Here are a few shows I’ve been enjoying lately, including a mind-bending science documentary, an Australian teen drama-comedy, and yet another fantasy show featuring a magical boarding school.
Human Playground
Narrated by Idris Elba, Human Playground is a people-focused Planet Earth that chronicles how people “play”. This includes rituals steeped in ancient beginnings to modern-day pursuits like free-diving and the “Hell of the North” cycle race. I’ve been really enjoying this series, although I do fast-forward whenever the “play” involves uncomfortable blood-drawing violence, as that’s just not my jam.
A Trip to Infinity
This Netflix documentary features scientists and philosophers as they contemplate and provide perspective on perhaps the most unfathomable concept of all – infinity. Prepare for your mind to be blown.
Hacks
Jokes on me – I don’t know why I didn’t press play on this sooner, because I laughed my head off every episode, while watching BY MYSELF. The story features a 25-year old writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) who begrudgingly goes to work for a legendary comic Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) in Las Vegas after some of her insensitive tweets resurface. Their unlikely partnership becomes an unlikely success. Plus, Broad City fans will be familiar with names like Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs who created the show, and the latter of which plays Ava and Deborah Vance’s wholesome agent.
Heartbreak High
This diverse Australian teen drama-comedy starts with a “sex map” being found in a closed-off annex of the school, created by two best friends. Its discovery spins off the creation of “SLTS” (Sexual Literacy Tutorial) after school class, which throws a bunch of students together Breakfast Club style. Hook-ups, reveals, and a whole lot of self-discovery ensue. I came for the Australian accents and stayed for the killer soundtrack.
Entrapped
One wintry week four years ago, I binged on the Icelandic show Trapped. The first season featured a large, slovenly-looking detective and two small-town constables who are tasked with solving a murder mystery when the “big city” cops from Reykjavik can’t reach the remote town due a snowstorm. I loved it. Entrapped is the “third” season, with the cops trying to solve the murder of a cult member who is linked to a Hells Angels-type bike gang. The beautiful, rugged scenery of Iceland are what make this show most enjoyable to me, but the story is quite gripping as it gets going.
Fate: The Winx Saga Season 2
I’ve been a sucker of magical British boarding school vibes since Worst Witch (of which Rogue One’s Felicity Jones play the titular mean girl.) Here, fairies attend Alfea College for Fairies in the Otherworld (aka Britain but with magic) to master their powers and fight the dreaded Burned Ones that threaten their existence. It is absolutely corny at times, but I’ve been enjoying it all the same as a light morning (or evening) watch.
Andor
Perhaps the grittiest, boots-on-the-ground Star Wars series yet, I found that Andor got off to a bit of a slow start. But, the last two episodes have really picked up, and are worth waiting around for. Also, the fact that Diego Luna has aged so well that he can do a PREQUEL of his character Cassian Andor 6-years after Rogue One is pretty remarkable.
And, yes, I’ve been watching House of the Dragon, but I think anyone who cares about that already is as well.
