Tv has been our greatest form of escapism to leave behind the world of all things pandemic. It allows us to get lost in the fantasy land of relatable characters, chaotic problems bigger than our usual day-to-day and to find adventure and passion and courage in the trials and tribulations of others. Thank God for tv! We’ve looked at the top tv shows you should, if you haven’t already, dive deep into to get through lockdown 3.0 and hopefully make things fly by a little quicker!
After Life
When season one dropped on Netflix it had fans laughing and crying over Ricky Gervais darkly humoured comedy about life after losing a loved one.
Season two follows Tony as he explores life as a widower, his new-found friends in low places, hilarious chaotic escapades and finding joy in the simple things life has to offer. This profoundly inspirational and realistic portrayal of love and loss is one show you can be sure you’ll need the tissue box for.
This quote captures exactly how in our feels we are about the whole thing –
“Well, I think life is precious because you can’t watch it again. I mean you can believe in an after life if that makes you feel better, but once you realize you’re not going to be around forever, I think that’s what makes life so magical.”
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
Calling all you cool cats and kittens! This crazy and chaotic docu-series captured the unseen side of tiger entertainment and rescue centres with Joe Exotic and Carol Baskin at the helm. In a staging of two chaotic mortal enemies coming to blows, these two iconic personas have driven the countless memes and pop culture references we’ve seen throughout lockdown. So, if you don’t know, get to know.
This series takes any and all of your perceptions on American reality/documentary tv shows, adds several layers of leopard and tiger print, not so secretive murder plots and daily bizarre happenings in one big pot and finishes with a sprinkle of chaos and carnage.
No wonder it’s birthed some hilarious yet ridiculous quotes. Our favourite to sum Joe up, “I’m Joe Exotic, otherwise known as the Tiger King, the gay, gun-carrying redneck with a mullet.”
You’re in for a ride, buckle up.
Killing Eve
This bad b#tch comedy-drama spy series follows Eve Polastri, played by the fantastic Sandra Oh as she hunts down the psychopathic assassin we all admire, Villanelle, played by Jodie Comer. As the two slowly become entwined in the hunt a mutual and possibly fatal obsession develops.
Magnetic and captivating, we can’t help love Vilanelle as her chaotic sense of humour and disapproval of social norms has us craving more. Take this word of wisdom from V herself, “You should never call a psychopath a psychopath. It upsets them.” Amen.
With three series now available to binge on iPlayer, it’s a sure sofa winner for lockdown. Be warned, it may have you tapping into your flamboyant alter ego…
Game Of Thrones
Yes, yes, yes we know. Everyone said to watch it, then not to watch it then ‘why haven’t you already seen it?’. But hey, now is the perfect time to fall into the world of Westeros and get caught up on a fantasy land epic.
When the world is battling chaos you can’t control, why not look to a medieval land where Dragons roam, gory bloody battles are waged, and political plays are essential to survival. With a fantastic array of characters and a barrage of historical family plots, there’s almost too much on offer to get engulfed in and beat the lockdown blues.
White walkers, The Night King, Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow have become well known household names, but those left in the dark can soon catch up with the countless theories and join legions of fans.
Warning* Make sure you’ve avoided countless spoilers and theories before settling into this one, we don’t want it to get ruined before you can even start to learn Westeros’ names of the many Great Houses! Now stream on NowTv or Amazon!
“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” – Cersei Lannister
The Crown
A perfect storm of duty, family and honour is what audiences can prepare for with this powerful series. The Crown follows a young Clair Foy (then Olivia Coleman seasons 3&4) as she portrays Elizabeth the Second from her wedding in 1947 to Philip the Duke of Edinburgh and throughout her changing life as Britain’s longest serving Monarch. A dramatized depiction of the grandiose and gripping royal history with all the added drama that comes from both personal and private relationships.
This series can be described as House of Cards meets Downton Abbey but with a more biographical retelling all with exceptional production value. Pear into a world full of political plays, family melodrama, historical real world events with duty to position and honour of name above all. With swoon-worthy costumes, beautiful cinematography and an outstanding cast it certainly is one to watch!
With Season 4 just around the corner, now is the perfect time to catch up on this retelling of the royal family. From what we’ve seen season 4 looks to be the best yet as we are introduced to more characters such as Diana and Margaret where monumental power shifts are starting to come into play. Who knew period dramas could feel this juicy?
Our favourite quote comes from Prince Philip himself, “Who we are is not what we wear or what glitters. It’s the spirit that defines us.”
The Fall
So you want a series to have you completely hooked yet also checking your home security system twice? We’ve got the one for you.
Follow this psychological crime thriller set close to home in Belfast as we watch two hunters go head to head. Gillian Anderson as an icy Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, the other Jamie Dornan who plays a stalking perverse serial killer by night and a happy father and counsellor by day, Paul Spector. As Stella battles against forces both inside and out of the PSNI to form a strong case and track down the Belfast Strangler, Paul sets his charming sights on more young professional women in the city. We explore the complexities of both characters’ lives as they set about their dirty agendas. With all three series of The Fall now available on Netflix, there’s never been a better time to get completely creeped out while you’re stuck at home. *We recommend having a fluffy friend nearby just in case!*
And that’s our take on the essential watches for your lockdown 3.0 binge sesh. Did you root for Joe or Carol, were you House Stark or Targaryen, did you love or loath Queenie? Tell us your thoughts and if you think we missed any essentials! Happy watching!
Until next time,
The Front Row team x
