With the sun shining I’ve not really been in the mood to binge watch and with Avengers: Endgame just around the corner I’ve been re-watching Marvel films in preperation. However, there are a slew of stellar TV shows currently being broadcast and this selection of TV and films has something for every mood.

TV

Line of Duty

Crime dramas are typically a hit or miss. The problem is there’s so many of them that they tend to get a bit generic and all blend into one. Line of Duty is definitely not one them. Again, we’re playing catch up since this series became lost in the shuffle when it first aired, but the idea of focusing on corruption within the police bring a fresh perspective to this genre. It’s an intelligent series and one that explores the dynamic between various police departments and the layers of deception are so complex, you start to question everyone’s innocence. Fans of crime dramas would be foolish to pass on this show. The depth of the story keeps everyone guessing, and the characters are so well developed, it blurs the lines of what is perceived to be good and evil.

Blue Planet Live

With a spotlight being shone on humanity’s impact on our oceans and startling imagery presenting the existing damage already made, Blue Planet Live effectively explores the variety of ways humans can work to preserve and protect our oceans from further harm. This week-long program spotlights the innovative methods used to conserve those most vulnerable to climate change. This program is a celebration of our marine life and this live broadcast further emphasised the vast depths of our ocean and the duty we have in protecting it.

The Durrell’s (Season 4)

This is the kind of show that, at first glance, didn’t have anything going for it, but wins you over with its charm. The focus is on the Durrell’s, a family that has uprooted their lives in England for paradise in Corfu. It’s hilarious and so full of optimistic wonder as you feel taken in by this family and all their quirks. The dynamic between the Durrell’s is a large part of what makes this show so charming. This final season is proving to be a hit as we see the children striving to find their own place in this world, and the simmering tension between Louisa and Spiro is ready to implode. If you’re looking for a show that will put a smile on your face and make you hop on a plane to Corfu, then watch the Durrells. It’s an understated charmer.

Game of Thrones (Season 8)

The moment everyone has been waiting for. The final season of Game of Thrones is already shaping up to be a showstopper. We’re only one episode in and the power dynamics are already driving the tension to new heights. Reunions were being handed out left, right, and center in the first episode. Some were long awaited, tender reunions others a chance to clear the air, and one reunion was so unexpected it will be interesting to see the fallout of this one. Sansa has always been a favourite, and it was so refreshing to see characters acknowledge her resilience and intelligence. People have always underestimated her, but she has come into her own as a leader people can rely on. Who knows where the show will end and who survives, I’m just here for the ride.

Film

Aquaman

Aquaman gets a lot of flack, which is undeserved in my opinion. He talks to fish, which is so cool, but there is also so much more to his character. Jason Mamoa has shattered every stereotype previously associated with his character. His Aquaman is a force to be reckoned with, and as a child of the land and sea, we often see him reconcile his ties to both sides of his life, often resenting the call of the sea for how they treated his mother. The film itself is ambitious, and the exploration of these civilizations undersea is a spectacle. However, the film is not all about the flash and wonder of the sea as its villain is compelling in his own right. Yes, despite his hunger for power and extreme methods, Orm’s hatred for humanity is grounded by the damage we’ve wreaked upon the oceans. Aquaman was a breath of fresh air to the DC universe. It was bold and ambitious, witty and moving, and has definitely made people think twice before calling Aquaman as a lesser superhero.

Have you seen any of these shows/films?
What have you been watching?