Latest Obsessions! by Amy Andrews

I've watched quite a few TV series over the holiday period and I thought I'd share 3 of my absolute faves!

Younger

I'm late to the Younger train but am loving it so hard. And I'm #TeamCharles all the way although I know fellow LoveCat Clare Connelly is die hard #TeamJosh

You

Compelling in ways I can't explain. Its always facinating when you actually have empathy with a psychopath!

 

Sex Education 

I cannot describe how good this is! It's charming and quirky and confronting and wrenching and laugh out loud funny! Also has an amazing sound track!

 



So, they're my recs - what about you?

Diary of a Netflix Tragic #notanad

I avoided Netflix for a very long time.  Mostly because I know myself too well - access to that many quality TV shows and movies and I'd never leave the couch!

But we recently gave in and gave it a go and as expected I'm an instant Netflix Tragic.

I LOVE that you can watch a series or even an episode and if stopped part way you can simply pick up exactly where you left off the next time you turn it on.

I LOVE that there is a great mix of new and old so I don't have to head to my DVD shelves to dive into Pride and Prejudice anytime I wish.

I LOVE that I can catch up on a show on my phone at the airport.  Seriously cool, that.

So here are some of my faves:

DRAMA

"Suits" - came into this one years late, seduced by seeing Meghan Markle act. Donna is my bliss.  Super fun, easy watching show!

"The Crown" - what class!  A brilliant, engaging, entertaining, believable glimpse into the life of the British Royal family. And some of the best acting I have ever witnessed.  Jonathon Lithgow as Winston Churchill is superb. The man gives me chills every time he's on screen.

"Orphan Black" is a study in character acting. Tatiana Maslany, who plays several parts, is phenomenal.

COMEDY

"Crashing" - hilarious Brit twentysomething rom com. Only 1 season but I hope they do more!

"Offspring" - glorious Aussie show, so cool to be able to catch up on the final two seaosns that I'd missed when it was on free to air TV!

Hannah Gadsby's "Nanette" is a MUST WATCH stand up show. Funny, moving, and a kick in the pants.

MOVIES

The Netflix Original movies are fantastic!!!  I adored "Set It Up". "Ibiza" was totally fun with some serious sexual tension. As for "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" - le sigh!!!

So, are you a Netflix Tragic too?  Or yet to join the cult?  What are your must watch shows?

Musing On Viewing

by Bronwyn Jameson

Lately I've been musing on my changed TV viewing habits, because it seems that sometime (when I wasn't watching) there have been radical changes. What are these changes of which I speak/write/muse?

1. Nowadays I rarely watch live TV (except sport.)
2. More often I watch on-demand TV, sometimes on my computer, sometimes cast to TV.
3. I sometimes use Netflix to binge watch a mini-series.
4. My movie watching these days is 95% in theatres or on planes, not on TV or subscription/streaming services. 

I’m not sure when all this happened exactly. I wasn't an early-adopter of streaming services. I am basically old skool (aka a Baby Boomer.)  It’s likely been a gradual shift over several -- or many -- years. It could be linked to the quality of mini-series being made for TV and streaming services these days. Aside from the quality of acting, story-telling and production, I love the limited length. I know going in how many hours/episodes I’m committing to and that the storyline will be resolved.  Usually.

In the last year I’ve obsessively watched:

• The Crown
• Big Little Lies
• The Handmaid’s Tale
• Godless
• The Sinner
• The Fall

And recently I’ve binge-watched the first two series of Fargo and season 2 of UnReal before starting on the latest/last series of The Bridge. Some of these are quite (!) dark and I have to take care not to watch right before bed or *nightmares*.  Diving into my Kindle for some therapeutic romance reading before closing my eyes helps.

Have your viewing habits/preferences changed with the advent of subscription and streaming services? Are you a fellow devotee of the limited-length mini-series and — most importantly — do you have any recommendations?