What TV Shows Are You Watching These Days?
After a TV drought that felt like forever, I turned on The Other Bennet Sister, and it caught me off guard…
Honestly, when I saw the trailer, I wasn’t sure if I’d watch it. The jokes fell flat, and the whole thing looked a little blah. But! I decided to sally forth, as they say, and five minutes into the first episode, I was hooked.
The story follows Mary Bennet, the middle of five sisters, whom Jane Austen described in Pride and Prejudice as “the only plain one in the family” who “had neither genius nor taste.” (Harsh!) But in the show, after Mary’s four sisters get married and move away, she heads to London to be a governess and look for happiness herself — and maybe even love.
Reader, I was SO charmed. I loved the actress Ella Bruccoleri, and the empire-waist dresses, and the stunning landscapes when they took a trip to the Lake District. But, most of all, it felt shockingly good to watch a character who is so loved for her mind. People fall for her — as friends or hopeful lovers — because she speaks honestly and directly, shares her insights on books and marriage and society and geology, and loves people not despite but because of their idiosyncrasies. “There is no one I long to talk to as I do you,” a love interest tells her.
I’m 47 and pretty chill with myself at this point, but even so, watching this show felt like a new experience for me. It’s so easy as a woman to watch something and catch yourself thinking, even in the back of your mind, Could I pull off that dress? Is my skin even one tenth as dewy? Should I try a little harder with my hair? If a character’s goal is to look pretty — and it usually is, either explicitly or implicitly — you almost can’t help asking yourself these questions, as the viewer; it’s a reflex. But while watching Mary Bennet, I kept thinking to myself, Oooh, what books do I love most? What questions can I ask to bring people out of themselves? What friends and relatives do I love having juicy conversations with? What fun animal facts might I know?? And what refreshing questions! It makes me inordinately happy to imagine girls watching this series and asking themselves these things, instead of, as ever and always, am I pretty?
More of this, please!
Will you watch The Other Bennet Sister? I’d highly recommend! What else are you watching these days? Any new shows, or beloved old series? xoxo
P.S. Our ultimate TV guide, if you’re looking for something great, and what are your favorite under-the-radar TV shows?
Comments
161 commentsThis popped up on my YouTube recommendations, and I thought I remembered seeing it here first. Yep! At the time, I didn’t think it would be for me, but started watching and WOW! what great characters!
I loved that Mary did not get a makeover or become this savvy, confident woman overnight. In fact, the character hardly changed in appearance. How refreshing! I also loved the aunt and Lizzy. Such warm, supportive people who gave her space, love, and the right advice. The scene where her aunt tries to persuade her to stay in London was so lovely. It made me long for a mother or relation like that. Well, I suppose I could be that aunt.
I loved The Madison with Michelle Pfeiffer – she was amazing and looks absolutely gorgeous at 68, (I looked it up). Her hair – my goal for when I’m older. I’m so glad she’s back in more leading roles, did not see her for a while. I liked that she played a straight character, an actual mature adult woman instead of a bimbo or whatever – though I am enjoying the nuance she is bringing to the MGMT mom. Pretty skillful acting, which is a joy to see.
My kids are out at a movie and I am bingeing The Other Bennet Sister. Thank you so much for the recommendation! I am startled, however, to find tears tracking down my face. Mrs Bennet’s treatment of Mary is so like my own mother’s treatment of me still today – gently criticising even the most banal things I do or things I own. My too small bathroom. The outdoor furniture that warped because I left it….outside. Clearly a long buried wound. Being a mother now myself, I feel the need to criticise and am trying hard to bite my tongue.
I think so many of us had moms like this! One of my friends from college has become an influencer (kind of crazy! check out @thattwinmama on instagram). She recently posted something about asking her community of 17,000, “For those of you who have always been close with your mom, what did she do to keep it that way?” I saved the post to remember for my relationship with my own daughters! 1. My mom said sorry when she made a mistake. 2. She showed up. I never had to wonder if she would come. 3. She let me share without making it a lesson. I felt heard and understood. 4. She loved being my mom. 5. I never had to earn her love. She loved me for who I am not what I accomplished. 6. She kept adult problems between adults. She didn’t talk badly about my dad or other family members. Trying to do these with my own kids!!
Loving TOBS however, we have Amazon Prime. Paid for a month of Brit Box in order to watch. Watched the first five episodes & now it’s saying I need Brit Box premiere (to the tune of $150/year, no monthly subscription available!) to watch episodes 6-10! Are you all Brit Box Premiere subscribers or am I missing something?
They release weekly on Wednesday you can only binge watch them if you go to the higher teir.
I’m loving it so much too, and especially that I can joyfully share it with my 8 year old daughter. When she tells her mother she’s accepting the invitation to the Lake County, we both turned and high fives each other with joy. Our happiness is in our own hands!!
Call the Midwife and Grant Chester are shows that I have adored lately – like a balm for the soul.
“And what refreshing questions! It makes me inordinately happy to imagine girls watching this series and asking themselves these things, instead of, as ever and always, am I pretty?” Why am I crying at my desk????
Rooster, Widow’s Bay, Margot’s Got Money Troubles, and This is a Gardening Show!
Did anyone binge Wild Vacation Rentals on HGTV starring Sherry Cola and D’Arcy Carden? The whole show is secretly about the friendship between these two in real life and their incredible rapport. Watching them hang out is like hanging out with my friends. I just never thought a show on HGTV would ever be able to capture it. It’s so much fun to watch because they’re so random and real.
Happy to see another Deadloch fan above in the comments! So quirky and so hilarious. The final episode of season 2 had me laughing, gasping and spontaneously bursting into happy tears. Highly recommend.
👆love Deadloch and can’t wait to watch Season 2 this weekend!
All Creatures, Astrid, Call the Midwife, Ludwig, The Durrells…all excellent and shockingly not all British (Astrid is French!)
I got onto better things suggested by under the radar post. Wow so lovely. Makes me feel like a good mum and it is ok to look after your wants too. Great soundtrack too. Also thanks for the capture rec, season1 was great (s2 can’t get into)Wishing my brilliant friend series to stream in NZ soon!
I’m here to say I loved watching Rooster and The Other Bennet Sister. Different genres and time periods, but both are so well written, well acted–smart, funny, with a lot of heart, all the feels. I didn’t want either show to end, and I will definitely be rewatching them this summer.
Love this, I’m sold! I echo others who have said Widow’s Bay (I really do not like horror, but still love this somehow! the humor helps and omg Episode 4 was just *chef’s kiss*). Also, Hacks and Margot Has Money Trouble! If you want something that’s quite silly but very bingeable, Imperfect Women. In conclusion, I watch too much TV!
British tv lover here. At loose ends since I finished Shetland. Favorites are As Time Goes By, Gavin and Stacy, and Mum. Currently watching the 1978 version of All Creatures Great and Small which I really enjoy. Any other suggestions?
Vera (same author as Shetland), Call the Midwife, Last Tango in Halifax, Annika, The Split (yes, big Nicola Walker fan…), Unforgotten, Blue Lights, Sherwood, .. So many more. Do you have Acorn or Britbox?
+1 I basically exclusively watch British crime drama and I’ll add to this great list: Endeavor, No Offence, Grace, Karen Pirie, Line of Duty, Murder in Provence, Ludwig. So many great options! Also, Deadloch. Holy hell is it funny.
Thanks for your suggestions Julia and Courtney! Have and love Britbox.
Margot’s Got Money Troubles! It has so much heart and the entire cast is fantastic (especially Michelle Pfeiffer).
Many and especially historical series often feel too hetero/cisnormative to me. I prefer series with more diverse stories, like Heartstopper or Never Have I Ever, both on Netflix.
Off Campus! So good!
One more vote for Off Campus
Porni Pernille on Netflix’s. A funny touching delightful comedy about a single mother and her two children. Gives off somebody somewhere vibes. Loved it!
Yes yes yes loved Pernille. Her kids are hilarious. And she’s so real.
Absolutely loved this one! So full of feelings, very life affirming. I just wish it was not dubbed.
Loved this show so much! @Violeta Maybe you are watching on a different platform or Netflix in a different country but it defaults to dubbed for me but I am able to change it to Norwegian with subtitles.
High potential season 2! It’s a crime solving show starring Kaitlin Olson from it’s always sunny and it has a similar tone to Monk but spicier (she’s also a brilliant mind and quirky but the plot lines are more grown up and they show a little more of the crime scene) very enjoyable, I watch on Disney plus.
Wishing there could have been another season or more to this series. If my wife & I want rapid-fire snappy banter and constant sexual inuendoes we would watch American shows, but for someone who wants realistic characters and dialogue, all we watch anymore are British productions. Just my opinion, but I think the dialogue on American shows is atrocious, no class anymore which eventually rubs off on viewers, but of course there is a massive audience that type of thing….unfortunately!
If anyone is a Yellowstone fan, the new series Dutton Ranch with Beth and Rip looks promising. I binged the first 2 episodes and loved it!
Any Outlander fans here? What did you think of the series finale?
For everyone here who loved Mad Men (and the Expanse and the Man in the High Castle too!) I recommend trying For All Mankind on Apple. I am so hooked.
I just love how many of the recs here are either found on PBS, BritBox or deep in the past!! You are my people.
Call The Midwife on pbs and netflix…. powerful women’s stories written and presented with such care and beauty and truth- its a series of books too for the readers in the room. cannot say enough good things about it
I’m an OB nurse and Call the Midwife is a show near and dear to my heart. I cry almost every episode!
The Jamie Foxx Show reruns!
I’m just waiting for the final installment (a movie!) of Heartstopper to drop. The first three seasons are out and available on Netflix and this show (and I hear the graphic novels it’s based on) is just the sweetest, most tender, beautiful celebration of young love, family and friendships. It tackles serious topics related to mental health, queer identities, bullying, and more but somehow never gets too heavy handed. The characters are loveable and mostly so kind to each other all while figuring themselves out. It’s rare to find a show where the characters are so genuintely likeable, where the drama doesn’t feel overly manfactured, that somehow is also never boring. So much cuteness. It’s marketed as YA and has young people as the stars but plenty good enough for us grown ups!
I did not know a final installment was coming up! yay!! another show that I love for its tenderness is Midnight Diner :)
YES I love this show. I think of it as a pastel version of Never Have I Ever. I think it so accurately captures the sparky, swoony feeling of young love!
Love Midnight Diner! Totally agree. In a similar vein- Samurai Gourmet. It’s about a recently retired Japanese businessman getting to know himself and adjust to his new life one meal at a time. So slow! So sweet! I love it.
I haven’t scrolled through ALL the amazing suggestions, but I didn’t see anyone mention LUDWIG. It is such good fun, murder mystery, careful plot. I think it was BBC’s biggest hit last year (now on BritBox). We just loved it. (And you’ll spy a new star in the making.)
We’re on the last episode and I just love it! It’s the only crime show I can tolerate.
Watched this and loved it! Hoping thee is another season. Still working my way through Whose Line Is It Anyway, a British comedy panel show with David Mitchell from Ludwig.
The Other Bennett Sister is based on a novel by Janice Hadlow. I read the book a few years ago and it was really wonderful!
Ditto! I loved how the book (and now I have to see the screen version) took the moments in Austen’s “P&P” where Mary looks her worst–in what she says, etc.–and showed a different way of understanding that moment/those words/etc.
Detectorists (2014-2017) is SO good, it’e even worth putting up with the ads on Tubi, which is the only place I could find all 3 seasons streaming. I began watching it with my husband and our sons ended up joining us and we all loved it. It’s quirky and wry and beautifully shot and profound. The theme song by Johnny Flynn accompanied by the most beautiful nature scenes to begin each episode doesn’t hurt, either. Wish I could find something similarly good. Mackenzie Crook, who wrote the show & plays one of the main characters, has a new show, Small Prophets. Haven’t yet been able to find it in the US but it’s gotten great reviews.
Soooo good!! Now I always try to chat with detectorists when I see them in real life, haha. Miss that show!
Detectorists is a real gem
OMG i am so glad to see a fellow fan of Detectorists! Really good series–highly recommend this quiet British comedy with some American references!
We absolutely love Dectectorists!! One of those you wish wouldn’t end. Also loved Fisk.
I walked down the aisle to that Johnny Flynn song
+1 for Detectorists! I think what’s so appealing to me is that it treats its characters (even the ones that would be easy to disparage) thoughtfully and with nuance.
Oh, this show is amazing. You’re right about those opening scenes. Just gorgeous.
So happy to read that you all love Detectorists, too. :) I loved reading what you had to say. Kee, I agree with you 100% about the way the characters are treated with care. Patrica: what a beautiful song for your wedding! I enjoyed listening to the Folk on Foot (podcast) episode featuring Johnny Flynn playing & talking about music: https://www.folkonfoot.com/episodes/johnny-flynn-on-the-hackney-marshes You might enjoy it.
I absolutely love RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service on PBS. From Australia, great relationships, action, humor, medical emergencies, gorgeous vistas, and so much love.
oooo! Another show with medical drama – thank you! I’ve worked through so many and will def check this one out.
I love TOBS so much I can’t even begin to express it. Just adore. The other show i STILL won’t shut up about is How to Get to Heaven From Belfast (every single time I write that Dublin? Derry? Lol. I CANNOT remember which). It’s absolutely one of my top ten of all time. Right now the newest season of Death in Paradise is a lot of fun. The cast changes so frequently, but it’s actually fun to learn the new characters and I really love this whole bunch. The one consistent thread is the main detective ALWAYS hates living in *literally* paradise lol.
Have you seen Bodkin on Netflix? I thought How to Get to Heaven from Belfast gave similar vibes and I loved both.
We just watched Long Story Short on Netflix, which is an animated comedy about a Jewish family. Moving and very funny. It might not land with non-Jewish viewers as much because it is a very Jewish show but I loved it!
I’m a non-Jewish Black woman and I LOVED Long Story Short. I think it has some very universal themes of family, accpetance, and growth. And it is hilarious.
I LOVE this show. Cant’t wait for season 2.
@Kim Rhodes, oh good! I’m glad to hear that it has universal appeal.
My husband and I are loving the current (and final!) season of Hacks, it’s just so enjoyable and funny…I think the writers are being kind to us since it’s the last season by having Ava and Deborah get along and fully embrace their BFF dynamic. The recent episode at Cherry Jones and Leslie Bibb’s house in Montecito, ha! Fabulous. Also enjoying the second season of Your Friends and Neighbors, glad they’ve pivoted to novel forms of trouble for Hamm etc. to get into. Started Margo’s Got Money Troubles last night and did not like it. Compared to the book, the characters felt so one-dimensional and the writing pretty trite. Though that’s often true of book-to-screen adaptations I suppose. Perhaps I was also just wishing I was watching Elle F. in “Sentimental Value” again!
I agree re: Margo. Although I only just read the book so maybe it was too close in time. Michelle Pfiefer and Nick Offerman are great but I just don’t connect with the other characters and feel that they did the book such an injustice.
Hacks is my favorite right now. I’m in my 30s and one of my colleagues is in his 70s, and he also loves it, so every week we chat about the most recent episode. An intergenerational friendship strengthened by a TV show about intergenerational friendship!
This might only count as “under the radar” because it’s old but my husband and I are watching Northern Exposure and I love it! There are definitely some things that are problematic in the same way that there are in Friends/Seinfeld/Sex and the City but I’m glad that we (mostly? hopefully??!) know better now. I love shows where the people are mostly normal-looking with normal incomes and normal decor and I feel like there’s not enough of that around these days. Northern Exposure also has some scenes that are definitely a bit weird. It also has some scenes that are wonderful. Ed and Ruth-Anne dancing on Ruth-Anne’s future grave was charming :) <3
Northern Exposure…wow!! Now that’s a blast from the past:)
This is my ultimate comfort show! Sure, some things are dated, but I think that it holds up very well. And the music is great.
Yes love this show. My husband and I watched the whole thing maybe 2 years ago. We were so into it. We went to the town where it was filmed after we finished it. I also watched it every Monday night in the 90’s when it first aired.
I still think it’s criminal that COJ hasn’t done any Heated Rivalry content!! Lol. I know you are of course not obligated to comment on every viral piece of media – and I so often have myself stubbornly resisted engaging with such forms of art specifically because they are so popular. But, having finally caved and watched it this past month (three…+ times), I feel like HR is in a league of its own. The immense impact it has had on culture, on women, on queer discourse, and then the fact that it is one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever seen portrayed… Criminal I tell you Jo, criminal! :)
Eh, there are so many streamers out there and they all cost money. I do not have HBO Max.
I remember Jo wrote that she wasn’t into it… which, I agree, seems like a mystery. Well, so many papers are being written on the topic, check them out, and will be published around september mostly. I agree with you, this show has some massive impact on society and I am all for studying it. Love from Paris
we loved it.
I think the first episode is an absolute slog with all the time jumping. My friend convinced me to stick with it and I loved it. So I wonder if the first ep is a bug hurdle for some potential watchers – it almost was for me, a queer lady who will watch any queer romance!
In Joanna’s defense, I also wasn’t into Heated Rivalry! I am a woman in her 40s and in many a friend group where HR was all they talked about for weeks on end. I really tried, but it wasn’t for me. I actually appreciate the COJ was a safe space from the internet’s obsession with this show, haha. I’m sure it’s a great show, but I also appreciate it when everyone’s many different obsessions co-mingle without feeling forced.
What I didn’t care for was the dialogue (or lack thereof). Very simple, basic swearing. Romance includes the ability to communicate! Frankly, my fav episode was when it diverted to the other player’s story. That love interest, the juice shop guy, was clever and engaging.
Another plug for Off Campus. It’s fun, buzzy, and charming but also tackles some challenging topics with thoughtfulness and care. Plus, the male leads have realistic (read: not cringe or forced) conversations about consent and how important trust is in intimate relationships. It is such an improvement on some of the misogynistic shows of my youth. 1000% recommend.
Just finished Rooster and Shrinking. Loved both, specially Shrinking, what a smart, funny, sad and sometimes hilarious series. And all the characters, they were all so relatable and makes you wish you’re part of that circle of friends! I’m now into British police series, Criminal Record and The Capture. (and counting the minutes for the next season of The Celebrity Traitors, what a treat)
i loved the beachy vibe of shrinking and i need to get some wishbone chairs..
I loved the movie Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix! Charming, sweet, sad and beautiful. Sally Field and Lewis Pullman give stellar performances, as does Marcellus, the octopus! And I really got into the most recent season of Bridgerton! Not just the love story arcs, but to stories of parental and sibling love and support. Made me cry a few times!
I read the book when it came out and was shocked to see it made into a movie! I did much prefer the book but they did a decent job with the movie. I thought Sally Fields was perfectly cast! For those who haven’t seen it yet, read the book – then – watch the movie. It will make more sense. Also, obviously, watch My Octopus Teacher, if you haven’t already.
I hope it inspires people to stop eating these remarkably bright creatures…
So, I’m a few decades behind, but just finished binge watching The Sopranos. So good!! I also enjoy: “The New Look” on Apple TV. The story of Christian Dior and Coco Channel during WWII. Captivating!! “Olive Kitteridge” with Frances McDormand. Sad, but an authentic portrayal of family relations. Well done. Lastly, of course, “The Pitt”.
I’m in a drought as well, but started watching, “The Rivals” on Hulu. I’m not sure where it’s going but the cast is excellent and the 80s soundtrack and costumes are spot on!
I started this on the family tv and luckily my son was out of the room at the time!
Ooh, I’m flying Friday and this sounds like a good airplane show. I’m obsessed with Widow’s Bay on Apple TV. It stars Matthew Rhys as the mayor of a quaint island community off the coast of New England that he’s desperately trying to make the next Martha’s Vineyard. The problem is, it appears to be very haunted. It is the best comfort show, more funny than scary, but it does have very creepy parts. The cast is stacked with great character actors, and it’s been compared to Twin Peaks in its quirkiness. I’ve watched each episode multiple times, and I rarely do that.
It’s so good!!! The horror/comedy balance is spot on.
This show is chef’s kiss! I usually do not like horror but it is so much more and also hilarious which just hits right now. I love the characters, especially Patricia. Big yes!
rhys is sooo good, he makes it real.
If you like Matthew Rhys check out The Monster in Me on Netflix – although definitely more horror than comedy.
We love Widow’s Bay! Not a dud episode so far. But then that’s not surprising when Matthew Rhys is the main character :) I love spotting comparisons with Parks & Rec, various Stephen King, Twin Peaks, Wicker Man… It’s a long wait each week for a new episode.
I want to love the Other Bennett Sister! But I think I’m craving strong female protagonists right now and the lead’s self-loathing is a bit hard to watch… I need heroes and strong voices to inspire me to keep going these days… anyone else yearning for role models? Having said that, Deadloch is hilarious! Though we needed subtitles for the deep Outback accents. Love that the protagonist says “oh bum!” when things go wrong. Had to look up a lot of Australian profanity that I was not familiar with, so a learning experience too….:) Loved Department Q. Call the Midwife is my comfort food though it is pretty saccharine…. weirdly feminist (the male characters are decidedly ancillary) while oddly religious (not my cup of tea but it helps me appreciate that goodness comes through many conduits). And btw, the Other Bennett Sister actress was on Call the Midwife too…!
I have watched and loved Call the Midwife for all 16 seasons and while I agree with all of your points, I think I pinpointed what I love about it: the sense of community. Everyone is generally supportive of and trying to help one another. It’s a story about a place and a moment in time (even though the times change) more than about any one person, and it’s so comforting to watch this place carry on, even as the people who inhabit it come and go.
I get that — if it helps, Mary’s journey *out* of that conditioned self-criticism is one of the nicest parts of you stick with it! (It is also, surprisingly, much more prevalent in the show than it was in the delicious book) Deadloch is almost perfect though, absolutely co-sign!
I mentioned Department Q as well – but that only worked because the woman was Scottish… noone but a Scottish woman could survive what she went through (in my opinion). I just feel like they are superhuman.
Deadloch – yes!!! It is SO funny, so sweet, and a great mystery both seasons
Another shout out for Big Mistakes. I cried laughing at every episode. It’s just so ridiculous in all of the ways I need right now!
I have to say, I don’t watch a ton of TV – with my office job I spend too much time sitting as it is, and in the evenings i like to be on my feet – so I initially scrolled past this post. But I read it this morning and I am so glad I did! Not as much for the TV recommendation as for your commentary on the premise – striving to be interesting and interested, to be curious about the world rather than fixate on appearance. Also in my late 40s, there is a surprising and exciting freedom in just loving myself as I am and focusing more on the wonder of the world and all the people in it. I love it – so refreshing! Thank you Jo!
I just bought a walking pad for tv watching because my whole day is spent sitting online, sometimes 10 hours. I do movement breaks but still. I do have to force myself to use the walking pad because I have the very bad habit of laying down to watch tv (mental labor is exhausting!) but I MUST integrate more movement! So much for technology creating time for human development, lol…
Loving This is a gardening show with Zach G on Netflix. My 8 and 11 years olds are hooting through it. So refreshing and gorgeous. Highly recommend family watching.
We also watched as a family (7YO and 11YO). Really hope there will be a second season!! The future is agrarian.
wow, im watching the garden show and ina garten’s show with different guests. both so good.
My 9yo loved this show! It felt great to watch something so wholesome together, and he LOVED the kid interviews (“You have 11 children… What a life”)
I haven’t watched it yet, but YES, YES, YES!
I am really not a big tv watcher but I love to know what everybody is interested about, so I watched 2 seasons of Bridgerton, 1 season of Ted Lasso, the whole Heated Rivalry (3 times. I completely adore it, even wrote a paper about it), Off campus and I have to watch The Pitt. The change in the depiction of male characters has changed radically in the last 10 years and I am excited about it. Tv has the power to change minds and I love what people are loving… love from Paris
Agnès, I really hope you’re going to share a link to your paper when it’s published!
I needed this post – nothing is on right now! I’ll circle back to the comments, because nothing is quite grabbing me. I am watching Survivor 50 – and it is excellent! But the finale is tonight. I just finished rewatching Mad Men (always my fave) and Succession. I finally watched Heated Rivalry last week. I miss the Pitt!
Yes to Survivor 50! With so much hype leading up to it, I wondered if it would live up to it…but it truly has been an excellent season! I feel like the next “regular” season might be tough to get through after watching these icons duke it out
The scene at the dinner party where a meam host seats Mary next to a guest everyone finds dreadfully boring, and she ends up having a great time by deciding to be genuinely curious about his seemingly boring hobby, healed something in me. What a marvelous way to be kind both to yourself and others!! The best thing about Mary is her unpretentiousness.
I absolutely loved that part, too.
This is a perfect example of the kind of writing I want more of. So perceptive and enriching.
maybe my favorite Austen adaptation is the 90s movie of Persuasion. Sophie Thompson shows up to devour some scenery. but the main character is just like how you describe Mary, admired by everyone who is genuine and ignored by everyone frivolous. a pure delight from start to finish.
me too!!!!!! someone asked me my favorite Jane Austen movie/show the other day, and this was my immediate answer. she’s perfect.
Have you seen Lost in Austen – that’s really clever (though I saw it when it came out, which was a while ago)
I love the Other Bennet Sister! I’m only able to get 4 of the 10 episodes. Is any one able to view the complete series ?
I upgraded to britbox premier so we could watch the whole thing right away — my mom and I binged it when she was visiting this weekend!
Loving the new (second) season of Chestnut Man! And I also finished Detective Hole on Netflix. As someone who lived in Finland and just feels at home in the Nordic countries, I’m always a huge fan of Nordic thrillers. I think Danes do it best (Chestnut Man is brilliant, as was the first season!). But what’s funny is you end up seeing the same actors over and over again as it is a small country. Still I think their thrillers are unmatched! :)
Yes, we loved both seasons of Chestnut Man, it is my favorite Nordic noir!
Introducing my 24 year old daughter to Girls, after reading Lena Dunhams memoir. Recommend both!
Absolutely adored the memoir, and starting Girls with my 18yro daughter this summer. It’s actually my hb’s favorite show, and I’ve only seen the first couple seasons.
Adults on FX (can also watch on Hulu) is absolutely hilarious
Yay! So pleased to read this, as this is the show I recommended on the post about under the radar TV shows :)
yes!!! that’s why I started watching it! thank you, Katie :) :) :)
I was surprised at how much I liked it, watched 4 episodes and am impatient for the next one!
So lovely to see you talking about this show! I also wasn’t sure it was for me and only watched it cause I had a friend who worked on it, and it ended up being cute and delightful!
I looooved it. Just finished it the second tíme with my husband 🩷
Just finished Platonic with my husband, Rose Byrne is so funny and unhinged. Now watching Widow’s Bay on my own, which I love for its originality and humor. Also finally started The Guilded Age. Robber Baron husband is so sexy!
Beef, Season 2!! The cast is so good and the story surprises me every episode.
Oscar Isaac is SO hot!!
Late-comer to Shrinking, but my god, what a show, on SO MANY LEVELS!
The Detectorists is beautiful and funny. It’s the story of two friends and their metal detecting hobby, set in a rural English town. Huge life lessons, and just good general feel goodness. The British game show Task Master is consistently hilarious—cry-laughing hilarious, so glad there are something like 20 seasons hilarious.
Love the detectorists! Also the soundtrack is great.
Oh I absolutely loved The Detectorists! And I still find myself humming the delightful theme song.
I credit Taskmaster for my improved mental health. Someone in here recommended it two years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since!
Task Master is THE BEST. It features regularly in my gratitude list, helping my husband and I relax in the evening and making life just a little bit more pleasant and bearable. And as I keep saying, the New Zealand edition is as hilarious, jay!
I wonder if it was me! I will not shut up about Taskmaster!!! It’s so refreshing and such a way to find new (to me) British comedians.
Taskmaster forever! And The Detectorists is a real gem. For a similar vibe, I’ve just watched Can You Keep A Secret? which was great. Honourable mentions go to Colin From Accounts, and Derry Girls for being hilarious
ooo now I really want to read the book AND watch the show. Someone who has read the book report back on whether it matters which order I do it in? :) Also–I didn’t expect to cry reading a review of a TV show. But really! When can we ever turn that question off and think about something else. Love this.
I’ve done both! The book is gentler, longer, and generally more expansive (and with more interiority that comes with it) but I don’t think there is a wrong way to do it! The show changes is quite a few things so it still felt fresh
Donal Finn, who plays Tom on The Other Bennett Sister, also did theater and was in the musical Hadestown in London. He did the cast recording, so if you want to hear him sing (and hear his lovely natural Irish accent) check that out. :) He’s also on Young Sherlock on Amazon Prime, which is fun.
Whaaaat! I love Hadestown. I also enjoyed him in Wheel of Time as my favorite character.
This is blowing my mind! My kids listen to Hadestown on repeat and my husband watched Wheel of Time (huge fan of the books… mixed feelings about the show). Turns out, everyone in my house is just really into someone named Donal Finn! hahaha! I did admire his work in both, without knowing it was the same person!
Shrinking ! Strong start but unsure how I feel about the last season. I will finish it out though !
I’m about to watch the season finale of Margo Has Money Troubles, which has been solid, interesting viewing- not maybe a firm favorite but really enjoying everyone’s performances and not knowing where on earth the story is going each episode (haven’t read the book!) Off Campus just got me through a horrible cold, and I am so HERE for shows like this that make me feel like a young swoony fool again, like the old CW days with all the great needles drops and Moments. Now I’m in search of another show to distract me from reheating HR for the zillionth time (I blame you guys, you kept saying how good it was and it was sooooo true!)
Also looking for more HR/Off-Campus swoony smoochy shows if anyone has more recs!
Speaking of interesting conversations – Some of my beloved girlfriends have gotten in the rut of **only** talking about dating, it can get so mind numbing. The other day at trivia a newcomer to my table asked what posters we all had in our rooms growing up – it led to such funny conversations and memories! I’d love to hear – what are some of COJ readers favorite questions/topics to get fun or unique conversations going?
Oh man, that’s such a fun question. I definitely had some Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jonathan Brandis posters in my Tiger Beat tweeny bopper days ha.
So this is a weird one that definitely won’t work in all social situations lol but at a parents’ drinks evening I asked what everyone does with their children’s teeth after they fall out (I have some rattling around in a drawer as I felt bad throwing them away but also didn’t want to save them in a special box medieval-relic style). It led to a really funny and engaging conversation with new people, as random (and gross) as it was.
erin, that’s hilarious
Oh Erin I keep my son’s in a small medieval box, purple velvet on the side. Why would I do that? Love from Paris
Florencia, I love this question! I had a Wonder Woman poster! I also loved the Bionic Woman. I have a Bionic Woman t shirt and love that thing. Erin! I have not only my children’s teeth, but out latest puppy’s! Just three. One little canine! It looks like a baby shark tooth! I just randomly found all of them, and never found any from other puppies (which made me ingredient sad). But your “medieval relic” made me cackle. I saved the stumps off my babies umbilical cords! In tiny leather pouches I bought at pow wows. My friend (who’s native) even made one for my grandson, for my daughter to save his. Apparently not everyone does this? Feels highly medieval relic to me, now that you mention it!! :)
I had magazine pages of attractive men on the back of my door. I have a picture somewhere of a friend sitting behind my door, staring up at it adoringly. This was early 2000s, so I think I had Orlando Bloom, Chris Meloni, Viggo Mortensen, Matt Damon and many others! Then in college a few years later I had Matt Damon and Orlando Bloom as Legolas haha.
Re baby teeth, this makes me DIE laughing every time I remember it!! https://www.today.com/parents/babies/keeping-baby-teeth-viral-video-beaver-rcna51937
Multiple TeenBeat posters of Michael J Fox, Kirk Cameron, and John Stamos. Oh, and Johnny Depp…. I swear Ralph Macchio is even more adorable today than when he was 15! :) Adorable prompt!
This is one from a COJ commenter that I’ve used successfully: What’s the biggest boat you’ve been on? It sounds insane, but it really did lead to some interesting stories! I’m going to similarly ‘steal’ the question about childhood posters! I had cat posters from the Scholastic Book Fair and tons of my own artwork… including some directly on the walls… :)
we did NOT want to keep discarded body parts around so we usually dropped them in a pond or something. my son lost a tooth in the car on the way to my grandfather’s funeral and my daughter threw it out of the window.
Erin, I saved my son’s lock of hair from his first haircut in a ziploc bag, then felt weird about it, so I hid it in a drawer (out of sight out of mind) then we moved and I have no clue where it is!! My partner was in charge of packing while I parented and has no clue either lol!
Omg love the teeth and hair responses 😂 Kee that article is amazing