I admire those that are being productive in quarantine and are achieving their goals. I’ve achieved a 17 pound weight gain, anxiety, and a passion for sitting on my ass. Well all of that and watching television to entertain myself.
Yes, there was a time before Christmas movies that I watched other things. Hell, there is a time now where I watch other things. Old and new, we have been revisiting and watching a lot of television to get us through.
TWELVE MONKEYS
A show that starts off with a pandemic (it’s not all about a pandemic though, we promise!) seems like the wrong kind of show to binge when we’re in the middle of, yeah, a pandemic. And yet 12 Monkeys is that rare gem of a show that is so well written, so well acted, so carefully plotted and also so emotional in all the ways that count, the ways that make us want to watch TV, that even though there were a lot of times when we were genuinely worried …it actually made us feel so much better. If only reality (and, you know, the rest of TV) could make as much sense as 12 Monkeys did, we would all be better off!
DASH AND LILY
It’s been a year and we’re not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. But the thing that has been good about this year if some of the great television that has hit us – even in quarantine. And hey, Dash & Lily is one of those shows. There is nothing like New York at Christmas time and this show definitely reignites a love for the city. Not to mention that the cast is so perfect and intoxicating, making you anxious to see them in everything that they do. But if you haven’t watched Dash & Lily you need to sit and watch it. You won’t regret it.
THE CROWN
We’re obsessed with all things having to do with England’s Royal Family. Sure, we know that The Crown is a dramatization of their history. Not to mention that the sets are beautiful, the costumes are beautiful, and the actors are phenomenal. It’s a series that will draw you in and then make you stop and google all of the things that happened. It’s an amazing series with amazing characters and actors. And their sets – BREATHTAKING!
SUPERNATURAL
Supernatural has been a godsend during quarantine because it’s got 15 seasons worth of content. Don’t want to watch the ending of the series? No worries. Let’s go back to season 8 aka season gre8t. Want to watch some funny monster episodes? No problem. We’ve got those too. There’s a little something for every mood you may have and we’ve had plenty this quarantine.
THE RIGHT STUFF
Hot guys, a fictionalized version of an interesting and cool moment in history and some metaphorical wins at a time when it feels all we do is lose? Well, that’s basically what The Right Stuff is, and why it was such an enjoyable quarantine watch. There’s, of course, also the fact that, as high stakes as they might feel it all is, we already know how it ended, and so we don’t really have to worry. Plus, did we mention there were hot guys? Because, really, there are a lot of them.
ANYTHING BRAVO
Bravo is a guilty pleasure, but at the same point, I don’t feel guilty watching it. Every time I watch it, I am happy. There is nothing that is on that channel that is not fun, enjoyable, and the drama makes you feel better about the drama in your own life. There is nothing better than a Real Housewives marathon (Potomac is my jam) or a Below Deck marathon. Southern Charm is so much fun and makes you know that it’s better to watch a bro than date one. It’s just legit the best channel on television.
NCIS:LA
There’s something so soothing about a procedural, and especially one like NCIS: LA, that promises to deliver a problem, solve it, and make you invest in the journeys the characters are going through, while also, you know, giving you some satisfaction! And did we mention there’s banter, an increasingly diverse cast and oh yes, one of the best OTPS on TV in Densi? Plus, the show is in season 12, so as long as this pandemic has felt – and might continue to be – the show has a lot of episodes to help you fill the time!
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKEOFF
The Great British Bake Off, a.k.a. GBBO, is one of the shows we love the most. There are several seasons already released on Netflix, along with holiday specials. What made us fall in love with the show is the dynamic hilarious cast, the competition and of course the baking. GBBO is a show that doesn’t require a lot of engagement to watch – it’s the perfect mental escape. You get sucked into every episode easily. It is one of the best baking competition shows on TV and a perfect companion to get through this trash fire of a year.
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY
Star Trek: Discovery is the breath of fresh air that we all need during quarantine. I’ve not seen a series so centered on the idea of hope in ages. Star Trek has always been about showing the world as it could be. Discovery is no different. We could all do with a reminder each week of how the world would be a better place if we all took steps to just try to be better humans. Will that magically solve every problem? No, but it will be a step in the right direction. The weekly reminder to be better has been a bright spot and an encouragement to me this year.
LAW AND ORDER: SVU
Law & Order: SVU has been a go-to during quarantine (hell, anything in the Law & Order franchise). We know it deals with some heavy stuff but, it’s such a great show and it keeps you locked in for hours once you start watching it. It’s a great distraction for sure and it’s fun to try and guess who the bad guys are. The show is literally everywhere on TV that you can think of and there are always reruns. Our girl Jasmine can watch Law & Order: SVU over and over and I don’t care how many times I’ve seen an episode, she will stop what she’s doing and watch it.