WELCOME TO HELL!!!! aka the year 2020

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WHAT UP NERDS!

So it’s been almost two full years since my last update. I make no apologies, I make no excuses. I got busy at work, then I got busy in life, then I got pregnant, had a baby, and then went back to work (in that order). DEAL WITH IT.

But now, not even three months into the year, everyone is (or should be) holed up inside trying to flatten the curve on this here COVID-19 pandemic we got on our hands. Speaking of hands, WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS PEOPLE. So with everyone stuck inside with nothing to do, but reconnect with ourselves and our loved ones, I’m sure everyone’s looking for recommendations on what to be binge watching. Cue EMDB’s triumphant return!

I’m not going to make any promises about posting regularly because even though I’ll be WFH for the next month at least, there’s still lots of other things to keep me occupied and distracted. You get what you get, and you don’t get upset.

Stay tuned for a list of everything I’ve watched in the two years since I’ve last posted, but that’ll take some time and motivation so here’s something to tide you over in the meantime. To ease back into this, and to get everyone started with their COVID binge watching, here’s a quick list of my recommendations based on what you’re feeling like:

I WANNA ESCAPE THIS CURRENT NIGHTMARE (not too dark or violent, just some good TV)

  • SCHITT’S CREEK - NETFLIX (final season airing on Pop TV): A+ jokes, A+ character development. Created by father and son Eugene and Dan Levy and starring them plus Annie Murphy and Catherine O’Hara as a richer than God family who loses it all but finds themselves in the process. Did I mention Catherine O’Hara is in it? Go watch it already

  • THE GOOD PLACE - ABC (seasons 1-3 on Netflix): This show is so smart, so funny, so well written and acted. Will make you think about what is life and what is morality (but in a funny way!)

  • FLEABAG - AMAZON PRIME: Again some really smart television. Watch this and fall in love with Phoebe Waller-Bridge and then watch her other work (Crashing, Killing Eve)

  • I’M SORRY - NETFLIX (airing on TruTV): A mom with the mouth of a sailor. Hm, wonder why I like this show.

  • LOVE IS BLIND - NETFLIX: I made an exception to my reality dating show rule and watched this and man, was not disappointed. It is SO weird, especially the first episode, but stick with it and you’ll easily forget about the craziness happening in your own lives right now (even if Jessica’s vocal fry and baby voice make you want to smash the TV and maybe your brain)

  • NEXT IN FASHION - NETFLIX: Fashion competition show on Netflix that’s like Project Runway but the challenges are more realistic and the challenges are more grounded in actual fashion than gimmick

  • UGLY DELICIOUS (season 2) - NETFLIX: The entire first episode focuses on David Chang preparing to become a father as he discusses with his chef friends how they manage to have families and restaurants. Since I’ve got a little bb now, this episode definitely tugged at my heartstrings. Then the second episode starts out with Padma Lakshmi and again set my heart aflutter. Oh Padma, you my #1 gurl.

  • MAKING IT - NBC: I know i’m recommending a lot of reality TV which isn’t really my norm, but there’s a lot of great competition shows and documentaries these days. If I had to think of a competition show I would actually want to participate on, this would be it. Amy Pohler and Nick Offerman host this very sweet, calming, and inspiring crafting competition series that’s basically the arts n craft version of Great British Bake Off except the winner gets actual prize money and just not a cool cake plate

  • BLOWN AWAY - NETFLIX: Ok this is yet another reality competition series, but about GLASS BLOWING!! The contestants are some of the most pompous “artists” I’ve ever heard, the drama is wayyyy overplayed, like comically so, and the editing at the end of every episode is so abrupt you’ll think Netflix autostarted the next episode prematurely. But I love it and you will too

  • GRACE AND FRANKIE - NETFLIX: Two old gals making their way in this world

  • BROAD CITY - COMEDY CENTRAL(? I have difficulty finding this for streaming aside from Hulu): Two young gals making their way in this world

  • SEX EDUCATION - NETFLIX: Brilliant performances by a ton of previously unknown young actors. It’s set in a gorgeous English village. Gillian Anderson is in it and looks fantastic. It can be pretty sad in some parts, but such is life

I WANNA SCARE THE SHIT OUTTA MYSELF (these aren’t scary like horror type scary, but they could make you sad or worried, which in itself is kinda scary right now)

  • COUNTERPART - STARZ: parallel universes, one of which experienced a major flu epidemic (told ya, scary. BUT SO GOOD)

  • WATCHMEN - HBO: Some of the most perfect television ever made. More white supremacists though, just can’t get away from those guys

  • THE BOYS - AMAZON PRIME: I put this one right after Watchmen because it’s kind of like that. Think about the actual business of being a superhero and that they can be narcissistic, power hungry, assholes just like anyone else.

  • WESTWORLD - HBO: I mean, how could you not watch Westworld. Sexy Robots

  • BETTER CALL SAUL - AMC (seasons 1-4 on Netflix): Can get pretty dark at times, but not like Breaking Bad levels of dark.

  • KILLING EVE - BBC AMERICA (and HULU): The description from BBC America basically covers it “Two women — equally obsessed with each other — go head to head in an epic game of cat and mouse.” Written by the aforementioned Phoebe Waller-Bridge, just brilliant and suspenseful and dark and funny.

  • KIDDING - SHOWTIME: Jim Carrey really blew me away with his performance in this series. He plays a Mr. Rogers type TV show host whose life unravels as he deals with grief and rage. Plus Catherine Keener is in it too

  • JACK RYAN - AMAZON PRIME: Jim Halpert fights terrorists, basically. But in all seriousness the show is really good and John Krasinski is excellent in it.

  • HUNTERS - AMAZON PRIME: Nazi hunters in the 70s

  • MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE - AMAZON PRIME: Parallel universes AND Nazis!