You just spent seven bizarre hours with Joe Exotic and the wild cast and characters of “Tiger King”. Like many of you, I thought there was a lot to take in and aside from the fact that every tiger sanctuary is a de facto sex cult, Tiger King simply reminds me of the pre-streaming days when we all tuned in and watched TV at the same time. Now that we’re in quarantine and (still) scrolling the never-ending homepages of Netflix, Hulu, and HBO can feel debilitating—choice can be paralyzing—which is why I decided to drop you some recs. Let’s get through this together.
Succession - HBO Now
If you haven’t hopped on to the Succession hype train yet. ALL ABOARD! I resisted this binge for as long as I could until I literally couldn’t cruise the internet without crossing a “Cousin Greg” meme. You’ll understand soon. It’s like watching Game of Thrones happening in present-day New York City and instead of dragons or white walkers you can replace them with sociopathic children of a mega mogul, all trying to be heir to the prestigious media conglomerate, Waystar Royco. If you need a laugh while digesting a complex narrative, hop on the Succession hype train like as rest of us.
Let me know when you get to the brilliance that is the underground-bachelor-party-rave episode.
Fleabag - Amazon
This one is viciously funny and outright original. The show is about a young British woman played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge navigating life after (spoiler alert) losing her best friend. It’s a quick watch, reserve a weekend for it. Every episode is twenty-five minutes long and the is dark and emotionally complicated and made all the better by clever pacing/editing and the lead’s constant need to talk to the camera, usually during the most unlikely moments.
Fleabag spends twenty-five minutes at the dinner table and somehow is more satisfying than the season finale of GOT.
Ugly Delicious - Netflix
If you’re an Anthony Bourdain fan, this show’s for you. Hosted by the founder of the Momofuku, Dave Chang, every episode seamlessly ties in iconic dishes from around the world and how they blend into the cultural zeitgeist. If you have an appreciation for food and culture, it gets emotional. Let me know when you get to the Japan episode (get your tissues ready). You can get through both seasons in twelve episodes and features appearances by Steve Yuen, Bill Simmons, and Padma Lakshmi.
UD joins Parts Unknown, Huang’s World and F*ck That’s Delicious in shows that make you think you can cook.
End of the F*cking World - Netflix
You’re probably going to need to open your mind for EOTFW. The plot is unsettling, as it follows a young sociopathic teenage boy with an urge to murder, who meets a young teenage girl who feels like she doesn’t belong in this world. But don’t let that deter you. The story is hilarious, thrilling and heartfelt all wrapped in one and oddly relatable. It's a brisk (demented) two-season watch, with, in my opinion, one of the most complete endings a show can execute. If you like the artistic, quirky styles of Wes Anderson or Taika Waititi, End of the F*cking World gives you all the quirk you crave during this Quarantine. The ending. The F*cking ending.
Black Mirror - Netflix
I used to think something was wrong with me for loving a show so dark as Black Mirror. But, I couldn’t think of a show more recommendable during these weird times. It’s an anthology centered around the question, “what happens if technology goes too far?”. While each episode is different, the tone of the show leaves you questioning the reality you live in today. The ideas are complex, while often relatable. With themes centered around social media, government surveillance, and video games, Black Mirror will open your eyes to the uneasy reality that we are living in today.
Black Mirror Season 3 is the “My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy” of the series. A true work of art, depending on who you ask.