In times of crisis, there’s not much expertise I can offer. As we work through unprecedented times with the COVID-19 virus, my advice is to listen to the expert’s medical advice and use the government’s website as your primary source of information. What I can offer is a detailed knowledge of television shows. I watch a lot. With the current advice to avoid bars and theaters, I’ve picked four excellent shows available on UK Netflix. They’re in no particular order, but in the coming weeks these are my picks for something a little different to what you’ve tried before! The trailers are also linked:
Dark
Mysterious, great acting with a plot that confuses and thrills in equal measure. Dark knows exactly what it wants to be and where it wants to go. When two children go missing in a small German town, its sinful past is exposed along with the double lives and fractured relationships that exist among four families. German, the best way of watching the programme is with subtitles. There are two seasons currently available and the third and final season is due out in June 2020 (TBC obviously). Expect to be confused with who is who and what each character is hiding. This is all part of the design of the show. Those who like Stranger Things and Lost will find this a great match.
Top Boy Summerhouse / Top Boy
Originally on Channel Four, the first show (now renamed “Top Boy: Summerhouse”) ran for two seasons and six episodes. Netflix revived the show last year for a longer run in a soft reboot/ sequel. They set the series on the fictional Summerhouse estate in Hackney, East London. The story follows drug dealer Dushane, who is determined to become the area’s ‘Top Boy’. Intertwined are the stories of those who strive to live honest lives against the odds in the crime-filled area. The program is a gangster thriller with social realism and humour subtly overlaid. Fans of shows like The Wire and Peaky Blinders would find this series up their street.
Unbelievable
Based on a true story, this is a miniseries of eight episodes. A teen reports being raped before recanting her story. Two female detectives follow evidence that could reveal the truth. The first episode especially is tough watching but pays off in a show that is both heartbreaking and powerful. Unbelievable transcends familiar true-crime beats by shifting its gaze to survivors of abuse. Those who enjoyed the first season of True Detective will find this a fundamental change in the crime genre.
Narcos/ Narcos Mexico
I’ve written a blog post on this show before, but I won’t give up trying to get people to watch this! The first three seasons set in Colombia, the second two set in Mexico. The shows detail the history of the cocaine drug wars that rage today. Escobar, the Gentlemen of Cali and Felix Gallardo have been the primary antagonists so far. Being in Spanish seems to put many people off this show, but the narrative does an excellent job of guiding you through. If this gets cancelled, I will blame you all.
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