5 telly shows to make Lockdown less crap
Tahar Rahim, The Serpent
Now we’re in Lockdown III: the final instalment in the worst ever trilogy, we’re going to have a bit of time on our hands (you’re not still pretending you can’t get a full day’s work done in an hour and a half, are you?) And that’s time you can use to get some quality viewing in. Here are our five highly reliable picks of telly to catch up on.
The Serpent
Perhaps the creepiest and most compelling true-crime drama we have ever seen (we were more than happy to binge on eight hours in one sitting) this story of a Bangkok-based murderer preying on hippies travelling through Asia is THE must-see of the season. Exotic locations, 70s fashions, swimwear, a Joni Mitchell track and... horror. So tense, we lost weight watching it.
Insatiable
Somewhere between John Waters and Schitt’s Creek is this story of a very camp, apparently straight lawyer who gets his kicks grooming girls for beauty pageants. When one of his clients loses an enormous amount of weight having had her jaw wired after a punch to the mouth to emerge as a beautiful young thing, strangely in love with him as the first man to take an interest, things go a little crazy. Laugh out loud nutty.
Bridgerton
Make no mistake, this is trash but of the highest order. Set in Georgian Bath and London but with fabrics straight from ASOS and make-up you might see in a Robert Palmer video, it is the story of marriageable young women entering society, a very hot Lord (you might have seen him as the gay teacher in Waterloo Road) and a whole lot of parties in locations that look more like Sinderella’s than The Pump Room. It also stars (also hot) Jake habitué and Olivier Award-winning Jonathan Bailey. Nonsense but very enjoyable nonsense.
Harlots
Nothing new here, it was on ages ago... but now you have the time. Set in a Soho of warring prostitutes, Mollies (that would be your period gay man), murderous aristocrats and lesbian dominatrixes, this is everything Bridgerton isn’t: witty, authentic, sexy and beautifully acted by the likes of Samantha Morton, Alfie Allen and Lesley Manville. Sample dialogue: ‘I feel this environment is no longer agreeable to me...’ ‘Well, f*ck off then, you old c*nt!’ Charming!
Headspace Guide to Meditation
We’re big fans of the old meditation but if you’re finding it hard to crack on, this might be just the chap. Narrated by a former Buddhist monk (don’t worry, you’d never know apart from he tells you), it comes in cute 20-minute animated instalments that end in a guided meditation. It explains the history, the benefits and the science and leaves you with a bit of a handle on how to incorporate it into your life for a happier, healthier and less stressy existence.
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