By Maddy Raven, Second Year, Theatre & Film
While COVID-19 has us locked up in our houses, or so you should be, it is shockingly easy to get bored. Luckily there are countless shows that are insatiably bingeable to get you through the coming period of social distancing!
Lovesick (2014-)
I’ve been waiting to shove this show down everyone’s throats since day one. If you’re a fan of Pete Versus Life (2010-2011) or Misfits (2009-2013), you’ll recognise Antonia Thomas and Daniel Ings. Lovesick was also previously named Scrotal Recall, so if you’re immature like me, you’ll find this show hilarious.
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It’s a light-hearted look at Dylan, played by Johnny Flynn, and his quarter-life crisis when he gets chlamydia and has to inform all of his previous sexual partners. Because he’s a sensitive soul, rather than give out the NHS cards as he’s encouraged to, he makes the effort to call or visit every single one of his sexual partners, ticking them off a list and hoping to find some kind of clarity as to what he’s supposed to do with his life and current emotional situation.
The show chops and changes from the present, where Dylan is battling this crisis, and the past few years, which he has spent with his two best friends. It can be a little hard to understand, but there are helpful mentions of different people and the marital situation of Angus and Helen, which makes it easier to follow.
If you’re immature like me, you’ll find this show hilarious
Lovesick is also a tender look at non-toxic male friendship and today’s hook-up culture, and brings to the forefront a man who openly cries onscreen, and agonises over true love and romance. I’ve watched all of it about three times, the whole way through, but watch out for Season 2, Episode 2. You will cry as well.
Sense8 (2015-18)
You may have heard of this one, you may have not. Sense8 is a high concept sci-fi series which was brutally cut short, leaving the creators with a huge story to finish in 2 seasons. In this show, eight people across the world, all born on the same day, are re-born and suddenly become connected: psychologically linked, they are able to share each other’s skills and experiences. There’s also a few gratuitous orgy-like scenes.
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However, beneath all this is a genuinely fantastic show, which promised to be mind-bending scientific mystery. It’s also about the sharing of human experience, and the diversity of human relationships. Drawn into the tumultuous lives of the cluster - that’s what a cluster of eight, bonded Sensates is called - are their pre-existing romantic partners and families, making it so much bigger than just those eight people.
It’s also funny – watching a six-foot-tall and incredibly buff Mexican man experience the mood swings and cramping of menstruation for the first time, crying while Korean businesswoman and martial artist - and badass - Sun Bak, giver of the cramps, looks on in horror is one of my favourite moments.
This is a story about the sharing of human experience, and the diversity of human relationships
Because this is a story about eight people across the world, this series showcases many different genres and locations, and when the cluster comes together for a mutual celebration, it is particularly beautiful. This makes it a varied and emotional watch, and I highly recommend it for bingeing purposes, because it keeps you on your toes.
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (2018)
I find it difficult to put into words why you should watch this show, but I’m going to try anyway: it’s fantastic. While other Ryan Murphy creations have undoubtedly declined in recent years – looking at you, American Horror Story (2011-) – American Crime Story (2016-) and Murphy’s retelling of high-profile cases has remained consistently good. Darren Criss deserves all the praise he gets for his portrayal of Andrew Cunanan: shaking himself free of Glee (2009-15) and cementing himself as a talented, versatile performer.
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The Assassination of Gianni Versace is the telling of the story of Cunanan, a spree killer in the ‘90s. Cunanan is no longer around to tell us his story, so the series takes some liberties with trying to piece together his journey across America. What doesn’t help is that Cunanan, when he was alive, was known for being an adept, almost compulsive liar.
This show gives us a look into the world of a con-artist, who aspired to be like Versace in every way. The colours and design of the show are beautiful, and make sure to stick to the time period in which it is set – a lot of this is informed, of course, by reports from the case, but the creators of the show do manage to make it seem all the more beautiful, given the influence of Versace over Cunanan.
The series takes some liberties with trying to piece together Cunanan's journey across America
In Cunanan’s world, everything had to be beautiful and therefore, the show is gorgeous to watch. But, as reality begins to set in, we feel trapped in this beautiful illusion, as what lies beneath the surface is a malignant narcissist who manipulates older men in order to encourage others to perceive him as ‘high class’. It’s a gripping watch, and highly emotive, so grab a box of tissues on the way.
Featured: Murray Close / Netflix
Which shows have been missed out from our must-watch lockdown watch list?
