Tag: Good8

While watching a show week-to-week or year-to-year can make you love a show more, the wait can be agonizing. We’ve all been there; you fall in love with a show but must wait until new episodes are released. The wait can be hard, especially if you’re waiting several years for that new season.

It’s common for some viewers to wait until a show has finished before bingeing it all at once. If that’s you, then I have a handful of recently finished shows ready for you to watch from beginning to end. So, if you’ve got a weekend free on the couch, these are the recently finished shows to catch up on.

9

The Conners

As a sequel/spin-off to Roseanne, The Conners continues the working-class comedy and drama of the Conner family. Despite Roseanne’s death in the show, the household is still packed with too many family members and not enough money to go around. The sitcom still centered around the dramatic and relatable aspects of life amid the pandemic, touching on small businesses, single parenting, and alcoholism.

The Conners continued for so long because it embraced what made Roseanne a standout domestic sitcom. It was honest about the world and wasn’t afraid to address the economic and political issues that face working-class families. With familiar characters staying true to this formula, reprised by the talents of John Goodman and Laurie Metcalf, The Conners was more grounded amid family sitcoms that seemed more fantastical with their artificial heart.

8

Jellystone!

For long-time cartoon fans, Jellystone is a goofy romp of Saturday morning favorites. Various Hanna-Barbera characters assume different jobs, making their town of Jellystone one of boundless fun. This includes Yogi Bear as a doctor, Huckleberry Hound as the mayor, and Quick Draw McGraw as a teacher. Of course, none of them are experts in their professions, leading to many hilarious situations.

Watching Jellystone evoked nostalgic moments from the Cartoon Network bumpers, when all the cartoon characters interacted with each other. There are plenty of cameos in the show, but the best might be that of Space Ghost and Brak, reprised by voice actors George Lowe and Andy Merril from Space Ghost Coast to Coast. It’s a fun cartoon romp for everybody in the family, especially for the wealth of cartoons covered in the crossover event, Crisis on Infinite Mirths.

7

Big Mouth

Few comedies are more awkward and uncomfortable than Big Mouth, an adult animated comedy about puberty. Nick (Nick Kroll) and Jessi (Jessi Klein) are two adolescents struggling to come to terms with their developing bodies. Their feelings manifest as invisible monsters, with Maurice the Hormone Monster (also Kroll) encouraging Nick and Connie the Hormone Monstress (Maya Rudolph) assigned to Jessi.

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Big Mouth may be one of the edgiest adult cartoons for its willingness to probe into the absurdity of the human body and sex, embracing all the weird and gross stuff that comes with those elements. The only aspect more strange than the premise is the eclectic voice cast assembled, including the voices of Jordan Peele, Kristen Wiig, Peter Capaldi, and Jeff Goldblum, playing everything from sexual organs to pillows. For its bluntness and silliness, Big Mouth lasted for several seasons, garnered many award nominations, and received a spin-off series with Human Resources.

6

Cobra Kai

The legend of The Karate Kid continues in Cobra Kai, following the villain Johnny Lawrence. After slipping into a depression due to his loser status, Johnny aims to redeem himself by tending to the Cobra Kai dojo. While his work at the dojo inspires a new generation of young people to defend themselves, an old rivalry returns when Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) enters the equation with his Miyagi dojo.

While Cobra Kai will immediately be a draw for all the Gen-Xers who grew up with The Karate Kid movies, it has a strong enough story of redemption, legacy, and bravery that any young person can relate to. The arc of Johnny taking an interest in the teenager Miguel and standing up for himself is enduring, packed with inspirational moments. The earnest nature of leaning into the corny and compelling aspects of the franchise made this series such a treat and well worth a weekend binge.

5

The Handmaid’s Tale

Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale was brought to life with dark and poignant accuracy in the hit Hulu show. In the future, America has been transformed into a theocracy of Gilead, where women have lost their rights. June (Elisabeth Moss) is forced into servitude as a handmaid, where she must bear the children for the elite. But she’s had enough of this world and aims to rebel against the religious oppressors who stole her freedom and kidnapped her daughter.

The Handmaid’s Tale is not easy to watch, considering how viciously accurate it is in describing our current political landscape. That said, it does carry a fury in its heart for revolution, and Moss’s performance is stellar as a weary and revenge-oriented woman. There are also some genuine moments of hope and satisfaction, especially for the ending, which more or less delivers on Gilead crumbling. It is one of the more inspiring TV shows if you’re big on stories about rebellion.

4

What We Do in the Shadows

Based on the film of the same title, What We Do in the Shadows continued the mockumentary format of a quirky house of vampires. A camera crew documents the many absurd exploits of the subjects, including the slow-witted blood vampire Nandor and the energy-draining vampire Colin, while their familiar, Guillermo, attends to their needs. While Guillermo hopes his work will reward him with vampire status, he soon learns how unlikely that’ll be for the dark discoveries he unearths.

There are too many hilarious moments in What We Do in the Shadows to count. Highlights of the show include Nadia’s complicated on/off romance with a ghost and the British Lazlo’s absurd Arizona persona of Jackie Daytona. With plenty of horror elements thrown into the mix, including a hilarious tribute to past movie vampires, I couldn’t stop laughing at this darkly comedic take on vampires, biting enough to warrant several seasons and Emmy nominations.

3

Andor

Among the myriad Star Wars TV shows, Andor is the clear winner for being divergent on the surface but spiritually faithful to the original trilogy. Set before the events of Rogue One, the series explores how Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) went from being a low-level punk to a high-level rebel. With the Empire’s vicious grip tightening, tensions flare as he decides to join up with the resistance against an increasingly fascist government.

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Steering away from Lightsabers and Jedi, Andor depicts a grittier version of Star Wars while remaining closer to George Lucas’s real-world inspirations. The plot is intricate with its politics, and the characters within the Empire and Rebellion are richly complex. The two seasons present a more complete picture of the Star Wars universe and a surprisingly mature and nuanced take on war and oppression, emboldening the need for revolution.

2

The Righteous Gemstones

Religious satire doesn’t get more grand than The Righteous Gemstones. Created by and starring Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down), the series centers around the wealthy Gemstone family and their Christian business ventures. But their lives are a mess with the lingering trauma of the patriarchal Eli (John Goodman) and the moral decay of his spoiled children (McBride, Adam DeVine, and Edi Patterson).

The Righteous Gemstones doesn’t skimp on the gaudy and gross-out satire, showcasing obscene opulence and even more obscene vulgarities. The whole cast is hilarious, but the standout is Walton Goggins in the unforgettable role of Uncle Baby Billy, the egotistical singing talent. There’s great mockery of the rich and religious, but also enough thought placed on the characters to care a little more about their plight than laugh at their pathos.

1

Squid Game

As the most popular Netflix show in the past four years, Squid Game viciously attacks the ills of late-stage capitalism. A mysterious organization gives those saddled with debt the chance to play schoolyard games to win a big cash prize. But the games are difficult and deadly, leading to deception and betrayals in the fight for money.

With its haunting juxtaposition of weaponizing childhood play, Squid Game was gripping television, but not in the same way as watching a reality show. The insidious nature of desperation and greed is explored as the protagonist of Seong Gi-hun struggles to not only make ends meet, but also find a way to fight back. With intense games and unease in the many characters, it’s nearly impossible to stop watching Squid Game once you start, making for the perfect weekend watch.

Now is the time to finally get caught up on all that must-watch TV everybody talks about. Whether you’re into sitcoms, cartoons, or thrillers, there will surely be at least one streaming show worth catching up on. Best of all, you won’t have to feel that familiar anxiety of waiting for more episodes or worrying about cancellation. Consider these binge-watches instead of rewatching Seinfeld for the 50th time.