Some Quick TV Recommendations
I responded to my friend who was asking for tv recommendations, and I got carried away making what I think is too big of a list. Just gonna write a few sentences for each one and I dunno, I guess send it along.
Gone to Camp
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I started this in college and absolutely fell in love with this show. When it got to Buffy’s college years, I tried to pace the seasons out so that our college careers paralleled. But I binged in a few months, which ended up being a good option cos’... well, I probably shouldn’t get into that. It’s a great campy show to watch and not take too seriously, but the cool thing is that the show actually does mature and all of a sudden you realize how big the stakes have gotten. Nice and beefy too, with each season having 20+ episodes.
Being Human
This is a supernatural UK show which tend to have lower visual budgets but typically better writing. It’s not always true, but this is like Buffy in that it’s fairly light and campy with a few characters that are really personably. In this show, it’s about three roommates, a ghost, a werewolf and a vampire, as they struggle to live normal lives while managing their individual conditions and finding solace in each other. Headsup, they do the UK show thing where the cast tends to rotate out after a couple seasons (i.e. Skins, Misfits, Dr. Who etc.)
Heroes
This was one of those early 2000’s shows that was like “we’re not your typical super hero show,” and it really wasn’t. The first season is really really solid and afterward it starts to unravel but I still found it pretty fun. There’s a lot of really inventive storytelling and because of that comic book vibe it has, I don’t even hate it when it goes off the rails a bit.
The Great
I’m kind of shoe-horning this into the category of campy because it’s kind of hard to categorize and we don’t have a proper comedy list. This is a historical comedy starring Elle Fanning as Catherine the Great and it is really fucking funny. Catherine is introduced to Russian society but quickly enters a power struggle with her arranged husband and has to navigate winning the love of the people, plotting ruthless politics and figuring out whether or not she should execute this husband of hers. Don’t let the historical aspect make you hesitate. It feels more like elaborate contemporary theatre with really wonderful costumes.
Twin Peaks
You’ve probably heard of this one. It’s actually hard to recommend but I’m gonna put it here because of how much cultural impact it has. It’s an oddball melodramatic soap opera but hidden within it are layers of strange emotions. It’s a mystery that doesn’t feel the need to explain itself, and there’s an odd comfort in that. If you like coffee as black as a moonless night and donuts and douglas firs, I see no reason why you wouldn’t like Twin Peaks.
Prestige Television Baby
The Sopranos
I never wanted to see this show. I saw the posters and clips with the guys in track suits and slicked back hair and I’d always think to myself, look at these goofy motherfuckers. Who would want to watch that. I’m lowkey grateful to myself because now I got the chance to see it for the first time as an adult and it’s absolutely incredible. My friend really gave me the tools to love this show when he said that “It seems like the show hates it’s characters sometimes,” and “I don’t think people watch it like it’s a comedy but it’s one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen.”
Mr. Robot
Same friend commented that the first season of Mr. Robot is perfect. I agree. It’s a really slick and visually striking show with a killer soundtrack that makes me want to pull out my laptop and type really fast and pretend I’m doing something. There’s not a lot of shows that feel so rebellious and anti-status quo and I plan on watching it again for the angst. Moreso than anything, I think I like how the show portrays loneliness and isolation within the context of a hacker thriller.
Andor
This is a star wars show, but let me tell you, it’s the best thing that the Star Wars universe has ever made and there’s not a single goddamn lightsaber in it. It literally explores the formation of a rebel alliance to combat a technologically advanced imperial force and was described by a youtuber I like as “aggressively leftist.” This is an aside but Diego Luna is also beautiful. And Stellan Skarsgard… my god… the things I would do for that Swede. I’m gonna try to sell you with a quick scene. I’d show you my favorite but they’re pretty big spoilers.
Fargo
This tv series is a love letter to the filmography of the Coen Brothers but you don’t need to know that to dive into the show. What you can expect though is incredible specificity to place (i.e The Midwest) with a big ole cast that explores themes of good and evil, perfectly ordinary folk getting swept up into a life of crime and snow. What I find really fun about the show is that every season focused on a different time period, location and ensemble cast and goes back and forth between light and dark.
I Think I Feel Good
Samurai Jack
Yeah it’s a cartoon network show. But boy do I find this relaxing to have on in the background. The animation style is still really impressive to watch and the stories are short and fun. And Aku is one of my favorite kids show villains of all time. It’s sweet and simple and is really aware of the medium of animation and makes lots of creative visual choices. I actually love muting this show sometimes and playing music in the background and make a game of it matching. I actually write about it more here.
Abbott Elementary
I actually haven’t gotten super into this show because I’m allergic to media that makes me feel too good, but this show is absolutely delightful. It has a lot of that like Parks and Rec mockumentary energy but set in an inner city elementary school where the teachers are chronically underpaid and understaffed but dedicated to serving their children. The protagonist is still shiny eyed and highly idealistic, but what’s nice is even though her values are constantly challenged she never loses that want for change. It really celebrates teachers and students and I love this ish.
High Maintenance
My old roommate showed me this show and I don’t know how to describe it aside from like slice of life vignettes of different characters in New York and the red thread that connects them all together is that they have the same weed dealers. Yeah actually I think that just about does it.
Joe Pera Talks With You
Slow comedy. This guy makes me want to sit by a lake and count rocks all day. There’s no real plot, and if I tried to describe it you probably wouldn’t watch it. Rather it’s more about the pacing. Taking it easy. Being small. Entertaining those silly little thoughts that one has when they’re at a diner or watching people dance or falling in love with a doomsday prepper. Most shows prey on your stress glands. Not this one.
What we Do in the Shadows
What a good show. Vampires in New York City trying to get by. God, I don’t know how to pitch this one. Just try it out. I’d be surprised if you didn’t like it. I just really don’t know. It’s great. People who love it LOVE it. People who don’t have no articulate issue with it.
Okay there it is. I actually took out 15 more recommendations I was gonna write about because this is ridiculous. That’s not even counting my back burner list with twenty other titles. Marta, I’m sorry I made you read.
