It's the End Of the World As We Know It.
So, what shall we watch to distract us from the Fall of the Republic? A list of suggestions. Vol. 1.
“If you don’t believe that I’m going for good/Then you can count the days that I’m gone/And chop up the chairs for firewood.”
— Elvis Costello, “Coal Train Robberies.”
What do we see when we close our eyes, our personal “Meditations In An Emergency”? The best answer I can think of right now is, “Not the present.”
The Philosophy of Distraction, known amongst lesser people as Putting Your Head In the Sand should never be confused for “ignorance is bliss.”
This is science, people. I just want to make that clear. Clarity, in the screeching death throes of life and liberty, is pointing us toward the pursuit of happiness, at all costs, as a means of survival.
So: New York Times muted and app deleted. Most apps, in fact, deleted or muted. Except architecture, design, music, cute animals and nature. And Tumblr.
Books have been taken off shelves, assembled in neat little fortresses of solitude that encircle The Book Nook.
Maria Popova, Maira Kalman, existentialism, philosophy, Eckhart Tolle, poetry, wanderlust and music playlists turned up, anyone who could be commenting on the news or politics, turned off.
On the list of to-dos, ad-free Letterboxd moved way up. Deletion of streamers paused.
Wine secured; tiny drops of god.
Bubble activated.
I’m ready.
The pandemic didn’t kill me (baseball player crossing home plate salute to whatever gods are in the heavens; long may her light shine down on thee), but the 2020 election almost did. I have no scientific proof that I nearly died, but I felt it like an apparition, like Edward Gorey on acid, trailing me down the dark Oakland streets as I tried to walk away the anxiety, and there’s absolutely no way I’m whistling past my own graveyard this time.
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I got through the pandemic with my partner rewatching the entirety of “Peaky Blinders” and hordes of movies (we made a long list of series and films watched, which she converted into Letterboxd and I promptly forgot once the vaccines arrived).
My advice to everyone for the coming bleak mid-winter that starts here in the cauldron hot summer of climate denial, is pick at least one, but maybe three or five, dramatic series that have multiple episodes over multiple seasons and lose yourself.
It’s fine to binge on “The Bear” and the coming “Severance” episodes and whatever bite-sized dollops of escapism that you desire, but there’s really nothing like a big, long, dramatic series.
(Note: I’ll do comedies some other time; there will also be multiple volumes of this — I doubt the rot is going to go away anytime soon, so we need a lot of choices).
And I would argue that one or more of what you choose should be something you’ve already seen. There’s so much joy and, often, unexpected revelation, in rewatching a great series. In fact, that should be your first choice — rewatching your absolute favorite. Second choice would be something you missed and regretted, or should have watched years ago but the shame and laziness has overcome you.
So, as a public service announcement, here is a beginner’s list. Or a beginning list. I will expand it as the entropy marches, undeterred, toward its inevitable close-up. But this is a fine start. I’ve included which channel or streamer created each, but you’ll have to check on your own where they are currently playing. I’m too depressed to do that work for you.
The Essentials, aka, Where Most People Should Start:
“Mad Men” (AMC), “Breaking Bad,” (AMC), “The Sopranos” (HBO), “The Wire” (HBO), “The Americans” (FX).
Those are the five greatest dramas in American television history, no matter how you rank them, so you might as well start there.
I didn’t even number them. Just pick one.
(I won’t circle back and get into the weeds but in the rules to my rankings of the Hall of Fame Top 5 Dramas, every series had to have at least five seasons.)
Personally, I’m going to rewatch “Mad Men.” It’s time. And I’m so excited.
A Short, Eclectic List of Personal Faves:
“Patriot.” (Amazon Prime). Two seasons of the greatest drama you’ve never seen. Creator Steven Conrad is a legend, full stop.
“Utopia.” (Channel 4, UK). Dennis Kelly’s magnificent series ended before it could keep going. For me, this was one of the most inspirational things to watch when I was jumping into writing for television. Beyond the fact that “Utopia” is a visual masterpiece, it was proof that a series I would normally watch for its entertainment value could, in fact, be like a work of art found in a tunnel on the outskirts of acceptable behavior, heading for the black marketplace of ideas.
“Fargo.” (FX). Noah Hawley worked magic or voodoo or just something celestially superior to his contemporaries, here. This was the show that told me it was time to think seriously about making my Top 10 Greatest Dramas Ever. Always stopped at five before. I’m making a note to add the other five. But nevermind that, just start watching this. Every season is a standalone, but I suggest going in order.
“Better Call Saul.” (AMC). Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan crafted the prequel to “Breaking Bad,” which is a task so great that one could argue that it shouldn’t have been attempted, except that what we got for the effort was yet another Top 10 Greatest Drama. Impressive. Man, I need to make that list.
“Mr. Robot” (USA). Visually stunning, infinitely better than it ever got credit for and thus one of the most underrated dramas of the last decade. If anyone still throws big parties, you should put this on a big screen (no, massive screen) and keep the volume and any subtitles off. I’m convinced that non-believers or previous non-watchers would have this seep into their eyeballs and rise up their must-watch list.
Three Superb Choices That Are Unfailingly Entertaining:
“Peaky Blinders.” (BBC; Netflix). Honestly, I could watch all six seasons right now. And there’s nothing so precious as time, so that’s saying a lot.
“Killing Eve.” (BBC America). Uh, let’s see here, multiple fantastic acting performances and Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Emerald Fennell writing the bulk of the first two seasons? IN. Arguments can be made about creative fallouts after, but once you’re hooked, you’re going the distance.
“Black Mirror.” (Channel 4, UK; Netflix). Charlie Brooker beat everybody to the tech future of our nightmares (and even our better, more hopeful dreams) and all he got for it (after all the initial praise and the money), was scorn and derision that it wasn’t good enough over the long haul. Oh, it’s good enough. And you can jump around on episodes, which keeps things lively (but you really should finish it all). It’s the ultimate, modern “what could go wrong” drama wrapped up in smarts.
That’s Vol. 1. It’s not supposed to be exhaustive or all-encompassing. It’s meant to be a start. We have time. I mean, sure, some of that time will be spent undoing almost 250 years of democracy, so it won’t be pleasant, but that’s precisely what all these lists in upcoming volumes will be for — a way to keep sane, to be healthy, to survive. So keep a close eye for more. But in the meantime, immerse yourself in these and take good care of your mentals.
Just going to leave this up here as a reminder: I didn't really "forget" some of these wonderful suggestions made below (love the interaction on this post). As noted, this is just the first of a few, or many, similar lists. I just wanted to get the ball rolling. I mean, you think I'm going to forget "Counterpart" after getting a hernia carrying it all those years? Come on, people. More faith.
OK, more lists soon and more of my responses to columns -- just got sidetracked a bit. Will respond asap.
My folks and I are almost halfway done with Justified (we're up to 4 actors from Band of Brothers guesting or recurring; no spoilers over whether there are any more!), and then I guess we'll watch Justified: City Primeval. Slow Horses, since Season 4 premieres in August. I might have to do a Leverage (and Leverage: Redemption) watch just to see 100+ episodes of the bad guys losing.