Worth Watching: TV Shows to Take Your Mind off Things

It's your Worth Watching briefing.

Hello,

Yep, it’s been a week.

I find television is a real tonic in times like these.

That is if (of course) you avoid the news channels, and put down your phone down.

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If you’re looking for a distraction, Junior Taskmaster starts this evening on Channel 4 at 8pm. It consists of 25 kids being set surreal and absurd challenges, under the watchful eye of comedians Rose Matafeo and Mike Wozniak.

If you haven’t watched Rivals on Disney+ yet, now is a great time to get stuck in. The eight part adaptation of the Dame Jilly Cooper books is hugely entertaining. I also got absorbed by the subplot about whether the television franchise at the heart of the drama is able to get their broadcasting licence renewed. Yep, I know.

If you are in the mood for fun forgettable nonsense, there’s In Vogue: The 90s. It is a pointless yet thoroughly watchable Disney+ documentary series into fashion houses in the 90s (Anna Wintour wears her trademark sunglasses in every scene). Another tip is The Perfect Couple on Netflix, starring Nicole Kidman and Eve Hewson. It is essentially The White Lotus, Big Little Lies and Selling Sunset in a blender.

You might think The West Wing (currently streaming on Channel 4) would be difficult to watch right now, but weirdly I find watching quite therapeutic, probably because of the positivity that radiates through every episode. Also, that it follows an administration consisting of people trying to change the world for the better.

The Diplomat on Netflix is also about politics, but the plot is far removed from the actual news right now that I doubt you’ll think that much about the real world.

There’s more recommendations below, with the full list given to paid subscribers to Worth Watching. Thank you to the nearly 4200 of you who read the email each week.

FIVE SHOWS WORTH WATCHING THIS WEEK

Until I Kill You (ITVX - all four episodes) - Anna Maxwell Martin does the performance of her career (so far) in this four part true crime drama. Based on a true story, it is about a woman called Delia Balmer who realises that she is in a relationship with a serial killer called John Sweeney (played by Shaun Evans).

You might be initially hesitant about tuning in, considering the subject matter, but the drama’s primary focus is interesting and compelling. After experiencing physical and sexual assaults from Sweeney, as well as a confession from him that he has committed a murder, the drama mostly explores the failures of the police in protecting Delia from John’s actions.

Male police officers constantly downplayed or dismissed her concerns and failed to adequately protect her, leaving the women in her life to pick up the pieces and protect her instead. There was also terrible communication between police departments investigating the case, allowing John to constantly slip through the cracks.

All of this took place in the 90s, but as the titles roll at the end of the series you’re left wondering… when it comes to protecting and supporting victims in cases of sexual and physical assault, has much really changed?

There’s also an accompaying documentary Until I Kill You: The Real Story on ITVX.

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Martha (Netflix - one episode) - A fascinating film on the rise, fall and rise again of the homemaker Martha Stewart. The first self-made female billionaire in American history (yes, really), Stewart was the original ‘influencer’ for the way she provided aspirational tips and lifestyle advice to millions of Americans. She also paved the way for others by building a successful lifestyle brand around her own image.

Yet, after establishing a considerable media empire, it nearly all came crashing down, after a stock trading scandal resulted in Martha going to prison.

It’s a fascinating story, with the documentary containing surreal moments, including one where she is cornered by a reporter about her alleged crimes during a television cooking demonstration on a morning news show, leading Martha to flatly respond with “I want to focus on my salad.” It is very camp.

Martha also spoke to The New York Times earlier this week about her frustrations of her depiction in the film. I recommend reading it after you’ve watched the film yourself.