Uplifting TV Recommendations
I’ve been asked for more TV recommendations, and who am I to argue, if you want to see my previous shows / films I love, read here, here AND here. Clearly I watch too much, but only so I can share with you my favourites…promise. As a small disclaimer, I don’t tend to watch any crime dramas, thrillers, anything too stressful or violent, which I’ve written about why here. These shows do contain some drama, but nothing too gory, as always please share your favourites in the comments below.
Most Beautiful Thing
This was recommended to me by a follower (I am really sorry I didn’t write down your name) and I didn’t really know what to expect. I described it to my husband as sultry…which once I’d googled it’s definition to explain to him what I meant, discovered it had two meanings which both match this show perfectly. Sultry can mean ‘hot and humid’, and with the backdrop of Rio De Janeiro in the 1950s that’s that definition ticked, and it also can mean ‘suggesting a strongly sexual nature’ which this show has by the bucket load. The seven part show follows four women: Malú, Adélia, Lígia and Thereza through the struggles of being a woman in the 1950s, reflecting the struggles of both race and sexual orientation as Malú opens a Bossa Nova club. There’s a lot of smoking, a lot of whiskey and a lot of nipples. Definitely watch with the subtitles on if you are able, rather than the American dubbed version which Netflix defaults too, really adds to the sultry ambience.
The Trip To Greece
Since we can’t travel anywhere, The Trip is perfect for viewing for some escapism. Get to see the crystal blue seas of Greece, or if you go back and watch previous seasons Italy or Spain (they also start with series one in the UK, but no dazzling seas there). It follows Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon as they travel around Michelin Star restaurants, and basically sit doing impressions of other celebrities at each other whilst they eat. On paper it sounds terrible, but it never fails to make me laugh. Also Winterbottom and Coogan touch on the Refugee crisis, which is clearly becoming a common thread in their work, which definitely needs more of a light shining on it, if you have seen their film ‘Greed’ you’ll spot a familiar face.
Watch with an Entertainment Pass on NOW TV.
Virgin River
Was just minding my own business on Netflix when I saw Virgin River, what looks like Autumn in a film, is actually much more than that. Yes there is a lot of plaid, breath taking forrest scenery, patchwork blankets and panelled wood houses, but there’s also a great intertwining plot line which leaves you absolutely gripped (ok, maybe fans of Breaking Bad might disagree) but I was HOOKED. The lead character Mel moves to Virgin River from LA, which we quickly learn, is because she is running away from her past. In fact both lead characters have a lot of PTSD, which I won’t ruin by telling you why, but let’s put it this way, I cannot wait for series two which has already been made…phew!.
AJ and the Queen
AJ and the Queen I still don’t know if I liked this or loved it, it’s most definitely escapism and if you like Ru Paul then you are going to really enjoy this show. Ru Paul plays a drag queen called Ruby Red, who lands on a hard financial time and in order to raise some cash does what he does best, drag competitions. Whilst touring around states of the US in his RV, a stowaway is found in the form of AJ, who is a troubled ten year old with a dark past. Together the pair get into scrapes, whilst learning how to get along, with plenty of drag performances in between. It got some pretty terrible reviews, but I don’t think they are quite deserved I definitely enjoyed watching it!
Breeders
When I first saw the trailer for Breeders, I was like, yeah funny, but no-one actually talks to their kids like that. However I I think this really finds it’s feet after a couple of episodes, Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard play husband and wife, with two children in London. And I know how lucky I am to have my daughter, but I really started laughing at it, watching this made me feel less alone in maybe what you’d like to say to your child (but never would) and how your relationship with your husband changes after children.
Watch on Sky Entertainment Pass with NOW TV.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Ok, now I know Curb isn’t new, but the season ten is next level hilarious. My husband got me into Larry David and his ridiculous escapades when we first met, eleven years ago, but this final season had me reaching for the remote to pause I was laughing so hard. If you don’t know who Larry David is, he’s behind the TV show Seinfeld and is a semi-retired writer who lives in LA. How to describe LD? Well let’s just say his fondness for hand sanitiser doesn’t seem so ridiculous now, he’s very easily annoyed by other people’s everyday behaviour, and often gets himself in situations that make you cringe, which I don’t always enjoy but the latest series has got the perfect blend of cringe and humour. The John Hamm scenes have become catchphrases in our house, a wonderful goodbye.
Watch on Sky Entertainment Pass with NOW TV.
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker
When Netflix calls something a ‘Limited Series’ - I thought it meant it was limited edition and not going to be around for long…how my husband laughed when I told him that. It *actually* means the whole story arc finishes within 4-10 episodes, so don’t be expecting a second season. Now that we’ve cleared that up, may I introduce you to Self Made. A four part limited series, set in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it follows the life of Madam CJ Walker who is the first self-made American female millionaire. With the development of her hair care formulation for black hair, Madam CJ built an empire. I really enjoyed the show, and in particular the sets and costumes, but I would definitely read up on some aspects of the show that are not accurate, such as the Colourism conflict between two of the lead characters.
If you want to know what recommendations are in the other articles and don’t want to click back and forth, I did a quick list here, with a few extra thrown in at the end for fun:
Grace & Frankie | Glow | The Marvellous Mrs Maisel | Anthony Bourdain Part’s Unknown | Queer Eye | Big Little Lies | Sex Education | Escape to the Chateau | Schitt’s Creek | This is Us | Modern Love | The Morning Show | Pose | Derry Girls | Searching For Sugarman | Show Me a Hero | The Pixar Story | Bill Cunnginham New York | Love & Mercy | Captain Fantastic | Supermensch: The legend of Shep Gordon | Ladies in Black | Captain Fantastic | What We Did On Our Holiday | Julie and Julia | Almost Famous | Tales of the City | Dreamgirls | A Star is Born
P.S. I discuss what I am watching every week on my podcast ‘The Fringe Of It’ which I co-host with Liv Purvis, listen now for lots more Telly Talk.