Alright lads. I’m gonna be real with you here for a minute. 80% of the blog posts on this website of mine are travel-based, and ain’t no-one travelling right now. So the ol’ blog stats aren’t looking too hot. But a few areas are doing really well – mum life, food and this TV post I posted last November, rounding up the best TV of 2019. Because y’know, we’re all acting like we’re exercising and baking and being A+ lockdown huns during this pandemic, but really we’re bingeing as much TV as humanly possible.
So I figured maybe you’d like a lil update of some TV shows I’ve been enjoying over the last couple months. Some of them are new shows that popped up since my last TV roundup and others are ones I’m a little late to the party for, but I think are decent watches.
Let me know if you end up watching any of them and what you think!
TV Show Recommendations For Lockdown 2020
Sex Education
You’ll like this is you liked: Skins
Watch it on: Netflix
I heard everyone going on about Sex Education when it first came out. I watched the trailer and thought it looked alright. But I had this weird feeling like – I’m too old to watch a show about teenagers. I think this a by-product of attempting Riverdale a couple years ago and realising I was too old for this shit.
But my colleagues at work talk about Sex Education a lot and y’know, we’re in the middle of the apocalypse, so I thought it was worth a watch. And yeah, obviously I loved it. It’s about the awkwardness, relationships, parties and sex fails of sixth form life, as the son of a sex therapist decides to give out relationship advice for cash. It’s cool, you’ll like it.
American Horror Story
You’ll like this if you liked: Scream Queens / Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Watch it on: Netflix
I didn’t think I liked horror. I hate horror films because I think about them for too long. You know like right before you go to sleep. But a few friends told me I would like AHS and so I gave it a go. And got hooked.
I actually watched season one back in 2018 but because the series are all based on different stories, I tend to watch a season and wait a few months and then watch another. Maybe for my sanity? Too much horror in a row can’t be good for you. But yes I like it. Coven is still my favourite (it’s the witchy one that inspired Scream Queens – Balenciagaaaaaaa) but Asylum and Hotel are cool too. (Skip Freak Show, it’s all over the gaff.)
Bodyguard
You’ll like this if you liked: Line Of Duty / Happy Valley
Watch it on: Netflix / BBC iPlayer
I’m very late watching Bodyguard, I know. When it first came out on BBC, my whole office were talking about it, but I think I had a lot on and didn’t really have time to invest in it. So yes, I watched it during lockdown instead.
If you like British police dramas that touch on terrorism and politics, this is one to get your teeth into. It has an infamous tension-filled first episode and it turns out the King Of The North is a decent actor (Richard Madden FYI.)
Love Is Blind
You’ll like this if you liked: The Circle / Too Hot To Handle
Watch it on: Netflix
I hate that I’m adding Love Is Blind as a show to watch, because I’ve taken the piss out of people that watch Love Island for the last few years. It’s just stupid people getting off with each other, right?
But Love Is Blind does feel like a bit more than that. It’s essentially speed dating but the couples can’t see each other, and they end up PROPOSING. Then the juicy stuff kicks in as they see each other for the first time, try living together, meet each other’s families and plan a wedding. No spoilers but SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET MARRIED. Trash TV at its finest.
You
You’ll like this if you liked: Gossip Girl / Pretty Little Liars?
Watch it on: Netflix
I couldn’t think of a TV show like You. It’s half cool, New York society, romance, and half chilling, tense, crime vibes. It’s all about the main character Joe, who gets obsessed with a girl, stalks her and manages to insert himself into her life. It’s one of those ones you have to keep watching because every episode ends on a cliffhanger. Completely binge-worthy and I very much want a season 3.
Race Across The World
You’ll like this if you liked: The Amazing Race
Watch it on: BBC iPlayer
I was once addicted to watching The Amazing Race. When I got back from travelling, I had no job, no money, was living at my parents’, and watched The Amazing Race solidly for two weeks, mourning my travels. Until my mum prodded me to go get a job. Then fast forward a few years and the British version arrived!
Race Across The World is just that, a competition where teams race from one destination to the other for a cash prize. The catch is they have limited funds and can only travel overland. Season 1 is London to Singapore and season 2 is Mexico to Argentina. It’s a good show, especially if you’re missing travelling right now and need your fix.
The Good Place
You’ll like this if you liked: Good Omens / Pushing Daisies
Watch it on: Netflix
Y’know when you’re sick of intense crime shows and who-dun-its and dramas and cliffhangers? Like, it takes a lot of energy from you and you just wanna chill and watch something nice? That’s what The Good Place is for.
It’s about a girl (Kristen Bell) that dies and goes to heaven but realises that she definitely shouldn’t be in heaven because she’s actually not that great of a person. Also stars Ted Danson and Jameela Jamil who are both ace in this. It’s light-hearted fun with a bit of silliness but enough of a storyline that you want to see what happens.
AJ And The Queen
You’ll like this if you liked: RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Watch it on: Netflix
RuPaul in a Netflix series where he actually acts? I’ve gotta watch this.
Ngl I was kinda expecting a car crash but OH MY, I didn’t know RuPaul could really act and perform kickass lip-syncs. The show is about a drag queen that goes on the road to do some shows and win a pagent, and a kid stows away with him in his campervan to try and catch a ride. It’s fun and fabulous and features a lot of Drag Race stars. The kid is a bit annoying but stay with it because it’s actually kinda great.
The Final Table
You’ll like this if you liked: Masterchef
Watch it on: Netflix
If you fancy a new cooking show, try out The Final Table. Warning: It’s VERY American. Like fake audience clapping, lights flashing, melodramatic music playing kind thing. But if you wanna veg out and watch some nice food be cooked up, it’s decent. The premise is that each week they cook the food of a certain country and a panel of judges from that country come to judge. Look out for appearances from Gary Linekar and Cat Deeley for the UK… (because they’re foodie celebrities, right…?)
Tiger King
You’ll like this if you liked: … er… keeping up with memes?
Watch it on: Netflix
I don’t know what to say about this one. If you’ve been on social media at any point over the last couple of months, you know what Tiger King is. I didn’t really want to watch it because I’m not about animal cruelty, but I ended up giving in just so that I would understand the endless memes in the group Whatsapp.
Be prepared to hate everyone but not be able to stop watching. Shoutout to the music videos too.
Schitt’s Creek
You’ll like this if you liked: Arrested Development
Watch it on: Netflix
I had to give Schitt’s Creek a couple of goes, but it’s actually a really good easy-going show if you need something to put on whilst you eat your lunch. It’s easy viewing, short episodes, but not addictive enough where it will keep you from going back to work, y’know?
The premise is that a rich family lose all their money and have to move to a small town that they purchased on a whim years ago (because of its funny name). I wasn’t into it at first, but like I said it gets better once you understand the characters and the in-jokes.
The Politician
You’ll like this if you liked: Scandal / Glee
Watch it on: Netflix
I completely inhaled The Politician. You know when Netflix shows you the trailer in the header and you’re like YOU KNOW ME SO WELL. Well, that’s what happened with this one.
It’s about a kid in high school who is planning on becoming president of the US, but before that he needs to win the seat of student body president. To then secure a spot at Harvard. It’s written by Ryan Murphy of Glee and AHS fame, and if you like his shows, I think you’ll like it. Lots of plot twists and funny writing. It didn’t actually rate very highly with critics with 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience score was 86%. I think that’s because it’s a little shallow and trashy but I eat that stuff up for supper, lads.
Modern Love
You’ll like this if you liked: Love / Easy
Watch it on: Amazon Prime
Finally, a show for all you romantics out there. Modern Love is an adaptation of a column in The New York Times of the same name. it features a different love story each episode, based on a true story, but has lots of different points of view and touches on different subjects. For example there’s an episode with Anne Hathaway that deals more with mental health and friendship than love in a traditional sense. Actually there are a lot of stars in this series so look out for Tina Fey, Dev Patel and Kristen Milioti. Don’t watch it all at once though because it can be EMOSH.
Is there any binge-worthy TV you’ve consumed during lockdown? Let me know! I’m running out of shows…
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