Editor's Picks: Television
We're kicking off a new summer series at Inside Beat called "Inside Beat: Editor's Picks." Every month, we'll ask our Daily Targum editors what their favorite distraction has been,including everything from TV shows to books. This month, Daily Targum editors shared which TV shows they've been binging recently.
Happy streaming!
Editor in Chief and Managing Editor -Andreana Loukidis and Michelle Fan:
Loukidis and "Avatar: The Last Airbender":
Loukidis shared her thoughts on a TV show that's been getting a lot of attention on Twitter recently: "Avatar: The Last Airbender." The recently added edition to Netflix's collection of cartoons has a fanbase that's only growing. The show follows Katara and Sokka, siblings who accidentally wake up Aang, who's the only person who can save the world from the destruction of the Fire Nation.
"Besides being an incredible show with rounded characters and magical settings, 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is also very nostalgic for me. I remember watching the show as a kid and believing in the fantasy of it. It's nice to be able to return to that mindset with all the chaos that's currently going on in the world," Loukidis said.
Fan and "The Untamed":
"The Untamed" is a 2019 Chinese TV series based on the novel "Mo Dao Zu Shi" by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. The show follows two cultivators who follow a series of murders and end up finding the responsible culprit.
Fan said, "Everybody should go watch "The Untamed"! It's a mysterious, fantastical story about two cultivators - basically exorcists - and how they fall in love. The best part is that it's one of the most recent Chinese LGBTQ-focused series. All 50 episodes are on Netflix with subtitles!"
News Desk -Hayley Slusser and Maddie McGay
Slusser and "Hunter × Hunter":
"Hunter x Hunter" is a Japanese manga series written and animated by Yoshihiro Togashi. The first episode premiered in 2011 and the last one in 2014.
"I find it somewhat relieving to immerse myself in a fictional world where COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) isn't a thing, plus Killua and Gon's friendship is incredibly wholesome," Slusser said.
McGay and "The Trials of Gabriel Fernández":
"The Trials of Gabriel Fernández" is a true crime documentary about the murder and abuse of Gabriel Fernández, and it prompts a discussion about vulnerable children. The documentary mini-series on Netflix scored an 80 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
"If you're into true crime shows and mysteries, the story behind this docuseries is so interesting. It really puts into perspective how many flaws we have in some of our country's systems," McGay said.
Copy Desk -Eu-Jin Pak and Tiffany Park
Pak and "Terrace House: Tokyo 2019-2020":
The Japanese reality TV series follows three men and women temporarily living together in a house in Tokyo. The show follows the six people as they undergo romantic relationships with one another. The show premiered in May 2019 in Japan as a Netflix Original.
"I love the balance between the drama within the housemates and the light-hearted commentary from the panels which helps divert the seriousness and analyze the actions of each person. It's fun rooting for the people I like and seeing how each person reacts to jealousy," Pak said.
Park and "Orphan Black":
"Orphan Black" is a Canadian science fiction thriller that premiered in March 2013 on BBC America. The series follows Sarah Manning who assumes the identity of one of her clones, Elizabeth Childs. The show explores many themes about the ethics of identity and has fans across the world under the hasthag #CloneClub.
Park said, "It's a cool weird sci-fi show with amazing performances - the main actress plays like eight different people - and had a plot that always kept me guessing what would happen next!"
Sports Desk -Josh Valdez and Ray Lewis
Valdez and "Ozark":
Valdez's pick has been topping Netflix U.S. charts all throughout quarantine. "Ozark" is an American crime drama with three seasons that follows a family and a money laundering scheme gone wrong. The first season of the show was released in July 2017 and the latest season was released in March 2020.
"'Ozark' is so suspenseful and it's a good world to escape into during quarantine," Valdez said.
Lewis and "Queer Eye":
"Queer Eye" is a reboot of a series with the same name. This American series features a new Fab Five with vibrant personalities and social media followings: Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk and Jonathan Van Ness. The team basically selects a person who has been nominated for a makeover and they help with food and wine, fashion, home improvement, culture, inspiration and grooming.
"I'm watching 'Queer Eye' because I love how the group gives people confidence and shows them how to enhance their lives," Lewis said.
Photo Desk -Salma HQ and Kelly Carmack
HQ and "The Magicians":
HQ chose Syfy's "The Magicians" based on the novel by Lev Grossman. The show follows Quentin Coldwater as he enrolls at a university to be taught magic. "(It) is a fantastic binge watch, an all-consuming experience with just enough light to distract from the global pandemic," according to The Atlantic.
HQ said, "Though it's a little too meta at times, this show is a millennial twist on classic fantasy motifs, such as that of 'Harry Potter,' 'The Chronicles of Narnia' and 'The Spiderwick Chronicles,' building worlds that give you the same escapist comfort of childhood. The diverse cast of complex characters infuse these supernatural elements with sincere real-world struggles such as addiction, depression and familial dysfunction elevating it for the raunchy stressed-out brain of a younger adult."
Carmack and "Black Mirror":
"Black Mirror" is a British dystopian science fiction show that looks at modern society and makes a commentary about technological advancements.
Carmack says the show "tackles and plays out possible technological advances that could potentially come to be in the very near future, and makes you think critically about the way these possible advances can do more harm than good in society."
Opinions and Inside Beat -Jake McGowan and Ameena Qobrtay
McGowan and "BoJack Horseman":
"BoJack Horseman" is an American adult animated series about a horse coping with existence after becoming famous due to a '90s sitcom. The show explores many questions about morality, ethics and makes a commentary about the state of affairs between colorful characters and witty banter.
McGowan said, "I'm a big fan of how BoJack Horseman tackles mental health problems, and it differs from many other critiques on psychology by analyzing issues in their full complexity, rather than simplifying issues and turning characters that suffer from mental illness into caricatures. On a more superficial level, I enjoy how the show balances its dramatic elements with comedy - much like how real life is often a mixture of the despairing and the absurd. The show never gets bogged down by over-dramatization."
Qobrtay and "Waco":
"Waco" is based on true events and follows what happens when a religious compound faces off with federal authorities. The show details events in 1993, when religious leader David Koresh and his followers stood off with the ATF and FBI in Waco, Texas.
"I'm just really into actual history being turned into shows," Qobrtay said. "It's so easy to binge, and it's also really hard to decide who's 'right' or 'wrong.' You'll be shook the whole time watching it."
Video Desk -Tarana Parekh and Eli Horowitz
Parekh and "Money Heist":
Parekh's pick is a Spanish crime drama about a group of eight people who plot to break into the Royal Mint of Spain to print billions of dollars. Part four of the show was recently released in April 2020 with many quarantine views.
Parekh said, "I picked this show because it's action packed with episodes that leave you on the edge of your seat with incredible acting and cinematography."
Horowitz and "The Office":
Almost all college students are familiar with "The Office"! "The Office" U.S. version is an American mockumentary sitcom that follows the everyday lives of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The show is often applauded for making an interesting series out of mundane life.
"I'm currently watching episodes of 'The Office' for the 300th time because, in a time like this, a little humor (and Michael Scott) goes a long way."
