One of the beauties of television and film is that there are so many genres to choose from – comedy, drama, horror, thriller, romance, the list goes on. And while we love a good intense, dark show, there are also times when all you need is to have your spirits lifted. Here’s a list of five T.V. shows that are great to either binge watch, or just catch an episode of, whenever you feel the need to escape to a happier place.
Brooklyn 99
Fans of the show know that there was a recent cancellation hoopla surrounding it, but thankfully it was picked up by another network in order to continue. Created by Dan Goor and Michael Shur, this police sitcom is filled with notable comedians such as Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, Chelsea Peretti, and Joe Lo Truglio. Even those who aren’t considered typically comedic actors, such as Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz and Andre Braugher, never fail to be hilarious. The show is filled with fast-paced wit, camp, and parody, so be prepared to not have a break between laughs. Ultimately Brooklyn 99 maintains a perfect balance between humour and a consistent plotline, making it completely accessible whether you watch it chronologically or not. Each actor brings their own style of comedy to the table, while the writing keeps it all cohesive, resulting in a light-hearted, endearing, and surprisingly shrewd show. Personally, I think that the content just gets better with each season, so long live Brooklyn 99!
Atypical
A fairly new addition to Netflix, Atypical is classified as a coming-of-age show following the life of an 18-year-old who is on the autism spectrum, specifically focusing on his pursuit of a romantic life. Now, I won’t pretend that there aren’t some problematic aspects with the show – some critics have commented on the lack of autistic actors in the cast, and how some of the portrayed autistic traits come off as stereotypical or imprecise. I hope that these factors will be considered by the creators for future seasons, but aside from these aspects, I enjoyed the show because the main emphasis was to value those who are considered “different” just as much, if not more, than those considered “normal”. In fact, the show forces the viewers to deliberate what it even means to be normal, and whether anyone is really normal at all. The main character, Sam Gardner (played by Keir Gilchrist), is on the spectrum, but the show almost as equally focuses on the perspectives of his mother, father, and sister, who are not on the spectrum. What I liked most about the show is that, while it deals with serious subject matter, it still balances humour alongside it without glamourizing anything. At the base level, it shows us that we are all human, and we all deserve the same rights and chances, while also reminding us to be mindful of those we may not understand right away. A surprisingly funny show, it is also uplifting and if anything, thought-provoking.
New Girl
I can definitely vouch for the fact that this show is a bit divisive in its use of incredibly niche, quirky humour, but I have always found it to be a fun escape into a somewhat nonsensical L.A. loft space filled with totally weird, beautiful people. Best known for having Zooey Deschanel as the titular character, named Jessica Day, New Girl deals with day-to-day romance, drama, career, and life. While it does utilize the sitcom trope of maturing thirty-somethings figuring out their lives, it does so in an offbeat and perhaps more realistic way than we are used to. Set to finish this year with its final season, New Girl is yet another show that embraces the strangeness and uniqueness of people to its full extent, which is something I always finds puts me in a good mood.
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Cue another offbeat comedy! This surreal comedy is co-created by comedic genius Tina Fey, so if you enjoy Tina, you’ll likely enjoy this show. Using a fairly dark concept and making light of it instantly, the titular Kimmy (played by comedian Ellie Kemper) is found after years of being held in a bunker in Indiana by a cult leader, who had convinced her and three other women that the apocalypse had occurred and they were the sole survivors. Kimmy, now free, adjusts to modern day life in New York City with a staggeringly unwavering optimism and endearing naiveté, while encountering various characters as she goes along. I can honestly say it is one of the strangest, funniest shows I’ve ever seen, somehow pulled off amazingly with the combination of a stellar cast and script. If anything, Kimmy’s positivity even in the face of dire situations is a delight to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNKEKlXY3Z4
Arrested Development
Perhaps I saved the best for last, but Ron Howard’s Arrested Development quickly became one of my all-time favourite shows the second I started watching it. The show has an all-star cast, some of the biggest names being Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, David Cross, Michael Sera, and Alia Shawkat. Completely unique in and of itself, the story follows the dysfunctional Bluth family as their family and business figure-head, George Sr. (played by Jeffrey Tambor) is imprisoned for fraud. The show straddles the balance between surreal and real, narrated by Ron Howard himself, and is known for its multiple running gags as well as its eccentric humour. After three seasons, the show was cancelled, but Netflix picked it up again years later, creating a seven year gap between season three and season four. Season four continues to be divisive to fans, due to a change in structure – since it was difficult to schedule the now considerably more famous actors altogether, many of their scenes were filmed separately. Regardless, Arrested Development is one of the funniest, and intelligently written, sitcoms out there. Season five is set to come out on May 29, and I couldn’t be more excited!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXg2_yExgVY
~ Z ~
Photo by Liane Metzler on Unsplash
