Favorite Escapist TV Shows- Pt 1 of 2
As a sort of Part 2 to yesterday's fantasy post, I relate this one on what substitutes for personally-generated fantasy: watching or listening to those of others!
I am still too keyed up to watch Game of Thrones or some other epic, but very dark and violent shows. I love 'em when life is fairly settled down, make no mistake, but when there is so much stress, I have to avoid them for a time.
However--! There are plenty of lighter dramas that work their escapist magic, and I thought I'd share a list. (Also, I'm so busy lately doing physical stuff, that I don't have a lot to write these days, so...) I know a show is beloved when I find myself compelled to watch seasons over and over again.
RIVERDALE: The CW channel's dark, investigative re-telling of the Archie comic book. Pure modern soap opera with homages to the original 50s characters. Very colorful show! Literally, as well as figuratively. The colored background lighting in many scenes is reminiscent of the coloring of actual comic books, and it's surprisingly effective for establishing mood, as well as simply beautiful.
The story line is good, but it's the character interaction (i.e. "drama") that is so enrapturing. I love watching the characters go through the crazy shit that their town Riverdale dishes out. My favorite character, and the most complex one, is Cheryl Blossom (having long red hair I'm sure has nothing to do with it!) She's both bold and bitchy, and then vulnerable and anguished, due to the fucked up family she has-- the Maple Syrup/Drug cartel Blossoms! The entire show starts with the disappearance of her twin brother Jason.
LEGEND OF THE SEEKER: This show sadly only lasted 2 seasons, but it was a well-done swords and sorcery adventure show in the vein of Xena, only slightly less camp. Taken from the fantasy series of books written by Terry Goodkind. Trite, over-played themes? Sure, but the acting and the character interactions make it very absorbing.
I especially ADORE the strong female character played by Bridget Regan of Kahlan (pronounced "Kay-lin") who has powers that make me think of the aliens! LOL! She can look into someone's eyes and completely subvert their will. Once she does this, they become her slave and work to please her. She does this only with enemies or evil-doers, and often releases them with a simple order to live their lives doing good works in her name. I also LOVE the tall, weirdly built guy who plays the wizard, Zedd! Fun and friendly with an edge. My favorite "bad guys" are Darken Rahl in his crimson red and black (everyone knows those are the colors of EVIL!) and his smooth snark, and-- in season 2, the reforming once-evil Cara, played by Tabrett Bethell. I get sucked into their arcs, and looking at Craig Horner's perfectly formed abs isn't so bad, either!
LARKRISE TO CANDLEFORD: Okay, you're going to quickly realize I like historical, costume fiction from this list...
L to C is a PBS from BBC production, also based on a series of books. Its about the lives of people from the Oxfordshire region, specifically the tiny rural village of Larkrise and the nicer and more middle class town of Candleford. Again, lots of characters, including the strong female leads of Dorcas Lane, played by Julia Sawalha (the daughter from Absolutely Fabulous) as a woman in charge of the Post Office and Smithy in Candleford, and Laura Timmins, Miss Lane's niece, who comes to work for her.
As dramas go, this one is very tame and rather sweet. It is about very quiet and traditional places often dealing with the intrusions of ideas and technology from the cities of England upon their way of life. Some changes mean a better life, others changes prove daunting. But I'm charmed by this series and find myself quite taken with it just now. (Watching it for 3rd or 4th time as this point.)
HARLOTS: Speaking of historical costume fiction! This show addresses the reality of how many women took to prostitution in the late 1700s and what it entailed during what some would say was it's hey day. Wonderful settings and costumes, and they don't shrink from the realities of how dirty and dangerous life was then, as well as the stark and shocking contrast of the glamour and glitz of the very rich of that time. The show follows the lives of several "doves" and their "bawds" or madames who run houses of prostitution. Great drama and, once again, the female leads offer a great deal of dynamic and intricate mental and emotional range! Love it! Season 2 just came out on Hulu.
MISS FISHER'S MURDER MYSTERIES: Yes, more historical costume drama. This time it's Phryne Fisher, a 1920s British detective in Australia. She's in her early 40s, has money, class and a very modern sex life! The fact all these people who know her die around her is conveniently ignored in favor of the fun of solving murder mysteries in the very British tradition of such storytelling! Jolly good fun!
More in a few days!
I am still too keyed up to watch Game of Thrones or some other epic, but very dark and violent shows. I love 'em when life is fairly settled down, make no mistake, but when there is so much stress, I have to avoid them for a time.
However--! There are plenty of lighter dramas that work their escapist magic, and I thought I'd share a list. (Also, I'm so busy lately doing physical stuff, that I don't have a lot to write these days, so...) I know a show is beloved when I find myself compelled to watch seasons over and over again.
RIVERDALE: The CW channel's dark, investigative re-telling of the Archie comic book. Pure modern soap opera with homages to the original 50s characters. Very colorful show! Literally, as well as figuratively. The colored background lighting in many scenes is reminiscent of the coloring of actual comic books, and it's surprisingly effective for establishing mood, as well as simply beautiful.
The story line is good, but it's the character interaction (i.e. "drama") that is so enrapturing. I love watching the characters go through the crazy shit that their town Riverdale dishes out. My favorite character, and the most complex one, is Cheryl Blossom (having long red hair I'm sure has nothing to do with it!) She's both bold and bitchy, and then vulnerable and anguished, due to the fucked up family she has-- the Maple Syrup/Drug cartel Blossoms! The entire show starts with the disappearance of her twin brother Jason.
LEGEND OF THE SEEKER: This show sadly only lasted 2 seasons, but it was a well-done swords and sorcery adventure show in the vein of Xena, only slightly less camp. Taken from the fantasy series of books written by Terry Goodkind. Trite, over-played themes? Sure, but the acting and the character interactions make it very absorbing.
I especially ADORE the strong female character played by Bridget Regan of Kahlan (pronounced "Kay-lin") who has powers that make me think of the aliens! LOL! She can look into someone's eyes and completely subvert their will. Once she does this, they become her slave and work to please her. She does this only with enemies or evil-doers, and often releases them with a simple order to live their lives doing good works in her name. I also LOVE the tall, weirdly built guy who plays the wizard, Zedd! Fun and friendly with an edge. My favorite "bad guys" are Darken Rahl in his crimson red and black (everyone knows those are the colors of EVIL!) and his smooth snark, and-- in season 2, the reforming once-evil Cara, played by Tabrett Bethell. I get sucked into their arcs, and looking at Craig Horner's perfectly formed abs isn't so bad, either!
LARKRISE TO CANDLEFORD: Okay, you're going to quickly realize I like historical, costume fiction from this list...
L to C is a PBS from BBC production, also based on a series of books. Its about the lives of people from the Oxfordshire region, specifically the tiny rural village of Larkrise and the nicer and more middle class town of Candleford. Again, lots of characters, including the strong female leads of Dorcas Lane, played by Julia Sawalha (the daughter from Absolutely Fabulous) as a woman in charge of the Post Office and Smithy in Candleford, and Laura Timmins, Miss Lane's niece, who comes to work for her.
As dramas go, this one is very tame and rather sweet. It is about very quiet and traditional places often dealing with the intrusions of ideas and technology from the cities of England upon their way of life. Some changes mean a better life, others changes prove daunting. But I'm charmed by this series and find myself quite taken with it just now. (Watching it for 3rd or 4th time as this point.)
HARLOTS: Speaking of historical costume fiction! This show addresses the reality of how many women took to prostitution in the late 1700s and what it entailed during what some would say was it's hey day. Wonderful settings and costumes, and they don't shrink from the realities of how dirty and dangerous life was then, as well as the stark and shocking contrast of the glamour and glitz of the very rich of that time. The show follows the lives of several "doves" and their "bawds" or madames who run houses of prostitution. Great drama and, once again, the female leads offer a great deal of dynamic and intricate mental and emotional range! Love it! Season 2 just came out on Hulu.
MISS FISHER'S MURDER MYSTERIES: Yes, more historical costume drama. This time it's Phryne Fisher, a 1920s British detective in Australia. She's in her early 40s, has money, class and a very modern sex life! The fact all these people who know her die around her is conveniently ignored in favor of the fun of solving murder mysteries in the very British tradition of such storytelling! Jolly good fun!
More in a few days!