What You Suggested I Watch in January

I had a panic attack on New Year’s Day. I wasn’t sad because 2020 was over (oh God, no) but because the Christmas season had come to a close and there was nothing to look forward to in January except cold weather and more pandemic. After I calmed down with an edible and a nap, I posed a question to my Instagram followers: What should I watch this month to bring me joy? 

These are the recommendations that came back to me:

There were more but these were just the shows.

I heard you loud and clear, and I watched until my eyes bled (or at least until I nodded off and spilled champagne on my fur blanket). Here are my reviews: 

I May Destroy You - This show is getting some buzz lately for not being nominated for a Golden Globe (while Emily in Paris was) and I totally agree that it’s bullshit. It was emotional, raw, and brutally honest. I did not watch Emily in Paris, but I can’t imagine it was any of those adjectives. Maybe I could have used a few episodes of Emily in Paris to offset the heaviness of I May Destroy You. I didn’t “enjoy” it, per se, because it was really hard to watch (not binge-worthy in my opinion, more one to space out) but it was definitely powerful and I keep thinking about it. When Arabella (the main character) realizes that sexual assault comes in many forms was really hard because women have all been there. It’s not just being drugged at a bar (although I’ve been there too), sometimes it’s subtle and with a trusted partner. 

The Flight Attendant - I am not a huge fan of unreliable, crazy, alcoholic women as main characters!!! HOWEVER, Kaley Cuoco was so great and made the character likable even though her decisions were batshit insane. It was a fun watch, and a little sad, and a little weird. Lots of great characters and unexpected twists. Also, I wish the dead guy lived because he was hot.

Succession - What a fun ride! This show has all you need for a great binge: a few seasons are available, the episodes are long, the characters are privileged and horrible and somewhat loveable. It’s worth it for Tom (who plays MR. DARCY IN THE MOST RECENT PRIDE AND PREJUDICE) and Greg and Roman and Shiv. And Connor. Kendall can go fuck himself. (Oh, it’s based on the Murdoch family.)

Veep - This was a topical choice with the inauguration and everything. I could never get into it before because the humor made me uncomfortable, but I love Julia Louis Dreyfus and Tony Hale. The writing is fantastic and it’s very funny. The characters are all different forms of awful and hilarious. It was INSANE how much it mirrored what actually happened in the country. They even had an episode (FOUR YEARS AGO!) where protesters were screaming both “STOP THE COUNT!” and “COUNT EVERY VOTE!” 

Bridgerton - To be fair, I had already watched this in December. HOWEVER, I won’t pretend I didn’t watch it again in January. This is weird because I have FEELINGS on this show, and those feelings are bad. I don’t like it!!! Yet I watched it twice? I’m blaming that on the fact that I love well-done period pieces (I am going through a bit of a Regency Era phase, as one does) and it was something to have on in the background. It was a hate re-watch. I enjoyed watching it for the era, style, and production value. I did not like the weird storylines, the gratuitous softcore porn, and I’m sorry but I didn’t need an instrumental version of “Thank U, Next”. I get enough of that in elevators and spa-like nail salons. Will I watch the next season? Absolutely. I’ll hate every minute!!!!

Shows on the List that I Had Already watched: The Undoing (really liked it, super binge-worthy, and fuck Hugh Grant has aged well) and Doctor Foster (the first season is SO GOOD). 

Coming up next: Lovecraft County, Outlander, The Fall, Lupin (not on the list, but it’s on my new list.) Maybe one of the “The” shows? The Fall? The Boys? The Friends?

Tried, but gave up: Love Life - Anna Kendrick won me over with Noelle, but this show was annoying to me. I think it needed more murder.

Shows I Also Watched but wasn’t recommended to me: Alias Grace (I slept on this show for a while but I really enjoyed it!) The Night Stalker (I fell asleep during it, but everyone says it’s the scariest/worst doc they’ve watched), and Pride and Prejudice (I read the book, so I had to watch the BBC production again- it’s so good.) (Also, as I said, Regency Era phase.)

Please come at me with more recommendations because WOW, it’s only February and it’s still cold and there’s so much more pandemic!!!!!