Online schooling, Zoom chats, Google hangouts and House
Party are now an accepted part of daily life. The husband and I even share
meals via Skype. (I should point out, he’s in Qatar and I’m in the UK. I haven’t
banished him to another room because I’m sick of him). What on earth would
lockdown have been like with out the internet? Thank you, Tim Berners-Lee – you
envisaged a world where everyone would communicate freely with everyone else,
and here we are. Bet you didn’t think a virus would underline your monumental
contribution to the world.
And thank goodness for streaming services. Netflix, Disney+,
Amazon Prime Video et al must be making daily ritual sacrifices to their entertainment
gods for the massively increased revenue generated by coronavirus.
So what are you watching to beat the lockdown tedium? I
know many people have blogged about what to watch, but I’m going to jump on
the bandwagon. Because I'm bored and I have nothing else to do.
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
For Star Wars afficionados, this is set after the events of
The Return Of The Jedi when the Empire has fallen. For those who aren’t nerds,
it follows the adventures of a supercool bounty hunter in a galaxy far, far away.
Mando is a warrior who abides by the strict rules of the Mandalorian Code (“it
is the way”) who brings in the universe’s Most Wanted for a living. Then he’s
tasked with delivering a ‘package’ which his moral compass won’t allow him to
hand over. No surprise, when his client has ‘EVIL’ practically stamped on his
forehead. Oh, and the ‘package’ turns out to be a Baby Yoda. You don’t have to
be a Star Wars fan to enjoy this.
Sex Education (Netflix)
Ah, the agonies of 16 year old Otis, whose sex therapist mother
constantly tries to have frank chats with him about masturbating and intercourse.
In a twist of fate, he ends up as a councillor to his fellow school-goers
thanks to the business skills of his secret crush, badass Maeve. Warning – some
scenes are excruciatingly embarrassing to watch with your teenage kids and it’s
probably not suitable for under 15s. But it’s a glorious series, funny, moving,
utterly absorbing, with outstanding performances by the cast.
Goliath (Amazon Original)
Billy Bob Thornton won a Golden Globe for his performance as
a washed-up attorney, his glory days behind him, who suddenly finds himself in
the middle of a high-octane case that threatens those around him. Thornton plays
the anti-hero Billy McBride perfectly, a beguiling mix of fiercely intelligent lawyer
and low-life scumball in this clever,
twisty legal drama.
After Life (Netflix)
A dark comedy from Ricky Gervais, who plays Tony, a man sent
spiralling into misery and depression after his wife dies of cancer. If that
sounds like a downer, don’t worry. There are enough laugh-out loud moments to
save this show from being a maudlin tearjerker. It explores grief, yes, but
also hope and humanity.
The Good Place (Netflix)
And the total opposite of After Life is The Good Place, a feelgood
comedy about heaven and hell. It follows the adventures of Eleanor, the kind of
person who sells fake medicine to the elderly for a living, who ends up in
heaven. A clerical error, surely, and she spends most of season 1 trying to
hide the fact from angel Michael played by the fabulous Ted Danson. But then
there’s a twist…. A heart-lifting piece of escapism about a band of lovable
misfits trying to become better people. What’s not to like?
So what are YOU watching to beat the boredom?
