2 Shows I’ve Started Watching, and 3 That I Haven’t
I’m going to be completely honest: when I first bought Crave, a streaming service that rivals Netflix, I got it solely to watch the new and final season of Game of Thrones. However, I was pleasantly surprised – rather, shocked – to see what an amazing roster of shows and films were on here. All the HBO shows I’ve never had a chance to watch on any other platform, and many other prestige shows (from networks like Hulu, Showtime, and FX) were on here, and suddenly, Netflix paled in comparison. (No shade, Netflix, but 90% of your content are random, D-List shows and films.) I’ve been going a little nuts on the binge-watching for the past month that I’ve had Crave, but I would honestly recommend looking into this service if you’re looking for a place to find a ton of quality content. Today’s post highlights two shows that I’m already hooked on, and three shows that are coming up next on my “To Watch” list.
Insecure (2016 – present)
Based on Issa Rae’s web series Awkward Black Girl, Insecure is a comedy-drama on HBO created and starred in by Rae. I tend to gravitate towards shows that the creators star in (Chewing Gum is one of my all time favourites), because there’s something intensely personal about it. I’m currently on season three, and I could not be enjoying this show more. It does extremely well to paint humans in the most realistic light possible: that is, as beings that, more often than not, make some pretty questionable day-to-day decisions. Insecure centers predominantly on Issa (played by Issa Rae), but also splits its time to focus on her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji). Described as a show that “explores the black female experience”, Insecure focuses on romance, drama, and sociopolitical issues, particularly within the black community. Insecure manages to make me roar with laughter (especially when Issa does her mirror-raps) while simultaneously keeping me at the edge of my seat during its dramatic elements. The characters are hilarious, endearing, complex, frustrating, confusing, flawed, uplifting, and inspirational; all the qualities I look for in a compelling character. Rae has done a spectacular job outlining the multifaceted nature of human beings and delivering us prime comedy and drama, while simultaneously giving us a very raw and real commentary on PoC and WoC topics.
The Handmaid’s Tale (2017 – present)
Just an FYI: I am definitely going to be writing a more comprehensive review on The Handmaid’s Tale once I’m finished watching season two. Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale explores a deeply harrowing dystopian future – one where women who are deemed fertile are used as breeding slaves for the elite class. In the Republic of Gilead, the former United States of America has transformed into a theocratic totalitarian society, where Christian fundamentalism and extremism reigns supreme. The most basic of human rights are stripped away, where everyone is monitored under a “Big Brother”-like manner, and society is ruled in the cruelest, most violent of ways. The story centers predominantly on Offred, played by Elisabeth Moss, and shows us her life before Gilead as well as her present. I won’t go too deeply into the synopsis, but all I’ll say is this: The Handmaid’s Tale is a masterpiece. It will haunt you, open your eyes, make you cry, and force you to deeply ponder society and current affairs. The cinematography is beautiful, the acting truly artful, the concept chilling. The scariest part of this show, by far, is the fact that components of Gilead can be compared to modern day society, particularly by the sociopolitical state of Trump’s USA. I think it’s imperative that anyone and everyone watch this show, but I will warn you: it’s quite graphic. Prepare yourself before starting The Handmaid’s Tale. But I promise you, you won’t regret it.
The Night Of (2016)
These next three are shows are ones I haven’t watched yet, but have been eager to watch for a long time now. While The Night Of is technically an HBO mini-series and not an ongoing show, it’s one that has been suggested to me by numerous people. Chronicling a Pakistani-American man named Nasir “Naz” Khan (played by Riz Ahmed), The Night Of is the fictional story of a bizarre and curious murder case. Naz, after having sex with a woman one night, wakes up to find her dead – but has absolutely no memory of what happened that night. The crime-drama unfolds hereafter, and is loosely based on the U.K. show Criminal Justice. Viewers have noted that this case is also reminiscent of the real life Hae Min Lee case, which was the subject of Season 1 of the podcast Serial. Lee’s ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed was convicted of her murder, despite his insistence for the last two decades that he is innocent. I’ve heard that this show is incredibly heavy and inherently sociopolitical, especially given the main character’s PoC status. As a Pakistani-Canadian myself, I’m looking forward to seeing this show, but need to fully prepare myself for the inevitable emotional weight of it.
The Wire (2002 – 2008)
This is probably the show I’m most looking forward to, and has been recommended to me for over a decade. The Wire is a crime drama set in Baltimore, Maryland, and is written by a former police reporter. Heeded as one of the most important, poignant, and sociopolitical television shows of all time, particularly of the HBO roster, The Wire focuses on different relationships between crime and law in each season. Though I don’t know too much else about the show, many critics and friends alike have applauded the raw and realistic nature of the way The Wire sheds light on society, politics, and the cycle of crime, and how it never hesitates to pull any punches. I’m definitely looking forward to becoming more informed as to how the gritty realities of urban society, particularly in the USA, is portrayed on The Wire. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that Idris Elba stars in it, too.
Masters of Sex (2013 – 2016)
Though this show was cancelled after four seasons in 2016, the concept of Showtime’s Masters of Sex is highly intriguing. Sex – rather, the discussion of sex – has always been the subject of taboo, particularly in mainstream media. This may seem odd, because societally we are inundated with the idea of “sex appeal” and numerous sexual or sexually charged scenes in shows, films, and ads alike. However, there is a difference between the highly manicured and glorified “sexy” scenes in mainstream media and the actual discussion of sexual health, pleasure, sexual studies, and the sex industry in general. Enter: Masters of Sex. Based on real figures, William Masters and Virginia Johnson, who were leading researchers of human sexuality in the 1950s and 60s, Masters of Sex explores the innovative nature of their work. In a time where speaking about sex was much more taboo than it is today, and when women’s pleasure was barely regarded, I think this show will be super interesting to watch. I am also always for a show that breaks barriers of the shame culture that surrounds discussions of sex and sexual health. Though I’ve heard the show is more drama than anything else, I still think the topic is extremely compelling, and I’m looking forward to watching this one.
What are some of the shows you’re looking forward to watching? Let us know in the comments below!
~ Z ~
