Water, Water Everywhere
And what the fuck should I watch? In the last five years, we’ve been witness to the dawning of a new “golden age” for television (which now encompasses all streaming platforms). I have my own opinions about the consumerist nature of this, but this isn’t the space for that rant. In a time of quarantine, with so many options to choose from, I figured I’d give my two-cents for “what to watch” and why.
Steven Universe and Steven Universe Future are recently completed shows lead by Rebecca Sugar. Of all the children’s programming that has aired in the last decade, I think these two will go down as pivotal pieces of art that really changed the game in terms of “what messages can we give children and expect them to receive.” Despite critiques of the show’s heavy lean toward a sapphic Feminist agenda, the queer cast of characters is expertly designed to showcase queer normalcy. Furthermore, the focus on the sapphic lines of the show gives no credit to the foreground messaging of mental health, trauma and healing, and self-identification that the show packages so well in an adorable pastel pallet. If there was ever a show “for children” that I think literally everyone should watch, it’s Steven Universe.
Tuca & Bertie drew my eye given it’s obviously illustrated by the same artist who did Bojack Horseman (which I also loved and is now finally done). While most found Horseman to be overly heavy-handed and sad (and I can agree), Tuca and Bertie is distinctly more light-hearted while not sacrificing important messages. It’s very female forward, with two hilarious voice actors (Ali Wong and Tiffany Haddish) and additionally showcases healthy male relationships, strong communication, and grief. It’s currently been cancelled after one season, so it’s an easy watch and I think it’s great for a light laugh with a touch of genuine heart.
Nailed It is a cooking competition show that Netflix produces, seemingly only because they already had the set. That aside, I believe that this show is the pinnacle of this genre for American television. The premise is simple — give amateur bakers not enough time to make complex recipes yielding very bad results analogous to the popular “Nailed It” memes from the last several years. The biggest critique I’ve heard of the show is that “it’s mean to set people up to fail,” and personally that’s also the biggest misunderstanding of the show. The contestants aren’t being “setup to fail”; that’s literally their only job. The contest is a masterclass in pedagogy, highlighting the importance of failure-safe spaces and affirming, critical feedback. In combination with the hosts’ comedic antics and the genuinely laughable physical results of the competition, this show is a must watch in my opinion.
Grace & Frankie has probably gone on too long. Having watched the most recent season, they haven’t run out of points to make, but they do seem to be spiraling the drain and beating some dead horses. That said, the show is very funny and addresses a lot of really good problems facing our culture and existing systems and features two all-star female leads (Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda) grappling with an abrupt upset at the beginning of their golden years. The casting and character development are done very well, and really highlight the American traditions of terrible communication, oppression, and denial while actively messaging against all three. The first few seasons are worth the watch for the messaging alone, and the remaining seasons are worth it for the amazing cameos, and the charming and hilarious cast interactions.
Atypical focuses on a very typical, nuclear white family; the immediate twist is that the oldest child is a high-functioning, late-adolescent Autist. This is a slice-of-life show that uses Autism as a pivotal idea but is really showcasing how something slightly less-than normal (and Autism is really only slightly less than normal) genuinely drastically changes the emotional landscape of the nuclear American family. The show is not withholding about the difficulties the family members face, both in their own lives and in their interactions with their Autistic loved one, but it also doesn’t overdramatize the process. The show feels very real, and includes easy highs and lows because of it. There are currently three seasons, and I think they’re wildly worth the watch.
Kakegurui is admittedly a hard sell for most; anime has a lot of baggage that comes with it. Even so, Kakegurui is aesthetically divine, and the music is a delightful “modern Japanese jazz” vibe. The show focuses on an elite academy, where education is undercut by an overwhelming gambling culture. I fully expected this show to fall flat as a terrible show about high-schoolers playing poker. Instead, it’s an intense philosophical piece about human motivation and purpose, with a lot of detail and care built in to make sure the viewer is engaged and understanding. One particular highlight I’ve enjoyed is that in the two seasons aired so far, they’ve never once played the same game twice, and they always explain the rules of the game succinctly.
The Good Place wrapped up its fourth and final season recently. It feels weird to imagine but if you haven’t seen it already, make the time for it. It’s an intentional masterpiece that brought the dry world of metaphysical ethics to prime time television. It’s comedic and emotional, with an incredible cast featuring several old favorites and new faces. I had every expectation that the show would disappoint, and repeatedly I was shocked at how well it handles some of the most difficult conundrums humans have imagined or faced. This show single-handedly helps me believe in others, even a little more. I’m serious, watch it or reach out to me.
Everything Sucks is Freaks and Geeks, reimagined for the mid-90’s. If that doesn’t immediately sell you, maybe you haven’t seen Freaks and Geeks and you can watch that first. Really though, beyond the surface-level comparisons between the shows, Everything Sucks is one of my all-time favorite pieces put out by Netflix. The show comes out with an insane first few episodes that left me wondering “what the fuck is this show about?” I was delightfully surprised to find that the show has a deeper message that resonates so much with me. The show was unfortunately cancelled, probably due to a lack of oomph and funny moments, but I do genuinely believe that the underlying message of the show is one that our world needs right now. I don’t want to spoil it, but it’s only one season. If you’re going to binge anything, binge this and get back to me. I’ll be writing about it anyway.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a much more specific show than it wants to be. If you liked Glee but don’t feel the need to bother with the pretense that actors play the best version of themselves, this show should be right up your alley. It tackles a number of seemingly ubiquitous topics like heartbreak, and the emotional fragility of loneliness. All the while, it’s slowly building a huge message about self-love, mental health, and the need to replace the archaic, stagnant definition of romantic love so much of our culture is built upon. One of the co-creators, Rachel Bloom, is also a musical artist and really lets her talents shine in this show, in a way that serves her purpose while not being egotistic.
The Great Pottery Throwdown any fan of the Great British Baking Show should be enticed at the least. There are currently three full seasons of this show, and they’re very reminiscent of the early seasons of the GBBS which were educational and endearing. The competition is very light-hearted, and features several artists that have and show nothing but respect for each other. There’s an inherent drama to the show given the volatile nature of pottery and the producers play to that a good bit, which is pleasant. The biggest sell I have for this show is that, in great contrast to the GBBS, the male judge on this show is a shining example for the modern man. He’s emotional, and earnest while not sacrificing firm criticality or standards. It’s one of the few times I’ve been genuinely inspired by a man on TV.
Insecure is a show put out by and starring Issa Rae. It centers on a friendship between two black women with largely different values and agendas in life. The show seems to focus on their navigation of that relationship regarding their emotions and needs, as well as the various states and standards facing black Americans in modern America. As a white American male in the south, the show is reverent and unapologetic about the humanity of black people and women with any shreds of “preaching” to the choir. Instead, it feels wholly celebratory of black American art and culture, in a way that feels undeniable.
Honorable Mentions
I know I missed at least one genre. Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan for spell and sword fantasy or drama in my shows, because I find they’re often at best just compelling bedtime stories. That said, I think there are a few series that are wonderfully light-hearted without additional messaging that are great for background noise while working, or whatever.
The Great British Baking Show, Hilda, Zumbo’s Just Desserts.
Secondly, in regards to action, drama, and fantasy (well, sci-fi really), I’d suggest Altered Carbon. I personally haven’t started the second season yet, but the first season ended with a lot of good hooks and was genuinely way better than I expected for a Netflix-produced “sci-fi” series.
Finally, if you have the time and emotional wherewithal, I would recommend pushing your way through Bojack Horseman. I won’t try too hard to sell it here. The show is beyond sad, it’s rather depressing; most of the time it offers little or no sign of “getting better”. That said, the show is built mostly on puns, contains a ton of easter eggs, and features animated, animal characters that are more human than most real-life roles. It’s an ugly mirror for human behavior that cannot be cleaned, but I believe it genuinely deserves your attention at some point or another. If you make the choice to watch this and want or need to discuss, I will be delighted to act as sounding board or counter to any thoughts that arise.
That’s all for now. Hope you keep watching this show, too.
Sincerely Not Cancelled,
August
