CULTURE DIGEST 11: Binge Watching and Maybe Touching Grass
Monthly recommendations from the team behind the TV Foundation and Edinburgh TV Festival.
After an unseasonably sunny April in London, we can’t blame you if you’ve been slacking on your screen time. We, however, have been nestled up in our cocoons just waiting for the day someone, anyone, asks us what we’ve been watching. Here we are world, listen to us as we scream into the void:
TV
📺 High Potential (Disney+) – What started as a lighthearted take on the procedural genre ended with suprising tension and anticipation for the next season.
📺 The Last of Us S2 (Sky, NOW)– We won’t blame you if you abandon this series after the second episode (iykyk), but sticking with it is sure to bring us even more gut punches and tears.
📺 The Stolen Girl (Disney+) – Was this watched in one sitting during a complete bed rot session? Yes. Could we tell you any plot details? No. Take that as you wish.
📺 Last One Laughing UK (Prime Video) – The shocking 29th(!) installment of the LOL franchise employs UK comedians to make each other chuckle. It’s easy watching, and delightful to see the antics of some of the country’s funniest when they’ve got nothing but each other to distract them.
📺 Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple TV+) – This dark comedy is still ramping up to the end of its first series (and already has a renewal ordered!), but what we’ve seen so far has been smart, edgy and entertaining. Also, Jon Hamm.
📺 Andor (Disney+) – Star Wars keeps pumping out content and we will eat it up every single time.
On the analysis side, anyone remember The Good Life? Take a look at this deep dive –maybe it wasn’t that ‘good’ after all?
FILM
🎬 Sinners – If you haven’t fallen for the hype yet, let this be our urging to GO SEE SINNERS. Does getting buzzed into our office building count as asking for permission to enter? If so, we may need to relocate.
🎬 Pride & Prejudice – 20 years on, Kiera Knightley and *that* hand flex are still making us swoon. If you didn’t catch one of the in-cinema anniversary screenings, might we recommend a viewing party with your closest Janeites?
🎬 Wonka – We can’t help it, a movie that sees Timmy T return to his delightful theatre kid routes just soothes the soul.
🎬 Flintoff – This new look at Freddie Flintoff’s life-altering crash in December 2022 is unflinching, but somehow still finds a way to warm our hearts.
PODCASTS
🎙️ The Big Picture – There’s no shortage of podcasts (or Substacks, ahem) telling you what to watch these days, but The Big Picture nails the brief, bringing you the best of the best for guests and deep dives into cult faves and soon-to-be-classics.
🎙️ How Do You Cope? – This old show is still finding new listeners through its tender takes on love, grief and life’s softer moments.
🎙️ Alex Andreou’s Podyssey – We’re all suckers for Greek mythology these days, right? Alex Andreou’s Podyssey scratches the itch and delivers a fresh take on old tales and discusses the themes we’ve loved exploring for millennia.
🎙️ Aftermath: Hunt for the Anthrax Killer – A new podcast diving into the somehow mostly forgotten frenzy of America’s anthrax killer in the wake of September 2001. A quick Google search could tell you how this one ends, but the podcast’s storytelling makes us keep tuning in week after week.
🎙️ Murder They Wrote – Can you tell we’re on a true crime kick? This classic from BBC Sounds continues to delight and rivet us with each new episode.
THE OUTSIDE WORLD
🎭 Richard II at the Bridge Theatre – We can admit Jonathan Bailey was the main draw for this one but the star’s performance delivered washed away any fears of his ability to play a wider range of roles than we’ve seen on screen as of late. Now let’s get that man back in a West End musical, pronto.
🎮 Power Up at the Science Museum – This Science Museum exhibit offered a walk (or play) through memory lane for older visitors, and a treasure trove of discoveries to be made for the youngins. Just don’t make the mistake of going on a term break like we did.
🎥 New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival – From Dr. Strangelove to A Bug’s Life to Wicked, this free film festival, run by locals to New Cross and Deptford is the perfect way to spend the rest of your week.
🧙♂️ D&D Night – Friends of the fam at Tower Bridge Arms are hosting their first D&D night this Sunday. Grab your dice and your most lovably nerdy pals to hunker down for a night of bards and beer.
That’s all for now! Please excuse us while we go touch some grass 😮💨
