It can sometimes be difficult choosing your next TV show to watch.
Living in the golden age of television, we are “spoilt for choice” as my British parents would say.
We have so many channels and networks – and so many TV programs on each network – that it can cause analysis paralysis. We may feel overwhelmed and find ourselves unable to choose a show.
When that happens, we often end up watching the same familiar show again instead of taking a risk and trying out a brilliant new series just waiting to be discovered.
That’s why I’m sharing three exceptional, under-the-radar shows that were recently recommended to me – and which I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.
Baskets (2016-2019) on Hulu is a Zach Galifianakis vehicle that is quirky, funny, whimsical and softly heartbreaking. The premise of a man failing out of French clown school did not sound attractive to me at first, but I ended up absolutely falling in love with every episode. The acting is top-tier, especially by Galifianakis, who plays two dramatically different twin brothers; Louie Anderson, who won an Emmy for his role as their long-suffering mom; and Martha Kelly, who plays their deadpan friend/love interest. This is a three-season show with subtlety, heart and humor that I will watch again and again over the years.
Detectorists (2014-2022) on Tubi is a charming British show that feels like a calm, relaxing nature walk on a sunny day. It follows the lives of two eccentrics in a small English village who are passionate about their hobby of metal detecting and yearning for buried treasure. Detectorists has a lovely, gentle pace; great (classically British) humor; and truly touching character development across its three seasons. You might recognize the actor who plays Andy from his memorable role as the one-eyed pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean, or the actress playing his mother-in-law Veronica from her legendary turn as Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones – but for the most part, the actors here are not well-known in the U.S. This is another show I’ll delight in watching again.
After Life (2019-2022) on Netflix is a three-season British drama written, directed by and starring Ricky Gervais. It is darkly comedic and centers around Tony, a man drowning in grief after recently losing the love of his life to cancer. After Life is a meditation on finding meaning and purpose in life – and on building friendships, connections and community – after loss. Gervais is understated, wickedly funny and brilliant as Tony and the entire cast does a wonderful job with their roles – including the dog playing the life-saving Brandy. I should add a trigger warning here because there is significant dialogue around suicide in this show, which could be upsetting to some. I personally felt it was handled with sensitivity; the show talks about depression and suicidality and shows a path to gradually feeling better. This show made me cry more than the other two, but it was still lovely and heartwarming.
These three shows couldn’t be more different in subject matter, but all bring a touch of whimsy and emotional depth to the viewing experience. I loved all three series and am so glad that I watched them. If you watch them, I hope you’ll let me know what you think.
