Hi ho, fellow shelter-in-placers!
There are oodles and oodles of home entertainment choices these days! And thank heavens there are, now that we’re all home, looking for entertainment. Those poor folks living though pre-TV pandemics had VERY few options for whiling away the days and weeks stuck indoors!
But wow! Navigating it all can be a bit overwhelming…HBO! Netflix! Amazon! Not to worry, though, I’m here to help. Here are my reviews of some popular current series offerings. I have seen about 10% of these, but I’m certainly not letting that stop me from sharing an opinion!
GRACE AND FRANKIE: The misadventures of two gal pals of a certain age. Jane Fonda is 80, and looking at her STILL makes me feel ugly and out of shape, the same response I had to her in those ridiculous workout tapes. Watch only when feeling very self-confident!
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL: Mrs. M is an up-and-coming comedienne in the 1950s. My mom dressed like this, but Mom never hung out with Lenny Bruce. Suggestion: How about Sarah Silverman in a flash forward episode as Mrs. Maisel’s granddaughter? Lenny Bruce is Mister Rogers in comparison!
THE CROWN: The charmed yet challenging life of Queen Elizabeth II through the decades. Must-see TV for Anglophiles (I’m one for the most part, but I draw the line at their horrible tabloids and their even worse Marmite on toast).
THIS IS US: I’ve never watched a minute of this very emotional series, but since tissues are in short supply right now I’d better not start. Did Jack die or something? I don’t know who that is but I’m crying already!
THE HANDMAID’S TALE: A nightmare vision of a future where the women have lost every bit of their power, and only exist to serve the men. Unlike with Grace and Frankie, though, you will feel much more stylish when you watch this, along with horrified.
SCHITT’S CREEK: If you can get past the bizarre caterpillar eyebrows of Eugene and Dan Levy, this is really funny. If I lost my fortune (assuming I had one to lose), I’d be content to end up in this quirky town whose name is pure fifth grade boy humor.
STRANGER THINGS: Again, never saw. Apparently a missing kid is involved, and supernatural stuff happens, yada yada. It’s incredibly popular, like Game of Thrones was, but unlike GOT I can sit in a room with fans discussing it without wanting to jump out a window.
That should give you some informed viewing choices! But wait, resident junior critics Aiden and Peter want to weigh in with their top recommendation:
PEPPA PIG: “We like to binge watch 40 episodes at a time, because jumping in muddy puddles never loses its appeal. We also love the British accents, and can’t wait be old enough to watch The Crown. We used to watch stuff like Moana and Robin Hood, but since they involve no muddy puddles, we don’t anymore.”
Happy viewing my friends! Pass the popcorn!