known horror stories. My favorite part is the online community of fellow fans. A virtual book club of strangers from every corner of the country whose observations make the story even more enjoyable.
It reminds me again that, with great stories, all the pieces matter. We experience them differently and all of our perspectives matter, too. Now, more than ever, “Put the Phone Down!” art is crucial to embracing our shared stories, histories and journeys.
“The Bear’s” chef Carmy reminds his fellow chef, Syd, “Just take a breath. Listen to the pan. You hear the music?”
When I put the phone down and listen, I am rewarded with the most magical music and, for that, I am forever grateful for the storytellers. As You Wish,” indeed.
This essay first appeared in “The Hinsdalean” on July 22, 2026 as a guest column. https://www.thehinsdalean.com/story/2026/07/23/opinion/stories-rich-when-all-pieces-matter/11142.html