Hi friends!
I’ve officially been self-isolating for 3 weeks now and it is, yes, strange. I am fine, healthy, safe, with plenty of food and even more streaming content to keep me company. I hope you are too.
But the longer this pandemic continues, the more our feelings about being homebound are…bound to change. Even in the best circumstances, it can be crazy-making to never go anywhere or see anyone. So this week, I assembled some much-needed TV suggestions to make the most of your time indoors, broken down by streaming platform.
Today’s theme: Delightful shows that will restore your faith in humanity
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Today’s Must-Watch
Look, I know everyone is talking about the Netflix series right now and with good reason!
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness tells you right in the title that there will be 1) murder 2) mayhem and 3) madness. Trust me when I tell you that our small human brains are entirely incapable of foreseeing exactly HOW MUCH of each three this documentary packs into 6 episodes.
IMPORTANT: We are usually pro-spoilers around these parts but in this case, I promise you it’s better to avoid reading any tweets, recaps, or articles ahead of time. You definitely want to uncover the wild world of big cat keepers for yourself.
ONLY after you finish can you also enjoy this Most Insane Moments compilation from Netflix UK.
My second gift to everyone who completed the assignment is this mega enlightening Twitter thread from journalist Robert Moor who also followed Joe Exotic for this magazine article and this podcast (from the people who brought you Dirty John).
Netflix
Sex Education
This magical Netflix series might be the best thing I’ve ever seen on TV.
Based somewhere in England (or Wales?) in a mythical place where kids have British accents, American lockers, and the wardrobe of a John Hughes film, it’s the story of Otis, a high schooler being raised by his fabulous single mum Dr. Jean Milburn (brilliant Gillian Anderson wearing the hell out of some jumpsuits) - who just happens to be a sex therapist. Otis decides to use whatever psychosexual lingo he overheard at home to therapize his classmates for cash. He’s also hiding a deep crush on his business partner and dealing with his own general teenage issues.
It’s also so much more than this. Sex Education is lovely! It’s sex-positive, it’s feminist, it’s deeply kind, it’s wholly compassionate, and it’s funny as all hell. The season 2 premiere had me cackling alone and once you get there, you’ll instantly know which scene did it.
Most of all, it’s the reason I search for yellow embroidered robes like Jean’s every few weeks. I found the one she wears from Zara but they don’t sell them anymore. 😭
If there’s one thing we need in the world right now (and all the time), it’s more smart, inclusive, hilarious shows like Sex Education. Enjoy!
2 seasons, 3rd on the way
Hulu
Moone Boy
One of Hulu’s first original series, Moone Boy was created and written by charmer Chris O’Dowd and actually based on his own experiences growing up in Ireland, dealing with parents, school, the Troubles, and his imaginary best friend Sean Murphy.
Here, Chris plays Sean with such zest that you can’t help but fall madly in love instantly. Meanwhile, the zany family is so clearly written by someone who both loves them deeply and finds them super annoying — so, you know, family.
And just like little Martin Moone is stuck in his family, his small town, and his pre-teen body, so too are we stuck at home for the foreseeable future. Might as well enjoy this young idiot boy’s harmless hijinx while we help flatten the curve.
3 seasons
Prime
Mozart In The Jungle
Over the weekend, I rewatched this series about the inner workings of a New York symphony orchestra, the new conductor who wants to modernize it, the young oboe player trying to get her big break, and the constant battle of classical music staying alive in a modern world; which is to say I stand by how deeply lovely the show is. But it’s not without its flaws and honestly, this time around, Hailey/“Hai Lai” (Lola Kirke who, turns out, also sings and isn’t bad at all) as the main female character seems flightier than ever.
But what I love the most about this Golden Globe winner is still the character of Rodrigo De Souza (Gael García Bernal), the wunderkind conductor now grown up and trying to breathe life into the New York Symphony. Bernal’s maestro is full of life and curiosity and a deep well of kindness. No one he encounters is too small or too inexperienced to be ignored. Rodrigo seems to believe fully that everyone is an artist in their own way and he always takes time to earnestly hear their story. What an excellent reminder when we’re all so physically removed from each other.
I am duty-bound to mention that the show also stars Bernadette Peters, who is incredible as Gloria Windsor, the symphony’s president — a four-time divorcee doing her damndest to hold the institution together in 4-inch platform heels.
True, the real star of this show might be Bernadette’s cleavage, but that they shot on location in Mexico, Venice, and Tokyo doesn’t hurt either.
Pro tip: If you watch this on a laptop, hover over the left side of your screen where they show you cast via the IMDb integration, click View All, and select Trivia. Little insider production tidbits exist for a bunch of the episodes, much like the DVD extras commentary of olde and it is so cool!
One more thing: Mozart In The Jungle is based on a somewhat racy memoir of the same title written by real-life oboist Blair Tindall, who was married to Bill Nye (the science guy) for a rather brief time. I highly recommend reading the Wikipedia entries about their divorce because whatever happened is a) dark and b) wild and c) I am entirely devoid of gossip during the pandemic so if you don’t reply to this email with some niche drama, I swear I will wither away.
4 seasons
HBO
High Maintenance
No show on TV right now more accurately captures the authenticity of life in 2016 - 2020 New York City than High Maintenance — which started as a web series on Vimeo before getting a series deal at HBO.
You might have heard it’s a show about smoking weed. And it is, in a way. But it’s much more a show about humanity, this insane city we love, and our need for genuine human connection. It’s told through the lives of people who happen to have the same weed dealer — the Guy. Despite being the show’s main character, the Guy is never named. But as the series unfolds, we learn more and more about this calm, curious, sweet man, what makes him tick, and why he chooses to be a marijuana bike messenger.
A story I love telling is that series creators Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfield were a married couple when it began, got divorced in the middle of production, and have continued working together. During this time, Katja (who used to be a casting director on 30 Rock before becoming a showrunner herself) also came out, fell in love with a woman, and recently co-wrote an episode with her new partner. I don’t know a lot of people who could have continued working with their exes through such a huge life change and while I don’t know Ben or Katja personally (unless stalking their Instagrams counts?), it’s genuinely heartwarming to think that these open-hearted, forgiving people are the ones making this beautiful series.
You can feel that same spirit of forgiveness in the way each story is revealed with such care and love. It makes sense that I feel warm, fuzzy, and full of hope for humanity after every single episode.
Told vignette style, characters are presented in small glimpses into their everyday lives. Construction workers, Wall Street bros, Instagram scammers, teachers, working moms, stay-at-home dads, hoarders, grifters, preppers, flashers, patients, throuples, students, vets, dancers, drivers, the old, the young, the figuring it out. By the time you catch up, you’ll feel you’ve gained access to the most beautiful deck of cards, each telling a brief but intimate synopsis of yet another fascinating life.
No one is too weird, nothing is too strange.
Trust me when I tell you that at least once while watching this show, you will encounter a character that reminds you of someone you know or, if you’re really lucky, someone who reminds you of yourself. Tell who it was when you get there!
Then you’ll realize that the most enthralling thing about the show is actually its ordinariness. Because the Guy primarily goes into people’s homes, we get these small, domestic glimpses into each character and our voyeurism itch is scratched. We see ourselves reflected in the tiny, cramped apartments, the bathroom in the kitchen, the mess behind the couch. And we come to realize that what ties us together is a whole lot bigger than what tears us apart — i.e. we all do battle with our laptop chargers.
A note: When you start watching, don’t forget to catch the original web series too since the HBO episodes build on some of the same characters. It’s also on HBO but you have to search for it separately. Literally look for High Maintenance: Web Series.
3 seasons, 4th currently airing
One more thing
Just watch Tiger King already, dammit!
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Final thoughts
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Stay home. Disinfect your high-touch areas. Be kind to one another.
xoxo,
-delia