I’ve met but one fellow WordPress scribe in the flesh. And the person in question, Andrew Ferguson, proved to be even warmer and more gracious than I’d anticipated. My wife Sandy and I spent a day with Andrew and his wife Alison in 2019 on their home turf — Scotland — where Sandy and I were vacationing. I bring up Andrew right now because his thoughts on my country’s (i.e., the USA’s) recent presidential election are totally in tune with mine. Here’s what he wrote:
“We woke up . . . to the news that more than half of the US voting public had taken leave of their senses and voted for Trump — again. If you didn’t enjoy the first movie, Trump II: This Time It’s More Mental promises to have even more bad actors. Coming to a political and environmental shitshow near you in January.”
Even though Andrew’s analysis is perfection (click here to read the wide-ranging article in which his Trump commentary appears), there’s plenty I can add. Such as this: Oy frigging vey! Are you shitting me? A riot-inciter and convicted felon is soon to wield immense power for a second term? Man, sometimes bad dreams come true. This is one of those instances.
I could go on and on about the president-elect. But I won’t, as my blood pressure is starting to rise like a hot air balloon. That’s what writing about a vindictive, freedoms-suppressing bully does to me. It’s time, then, to steer this essay into currents I’m comfortable navigating. So, excuse me for a moment while I allow my aged systems to decompress. Ahh, I’m feeling better already. Onward to an agreeable topic.
Since early 2020 I’ve watched an hour or two of television series most evenings, something I hadn’t done in years. I turned to TV because of the COVID pandemic, which left my spirits in need of some boosting. Series-viewing was just what the doctor ordered. I became infatuated right from the start, and the infatuation hasn’t lessened at all. My mind continually is blown by the gargantuan number of available series, and by the good-to-great quality of a sizable percentage of them. I’m certain I won’t terminate what has become one of my favorite activities until the Grim Reaper confronts me and utters words to this effect: “Your days are more than numbered, schmuck. They now are over.”
Not being one who is enamored by advertisements, the vast majority of the series I’ve seen have been on streaming services, as opposed to traditional television. Sandy is my steady viewing companion, I hasten to add. We possess quite similar tastes in series fare. And each of us appreciates having someone a foot away who can offer help when uncertainty arises about what the hell just happened in a scene or about what a character meant by what they said. I’m not ashamed to say that I get puzzled a whole lot more frequently than my spouse does.
Do you have any series recommendations? I’m always eager to learn about shows I’m unfamiliar with. Here are a few I watched in 2024 that I think highly of: Lessons In Chemistry; The Last Days Of Ptolemy Grey; John Adams. The first two are on Apple TV+, and the latter can be found on MAX.
Speaking of MAX, Sandy and I are fans of that broadcaster’s Starstruck, a series I hadn’t heard of until two months ago. Starstruck, which originally ran from 2021 to 2023, consists of 18 episodes spread over three seasons, each installment a mere 23 or so minutes in length. Truly hooked, Sandy and I polished off Starstruck in about one week.
Though a rom-com, Starstruck doesn’t head in directions you might expect. Its main storyline follows Jessie, a gal in her late 20s at series’ start, and Tom, who maybe is a few years older than that. They first set eyes on one another in a pub in London, England, on New Year’s Eve. Natch, they end up spending the night together, sparks flying to a decent extent. Eventually they begin an on-again, off-again romance that frustrates and confuses them both. Are they mismatched socio-economically? Jessie, after all, struggles to make a living, while Tom is a pretty well-known movie actor. Tom, an unassuming sort, isn’t concerned about their financial and fame disparities, though. The show incisively reveals that the reasons behind their fits-and-starts relationship are far more meaningful.
Rose Matafeo, previously an unknown to me, created, co-wrote and stars (as Jessie) in Starstruck. The inspiration for the series, I’ve read, came from incidents in her personal life. She’s a talent. The show is full of witty repartee and spot-on zingers, and has its share of moments that seriously tug at your heart. And Matafeo’s Jessie is completely believable as an uninhibited cum vulnerable young lady. It doesn’t need repeating, but I’ll say it anyway: I like Starstruck a lot.
Yeah, Another Blogger 
I’m not a huge TV fan, but my husband is, so I’ve sort of been turned into one. However, he does have one sensible habit that I’m fond of. He takes note of the shows that are nominated for Golden Globes or for Emmys, chooses a handful, and checks out three episodes of each. Then he decides whether to continue or not. I watch those three with him, and if he decides to continue, I decide whether or not to continue with him. (On some occasions – although rare – I decide to continue without him.) So here are some that we’ve both liked: Strange New Worlds, Julia, Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Nobody Wants This, The Last of Us, White Lotus, The Great, Shrinking.
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Hi. We’ve seen a few of these, including White Lotus, and will look into the others. Thanks.
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Oh Neil, I am so over this next four years and they haven’t even begun! What will rational people do with that meshugenah. It’s beyond comprehension. And thanks for the recommendations. I will check them out.
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In a mere six days, the creep will be inaugurated.
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It’s all I can do to keep my apocalyptic dreams at bay. oy!
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Hi Neil,
I’m sharing your dismay and incredulity regarding what is about to befall us. This time nobody can claim to be ignorant of what’s coming.
It’s good to find escape in good books or films, or whatever else can take our minds off the grim realities.
All the best,
Tanja
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In only four days the king will be crowned.
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A nightmare come true . . .
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Less than a week, Neil, until the sh*t show begins again. Why anyone signed up for a second season is beyond me. I disconnected from the news after the election because of the blood pressure thing.
My husband and I love watching television series. We only get Netflix and Prime but they have some good ones. We really liked:
Seven Seconds
American Primeval
The Resident
Blacklist
Breaking Bad
Ozark
Landman
Territory
The Mayor of Kingston
Evil
All the “Yellowstones”
Dark Winds
Wild Kingdom
Joe Picket
Vikings
If you haven’t seen these, we liked them alot. If you need more … (clearly we’ve filled our old news-watching time with bingeing!)
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Hi. We’ve seen a couple of these shows and will research the others. Thanks for the many suggestions!
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My husband helped. 🙂 We’re always eager for recommendations, so glad to help.
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Hello again. Here are some Netflix series my wife and I liked: Lilyhammer; Unorthodox; Bodyguard; Wanted; Derry Girls; Borgen; Young Wallender; The Spy; The Night Agent; The Diplomat.
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Thanks! We’ve only seen the last four, so that gives us a bunch to check out. We just started “The Resident” last night and we’re hooked. 6 seasons to go! Yay. Happy Watching, Neil.
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Happy New Year Neil, thanks for the recommendations and will add to my growing list! I saw DISCLAIMER with Cate Blanchett awhile back and really enjoyed it.
As for your incoming leader, I wish that were a fictional show as well. It’d be a horror series.
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The USA is loaded with disappointing, misguided people — they put Trump in office.
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I watch one hour of TV at night, slowly following a series from beginning to end. Last year my favorite was Endeavour, a British detective drama that is the prequel to Inspector Morse [that I’ve never seen]. I also like the new Matlock which stars Kathy Bates.
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I’m glad that Kathy Bates landed a starring role in a series. She’s very talented.
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I keep thinking that we need to hold tight to the close-to-home things that bring us joy while we ride out the next four years. Thanks for some good viewing possibilities!
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Hi. Is this Pam? — you’re listed as Anonymous. It’s distressing and perplexing to know we live in a country where SO many people support Trump.
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As a Brit that spent a total 13 years living in the US (mostly in and around Wash DC I am very fearful for the survival of democracy.
Trump is not just freaking out Americans but also other countries around the world.
Bullying them, straining relationships with longtime allies. This all plays into the hands of the leaders of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
Saying he intends to “relocate the Palestinians” from Gaza is ethic cleansing and should be denouced by all Americans. If he carries out his threat it will cause a middle east war, that we could all get sucked into.
It only took Hilter 53 days to dismantle democracy in Germany.
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I have zero respect for every person who voted for Trump.
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I’m very big on kdramas. Some are a bit cheesy and many are really just romcoms, but there are some really well written and acted dramas. Aside from the stories, it is interesting to see modern Korean life and customs. We have watched dozens, probably more than 100, but to start I suggest:
Crash Landing on You
and
Itaewon Class
Of course you have to read captions if you don’t know Korean. I didn’t think I could ever get used to captions when we first started watching, but it didn’t take long at all. I much, much prefer captions over dubbing.
For my taste, the production music and soundtracks tend to be very good, even if you don’t speak the language. Many of the songs — in particular the choruses — are in English.
There are some good Japanese and even Chinese shows as well, but of course you have to be aware of the often subtle propaganda in the Chinese shows. We actually started with Taiwanese shows (mostly light-hearted or comical romcoms), but the quality of these falls well short of the Korean.
Anyway, just thoughts.
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Hi, and thanks for the tips.
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