Happy Friday, and thanks for tuning in!
Like a lot of people, my parents have spent many evenings in the past year watching TV. There are plenty of series we’ve loved watching together, but both of my parents have generally very different TV tastes than I do. My dad loves reality shows, especially if they’re home- or car-related (you’ll find him watching Property Brothers more than anything else at the moment). My mom’s tastes are more defined by what she doesn’t like; she hates anything with “too much fighting,” “too much talking,” or that might give her nightmares.
To this point, most of my newsletters have been packed with my own recommendations, but this week, I figured I’d give some recommendations from people who have a different perspective than I do. And while some of their recommendations are shows I love as much as they do, I can’t personally vouch for everything on this list, though they all come with the high recommendations of a couple people I love very much.
Feel free to share this newsletter with your own parents, or anyone else you love watching TV with!
Recommendations from my mom
Cobra Kai
Image credit: Netflix
Mom says: “It’s just fun and lighthearted. It’s not one that’s scary or that you have to be that invested in.”
I’ve written about Cobra Kai before, but it’s one of those rare gems that most of my family has a shared love of. It’s a generational bridge of a show; my parents remember when the original Karate Kid hit theaters, and they’ve grown up just as Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny (William Zabka) have. Now, as adults, it’s fun for them to see the former karate students become mentors and parents themselves, just as my parents have grown into new roles.
Meanwhile, a talented group of teen characters breathes fresh life into a decades-old franchise, with a fast-paced plot and plenty of nostalgic references throughout.
All three seasons of Cobra Kai are streaming on Netflix.
The Musketeers
Image credit: BBC
Mom says: “They did a good job filming it. It just makes you feel like you’re there.”
This is another recommendation I can get behind. This swashbuckling show follows the adventures of the three most famous Musketeers and their earnest young protégé as they fight for all that is good in olden-times Paris.
My mom’s call-out is spot-on; the set design, costuming, and filming style all help create a believable, absorbing world that allows for exciting, fast-moving storylines to unfold. In addition, all the characters feel realistic and nuanced, making it easy to invest in their adventures.
All three seasons of The Musketeers are streaming on Hulu.
Freaks and Geeks
Image credit: NBC
Mom says: “It’s just funny. And for old people, it’s relatable because that’s their years. For me, I can relate to those people, and they do a really good job. All the characters are unique and easy to get to know.”
My mom really hit it out of the park with these recommendations. This short-lived series featured a stellar cast of young actors, many of whom went on to become major stars. As the title suggests, the teens at the heart of Freaks and Geeks aren’t exactly the popular kids, but well-meaning stoners and sweet nerds make for a sometimes uncomfortably realistic depiction of life in high school. Add in some end-of-the-‘70s nostalgia and you’ll see why this series has become a cult hit in the decades since it was pulled from the air.
Freaks and Geeks is streaming on Hulu.
Recommendations from my dad
Madam Secretary
Image credit: CBS
Dad says: “For me, it’s intriguing because there are several characters with their own storylines that are all interconnected.”
I haven’t actually watched this show, so I can’t comment much on it, but my dad likes it very much. With Téa Leoni as the titular Madam Secretary, this political drama covers the strategizing of Elizabeth McCord, the series’ ambitious, level-headed Secretary of State, along with her capable team of staffers.
All six seasons of Madam Secretary are streaming on Netflix and Paramount+.
Reign
Image credit: the CW
Dad says: “I liked how they upgraded the costumes from prom dresses.”
I haven’t seen much of this show, and what I have seen didn’t really inspire me to stick with it. But my dad loves it, and that’s worth something. This highly dramatized version of the courtly life of Mary, Queen of Scots is, I’m told, a fun, easy-to-watch series. My dad also notes that while the costumes in the early episodes look like prom dresses, they improve dramatically by the end, which is worth something too.
All four seasons of Reign are streaming on Netflix.
The Great British Baking Show
Image credit: Channel 4
Dad says: “It makes me want to be a contestant. I’d be horrible at it, but some of the people who are on there do give me confidence that I could at least be on for a couple episodes.”
Finally, my dad picks one I can add my recommendation to. Like pretty much everyone, I’ve seen quite a bit of this lighthearted baking show, and its sweetness goes far beyond its contestants’ lovingly baked confections. It’s a comforting watch, and one of the few competition shows where it feels like the contestants are rooting for each other nearly as much as they’re rooting for themselves.
Eight seasons of The Great British Baking Show are streaming on Netflix.
Bonus Features
The past year has changed all of us. It’s changed TV too.
One of the biggest TV events of the week was Oprah’s interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. If you missed it, there are a few ways you can watch it now.
Speaking of that interview, Piers Morgan quit his Good Morning Britain gig this week, apparently due at least in part to comments he made about Markle.
That’s all for this week! Thanks again for tuning in.