Moksha World

2020 may have been the year we all watched too much television. With our options limited for entertainment outside the home, TV has been an easy option to turn to. As most productions were shut down or delayed, I found it difficult to find new shows to watch. A bit of adventurous digging rewarded with some good shows. Here are a few of my favorites to consider watching.

Historical Drama – Turkey

Resurrection Ertugrul: I read about this show on a newsletter and happened to come across it on Netflix while it was fresh in my memory. Turkish series have become very popular over the past few years, especially in Latin America. I figured I’d give it a two episode watch, just to satisfy my curiosity. Instead, I made it through all five seasons of roughly 90 episodes each! I didn’t know much about Turkish history and the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. It turns out there were a lot of conflicts with the Greeks and the Mongols. The storyline is fast-paced and full of spies, plots, betrayals, ambushes, and a lot of sword fighting. If you like a mix of action and history, this is a fun view.

Most Disappointing – India

Indian Matchmaking: I’ve been excited and intrigued by the increase in diverse genres in Indian television over the past 5-10 years. In my opinion, this series was a step backwards. The participants were presented in a very superficial way making it difficult to take any of it seriously. If you enjoy dating shows maybe this would be a fun watch. I couldn’t make it through all of the episodes because it all seemed so pointless and I wasn’t convinced they wanted to be matched at all, just be on TV. This might have been more interesting as a documentary. My advice is to stick to Sacred Games or Delhi Crime, International Emmy Award 2019 nominee and 2020 winner, or a fun Bollywood flick. No single show can sum up India, in my opinion, and I’m sure I’ll cover more series in future posts.

Royal Drama – UK

The Crown: I’ve never been particularly interested in royalty which made this series a pleasant surprise. Maybe I should have paid more attention to the British royal family because they appear to be more interesting and complex than I had imagined them to be. The portrayal of the pressures placed on the Queen and the toll it had on her marriage and family life aroused a feeling of empathy in me that I hadn’t felt for her before. Prince Charles always seemed a bit drab and guilty for the breakup of his marriage to Princess Diana. But understanding the restrictions put on him by his position has made it easier to see how different circumstances around the couple caused the split, not simply one or the other of them. I also knew very little about Prince Philip or Princess Margaret, both of whom now fascinate me. It is a drama, so accepting this version as fact isn’t recommended. However, I think it adds insight and context to incorporate into whatever your opinion of the royal family happens to be.

Crime Family Saga – Lebanon

Al Hayba: This was a case where being adventurous really paid off for me. I haven’t seen many, if any, Lebanese shows on the streaming platforms so I decided to give it my official two episode curiosity viewing. Although it doesn’t have the production budget of other popular shows, the characters were fascinating and more relatable than I expected. The crime boss with a heart isn’t a new concept for a show, but even a crime boss is an individual with his own personality and inner conflicts. Each portrayal shows a different manner it can manifest based on personality, cultural influence and experience. There is also a clash of cultures between the traditional Lebanese family and the modern Canadian daughter-in-law. The drama level is high, but not quite telenovela level. If you like family dramas and want a new take, give this series a try. There are two additional seasons that aired in Lebanon but not available on Netflix.

Political/Action Thriller – Israel

Fauda: This series is very well done. The storylines are well thought out with plenty of action, suspense, and surprises. It is a sensitive topic dealing with Israel and Palestine and I hesitated to get into it for several years. Of particular interest to me was how complex the relationships were. Even the best relationships in this series present conflicts that aren’t easily resolved, or possibly unresolvable. The consequences were devastating for a number of the characters. I wouldn’t say that this will clarify everything on this issue, but I hope it would encourage further thinking and exploration on the situation.

Spy Thriller – South Africa

Queen Sono: I was very excited when Netflix announced this first series from Africa. There are many prolific film and television industries in Africa that aren’t as represented globally as they should be. A female-centered, spy/action series in Africa is a cool concept. I could have used a bit more action, it started well but didn’t hold up over the later episodes. The exploration of Queen’s life and the events in her childhood that shaped her actions as an adult were what kept me watching. It’s uniquely South African story in the details, but it feels like something we all can relate to. Unfortunately, the second series has been canceled due to the COVID pandemic. I’m hoping Netflix can make this up to me by presenting more African series in the near future. In fact, a few have been popping up already!

Police Drama – France

Engrenages (Spiral): MHz Choice has all eight seasons of Spiral and I’ve just finished watching the final episodes. The early seasons were rather gruesome with serial killer storylines. Later seasons have focused more on “normal” crime, relationships and corruption. The main characters are what you would expect but are given room to be multi-dimensional. Their work affects their lives in different ways and the decisions they make are not always in their own interest. At times I find them fascinating, and at other times I want to yell at them. It’s a gritty portrayal more like the original Law & Order than the glossier Special Victims Unit spinoff. This is another series where I feel attached to the characters, much like I described in my post about Il Commissario Montalbano.

Biggest Surprise – United States

Flight Attendant: Not much about this show fits my profile, but I found it to be hilarious. Somehow it all works if you suspend reality and just let these characters do their thing. Most of them being flawed and a bit of a hot mess. Rosie Perez was a real treat for me. She’s understated and funnier than ever. Normally I wouldn’t have watched this, but I’m glad I did! This is an HBO Max Original and I’m happy to note that they’re adding a number of international series to the platform.

I’d love to hear if you have a favorite show from 2020 and why you liked it. We all have our own taste, but sharing our thoughts can make or break a decision to try something new!