I see many of my friends asking for suggestions on what to watch on the streaming services. So I’ve made a list of shows and movies I’ve watched and enjoyed. This is my list of Hulu and Amazon Prime shows and a movie. It’s a shorter list so a bit more manageable to start with. I really enjoyed each of these and I think you will too.
Comrade Detective
Comrade Detective is a Romanian detective show made in 1983 that was chock-full of Soviet propaganda against the United States. Channing Tatum has worked to translate the show and bring it to the US. It’s exactly the 80s show with the exact dialog in a voice over. Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Nick Offerman do the voices. It’s un-intentionally seeing how Americans are portayed a caricature of an 80s stereotype. I’m certain that’s how all other countries feel watching any US made movie though. Definitely something to check out if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber.
The Handmaid’s Tale
There’s been a lot of talk and buzz about The Handmaid’s Tale. Season 2 is coming up. For those who don’t already know the background of the story, it’s based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 dystopian novel. It takes place in a country referred to as Gilead – which we know is the United States. The government has been overthrown in the book we don’t really know what happened, but the series shows snippets of the past so we’ve got some idea how it happened
In this version of the future young women of childbearing age are stripped of all identity and treated as breeding stock for men. They are called the handmaids. Their names are taken from them and they are only referred using the name of the high ranking official to whom they belong. The main character, Offred belongs to the Commander who’s name is Fred (of Fred – Offred). There’s a definite class system in place, especially for women. They all stand out based on the color of the clothing they wear. The women who indoctrinate the handmaids into this new life are referred to as “Aunts” they all wear grey. Cooks and maids are referred to as “Marthas” wear green. Women in blue are the wives of commanders and other high ranking officials. Any young and unmarried girls wear white.
Without giving away too many spoilers and completely summarizing the whole first season, closely follows the book which is not very long. We learn that something has been causing the birth rate to plummet and it seems to be a global issue. Many women are infertile. This is mainly Offred’s story. I found it extremely gripping and I was angry that Hulu only released one episode per week. Season 2 starts April 25th. Elizabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Alexis Bledel, and Yvonne Strahovski star.
The Path
The Path is about a family that are members of the Meyerist Movement. In the first season Meyerism seems very similar to Scientology. The show’s creators mentioned repeatedly in interviews it was NOT about Scientology and in later seasons they’ve done more to show it isn’t. Main character Eddie Lane (Aaron Paul) has returned from a Meyerist retreat and has experienced something that has him doubting his faith. Much like Scientology Meyerists cut off any family members or friends who question the movement. The rest of the show and the series explores this family and Eddie and their lives in the movement and all the inner workings. There are now 3 seasons of this series, the latest just finished at the end of march so you can let the binge watching begin! Hugh Dancy, Michelle Monaghan, and Emma Greenwell also star in this series.
Future Man
This is a comedy about underachieving janitor, Josh Futterman (Josh Hutcherson) who loves video games and still lives with his parents. He’s fighting to finish the final battle in a video game that all his friends have given up on completing. When he finally does, two characters from the game appear in his room. From there all the wackiness ensues. I don’t want to give too much away because it was just so nutty seeing it unfold knowing nothing else about this show. Eliza Coupe, Ed Begley, Jr., and Haley Joel Osment also star in the show. One season is currently available and just this January it was renewed for a second season.
Ingrid Goes West
This is a movie, but I loved it. This is a black comedy about Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza) who is a bit unstable and lives in Pennsylvania. She’s a bit addicted to Instagram and when she discovers a “friend” hasn’t invited her to her wedding, she crashes it and pepper sprays the bride in the face. Ingrid is sent to a mental hospital and up on her release finds a new Insta-friend. She takes her inheritance from her dead mother and moves across the country to LA. Wackiness ensues.
This is an extremely well done movie about our social media culture and how you think you may know people but really… you only know what they show. Elizabeth Olsen, O’Shea Jackson, and Wyatt Russell.
