Hey guys,
There are many things I am loving about our time in lockdown. I have so much free time even while still working. I know most of you are furloughed so have even more free time than me so as everyone else has I thought I’d share with you my current favourites. The Tv shows, books and other things I’ve been enjoying at this time.
First up is Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes. For any of my readers even just two or three years older than me I’m sure you watched it the first time around when it aired on the BBC each week back in 2007. Both shows landed on Netflix Easter weekend and we needed something new to start. Both Mike and I remember our dads being obsessed with it as kids, I did a quick google and saw a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes so we gave it a go and boy was it worth it. I am not a big fan of the standard BBC crime dramas like Line of Duty but this has a twist which adds so much more to it. Life on Mars starts with DCI Sam Tyler in 2007 in a car crash and he wakes up in the seventies solving real crimes within a team of misogynistic, homophobic drunk detectives. Each episode has an individual crime the team solve but so much more goes on. Between Sam’s relationship with his boss Gene Hunt and Sam trying to connect with his 2007 self. As the show goes on I became obsessed with Gene Hunt, his collection of white cowboy boots deserves more appreciation. Obviously no spoilers but Ashes to Ashes is a spin-off with Alex Drake who is shot and wakes up in the 80s within the same team. Alex’s character is fascinating. Its everything I want from a show it makes you laugh has amazing music (if you couldn’t tell from both shows being named after Bowie songs), looks at where we’ve come since the seventies politically, and with some sexual tension thrown it.
Hollywood is a new Netflix mini-series that isn’t getting talked about nearly as much as I thought it would be. Its Ryan Murphy’s new show, the guy behind Glee, Pose, American Horror story and more. It’s about the golden era of Hollywood reimagined. It’s not perfect but I adored it at the same time. If you love old glamourous films like Gone with the Wind or Roman Holiday obviously its one to watch. Aesthetically it’s like Mrs.Maisel all the interiors and outfits are insanely beautiful. Another film it reminded me of is La La Land for how it glamourises LA. The show focuses on one production studio in Hollywood where no one could be gay or a person of colour wasn’t even allowed in the room. A number of the characters are closely based on real people – its arguable how accurate the portrayals are but my favourites to see were Vivien Leigh and Hattie Mcdaniel from Gone with the wind. My favourite relationship in the whole show is between Hattie Mcdaniel who was the first black person to win an Oscar but she wasn’t allowed into the white-only ceremony – who builds a relationship with the main character to give her advice. I fell in love with all the characters. They are all so kick-ass and inspiring – you go on this power struggle journey with every character as they battle for their dreams in Hollywood. By the last two episodes, I was quite emotional. Without spoiling it for you it’s a bittersweet ending as it makes me think about how privileged Hollywood still is, 60+ years after the show is set.
Next up is Normal People, I am currently 6 episodes in so can’t fully review it but its worth a mention. I think the whole of the internet has already finished it, apparently its been BBC iplayers biggest show. I haven’t read the book so didn’t know much about the plot. Once my whole Twitter feed couldn’t stop singing its praises I started watching it and I am already mesmerised, it’s just beautiful and I am ready with the tissues to binge the end.
On the less cool front its a toss-up between Rhod Gilbert’s work experience and Coronation Street. Just to break it up between gritty crime dramas and crying over equality in Hollywood there are a few other shows I’ve been obsessed with during lockdown. Rhod Gilbert’s work experience has been going on for 9 years on BBC Wales but I didn’t realise no one in England knew it even exists. It is on Iplayer for all though. The stand-up comedian attempts work experience at a different job each week. Its light-hearted and really funny the perfect background TV some of my favourites are Primary School teacher and Career. I’ve watched Corrie for as long as I can remember and forced Mike to get into it but recently a domestic abuse storyline just got really interesting. As most TV they have stopped filming in lockdown and have to stagger the pre-recorded episodes but it is worrying how much I cannot wait until each episode.
Not much has changed in Lockdown I still spend 90% of my time staring at screens, watching TV. However, with all this extra time I have found a little more balance. I’ve nearly finished the first fiction book I’ve enjoyed in years and I’ve even attempted some craft.
I really struggle with reading. Last year I only read 3 books and they were all non-fiction – I first heard about Daisy Jones and the six last yeah on Megan Ellaby’s Instagram and waited patiently for the paperback to come out. The concept of a book about a female rock musician in LA during the seventies sounded perfect to me. It’s written as if interviews and research were collated about the band years later in conversation style so it’s really short and easy to read which has been perfect for someone like me trying to get back into reading. I am obsessed with Daisy Jones and can see this working so well as a film or TV show.
The final thing I wanted to mention was my first attempt at embroidery. I wanted a craft that’s small and easy to attempt. Mainly to help with my screen time. Mike has been doing loads like painting and fixing up guitars, skateboard and clay so I wanted to get creative. I ordered a little beginners kit from The Makers Arcade on Not on the high street (the exact kit here). I used to sew in college and tried cross-stitching once but I’d never done embroidery. I highly recommend. It was so relaxing once I got going, very therapeutic and the kit itself was so self-explanatory and easy to follow, even included a colouring and crossword sheet on top of the key, instructions and everything I needed.
What’s been your favourite thing getting you through lockdown boredom? Let me know what you think of any of the shows I mentioned.
Love Charlotte xxx