Okay, so I made it 6 weeks into lockdown without a boring 'what's good on TV?' blog post, so you have to give me props for that. That being said, I have been watching a lot of Netflix and I imagine you have, too. So if you're looking for some new recommendations to binge watch, you've come to the right place.
New releases:
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
I don't know where to begin with this show, other than I am absolutely in love with it. It's a show about Zoey, who has an MRI mishap which allows her to hear other people's 'heart songs' - honest expressions of their emotions relating to a current situation they're experiencing, through song and dance. It's an incredibly heartwarming show, especially as Zoey's father who has a terminal illness is given a voice through his 'heart songs', when he can't actually speak in the real world of the show. Lauren Graham (Lorelei from Gilmore Girls, which I'm surprised I haven't rewatched during lockdown...) is an absolute star addition to the show, and her character's storyline on ending a toxic marriage is so inspiring, as is Mo's coming out story. I can't not mention one of my favourite humans, Skylar Astin, who plays the adorable Max who is hopelessly in love with Zoey, which leads to her being in quite the love triangle. Plus, Jane Levy's incredible facial expressions are a character of their own and I LOVE her. Please. Watch. This. Show. It'll bring so much joy to your life, even while it's making you cry.
Duncanville
I have to begin this review by talking about the fact that ever since Parks and Rec, (I highly recommend that too if you haven't seen it!), I have been obsessed with Amy Poehler. In this show, she actually voices the character of Duncan, and of his mother too and that tells you everything you need to know about how talented she is. Duncanville is an animated comedy about teenage Duncan and his family, which actually makes me laugh out loud. Later in this blog post, I will rave about Modern Family which introduced me to the wonderful Ty Burrell, who voices Duncan's father with the same amount of wit as he does with Phil Dunphy. Watch this show for a sweet show about growing pains, family drama and a healthy balance of both teenage and parental angst.
Normal People
I will be honest about this one, I found the first two episodes quite difficult to get into. However, if you're in the same position, push through. It's a beautiful show about teenage Marianne and Connell who begin secretly dating due to the fact that he is one of most popular people in school, and she, well, isn't. Episode 4 onwards fast forwards to where they're in college, and in my opinion, the show really begins here. I won't give out any spoilers but you will laugh, and you will cry. Its representation of young love is absolutely stunning and heartbreaking all at the same time. It's based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Sally Rooney. I somehow managed to avoid the hype around that last year, and didn't get around to reading it, although I'm told that it's wonderfully true to the book. So if you're worried about the TV adaptation not living up to your favourite book, many would argue that this isn't the case.
New seasons:
Modern Family
This hilarious family sitcom has been one of my favourites for a very long time, and I'm incredibly sad that it's coming to an end. At the time of writing, the first half of the Season 11 finale airs on Sky One tonight with the second half airing next week. I adore all of the characters, and have loved seeing the young children grow up into adults on the show. I'll miss the amazing family dynamics between all of the characters, and how much they all love each other. I just know how much I'm going to cry watching them say goodbye!
Brooklyn Nine Nine
The latest season of Brooklyn Nine Nine has held the same level of comedy that it has had for the previous 6 seasons. This season follows the story of Jake and Amy trying to have a baby, and their journey feels incredibly true to life, as it shows the hardship that can come along with this. This season's heist episode is one of my favourites. It's absolutely crazy, and not only because it takes place over Valentine's Day, Easter, and Halloween.
Rewatches:
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
I think I've watched this show about 3 times, but only once during lockdown. It's a musical drama about a woman who was working hard at New York job which paid a lot but it was making her blue. One day, she was crying a lot and so she decided to move to West Covina, California, and started a brand new job, and a new career. It happens to be where her ex-boyfriend, Josh lives, but that's not why she's here. It's a lot more nuanced than this, but she's a crazy ex-girlfriend. At least for the first few seasons. Okay, sorry, I had to do that. The musical-dramedy is one of the best shows I've ever seen. It has one of the most diverse casts, and it discusses a lot of important topics including depression, obsession, and the terrifying world of trying to get a medical diagnosis. The all original soundtrack is stunning, and there's some incredibly memorable numbers in here. Rachel Bloom is an absolute genius and oh no, I think I've just convinced myself to start my fourth watch.
New Girl
First of all, I have never related more to a fictional character in the way I have to Jess Day. I am her. She is me. I'm also an English teacher who 'rocks a lot of polka dots', and a puppy in a teacup would absolutely send me into floods of tears.
The show is about a young woman who moves in with 3 men she found on Craigslist, after having to move out when her ex-boyfriend cheated on her. Thankfully, I don't relate to her origin story quite so much as her actual personality. Anyway, it's an adorable show about the lives of Jess and her newfound friends as they navigate adult LA life. I've lost count of how many times I've watched this show, and now that UK Netflix has just added all 7 seasons of it for our lockdown viewing pleasure, a rewatch is definitely on the cards.
Teen Wolf
I first watched Teen Wolf ten years ago when I was in secondary school, and I remember that it was one of my favourite shows ever. However, at the end of Season 3, clearly something happened which was just too much for my 15 year old heart, and I stopped watching. During a girls night Zoom call two weeks ago, I was convinced that I need to finish watching it. My fiance (yes, I managed to drag him into it with me) and I have now watched 5 out of 6 seasons in two weeks. It's still one of my favourite shows ever, and I have found myself 'shipping' Stiles and Lydia the same way that I did when I was a teenager. It's not just a quirky romantic teenage show though. It's a brilliant (and gorgeous) cast of actors playing teenagers who live in Beacon Hills, which is practically a goldmine for supernatural activity. One of the teenagers, Scott McCall, turns into a werewolf after being bitten by one a day before he starts his sophomore year. (Year 11... I think) He and his friends have to learn how to manage Scott's new powers, and 6 seasons of adventure ensues. I still haven't seen Season 6 so no spoilers please, but I will be sad to see this show end. I think my favourite seasons are still 1-3 even though I've now seen 4 and 5, but let me know which your favourite is.
Upcoming Favourites:
Dead To Me
At the time of writing, Season 2 of Dead To Me just dropped today and I haven't started watching it yet. However, I am SO excited because we loved Season 1 so much, and the Season 2 trailer looks like all of that thrilling, dramedy goodness and more. Dead To Me is about two women who meet at a support group for those who have experienced loss. Jen, whose husband was killed in a hit-and-run, is determined to find out who did this to him. Her and Judy, despite the fact that they have very opposite personalities, become unlikely friends.
Kimmy vs. The Reverend
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt features a happy go lucky woman named Kimmy and her oversaturated world of trying to adjust to real adult life, after being trapped in a bunker for years. If you haven't seen the original series, this is the basic premise of it. However, on May 12th, Netflix are releasing a 'Bandersnatch' style interactive show, similar to Black Mirror's special from last year. I thoroughly enjoyed that, so I'm really looking forward to this! I really hope it involves more of Titus' character Lemonading. That was my favourite.
Which of these shows have you been watching?! xo
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