Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
The Great British Baking Show
Somebody sneezes next door- you click your tongue.
Someone else coughs, and you’re paranoid!
Surviving a pandemic can be exhausting. And as your idle mind wonders why humanity’s suddenly been put in the middle of a war with a microscopic enemy; you may sometimes wish life felt less like a Black Mirror episode, or Ghoul, for that matter.
Which is why we don’t have those on our list.
For those worried many who are stuck at home, the present time calls for comfort. So, if you’re looking for a different perspective or perhaps a bit of fun, tune in to these neat TV shows that you can quaran-stream, and chill right away!
Once Upon a Time
Our Planet
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Cheers
Explained
Mind Your Language
BoJack Horseman
True love is tough stuff! Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White in Once Upon a Time Still from the show
Polar bears have homes too! A still from Our Planet Netflix
Ted Danson and Shelly Long in a still from Cheers Still from the show
Jeremy Brown sits for a class photograph in Mind Your Language Amazon
Am I good? BoJack asks Still from the show
The Great British Baking Show, Christmas special Still from the show
Explained Netflix
Jane Levy leading a dance in Zoey Clarke’s Extraordinary Playlist Still from the show
Rachel Brosnahan going full girl power in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Still from the show
While we're still on good humour, here’s a show that pays homage to everything Jewish. All about a young, Jewish housewife in the 1950s who discovers her hidden talent for stand-up comedy, this is a show that is really as happy as it sounds. No kidding, especially since they won eight Emmy awards in a single year! With more shtick than you can shake a stick at, be rest assured that three seasons of Midge Maisel will see you through like a pandemic Passover.
(Amazon Prime Video)
This show is perfect for those who don’t want drama, because it explains everything. Literally. Each 15-minute episode is entertaining, educational, and entirely self-contained to a single episode-wise topic. So, whether you’re into pirates or coding, K-pop or eternal life (it could be both!), take your pick and learn something new every day!
(Netflix)
There’s nothing like taking English lessons that almost never go as planned with Jeremy Brown. In a cult classic, Barry Evans plays the role of a foreign language teacher who tries to make his living by teaching English to immigrants. With students from India, Italy, Germany, France and China, this British sitcom is a gem of a classroom comedy that’s an especially fun watch now, when the world needs uniting. Mind you, the humour may seem racist to some people sensitive to ‘political correctness’, but that’s hardly the intention, por favor?
(Amazon Prime Video)
A show about a bunch of people stuck in a basement bar probably shouldn’t be on this list, but a sense of humour’s no harm! And if dragons, vast lands and impeccable pastries aren’t what your thing, then watch Cheers for some really solid jokes and deliciously casual viewing. The show has mostly hits, some misses, a cocktail of feelings, and it’s really, really funny. Careful though, you may never want to watch Friends again!
(Amazon Prime Video)
Sit back, relax, and let the beauty, and majesty of mother nature lull you to a state of zen- whatever’s left of her leastways. This is a docuseries that is no longer content with passive commentary, even if it is by the unctuous-toned David Attenborough. The team behind Planet Earth takes on the inconvenient truth in a sweeping show of the planet, that is both beautiful and uneasy, reminding us that the wonders we behold are imperilled by human action.
(Netflix)
Sometimes, all one wants is true love’s kiss. But it’s pretty hard to get, even for Snow White in the 21st century! Lana Parilla… err… the Evil Queen, gives us the feels as she traps all fairytale characters good and bad in the fictional town of Storybrooke, Maine. It's a show that reminds us that happy endings don’t come easy, but also that good tends to win. The seven seasons travel between the enchanted and the modern world, making a good enough job accommodating all your favourites ranging from Peter Pan and Pinocchio to Red Riding Hood and Rumpelstiltskin to spin an engaging yarn for the whole family.
(Netflix)
If you’ve been to Calcutta’s Mocambo and loved the Baked Alaska, you probably tried to make it, and it probably didn't work out. This show can tell you how to make it best. With cheeky commentary and nail-biting competition, watch perfect scones and whisper light souffles, bread rolls and custard tarts come to life from all your dreams, once upon a teatime. The relaxed pace and pastel tones make it a great show to watch before bedtime with the whole family, and perhaps inspire some great recipe ideas!
(Amazon Prime Video)
It will work out- that’s one of the takeaway lessons from this show about a humanoid horse that will stay warm with you for life. BoJack Horseman, the horse-man, is back after an 18-year hiatus, looking to regain his dignity which he once lost because of self-loathing and a drinking habit. With the aid of a human sidekick and a feline ex-girlfriend to join him on his quest, laugh, cry and wonder as he tries to make amends. You may find there is a little bit of BoJack in all of us.
(Netflix)
Or what we call, ‘feel good TV’. It’s like hearing people’s thoughts but in pop-song form. Which is exactly what Zoey Clarke (Jane Levy) can do. Following the initial freak out (because who wouldn’t?), Zoey makes it her mission to help people with her extraordinary ability. The musical has infectious feel-good energy driven by super hummable songs, and characters you can’t help but root for.
(YouTube TV)
