I haven’t been to the movies in ages, but there’s a good reason.
Lately, watching TV has been just as thrilling as going to the movies – if not better. In particular, three television shows have blown my mind in the past month.
The storytelling, cinematography and talent in these shows is equal to or better than anything you’d find on the big screen. And, with a movie averaging about two hours of viewing time, you get so much more from a TV show – often five times a movie’s length in a typical TV season.
Here’s what I’ve been watching and why I loved each show so much:
1. Severance on Apple TV. I was late to this party, as I didn’t start watching Severance until this year when I saw all the hype about season two drop. That saved me experiencing the long, painful three-year waiting period in between the two seasons, which I’m thankful for! I’m also thankful that I finally watched this amazing, dystopian, scifi show. It makes me think and ponder more than almost any show in recent history. I spend days after each episode mulling it over in my brain!
Severance is about a dystopian future where people can “sever” a part of their brain, personality or psyche into a part-time clone of themselves. People do this for different reasons: to have a part of themselves that feels all their pain or to have a part of themselves that feels no pain. Whatever the reason behind undergoing the severance procedure, it creates a mental and emotional clone of you that then goes to work for the company behind the process: Lumen Corporation. During work hours, your “innie” (the severed part of you) is in control and running your body; after work, your “outie” (aka the real or original you) is in charge again. There are no memories or shared thoughts between the two. It’s fascinating!
The Severance season two finale left me gasping for breath. The show is brilliant, creative and utterly unique. I highly recommend it if you like deep, thought-provoking programming.
2. Adolescence on Netflix. This four-episode TV show uses a single, nonstop camera shot to film each hour-long episode, lending a uniquely raw and authentic feel to the crime story. Its dark themes, unique cinematography and incredible acting rocketed Adolescence to 66 million views and a 99/100 score on Rotten Tomatoes within two weeks of its premiere on Netflix.
In the opening moments of the limited series, a 13-year-old boy is arrested on suspicion of murdering a female classmate. The rest of the show attempts to answer the question “Why?” It touches on themes of bullying, social media and technology, and parenting. It’s a must-watch for every parent and teen; I’ve loved watching it with our 15-year-old and talking through the difficult themes.
I wish there was a fifth episode that focused on the impact of the crime on the victim’s family, who are largely left out of the story. That said, I really admire the way the creators and writers addressed how a young boy gets involved in such a crime without pointing fingers at any one particular cause. The issues here are complex, societal and grim – but the show prompts important conversations.
3. The White Lotus on HBO/MAX. And now for something a bit lighter – though still with an edge! I’ve loved the prior two seasons of Mike White’s The White Lotus on HBO/MAX, and the current one is a delight. I reviewed the first six eps of season three for Cinefied.com and made the bold claim that this is the show’s best season yet.
Each season of The White Lotus takes us on a journey to an impeccably beautiful locale dripping with opulence and mystery with nuanced characters who tend to be wealthy yet twisted. The third season’s Thailand location is like a dream come true for someone like me who already dreams of going there! I love the characters, gorgeous scenery and increasingly dark plot twists this season. The prior seasons’ locations in Maui and Italy were also superb.
If you’re new to this show, be sure to go back to season one and watch them in order as there is a significant plot through-line that wouldn’t make sense any other way. Plus, that way you’ll get to feel like you’ve gone on three fabulous, extravagant vacations around the world. I can’t wait to see where season four will be set!
Those are three stellar TV shows that have been keeping me glued to my couch over the past few weeks. What have you been watching? I’d love to hear in the comments below or over on Facebook or Instagram.
