Since everyone is spending a lot more time indoors these days, here are a host of relatively new scripted dramas to watch. Some are on streaming services, some on YouTube. A wide spectrum of choices with a series for most tastes.
The latest in a long line of releases from the Stark Trek franchise, Picard is beautiful television. I love how it is shot, and the thoughtfulness of the script. Patrick Stewart’s performance is, of course, magnificent. For the most part, references to old Trek and this new reality blend together quite seamlessly.
Stinging social commentary is what science fiction does best. Picard obviously reflects the degeneration of American politics with its representation of a tarnished Star Fleet. Here, most of our heroes of yore are no longer in service, tired and disillusioned by the actions of a governing body that has drifted from its core founding principles.
The sets and special effects are beautiful. The premise has a dash of Firefly spice (which can only be a good thing). The Federation has turned anti-android, a reflection of present-day humanity’s underlying unease with AI advancements.
My one criticism relates to the subtext regarding the female characters. The women in Star Fleet or other positions of power (so far) are generally corrupt and discriminatory, and those no longer in Star Fleet have all gotten variations of grieving motherhood subplots. Fingers crossed the production hires more female writers for season 2.
ZeroZeroZero
Shows about illegal drug trades have proven popular for decades now. They’re rags to riches tales, variations of the self-made millionaire riff—except a lot more illicit, and violent. ZeroZeroZero is the latest offering winning rave reviews.
Not sure why, but this series has slipped under quite a few radars? Maybe now with the unforeseen downtime, the ZeroZeroZero will carve out a cult following. While the content doesn’t qualify as relaxing, the wonderful cinematography makes even the ugliest scenes stunning to watch.
Focusing on the global cocaine trade, the story is adapted from a novel and follows the trail of drugs from Mexico to an Italian crime syndicate. Since merchandise has to travel, say hello to the shipping family, led by Gabrielle Byrne.
Bound to be popular with audiences who enjoyed Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy. The first offering of the series spans eight episodes, so you can watch it one long sitting, although what with all the violence and gritty suspense, you might want to take a few breaks(!).
Eternal Love of Dream
This 56-episode drama is based on an extremely popular novel Connected to another hit Chinese drama (Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) but can be watched as a stand-alone.
If you’ve never viewed historical Cdramas, you should probably know a few things first. Gods, demons, and reincarnation are usually a given. This drama covers a love connection spanning two thousand years. Chinese culture celebrates a different concept of time, probably due to a long history—a discussion for another day!
Chinese dramas are lavish in terms of makeup, hair and costuming. The actors’ voices are dubbed because China has many dialects, and the idea is to make sure all entertainment has the same accented Mandarin. (You’ll find a lot of discussion online about this practice, if you want to google + browse.)
And Chinese television isn’t really structured episodically. More like a series is one long show chopped up to meet time constraints. But experiencing a different storytelling styles is always cool. Available on YouTube with English subtitles.
Wu-Tang: An American Saga
For those not in the know, Wu Tang Clan are one of the most iconic and revered hip-hop groups in American music history. In the series this crew have it tough, and watching their struggle through poverty in a violent, crime-ridden environment, doggedly holding onto their dream, is deeply moving.
You feel the desperation, determination and heartbreak in every episode. It’s gritty going, a fictionalized retelling (in the words of the executive producers, “historical fiction”). Original members of the team are onboard driving the production, so the sense of authenticity the story exudes is warranted.
This celebration of music icons Wu Tang Clan was around ten years in the making. Set in the nineties, and we watch the evolution of the group, that includes a dozen performers (for starters). A second season has already been ordered.
I liked the inspirational factor. The audience sees characters telling these kids they’ll never succeed—while knowing Wu-Tang Clan succeed beyond their wildest dreams. For a great pairing, watch the documentary Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men as well.
The Valhalla Murders
What would a watchlist be without a whodunnit? This murder mystery from Iceland is now on Netflix. Working to find a serial killer, local police detective Kata is joined by Arnar, an Oslo-based profiler who returns to Iceland for the investigation.
The plot is inspired by real cases of abuse at a boy’s home over half a century ago (though not murder). The series is shot in greys and blues, and endless shadows. Every character has issues, but nobody is screaming about them. So much taking place under the surface. Icy, or simmering?
As with most procedural dramas, often it's as if the audience are investigating the investigators. Both leads are troubled, and while pursuing the killer, they clash, and then as secrets are revealed, manage to both solve crime, and face their issues.
Most online criticism seems to be from Americans judging international offerings with an American criterion. There is nothing flashy about Valhalla, which is precisely why I enjoyed watching. Iceland has one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the world. Finding serial killers isn’t normal for Icelandic forces. That lack of flashy CSI is authenticity, not poor storytelling.
Work in Progress
I really enjoyed this dark comedy. I say dark because while there are many witty moments, the lead character Abby’s mental health struggles are heartbreaking. Abby describes herself as a “queer fat dyke”, and has OCD, anxiety and depression. In her mid-forties, she wonders if life is worth living.
When a passive aggressive workmate gives her a bag of almonds to help her lose weight, Abby decides to throw an almond a day into the trash, and kill herself when they’re done. Then she meets Chris, a trans man who asks her out.
I know this sounds depressing, and it is, but Abby is so funny and sweet you’re laughing while wanting to hug her. Many issues are addressed, making for thought-provoking television. The script doesn’t hesitate to ponder potential PC minefields, and the confident, clever writing makes the show wonderful.
I love that Abby keeps accidentally ordering shared Lyft rides. I love meeting both Abby and Chris’ group of friends. Most of all I love that Abby isn’t miraculously healed by love. Chris is disturbed that even while happy, Abby is still counting and discarding the almonds.
Itaewon Class
A recent release Kdrama currently on Netflix, Itaewon Class stand outs. While it includes old school tropes like a revenge set up and childhood love, it breaks ground with elements not often seen in a Kdrama.
The inclusion of a trans character and a black character in the support roles is almost unheard of. The show was a massive hit in South Korea, proving modern audiences are more progressive than networks playing it “safe” imagine.
The story follows Park Sae Ro Yi from his teenage years. After beating up a classmate responsible for his father’s death, he spends years in jail. On release, he works to establish a pub, and slowly take revenge on the man who covered up his father’s manslaughter.
To be honest, the main romance felt slightly forced and unnecessary. Unusual though to see a self-proclaimed sociopath win the male lead’s love. For me the first half of the drama was a lot better than the second, but overall this is great viewing.
Ragnarok
This teen Danish drama set in a fictional Norwegian town is oft described as a superhero series but it’s based solely on Norse mythology, which gifts an eerie edge. Magne and his brother Lauritis move with their mum to a small town, not knowing immortals are in the mix.
Soon things get weird for Magne, who’s become super strong and can throw a hammer really, really far. While our socially awkward lead is “different”, that difference might be more supernatural than behavioral. High school is a battlefield, but this time we’re not talking metaphors.
Visually and in terms of mood this series has that Nordic noir feel, lots of cool blue scenes and grim stillness amidst striking landscapes. Some have criticized the pace but that’s more reflective of expectations. This isn’t a Hollywood-esque series of SFX explosion, but a slow, intense burn.
My favourite scene? When the old Gods hit the dancefloor at the school social. It’s hard to capture a sense of the primal but this moment, with its strange choreography and jarring editing, manages to evoke an uneasy stirring in the subconscious.
2gether The Series
Sometimes you want to watch something cute and fun. This Thai BL drama—BL means Boy Love, so guy on guy romance—takes on the old fake boyfriend trope in a charming way. You can watch 2gether on the GMMTV YouTube channel.
Our lead Tine is being chased around college by a guy called Green. He tries to tell Green girls are his preference, but the smitten Green refuses to take a hint. Tine’s friends convince him he should fake-date Sarawat, the hottest guy at college, thereby getting Green off his back. Tine annoys the supercool and introverted Sarawat until he agrees, not registering Sarawat’s legit attraction to him.
Watching Sarawat’s attempts to flirt with and seduce Tine, only to have those moves go right over Tine’s head makes for hilarious television. Tine is self-involved, clueless, and narcissistic, yet so sweet and naïve, the audience ends up adoring him. Sarawat is probably one of the most understated and romantic leads I’ve seen in BL.
The drama is based on a popular Thai novel. Lead actors Bright and Win do a wonderful job bringing the beloved pair to life. They seem realistically young and clumsy when it comes to love and relationships. Such a sweet ride.
Noughts + Crosses
A six-part series from the BBC, Noughts + Crosses is an adaptation of an alternate reality YA novel. In this version of history, the Aprican Empire is the ruling culture. Making the upper class, known as Crosses, rule over the once enslaved Noughts, aka white people.
At this point in history, segregation is still in place. The first episode kicks off with a racist cop assaulting a youth. We’ve seen this before, but this time the victim is white, and the cop black. Soon we meet members of the ruling political party, spanning those sympathetic to the Noughts, and the opposing extremists who want more, not less persecution of white people.
When the female lead questions the police officers account of the incident, her professor refuses to consider the idea. “I feel for them, I really do. I know a few noughts, they’re always so cheerful but you do get these uppity ones. That’s not prejudice, that’s fact.”
The story follows a Romeo and Juliet type romance. Our lead pair are aged up from the book to allow for gritter content. Whatever your response and thoughts on the subject, Noughts + Crosses is thought-provoking television that wants the audience to think about racism and persecution, how it manifests, and the presence of subconscious prejudice.
Devs
What would this list be without a dose of mind-bending sci-fi? If you feel like some thought-provoking television, this new miniseries is from Alex Garland, the imagination behind Ex Machina, and currently screening in the US on Hulu.
The name of the series, Devs, is reference to a secretive research division of a leading tech company called Amaya. Sergei is a coder who works at Amaya, now thrilled to be recruited for Devs. So when his body is found and his death ruled a suicide, the pieces don’t add up.
Sergei’s girlfriend Lily, a computer engineer at Amaya, is determined to discover the truth. Things of course get deep and trippy as the nature of the Devs project is slowly revealed. At one point Lily is on the run but it’s almost as if the linear plot is secondary to concepts the creator wants you to consider.
Science fiction in recent years really lends itself to a kind of tech-based philosophical exploration. Devs is occasionally oblique, and focuses as much on making you ponder what is alluded to, as what actually appears onscreen. The show feels quite still. The tension is palpable.
Katy Keene
Lucy Hale has a huge following from her role on Pretty Little Liars, and always brings the energy. She delivers here in the title role of Katy Keene. But the team behind Riverdale and Sabrina are involved, so scripts are bound to be lacking. Maybe take this suggestion with a grain of salt?
I’ve sat through terrible characterization on Riverdale and Sabrina merely to admire the cinematography, lighting, editing, and eye-catching set designs. Visually, Katy Keene is similarly beautifully presented. Heavily stylized, it has an unusual vintage slash modern day feel, like an odd fusion of time periods. The end result is visually stunning.
An adaption from the Archie comic universe, the show is a comedy, a drama, and also a musical. I like the inclusion of Josie from Josie and the Pussycats, a character underutilized on Riverdale. The story follows four young friends in New York chasing their dreams.
So far, the plots are simplistic but still sweet to watch. Lighter fare, with positive messages about confidence and perseverance. The core characters are constantly cheering each other on. The vibe is a bit like hanging out with a group of fun friends.
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