What have the Editors in Chief been thinking about this week?
Molly: Don’t panic, but it’s that time of year again. As the weather gets colder, and the sun starts to set earlier and earlier, it's clear we've reached the point of the late-Semester blues. Everything feels heavier, the workload piles up, and the remaining few weeks until the start of the holiday season feel just that little bit too far out of reach. For context, Isla has been feeling really down lately. In all honesty, I haven’t been feeling 100% either.
Isla: I’ve been very busy, haven’t had a moment to stop, and I’ve not had a good night’s sleep in a while. At times like these, you know what I turn to?
Molly: Brooklyn 99?
Isla: True, I have recently started re-watching Brooklyn, but mainly because I've been needing a comfort show to fill the void.
Molly: I’m very much the same. For me, tuning into a familiar show is a great way to unwind after a long and stressful day. I literally cannot fall asleep at night without having a comfort show playing…which is probably something I should look into, but now is not the time for that!
Isla: I mainly watch my comfort shows because the familiarity is a great change of pace to a new show. No matter how much I love a new show, the classic laughs or storylines are unbeatable.
Molly: I agree completely! Same with re-reading books, it feels a bit like catching up with old friends. It’s also nice to not have to pay attention as much, as you already know what’s going to happen.
Isla: See that’s the only downfall for me, I can never watch comfort shows back to back – I have a concerningly good memory for passages of dialogue so I like to have a good break in between periods of Brooklyn 99 watching. But when I do finally re-watch, I always feel a little More Better.
Molly: So, for our Spotlight this week, we thought we would recommend some of our comfort watches.
Isla: Of course, we have to give a brief shout out to Brooklyn 99. If our previous mentions haven’t already convinced you to start watching, it follows a detective squad in Brooklyn’s 99th precinct, the series beginning as a new commanding officer, the serious and unsmiling Captain Raymond Holt, joins the squad. The foundation of my friendship with Molly is built over our mutual love of the show - the detective squad’s mixture of personalities played by a brilliant cast makes it the perfect comfort show. I am a big fan of the comedy-mystery type series. Brooklyn 99 combines humour with solving crimes, often tackling serious themes in a sensitive and well-meaning way, and it brings an element of relatability. The show is relatable and warm, allowing you to jump into any episode and feel comforted by the lovable characters. What makes the show even better is realising the actors’ personalities off-camera are just as fun as their characters. For me, I adore the Holt-Kevin-Cheddar family (in my opinion, the best TV family ever) and it’s so fun to see that all the characters have a fun, immature side, making the show so relatable. If there is one drawback of the show, it’s how much I quote ‘Title of Your Sex Tape’ in my daily life - I think my friends are getting tired of it!
Molly: Brooklyn 99 is a very easy show to get into and to re-watch! I’ve seen the whole series several times, and it doesn’t get old. The jokes are still funny each time, and the characters' journeys are great to see, even with the knowledge of how the show will end. While the characters follow familiar archetypes, they are all multi-faced, and put their own unique spin on the tropes. Jake Peralta may be the over-confident, risk-taking protagonist, but he’s also a nerd. Amy Santiago may be the intellectual, book-smart heroine, but she’s also super competitive–especially when it comes to games and challenges the precinct puts on when they’re supposed to be working. The show may be a cop-comedy, but at its core, it is about a chosen family, made up of friends who constantly have each other’s backs. It’s a great distraction if you need something to watch that doesn’t require a lot of focus and attention; the perfect watch after a long day!
Molly's Pics:
1) Gilmore Girls:
I know I’m not alone in saying that I tend to re-watch Gilmore Girls every fall season. There’s something so autumnal about the show and the familiar banter between Rory and Lorelai is great to listen to while you're cooking dinner or winding down after a long day at the library. If you’re completely new to Gilmore Girls, the premise is: a mother and daughter who live in a small town in Connecticut called Stars Hollow. The mother, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) had her daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel) when she was 16 and the two are very close. With a full cast of quirky characters, the show follows family dynamics, the personalities you find in a small town, and is a quintessential early 2000s series. If you’re in need of humour and dramatic plotlines to distract yourself from your own worries, this is definitely the show for you!
(Image Credit: IMDB)
2) New Girl:
New Girl is a show that I’m constantly quoting lines from with friends. It follows a middle school teacher named Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel) who breaks up with her boyfriend and moves in with three roommates who are all guys. Chaos and humour ensues! If you’re a fan of Brooklyn 99, you’ll know that the shows do crossover, which can be expected as both are ensemble comedies. It’s got seven seasons, so there are plenty of episodes for you to binge-watch this weekend. Despite being a comedy, it has great dramatic moments as well (and possibly the best use of Lorde’s song, Green Light…if you’ve seen the show I’m sure you’ll agree?) If you’re needing humour and escapism with a bit of drama, this is definitely the show for you!
(Image Credit: IMDB)
3) Gossip Girl:
Evidently I’m going for a theme here and only picking shows that end in the word “girl” or “girls”...So now, onto Gossip Girl. If you’re in need of a classic early 2000s teen drama, I highly recommend it! This series follows a group of privileged teens at a prestigious private school in Manhattan. It explores their high stakes, drama-filled lives, as they’re plagued by an anonymous website “Gossip Girl” which posts their daily activities, secrets, and rumours. It almost begins to fall into the soap-opera category towards the end of the show, but regardless of genre, it’s a highly entertaining watch throughout.
(Image Credit: IMDB)
4) Anne of Green Gables (1985) :
Finally I’m breaking the theme! This is technically a miniseries, although I’ve also seen it categorized as movies? I’m unsure, but will absolutely recommend it anyways: the 1985 version of Anne of Green Gables! You may be familiar with the series Anne With An E, which was cancelled far too soon. While I also love Anne With An E, I would personally consider 1985 to be the essential adaptation. Having re-watched it recently, I can say with certainty that it captures the heart and soul of the books. It’s the ultimate comfort watch for me. From the calming soundtrack to the beautiful scenery (filmed in Prince Edward Island and across Ontario), to the amazing acting from Megan Follows who embodies the character of Anne so perfectly, this series will pull you in and allow you complete distraction from all stress and anxieties.
(Image Credit: IMDB)
Isla's Pics:
1) The Big Bang Theory:
If you’re looking for a classic TV comedy with a little something different, then this is the one for you. The Big Bang Theory follows a group of socially awkward scientists in California; Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Raj. The show begins as a new neighbour, Penny, moves in across the hall from the apartment shared by Leonard and Sheldon, who introduces them to living life outside of their small world of physics and comic books. The show ran for 12 seasons and introduced 2 new main characters along the way, Amy and Bernadette. The character’s friendships are built in such a humorous way through lots of running jokes and recurring themes for you to get attached to alongside some very lovable, yet at times frustrating characters. I’d say The Big Bang Theory is one of those classic comedy shows, comparable to Friends, but with a unique twist which mainly comes in the form of the ‘nerdy’ references and social awkwardness of the characters, combining to make a lovable, humorous, addictive, and touching show. For me, I will always come back to The Big Bang Theory as I watched it when I was growing up, and became very emotionally involved with the characters. I think most people will be able to see something of themselves or their friends within the show, as each persona appears carefully built; from their wardrobe to their small mannerisms, as well as their relationships with each other. It generally feels very relatable, even if you’re not a comic book nerd or a physicist.
(Image Credit: IMDB)
2) Lucifer:
I’m going to open this one by saying if you like hot men, then this is the show for you! Lucifer sees Tom Ellis take on the role of the Devil, who has escaped hell to live in Los Angeles, eventually partnering with LAPD Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German), to solve murders. Aside from the amazing casting choices, this is a classic cop show with a mythological twist. The writers certainly did their research and a lot of thought went into the portrayal of Lucifer as a character. Especially from his own perspective, there’s a lot of nuance and humour brought to the show through his regular therapy sessions with Dr Linda, an innovative feature of the show. For me, the dry, sarcastic humour, and plethora of innuendos contrasts very well with tense themes or violent scenes (although there’s nothing wrong with a fight between attractive men). Oftentimes the humour is based on references to religious stories, or simply playing on the fact that the main character is literally the Devil and son of God. Innuendos and insults aside, the show doesn’t shy away from emotion either, with plenty of plot twists and emotionally straining relationships being portrayed; what else would you expect from a show about the spiteful fallen son of God?
(Image Credit: IMDB)
3) The Goes Wrong Show:
You’ve probably heard of The Play The Goes Wrong on the West End and Broadway. Well, brought to you by the same cast, Mischief Theatre, are 2 seasons of their TV show, during which The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society takes a stab at performing a new play each week in front of a live studio audience and broadcasting it live to the nation. For those unfamiliar, the Cornley cast regularly perform, but rarely does it go right. There is always something, whether improperly proportioned props, a coup from the case, fires, broken sets, or Dennis getting his lines wrong. But nevertheless, the troupe soldier on and each week perform yet another doomed to fail play; you have to admire their determination. For anyone who has already seen The Goes Wrong Show, I think we can all agree that we have a communal sympathy for Chris Bean, their Director, who seems to hold out hope every week for a flawless performance, yet is constantly stymied. Their classic hijinx are perfect for those days when you’re feeling down and never fail to make me laugh. I’ve watched each episode so many times by now, that I’m pretty sure I could quote certain passages. Fortunately, the humour never dries up - each time I always manage to spot something I’ve never noticed before.
(Image Credit: IMDB)
4) Elementary:
I tried to cut the list down to 3, but I had to add this as a bonus! Elementary is a wonderfully imaginative interpretation of the classic Sherlock Holmes story. In this version, Sherlock has moved to New York after leaving rehab and Dr Joan Watson is hired by his father to act as a sober companion. The two embark upon a crime solving journey together alongside Detective Marcus Bell and Captain Thomas Gregson of the NYPD over 6 seasons, becoming the crime solving duo you know and love, with a contemporary twist. I adore this show - it combines so many elements that I love; the classic detective show, brilliant casting choices for main characters, alongside some wonderfully humorous moments that seem to be key and yet unique to each Sherlock Holmes interpretation. The principal difference that most will notice upon watching Elementary is the casting of Lucy Liu as Dr Joan Watson. The new relationship between Holmes and Watson creates an intriguing new dynamic amongst the characters, becoming the core element of the show. The relationship between the two starts out as a rocky yet enthralling relationship due to their roles as sober companion and recovering addict, yet molds into a partnership and friendship in the most natural way. Ultimately, this dynamic lends a sentiment of mutual respect and family to the show. The re-interpretation of this friendship/partnership is the fundamental feature of this show which makes room for that classic humorous crime-solving duo we love to see on our screens.
(Image Credit: IMDB)
Thanks again for tuning in to another spotlight. We hope you’re getting through the seasonal blues and have exciting holiday plans to look forward to. Don’t forget to take your Vitamin C and D, go for mental health walks while the sun is still out, maybe wrap up warm and treat yourself to an Uplands Roast hot chocolate and, of course, tune into a familiar show.
Our challenge to you this week is to recommend us a show (seeing as we tend to watch the same ones over and over on repeat…) Send us a message on Instagram and let us know what your preferred comfort viewing is - we will give it a watch and let you know what we think. Have a great week and we’ll see you next time!
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