My Unplanned Yearly Hamilton Watch

(Sun Oct 05 2025)

Writing this blog because I just watched Hamilton on cinema yesterday and realized I’ve watched it yearly since 2023. Hamilton will not let me forget it and I'm here for it, obviously 💅🏼.

It started with Satisfied

It was 2019 and my cousins are always having a sleepover at our house so that my sister won’t be lonely. They played Satisfied on Youtube again and again and again. I didn’t even have to be in the room with them but I still got hooked.

On a random day I just realized I could sing-a-long to some lines… And that was that for a while.

If my memory serves me right it was this animatic they were playing on loop

Year 2020 - I heard it can now be streamed?

The answer was yes. Unfortunately for me residing in the Philippines, the streaming platform (that I am currently boycotting) was not available here yet.

What my husband did was look for a free streaming site where I can watch it. And I did.

First impressions

First of all, I cried (expected).

I admit that first watch was a struggle, specially the second half. I have no idea who these people are and I didn’t fully get it that the same characters were playing different people now.

I liked it and thought that’s the end of it. I was satisfied to have finally watched Satisfied, the only song I know.

Then I tried listening on Spotify

This is really where my obsession began. Turns out these kind of music is for me. I’ve also discovered and been into In The Heights, Epic: The Musical, and Warriors since. It is always nice getting to know myself better as I grow old.

Good thing I work from home since the pandemic because it also meant I can sing all the time. 🎤🎶

I even started reading books about it

I could not get over the story. How much of it was real? What parts were dramatized? My favorite dramatic facts were 1.) Hamilton and Angelica; 2.) Hamilton and John Laurens; and 3.) Hamilton published his own scandal and that it was the first political scandal ever.

I’ve read My Dear Hamilton, written by Laura Kaye and Stephanie Dray. I was not yet on booktok or any bookish online communities by this time. It was fiction based on real facts. The story focuses on Eliza, basically a longer, slower version of the musical. Now this is more my jam, as a reader who likes to know more context.

I’ve also read America’s First Daughter, written also by Laura Kaye and Stephanie Dray. This time it was about Thomas Jefferson from the POV of his daughter, Patsy Jefferson. Interesting take on an interesting (problematic / contradicting) life.

Although I still haven’t started what started it all (Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow). The book has been sitting pretty on my shelf for years now. Saving for when I am old (is what I tell myself)

Year 2023 - Hamilton in the Philippines 🇵🇭

I still think this is the most random thing ever. No one expected it. What do you mean the musical itself would be the one to make it possible by bringing it close to me?

What I appreciate most for my first time to watch was the ensemble and lights. Next was the actor who played Hamilton. I am convinced he was born for this role. I also liked Lafayette/Jefferson and our very own Rachelle Ann go as Eliza. She was so cute and by that I mean so short next to Angelica and Peggy 🤏🏼

Also enjoyed playing dress up! I think it’s what my husband liked the most too (he is not a fan but have listened to me sing the songs way too many times).

We watched with one of my besties, Prads. On a random day we found out we both like Hamilton and isn’t that crazy? Glad I got to watch it with a fan too, I love geeking out.

Year 2024 - Hamilton in Richard Rodgers Theatre 🇺🇸

Our New York trip was not planned at all. We barely had time to prepare.

It was all so fast that we didn’t notice that the show starts at 1PM and not 2PM 🫨. It was suspicious that there’s no line when we entered and everyone was already seated. The exact moment my husband sat next to us (he had to look for a better parking in fear of getting a ticket), the show started 😵.

I am just glad we got in on time and was able to enjoy the show. I am also glad to have watch it with my sister this time because she’s the one who introduced it to me.

My realization this time: I will always want to watch Yorktown live.

Eliza and George Washington stood out to me this time. For the guy who played Hamilton, he was an understudy. He played the role well but I could not take it as seriously mainly because he looked to young for the character of Hamilton I had in my head.

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Remember when I said that Hamilton was an influence from my sister? The domino continues as she was just influenced by our cousin 😬.

And so I promised we'd watch together the next chance we'd get ⬇️

Year 2025 - Hamilten in theatres 🎬

It’s 10 years since Hamilton (wow) and to celebrate it is currently available in theatres for 1 week. This will be the same film available in the streaming platform, but on the big screen. I've watched it multiple times already.

When this was announced, I immediately knew we had to watch it with cousins. It’s always nice to go back to Hamilton, I’d take every chance I can get.

It’s just a recorded film this year but at least it’s the OG cast. What I liked about this is the tiny differences from the recorded songs in Spotify. Like it’s what I’m used to but a bit different. Like every time SB19 is live (okay sorry i still cant shut up about my current hyperfixation).

seats got overbooked

But first, chaos. SM cinema had an overbooking glitch 🐞. The same seats available online were also sold from counters. There was so much confusion minutes before the show started. It was a domino effect. We were already happily seated when my husband was still asked to go down to talk to the manager. Things settled eventually 💢

Year 2026 - ???

Okay so with this timeline, does it mean we’ll have to watch it again in 2026? And hopefully in New York again? I’m down.