So, what are you watching?
I often write about good books but in the cold season good viewing consumes my time, too. Because there are so many “television shows” (a term to describe the many screen options we now have) it can feel like there’s everything — and absolutely nothing — to watch.
The masterful blend of a good script and great acting is a rare gem. I’m happy to share some of my latest favorites.
* Note that streaming platforms change frequently, check for availability.
Chicken People
A funny and uplifting look at the world of show chickens and the people who love them. Both humorous and heartfelt, at first glance Chicken People feels like a mockumentary (Best in Show is my all-time favorite of the genre) but this documentary is all real. It’s a quirky charmer.
Available to rent on Amazon Prime
Other People
This 2016 “dramedy” stars Jesse Plemons and Molly Shannon in a story about a son who returns home to care for his dying mother. Yes, the premise is tired but the insight and performances are fresh and endearing. For anyone who has cared for a loved one (and by now who hasn’t?), this movie is heartbreaking, funny, tender, and true.
Available on Netflix
All the Wild Horses
A riveting documentary about the Mongol Derby, the longest and toughest horse race in the world. The course traverses more than 600 miles of remote Mongolian steppe, desert, and mountain ranges.
I discovered this adventure movie while writing a story about two Oregon women who competed in 2022.
On the same theme, Rough Magic: Riding the World’s Loneliest Horse Race is one of my favorite books.
Yes, I have a lotta love for this topic — and I don’t even like animals! (Don’t send me hate mail; I’m allergic to everything and can appreciate animals from a distance).
Available to rent on Amazon Prime
All Creatures Great & Small
The latest adaptation of the book series by James Herriot about an earnest young veterinarian in the 1930s is now playing on PBS. I like a bit of grit and initially the show seemed too wholesome to keep my interest. But this tale of life in the beautiful English countryside is, well, soothing and delightful. Now in Season 3, and I can’t wait for each episode.
Available on your local PBS station, or with a Masterpiece subscription available through Amazon Prime.
All praises for David Simon, the best writer of television tales. I recently revisited my two favorites: The Wire, about the drug trade and its reverberations in every aspect of urban life; and Treme, exploring the emotional, physical, financial, and cultural aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
I never tire of these gems. Stellar writing, combined with excellent acting, make these shows shine. Twenty years after they first appeared, these hold up with unmatched depth and relevance.
The Deuce is one of the newer David Simon treasures. The 2017 series takes place in 1970s and 80s New York when porn and prostition ran rampant. Yes, the subject is gritty but the nuanced storyline and complex characters (James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal!) make this a must-see.
The thing about these shows is I never really want to watch them — at first. The topics are dense, heavy, uncomfortable. But the writing, acting, and camera work is so tight that after the first or second episode I am hooked — every time.
Available to rent on Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Hulu.
Your turn: What has you hooked? Tell me what you’re watching.