What you need to be watching right now
What you need to be watching right now
Spoilers: They aren't all new, recently released shows but some are.
Weather is pretty rainy on the East Coast this weekend which means likely there isn’t a better time to sink into the couch, yogibo, or yoga mat, and just absorb yourself in fresh content that will give you all kinds of positive feels.
Here are some of the diverse shows I’m digging on:
War of the Worlds on Epix. Standard science fiction fare with aliens taking over the world very loosely based on the H.G. Wells’ novel which also coincidentally was adapted by Orson Welles into a radio broadcast in the 1930s that launched Welles’ career and a nation-wide panic about aliens landing on our shores.
Kevin Can F**k Himself on AMC. An oddly, refreshing dark dramedy that also acts as a cathartic tribute to all the very capable sitcom wives who have had to put up with oafish sitcom husbands and have been left to clean up their messes.
The show explores the rage that Kevin’s wife, and the show’s main character, Allison, experiences. Her 10-year denial acted in large part to prevent her from accepting certain self-truths about the state of her marriage. When that cover is blown wide open, her journey to self-awareness, empowerment and take-charge, take-no-crap Allison emerges and it’s a beautiful thing even if it doesn’t mesh with a 30 minute sitcom format (queue: laugh tracks and oafish husband)
Physical on Apple TV. Former 60s Berkeley hippie/80s stay-at-home San Diego professor’s wife and mother, Sheila Rubin, finds solace and empowerment in Fonda-style aerobics but really suffers from a lot of actualized self-loathing. Sheila is unlikeable and lacks a lot of confidence but watching her commit to her worth is exciting and Rose Byrne is captivating in her command of Sheila’s inner drive and self-disgust. And ok, I technically wrote about it already here but can’t hurt to remind you all.
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2 Aussie Very Honorable Mentions:
Offspring on Netflix (7 seasons). This Aussie import is high on the #familyfeels meter. Its heroine and protagonist is played by Asher Keddie who shines as Nina Proudman, a very neurotic doctor, sister, daughter, and friend who is looking for love - usually at her place of work. The show focuses on Nina but it also spends equal amount of time on the Proudman family (her sister, brother and very unorthodox parents) and their foibles. You will laugh, cry and swoon and care deeply for these characters.
This show is particularly special to me because my mother-in-law, whom I shared a lot of my love for film and TV with over the years, and whom I looked up to a great deal, had recommended I watch this for years before I finally relented and watched. I was only sorry that I waited so long and that I didn’t get to talk to her about all of the good drama this show brought. It was so delightful.
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries on Acorn TV (3 seasons and Acorn offers a free trial). Essie Davis is phenomenal as modernly marvelous 1920s flapper, spy, self-sufficient, resident smarty, bold detective Phryne Fisher. There’s intrigue, mystery, and love. What more could you (being an Agatha Christie fan) want?
Do not bother with watching the movie special that came out a few years ago that took place in the Middle East that felt like it could almost be Death on the Nile, but alas no. It disappointed.
Happy watching this weekend. Hope you find your fare and that it brings you joy. And because that segue was just too, too easy, watch this show too: