The new year has barely begun but I already have a strong collection of favourites to share with you! At this point in the pandemic, I feel like I have become a master at seeking out things to keep me occupied at home. Without something to look forward to throughout the day and in the evenings, I quickly feel my motivation and lust for life in general dropping. We all need little pick me ups (now more than ever), so hopefully a few of the below recommendations will be just the thing you’ve been craving…

SOME GREAT TV TO KEEP YOU COMPANY

I feel like the new year has spoilt us in terms of new series…

I started off binge watching the new Netflix series Bridgerton which was exactly the kind of show I wanted to sit down and finish my Christmas chocolate with! It’s like a Pride and Prejudice meets Gossip Girl explosion that creates something very unique and hard to shake off. Similar to Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette – I love anything that combines eras of the past with more current elements. It’s a juxtaposition that works really well for a new (more evolved) kind of audience. Bridgerton’s contrast of Regency era outfits mixed with classical renditions of Ariana Grande is a combination I didn’t know my soul needed…

I’ve also been really into The Great which aired on Channel 4 a couple of weeks ago and is currently three episodes deep as I type this blog post. It’s a very similar sort of aesthetic to Bridgerton but with a much darker, satirical tone. I read that one of the writers from The Favourite worked on this so if you liked that then chances are you’ll love this too. It stars Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult and is essentially a comedic retelling of Catherine The Great who was the empress of Russia in the 1700’s. Catherine was the longest women ruler of Russia and brought such things as female education, art, science, and even an inoculation (vaccination) for small pox (my kind of woman). It couldn’t be more up my street and I feel as though a show that features a strong female lead is exactly the type of show we should all be tuning into right now. 

From period drama to serial killers (my kind of TV menu exactly) – The Serpent is a new BBC One Drama that is well worth your attention. It explores the story of Charles Sobhraj who killed many young travellers that he groomed along the Asian ‘Hippie Trail’ in 1975 and 1976. I found it slow starting but the aesthetic completely sucked me in and felt worlds away from my Manchester abode which was exactly the kind of escapism I was looking for. The styling is incredible (as is the acting) but this isn’t a glossy serial killer story – this is a brutal show and some scenes are difficult to watch at times. It’s shocking to see the character of Sobhraj play out on screen and to learn just how vicious and manipulative he really was. Definitely one of those shows that will leave you down a Google rabbit hole for hours afterwards…

You’d think that might be enough screen time for one person but this is lockdown after all? 

Pretend It’s a City on Netflix is such a cosy watch if you’re a fan of Frances Lebowitz (or just love New York). Lebowitz is just the coolest and I love listening to her commentary on NYC life whilst it’s raining outside – I’m itching to get back to this magical place!

I’ve also been really into ‘Inside the Worlds Toughest Prisons’ and have somehow managed to watch around four series as I type this blog post (I promise I do actually get some work done alongside all this TV time).  Anyway, I find it absolutely fascinating in terms of how vastly different prison systems around the world are. From prisons run by the Numbers Gang in South Africa to much more progressive/positively hotel like prisons situated in Denmark – this show covers all bases and really makes you think about how we view prison and punishment in general. It’s hard hitting and upsetting to watch at times but so educational and really pulls you out of your own little bubble and makes you think. The presenter (journalist Raphael Rowe) also served a twelve year sentence for crimes he was wrongly convicted of before having his name cleared and being released. I feel like that gives the show an extra edge because this is someone who’s truly been through it and knows first hand how it feels to have their freedom taken away…

Last but not least, Night Stalker is new on Netflix and well worth a watch if you’re interested in true crime stuff! It’s a docuseries that focuses on the hunt for serial killer Richard Ramirez who committed a series of violent murders in the summer of 1984. It’s creepy and definitely not for the faint hearted but another compelling story and one that I can’t believe I haven’t heard about until now!

NOTEWORTHY PODCASTS, BOOKS & EVERYTHING ELSE…

I’ve been trying to get into the habit of reading for half an hour before bed and so far it’s a success and I’m sleeping much better for it! I’ve been reading Susan Sontag’s Reborn: Early Diaries and it’s been the perfect light reading that I can pick up and put down for a few days without it ruining the flow of the reading experience. I love Susan Sontag’s mind in general and it’s amazing to be able to read her early journals/notebooks and get an insight into the experiences that shaped her as a woman. It’s very fragmented and doesn’t read perfectly (it can be random/a bit all over the place) but this is exactly as journals should be. If you’re a fan of her other work or just interested in her as an intellectual then this is well worth picking up…

I’ve also been listening to Audible a lot whilst I’ve been working/on my daily walks. Although I prefer to read a book, I do think that some books are best listened to and Audible is a great way to to get through some of those texts that are maybe easier to absorb via your ears. Books I’m currently working my way through/waiting on my wish list include: Ramble Book by Adama Buxton, Natives by Akala, When Things Fall Apart b Pema Chodron & The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk. 

Other treats for the ears include the This is Actually Happening podcast (extraordinary true stories with life changing consequences) and Matt Berninger’s ‘Social Distancing Distortion’ playlist over on Spotify – I love The National and this podcast definitely doesn’t disappoint and has a real mix of greats (both old & new) which has been keeping me company on rainy afternoons whilst working from home…

Photographs taken on film 

Jumper c/o – And Other Stories, Shirt – Burberry, Bag – vintage Celine via Vestiaire Collective

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