In the age of Netflix and countless other streaming services, sometimes I find it hard to organize my thoughts in terms of what movies or shows I should be watching (I know, first world problems, right?). Oftentimes, out of pure laziness, I end up flipping through episodes of a show I’ve already watched hundreds of times due to the sheer convenience of it, even though there are tons of shows I haven’t seen that I plan to watch. In order to rectify this and add a little organization to the overwhelming nature of the influx of shows, I’ve created a list of top five TV shows I’m looking forward to watching this Spring, and am holding it to myself to watch all of these shows before the season is over. Let me know what you think, and what shows are on your list!
Light Spoiler Warning: Do not watch the trailers if you haven’t seen the previous seasons!
Marvel’s Jessica Jones Season 2
If I’m being entirely honest, Marvel Netflix has blown me away (I choose to ignore the existence of “Iron Fist”), and Jessica Jones Season 1 played a huge part in that. Seeing a deeply flawed female main character that has superhuman strength? Yes please. While I’ve only seen the first episode of Season 2, I’m hooked, as this season is already off to a seamless continuation and promises to probe deeper into the complicated and dubious past of Jessica. Krysten Ritter has proved that she can be much, much more than just the best friend or the sassy roommate, and I love every second of it. It’s a cherry on top that the Marvel Universe, whether it be in their TV shows or movies, always connect its content by tying in other characters or concepts within each world.
Westworld Season 2
Have we mentioned how much we love Westworld? S and I watched Season 1 together, and were on the edge of our seats throughout the entire thing. Chockfull of wonderfully thought-provoking, compelling, and elaborate concepts, this HBO show hooks you from the start. Best described as a Sci-Fi western, the premise follows a theme park full of human-like androids (known as ‘hosts’), created for humans to immerse themselves into for entertainment. However, viewers learn quickly that there is much more than meets the eye. It’s only as you continue to watch that everything begins to piece together slowly, crafting an intricate storyline that leaves you wanting more. Westworld Season 2 comes out on April 22nd and we could not be more excited.
Terrace House: Opening New Doors
If you haven’t seen Terrace House, you’re in for a unique ride. This reality show franchise began in 2012, and it’s unlike any other North American reality show you’ve ever seen. This is largely because it’s not North American at all – it’s Japanese. The show is filmed entirely in Japanese, provided with subtitles for those of us who don’t speak the language. The sprawling house hosts six people (three females, three males), and the show follows their day-to-day lives. The members are free to leave at any time, and if they leave, another replaces them. Often, the people on the show come to the house for a purpose, generally to work on their careers, cultivate relationships, or find romance. Consistently promoting itself as an unscripted show, Terrace House offers an incredibly fascinating introspective into Japanese culture and norms, all while maintaining a relatively drama-free show (while I love shows like Jersey Shore, the content is so played up that it’s basically more fiction than it is reality). Oh, and the best part: there are six hosts, separate from the house, who act as commentators throughout each episode, and they are hilarious. Terrace House is currently on its fourth season – after two seasons in Japan and one in Hawaii, they’ve come back to Japan, where the house is now situated in the middle of Karuizawa, a resort town. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited to continue my Terrace House binge!
Shadowhunters Season 3
Based on Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments book series, Shadowhunters offers a serialized version that stays true to the young-adult fantasy genre that the books presented. While I wouldn’t necessarily say this is top quality television, it’s amazing for those of us who read the books and maintain an overall sense of nostalgia toward supernatural teen drama. The show follows Clary Fray, who discovers she is a part of a secret magical world full of demons, werewolves, vampires, and most importantly, shadowhunters – humans who have angel blood in their veins, and whose duty it is to hunt demons. While the show is set in New York, it’s filmed in Toronto, and for those of us familiar with the city it’s incredibly fun to notice the various locations while watching the show. Shadowhunters is also one of the few Netflix shows that maintains a week-by-week episode release, and is currently on Season 3. So if you’re looking for a guilty pleasure fantasy show that keeps you on your toes, this is the one for you!
Queer Eye
A reboot of the 2003 series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, this Netflix original has made its mark. Another reality TV show, this revamped, current version follows a new Fab Five (the five hosts) who each represent a different area of expertise. Each episode focuses on a different male who has been volunteered for a style and life makeover, with this season focusing in Atlanta, USA. The series is only eight episodes long, and I’ve only watched a handful of episodes, but every single one that I’ve seen so far has left me feeling incredibly uplifted. As makeover shows do, they offer a new perspective into a person’s life that helps them gain confidence and, often, helps them get out of a rut. However, what takes this show above and beyond lies in the emotional factor. This is a show that demonstrates how beautiful and varied the LGBTQ community can be, and helps foster acceptance in people who might have preconceived notions about the community. Ultimately, it underlines that people are people, and we all need a little help sometimes. The Fab Five never fail to bring humour, genuineness, compassion, kindness, and exceptional taste to the table, resulting in makeovers that truly change lives and perspectives in deeply profound ways. I’m incredibly excited to watch the rest of the season, as well as excited to have learned that the show has been renewed for a Season 2!
~ Z ~
