I could go on and on about how 2020 was a rough year – but you know it already. Because we all lived through this sh*t show of a year. Of course, some people had it much harder than others, but for the most part, I don’t think I know a single person who’s life and/or mental health haven’t been completely upended by the pandemic. And while the end of the calendar year doesn’t mean the crisis will magically end come the first day of 2021, things are finally starting to look up for the world.
That’s why I felt it was appropriate to share which shows got me through this year – and I mean literally got me through. My mental and physical health were at very low points at multiple times this year, made worse by the anxiety of a deadly virus and the inability to socialize outside my household. As a person who thrives off in-person interaction and time outside the house, it was extremely hard to be sat inside and alone for most of this year.
Maybe it sounds cheesy, but one of my main saving graces was the sheer power of the arts and storytelling. In this particular case, it was various TV series that helped me to cope with many of my own issues. They offered me perspective when I needed it the most, a cathartic avenue for me explore my emotions, and an escape to other worlds when I felt the most isolated. So this post is me celebrating how art has saved my life, again and again, and how this year was no different.
Schitt’s Creek
Most of the people who know me know how much I love this show. What seems like a simple concept is made brilliantly unique, largely because each character is truly one-of-a-kind. Its humor is dry, ridiculous, and witty but beyond that, it’s unexpectedly sincere. It hit certain emotional chords within me that I didn’t expect from such a quirky show. The strongest element, to me, is the character development, which feels so organic that I felt like I personally knew the Rose family and everyone else in their lives by the end. Schitt’s Creek entered my life at a time when I felt my lowest, and it left an everlasting mark on my heart. I was profoundly sad when I reached the end of the show, but its finale – like the rest of it – was perfect. If you think I’m exaggerating, I urge you to watch the show and let me know what you think!
Doom Patrol
Not long ago, I wrote a whole review on Doom Patrol. I talked about this pseudo-superhero show and its mismatched, rag-tag, dysfunctional main characters managed to create one of my favorite shows. At its heart, Doom Patrol is all about redemption and finding hope, even when all seems lost. I’m sure you can understand why a show like that resonated with me intensely during the pandemic.
His Dark Materials
Seeing one of my favourite book series from childhood come to life on screen has been a truly magical experience (and has erased the failure of the 2007 The Golden Compass film from my mind). The show is currently on Season 2, and it’s exceeded my expectations all throughout. Philip Pullman, the books’ author, is a verifiable genius, and is one of the show’s executive producers. HBO has done an exceptional job of adapting the book series, applying its prestige television lens onto a concept that deserves nothing less. The level of special effects we can achieve in this day and age is necessary for the fantasy elements of His Dark Materials, and the combination of the incredible actors, sets, and effects make it a perfect adaptation so far.
The Mandalorian (Season 2)
One of the most surprising realizations I’ve had this year is how invested I’m becoming in the Star Wars universe, and I know I’m not the only one. This phenomenon is happening on a widespread scale, and one of the reasons for that is The Mandalorian. The show brings together the elements of sci-fi western that so many of us love, coupled with insanely good special effects, a stellar roster of actors (I’m a huge Pedro Pascal fan), and of course, Baby Yoda. So far, Season 2 is an excellent follow-up to Season 1, and has continued to connect the dots on Star Wars lore and storylines, largely thanks to the mastery of Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau. It’s made me incredibly excited to see all the upcoming Star Wars shows, and has compelled me to watch existing ones like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels.
I May Destroy You
Michaela Coel’s newest masterpiece, I May Destroy You, is not an easy series to watch. I will tell you now that if you haven’t watched it yet, there is a content warning for depictions and discussion of sexual assault. It was tough for me to watch, and it’s certainly not a show I would blindly recommend to everyone. That said, I think Coel is an astoundingly talented writer who knows how to create boundary-breaking narratives. Whether it’s taboo, uncomfortable, or just really, really real, Coel accomplishes it all in this show. Her show forces important truths and conversations come to light, and I believe the TV landscape is changing for the better because of creators like Coel.
Upload
What does life after death look like? Upload is a Black Mirror-esque show that depicts an afterlife that feels uncannily not too far off for our real world, especially given how advanced technology is becoming. Made by the creator of the U.S. The Office, Upload is a surprisingly heartfelt show that isn’t just based in humour or the absurd. In fact, it tackles certain conceptual subjects really well, and becomes a much larger commentary on society and the world we live in. Plus, I’ve never thought much of Robbie Amell’s acting, but he showed a lot of depth in this role.
Never Have I Ever
Representation is everything. Never Have I Ever certainly has its flaws, and I’ll gladly go into them when I write a full review. But ultimately, I loved seeing what might be classified as “yet another teen drama” with a predominantly PoC cast. I personally related on a lot of levels to the main character, who is a second-generation American-South Asian girl, and I loved that her best friends are also people of colour and that primarily every other character in the show is a person of colour. Maybe it’s basic of me to love a show like this, but maybe it isn’t: because ultimately, we’re still at an intersection of time where we haven’t seen nearly enough diverse representation in “basic” roles and storylines.
Shrill
Aidy Bryant is a delight on Saturday Night Live, and is perhaps one of the strongest current SNL cast members. But what I wasn’t expecting out of her was to be the star of an incredibly poignant Hulu show Shrill. Shrill highlights a character, played by Bryant, who struggles with body image issues as the result of societal fatphobia and fatphobic behaviours from the people in her life. In the same vein as what I said about Never Have I Ever, shows like Shrill are the types I want and need to see more of. They centre around discussions of real societal issues, and actively work to dispel and fight against unrealistic Hollywood standards of beauty and health. Watching Shrill felt like therapy, activism, and entertainment all in one.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has all the best parts of the former – but is much better. We even wrote a first impression of the first episode way back when and it’s held up! The shockingly quick and witty banter that is hallmark Sherman-Palladino is present in Mrs. Maisel, as are the kick-ass female characters. Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein are the show’s main attraction, but its secondary characters are equally compelling. At its core, watching a show about a Jewish female comedian in the 60s is rife with adventure, highs and lows, and inspiration. The show has great dialogue, compelling relationships and family dynamics, and even goes into racial politics in later seasons. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has easily become one of my favourite shows.
Mismatched
This may be the most unexpected addition to my list, but I recently watched the Netflix original Mismatched, an Indian show that is originally in Hindi but also offers an English dubbed version. I call it “the Indian Sex Education” because it has a similar vibe, but mixes elements of the things I love in a classic Bollywood film with a fresher, more realistic twist. The show explores family dynamics, romance, queerness, and good ol’ fashioned teen drama, all under the lens of South Asian culture and context.
~ Z ~
Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash
