I’ll cut right to the chase: I’ve been watching a lot of TV shows lately, especially with ongoing lockdown orders in place. As a result, I’ve put together a list of my latest TV recommendations of shows, ranging from teen dramas to Marvel to sci-fi and more!
Greek (2007 – 2011)
Exploring the college Greek system (more popularly known as fraternities and sororities), this hidden gem gives you all the drama without being too teen soap opera. And listen, I love my One Tree Hill’s and Gossip Girl’s, but this show is different. It’s much more fun and lighthearted, yet still explores the typical (and sometimes, not so typical) follies and foibles of college students. But shenanigans aside, what I actually love most about the show is its diversity. It’s not just about a bunch of hot popular kids who have interesting yet highly unrelatable problems. And even while some characters may fall under that category at times, they all become more nuanced and humanized as the show goes on. Greek is a great show because it explores the carefree party types, the rich kids, the wanderers, the academically oriented, and everything in between. There are PoC characters, white characters, straight characters, and queer characters; religious characters, free spirits, and more. Its variety of vastly different characters feels authentic to the real life, mosaiced nature of an educational institution. Ultimately, Greek does well to diversify the stereotypical depictions of American university life, showing that it’s not just dumb blondes and hot jocks that belong to frats and sororities. I’d even go so far to say that it explores the sociopolitical structure of university life, and seeing how all the ensemble cast of characters eventually intertwine is a really enjoyable ride.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 – 2020)
My interest in the Star Wars has always loosely existed, but it wasn’t until I watched The Mandalorian that it really solidified. Though I’d seen bits and pieces of shows like Clone Wars and Rebels before, I was always daunted at the idea of watching them in their entirety (for context, Clone Wars has 133 episodes, and Rebels has 75). But after watching The Mandalorian, which I loved and got me wholly invested in the Star Wars universe, I was told to watch Clone Wars so I could more fully understand the context of the movies. And once I got hooked on Clone Wars, I can irrevocably say that it’s one of the best shows I’ve ever watched. While watching it, I was constantly amazed at how it offered so much retroactive context and backstory, and was especially impressed at how it transformed the characters I was previously indifferent about into completely beloved figures (here’s looking at you, Anakin Skywalker). I loved meeting Ahsoka Tano and seeing her become one of the best, if not the best, characters in the show. And lastly, I enjoyed seeing how the animation evolved and advanced with time, and with it, the overarching plotlines. Clone Wars is set during the three years between Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and it fills in those gaps brilliantly. The voice cast is stellar, and the last season in particular is a cinematic experience that left me in tears and made me feel more invested in the Star Wars characters and world than I’d ever been before. Clone Wars is incredible for its world-building abilities, largely in part due to creator Dave Filoni’s sheer genius: it adds a rich amount of meaning, depth, and context that makes the film series so much more comprehensive and sensical.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
The Marvel roster of shows were much anticipated, and for the most part, I think they measured up quite well! What I really appreciate about the shows is that they delve into and study the characters that I always wished I’d seen more of, but never did until now. Doing TV series instead of individual movies is a great way to explore these characters, too, because it allows more time for that exploration. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was a great piece that offered really pointed and relevant sociopolitical commentary, including but not limited to racism against Black people and communities, patriotism in the U.S., and the complex politics of war. And while those sociopolitical explorations felt particularly pointed and poignant, it was ultimately the chemistry between Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan that made the show truly special, as both actors are incredibly skilled in their craft. It was so, so satisfying to see two characters who have been robbed of screen time in the films to finally get their time to shine—and I hope to see much more of them going forward!
WandaVision (2021)
Let me start off with a caveat: anyone who watched WandaVision while it was airing knows how intensely the fan theories and hype spiraled out of control. I ultimately think that the biggest downfall of WandaVision was how hyped up it was, which was less the fault of the show and more the fault of the media (and even the actors themselves). All that aside though, I truly did love this show and 100% recommend it to anyone who has watched the MCU roster of films, because it continues and contextualizes the Wanda and Vision storyline so well. It is at its core a heartbreaking and simultaneously beautiful study of grief, loss, and familial relationships. And those themes come to life so well largely through the marvelous performances of Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, who play Wanda and Vision respectively, but also because of characters Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). Something that Marvel films have typically lacked is showing its characters process the extreme loss, trauma, and hardship they’ve gone through. That’s why I love shows like WandaVision and TFATWS, because they humanize these characters and build out the MCU in a way that makes it so much more relatable and multi-faceted.
Superstore (2015 – 2021)
I don’t know why, but I was initially skeptical about watching a show called “Superstore”. I think it’s because I had the odd notion that it was a documentary about Superstores, which are giant big box stores that primarily exist in North America. But soon after I got over these initial preconceived notions, I was surprised to find a refreshing, funny, and intelligent workplace sitcom. The characters in it are ridiculous yet believable, and come to life through an excellent ensemble cast (the likes of which include America Ferrera, Mark McKinney, Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, and many more). What I especially love about the show is how it inadvertently injects moments of deep contemplation about real life issues, which often manifest as conversations in the store’s break room. What I mean is, Superstore can be a lighthearted escape from reality just as much as it offers a nuanced commentary on the economic disparities in North America, and approaches very real and heavy topics with a tastefully comedic tone.
~ Z ~
