Comments Off on Florence Given Is Going to Ruin Your Life (In the Best Way Possible)
Florence Given is a queer feminist writer and illustrator from Britain. She’s about to upend everything you thought you knew. In her new book, Women Don’t Owe You Pretty, Given tackles big topics from ‘prettiness’, male gaze, sexuality, consent, toxic relationships, and most importantly, checking your privilege.
I have wanted to read this book for a while now. And with an almost six-hour car journey from Coffs Harbour to Sydney, I decided to purchase the audio version. I did not, however, envision how scarily close to home a lot of what Given is saying would be for me. From my own struggles with ‘prettiness’, setting boundaries and privilege, this book resonated with me far more than I wish to admit.
The second chapter of the book hit me hard. Given challenges the everyday beauty rituals that women are expected to perform, from shaving, doing our makeup, doing our hair and dressing up. Nobody is forcing me to undertake these beauty rituals. No-one is holding a razor to my armpits. So why do I still feel this pressure? According to Given, this happens because we still live in a patriarchal society. This is a society which prioritises the desirability of women above everything else. Given asks us to question the ways we have internalised these standards of beauty. What parts of your beauty routine feel routinized and what parts make you feel electric? Hold on to these electric bits, she says, for this is your true self. And for the rest, get rid of it!
However, Given points out rebelling against these beauty standards is a privilege. For example, being able to grow out body hair without facing additional discrimination is a privilege rewarded only to thin, cisgender white women. A privilege that trans-women, fat-women and women of colour don’t always have.
In another chapter Given takes a deep dive into consent and boundaries in a way that is refreshing and enlightening. She offers some simple ways to ask for consent such as ‘Do you like that?’ ‘Can I take these off?’ ‘Is this ok?’ And if they don’t answer with explicit and enthusiastic consent, then it’s a no.
But most eye-opening, is her list of red flags indicating when sexual boundaries are being broken. Some examples include:
Refusing to wear a condom.
Removing a condom without consent
Calling you demeaning names like ‘slut’, ‘whore’ or ‘bitch’ unless previously agreed upon
Performing any sexual act on you without asking first.
Given also explores other areas of consent outside the bedroom. From men physically putting their hands on your waist to gesture you to move, or reading people’s phones without consent, all boundaries are important and should be upheld. This book made me realise how lacking sex education in schools is on consent and boundary setting.
Chapter twenty was probably one of the most important chapters of this book and is titled ‘Check your Privilege’. Given sets out a privilege checklist to see how you may be given a leg up in society without even knowing it. Some examples include:
White privilege/ethnicity:
Do people know how to pronounce my name?
Are people of my race widely represented in the media?
Cisgender privilege:
Can I use public facilities, restrooms without fear of verbal abuse, assault or arrest?
Do strangers ask me what my genitals look like or how I have sex?
Male or male passing privilege:
Can I express myself and set boundaries without being called a bitch or someone attributing it to my time of the month?
Can I walk the street and enter public spaces without the threat of sexual harassment?
Straight privilege:
Do I feel comfortable displaying affection in public with my partner and do not expect hostile or violent actions from others?
Have I ever had to come out of binary sexuality assumptions or publicly speak about sexuality with relative strangers?
Non-disabled privilege
Can I go to new places knowing I can move through the area without pre-planning?
Do people treat me in a childish fashion? Do they kneel when talking to me and using a patronising tone? Do I get offered unsolicited help for tasks?
This checklist helped drive home that nothing in our lives is untouched by privilege. But as Given herself points out as a white, cisgender, able-bodied woman, this book cannot be a one-stop shop for someone’s education on racism, homophobia and ableism. She encourages all of us to read books written by black folks and follow content created by disabled, fat and trans people on Instagram. ‘Reinvigorate your tired taste buds’ she shouts.
This book was uncomfortable and hard to listen to. It forced me to re-examine aspects of my life that I have either refused or not known needed to be examined. From my beauty rituals, internalised misogyny and privilege, Given encouraged me to question everything. Feminism, she states, is going to ruin your life (but in the best way possible). Please read this book if you want to be served some cold hard truths.
Think your name would look good in print? Woroni is always open for submissions. Email write@woroni.com.au with a pitch or draft. You can find more info on submitting here.
Comments Off on The Definitive COVID-19 Review of Canberra’s 27 Supermarket Complexes
So, you’ve been stuck in social isolation with no way of leaving the house. Your outside adventures were limited to exercise and grocery shopping. Now that the restrictions have lifted, your freedom might be overwhelming. The local Woolworths isn’t quite cutting it anymore. How to choose which Canberra supermarket to revisit first?
We can help. Over the past few months, every time we’ve needed something from the shops, we’ve changed the shopping centre (observing all hygiene and social distancing rules). As time progressed, we started to review and rate these centres. Of course, we couldn’t visit every centre in Canberra, so we settled on “group centre” level complexes. These we defined as centres that serve a group (4-5) suburbs, and as containing one or more of an Aldi, Coles, Supabarn or Woolworths, in addition to a decent selection of other shops. Large IGAs or Supabarn Express did not count, and neither did a supermarket on its own.
Some of your favourite shops may not be included, but sadly we couldn’t cover the whole of Canberra. Despite this being the ‘definitive’ ranking, all comments on the centres are only our opinions. If we’ve left a bad review on your local shops, please don’t take it personally! So without further ado, let’s begin:
District: Gungahlin
Name: Marketplace Gungahlin/Gungahlin Village
Suburb: Gungahlin
Supermarkets: Aldi/Coles/Woolworths
Rating: 6.5/10
Summary: The centrepiece of Gungahlin has more character than most of the district, but a fragmented layout holds it back from being in the same league as Belconnen Westfield.
Pros: Nice outside food vibes. More character than the rest of Gungahlin. Has the convenience of light rail. A large variety of shops.
Cons: Layout felt fragmented. Unpleasant parking experience. Free parking only for a short time.
Name: Casey Market Town
Suburb: Casey
Supermarkets: Aldi/Supabarn
Rating: 9.5/10
Summary: A modern and nuanced take on the weekly shopping experience. The Supabarn will be hard to forget.
Pros: Stunning Supabarn. Stylish, modern interior. Large amounts of free parking. Good choice of food options. Can buy fresh pizza at the supermarket.
Cons: Parking can get congested.
Name: Crace Central
Suburb: Crace
Supermarkets: Supabarn
Rating: 4.5/10
Summary: Pretty much just a sterile feeling Supabarn with a handful of shops. Exists for functionality.
Pros: Quite clean. Supabarn pleasant to shop at.
Cons: Very sterile. Not much there. Limited albeit free parking.
Summary: An expansive centre with a wide variety of supermarkets and stores, even if the aesthetic is a little dark.
Pros: Convenient due to a lot of other stores around it. Many supermarket choices. Large amounts of parking. Bustling, expansive centre.
Cons: Takes a lot of time walking around the mall. A bit dark and dimly lit around the supermarkets as a result of being downstairs. Parking not free after a few hours.
Summary: An unusual selection of shopfronts pared with an aging Woolworths led to a somewhat mediocre shopping experience.
Pros: Perpetual smell of fried chicken from nearby KFC. Community vibes. Decent bakery on the corner.
Cons: Quite an old feeling Woolworths. No bakery section in Woolworths.
Name: Kaleen Plaza
Suburb: Kaleen
Supermarkets: Coles
Rating: 4/10
Summary: Does the job, but lacks charm and finesse.
Pros: Honestly, not much going for it. Free parking though.
Cons: Coles was a bit cramped. Lack of charm. Bit bland and clinical. Had a bit of a depressing vibe – people seemed a bit sad. Deli still used the ticket system, which was confusing.
Name: Jamison Plaza
Suburb: Macquarie
Supermarkets: Aldi/Coles
Rating: 8.5/10
Summary: Ideal choice if you want to get out of the city and do your shopping in the burbs.
Pros: Light and spacious, high roof. Modern and clean. Felt like a well-kept regional shopping centre. A decent selection of shops. Spacious and large Coles. Nice new Aldi. Free parking.
Cons: Entrance is a bit gaudy. The layout doesn’t provide much adventure (i.e. unexciting).
Summary: Not as bad as the reputation that proceeds it. Admittedly, the smoky and concrete centre does leave a somewhat dystopian vibe.
Pros: Large, clean Woolworths. Good fried chicken. Sensible layout. Free parking.
Cons: Quite busy. Traffic a bit difficult to navigate. Somewhat grungy vibes.
Summary: A very regional feeling centre – can only recommend for the large, modern Woolworths or if you live out there.
Pros: One of the largest, good looking Woolworths in the ACT. Free parking.
Cons: Felt a bit run down. A bit claustrophobic from the narrow hallways. Has dark lighting.
District: North Canberra
Name: Canberra Centre
Suburb: Civic
Supermarkets: Aldi/Coles
Rating: 8.5/10
Summary: Simple, elegant layout (compared to Woden) boasting an enormous variety of modern, clean shops. Parking is a pain though.
Pros: Nando’s. Wide range of sushi. Centrally located. Huge selection of shops. Monaro mall is a stylish new addition. Good lighting. Ten-pin bowling and Dendy’s.
Cons: Coles is usually very busy. No free parking at all. Hard to find a park. The downstairs food court is a bit sad. No butcher despite being in the centre of Canberra.
Name: Dickson Shops
Suburb: Dickson
Supermarkets: Woolworths
Rating: 7/10
Summary: It’s the Dickson shops – what more can you say. An urban community vibe.
Pros: Nice variety of shops and eating places, urban community vibe. Often a sausage sizzle on Saturdays. Convenient for the inner north. Many Asian grocers.
Cons: Not free parking generally. Woolworths is usually very busy. Can feel a bit grotty.
Summary: An inner-city hipster paradise that falls down in grocery shopping and parking.
Pros: Really good vibes, cafes and restaurants.
Cons: Limited parking that isn’t free. The Supabarn is quite small and not ideal for your weekly shopping.
Name: Manuka Shops
Suburb: Griffith
Supermarkets: Coles
Rating: 7.5/10
Summary: Unsurprisingly, similar to Kingston. Less trendy, but better for groceries.
Pros: Decent sized Coles. Many trendy cafes and restaurants.
Cons: Parking spaces are small and difficult to navigate. Coles is quite busy. Parking not free after a while.
Summary: Like Belconnen, but confusing. Vast and mysterious.
Pros: Lots of shops, lots of space. Harry Hartog. Great for niche interests. Variety of supermarkets.
Cons: Very confusing layout and parking. Parking not free after a while. No Aldi.
Name: Curtin Shops
Suburb: Curtin
Supermarkets: Coles
Rating: 6/10
Summary: Small, inner suburban shops that retain a cosy and quaint atmosphere. Reminiscent of Dickson.
Pros: Nice trees and open-air shops. Convenient layout. Community vibes. Free parking.
Cons: A little bit rundown. The Coles building is not the nicest and a bit small. Limited parking.
Name: Southlands Centre
Suburb: Mawson
Supermarkets: Woolworths
Rating: 6.5/10
Summary: Hidden away with a confusing layout, the expansive Woolworths and wide range of stores will reward the persevering shopper.
Pros: Large Woolworths – spacious and high ceilinged. Fresh fruit market. Open spaces with gardens.
Cons: Confusing layout and confusing aesthetic. Couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.
Summary: Pleasant shopping centre with a nice community vibe.
Pros: Lots of free parking. Nice main street. Community vibes. Good lighting in the centre.
Cons: Woolworths has a strangely dominating presence for the size of the centre. Had a Target but is not closing.
Summary: Somehow blends a mix of renovation and datedness. One of the more eccentric centres.
Pros: Very spacious, lots of stores. Wide choice of supermarkets. Novelty of climbing stairs to go down an escalator from the carpark. Has some unique stores. Ticket gate was busted (so free parking?).
Cons: Should have stuck with the old name of “Hyperdome” which sounds way cooler. Clinical lighting. Despite what appears to be renovations, still feels dated. Climbing stairs to go down an escalator from the carpark. Takes a long time to get anywhere. Ticket gate was busted.
Summary: A peculiar charm emerges from the plastic and metal interior – vaguely reminiscent of a metro station
Pros: Community vibes. Large Woolworths. Symmetric layout. Free parking.
Cons: Lack of cafes. Rather small. Not very flattering from the outside.
Name: Chisholm Village
Suburb: Chisholm
Supermarkets: Aldi/Coles
Rating: 4.5/10
Summary: Nice and spacious, but nothing much distinctive to recommend this one.
Pros: Good Coles. Brightly lit. Open, crescent-shaped layout. Free parking.
Cons: Not much distinctive.
Summary: A scenic and well-designed shopping centre with all the right shops and a nice, modern interior. Too bad it is nearly out of Canberra…
Pros: Mountain scenery. Picturesque layout. Modern interior with wood panelling. All the good shops, especially for food. Large amounts of free parking.
Cons: Very, very, very far south…
Name: Kambah Village
Suburb: Kambah
Supermarkets: Woolworths
Rating: 5/10
Summary: These shops stand out with a distinctive rural style and aesthetic, despite the size and potential lack of variety.
Pros: Interesting rural style and atmosphere. Free parking. Nice central courtyard.
Cons: Shops did not feel modern. A little small.
Name: Erindale Centre
Suburb: Wanniassa
Supermarkets: Woolworths
Rating: 5/10
Summary: Honestly, quite forgettable.
Pros: Large bakery. Simple layout. Largish Woolworths. Free parking.
Cons: Aisles in Woolworths were not where we expected them. Outside was a bit plain.
Name: Wanniassa Shops
Suburb: Wanniassa
Supermarkets: Coles
Rating: 3/10
Summary: Not the flashiest of shopping centres and feels a bit redundant considering the bigger Erindale Centre is in the same suburb. Similar vibes to Kaleen.
Pros: Free parking. Playground in carpark??
Cons: Lacks charm. Feels redundant. Quite cramped and claustrophobic. Not an extensive range of shops.
District: Majura
Name: Majura Park (NB – did not go to Costco)
Suburb: Majura
Supermarkets: Aldi/Costco/Woolworths
Rating: 3.5/10
Summary: Vast, but feels barren and hollow. Not a pleasant place for weekly groceries. (Note: Due to not having a membership, we did not go to Costco. If we did, it may have swung the rating)
Pros: Costco. A huge amount of free parking. Very large Woolworths and a large number of other stores. Near Ikea
Cons: No sense of community. Very sterile.
District: Queanbeyan
Name: Riverside Plaza
Suburb: Queanbeyan
Supermarkets: Aldi/Coles/Woolworths
Rating: 6.5/10
Summary: Large mall servicing a regional area. Hence, it has strong nostalgic regional vibes (both authors are originally from regional areas)
Pros: VERY large Coles. A large number of convenient shops. Free parking
Cons: Woolworths is not in the mall complex. Nothing really stands out, given how many people it services.
Name: Jerrabomberra Shops
Suburb: Jerrabomberra
Supermarkets: Woolworths
Rating: 4.5/10
Summary: Quite small and isolated. Not unpleasant to visit, but also not much there.
Pros: Free parking. Clean exterior. Homey feeling.
Cons: Had highway service station vibes. Quite small with a lack of shops.
Comments Off on Jaws: The Greatest Popcorn Thriller of the Century
There’s a scene about halfway through Jaws, in which all that happens is the fishing line is caught on something and races off from the boat into the sea. The three main characters are on their boat in the middle of the ocean, trying to find the shark that’s been terrorising their perfect little beachside town since the beginning of the film. The sky is pitch blue, the water is a beautiful sapphire colour and the sun is shining bright. There’s no screaming, no blood and no gunshots – the audience doesn’t even see the shark. Yet the tick, tick, tick of the line running off the boat is one of the scariest moments of the movie. The titular evil of the film doesn’t even show his face and yet the tick, tick, tick of the line and the ominous music implies that we don’t need to see him to be scared. The characters, all battle-hardened strong men who know fear, are terrified by the tick, tick, tick of the line. The line snaps and whatever was on the other end swims away, leaving them and the audience terrified.
It’s this all-encompassing sense of terror and dread that makes Jaws the greatest popcorn thriller of all time. The film makes weapons of fear and tension to use against the audience, so that terror leaks into every scene. Jaws is spectacular in its simplicity – technically brilliant and emotionally resonant. It is a plain man against nature story as a small town, shell-shocked by a series of violent shark attacks, rushes to kill the beast before it makes the town uninhabitable due to the paralysing fear it inspires. The film is completely over-the-top and its premise is extraordinarily improbable, and yet it feels more real and pressing than the news. It is not only the most entertaining film of the 20th century but it also resonates as a film about political corruption, bravery and sacrifice for the greater good. It will not only make you think that there are killer sharks in your bathtub, but it might also give you hope in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One thoroughly dull Saturday, I decided that I could be wasting my time better and looked for a movie on Netflix that would completely take my mind off isolation and the four assessments I hadn’t started yet. After about 10 minutes of flicking through tedious Netflix originals, I found Jaws. I had heard about it before from my parents, and I remembered my mum telling me she went to see it when she was 10 and didn’t go swimming again until she was 12. I doubted that a movie made when Nixon was president could be that scary. I was very very wrong. The film absolutely terrified me, my knuckles went white in almost every scene as I grabbed a hold of whatever I could. As terrified as I was, I never looked away from the screen. I never paused the film once. I was caught, hook line and sinker, in the terror that hangs over every scene in the film. And yet, it was one of the best experiences I have ever had watching a movie. I envied my parents for being able to have seen it in the cinema 45 years ago.
Jaws builds this incredible sense of fear and tension that never dissipates, and it stays with the audience right up until the last 60 seconds of the film. The audience doesn’t even see the shark until the halfway mark, after several people have been devoured in front of them. The shark doesn’t show its face until the third act, and even then it only adds to the tension and terror that has been building since the beginning of the movie. The film’s setting and its characters contribute to the dread it leaves with the audience after they exit the cine- ma. Jaws is set in the fictional beach-town of ‘Amity Island’, a beautiful, sunny, small little village with a skeleton police force and an eccentric mayor where everyone knows everybody else. Steven Spielberg, the film’s director, (this was only his second film) wanted the audience to believe that what happens in the movie could happen anywhere and made the characters and the setting as ordinary as possible. The brilliant juxtaposition of the ordinary with the supernatural is made all the better by the simple, yet complicated, main characters. Martin Brody, the town’s new police chief, is quiet, cautious and capable but has a fear of water and Captain Quint, seemingly the town’s saviour, is like any small-town crank but is traumatised by a shark attack that left him terrified decades ago.
All of this makes Jaws the most entertaining film of the 20th century, and it will make you completely forget about all of your worries and troubles as you become immersed in the world of Amity Island. But, despite its technical brilliance and the fear it leaves people with long after they leave the cine- ma, Jaws is also a brilliant political thriller and ethical drama, modelling the crisis we now face in more ways than one. Made during a time when the American public were increasingly sceptical of the government and their leaders (Jaws was released only a year after the Watergate scandal), some have suggested that the true evil in Jaws is the Mayor of Amity Island and his corruption, not the shark. Even after three people are killed, docks are destroyed and boats are sunk, the mayor refuses to close the beaches despite the obvious threat to public safety. He’s characterised as a mercurial man, with his polished Kennedy-style hair and eccentric suit and tie covered in anchors. He insists that he is serving the interests of his town by keeping the beaches open, as without tourists flocking to the island the town would face economic collapse. This is despite a huge threat to public safety which he is willing to ignore in the interest of ‘summer dollars’, on which the town relies. The beaches remain open and the mayor eventually relents, but only after he has seen the shark with his own eyes.
There is more than a little relevance in that to the crisis we face today with COVID-19. In the film, the government refuses to close down a crucial part of its economy in the face of a grave public safety threat. The town remains open, people die and the government only relents after it has been proven wrong. I can’t help comparing the Mayor and his administration to President Trump and his government, which refused to shut down the United States in the face of a grave threat to public health for fear of economic collapse. Only after the crisis hit and people started dying did the United States government offer a halfway decent response, still insisting that the economy would reopen by Easter. The Mayor of Amity Island, like President Trump, ignored the experts and all the evidence and appeared to be focused more on the survival of his political career than the survival of his citizens. But in the end (of Jaws at least), despite the government’s negligence, a mismatched and disparate group of people come together and slay the beast in one of the greatest endings in cinematic history. If we all do our part, we might yet do the same.
Jaws is technically brilliant and masterfully crafted, making thousands terrified of the water 45 years after it was first released. Its ability to shock and frighten means that it grabs hold of the audience and never lets go, making it a fantastic watch for anyone in need of a dazzling distraction. Its parallel to the COVID-19 pandemic, while loose, might inspire a bit of hope as despite all the fear, tension, angst and suffering, the hero slays the beast and saves the town. A film well worth the subsequent aversion to water, Jaws will stand the test of time as a flawless popcorn thriller with lessons about trauma, corruption and bravery lying just beneath the surface.
Comments Off on The Meaning of Life… Maybe: Why Everyone Should Read Watchmen
I spent most of my one month at university before the coronavirus struck trying to convince one of my friends to read the graphic novel Watchmen. We made a deal that if she watched or read Watchmen I had to watch The Sound of Music (the worst trade deal of all time). I did my part and gave her my copy of the book. However, no matter how much I hyped it up or how highly I spoke of it she couldn’t bring herself to read it. I am still bitter to this day, especially because I read the Harry Potter books at her request (even though I will admit they are pretty great). I’ve spent a lot of time since wondering why she couldn’t do it.
I discovered Watchmen during the summer of 2019/2020 and devoured the 400-page graphic novel in just three days. I was in love. Lucky for me, the TV sequel series ended just as I finished the original and I managed to watch it in the following week, making sure to limit myself to one episode a day, not wanting to run out too soon. The story of Watchmen (both the original and the sequel HBO show) is a masterpiece, and all I wanted to do was share it with everyone I knew and force them to love it as much as I did. This was very, very naïve. My friend told me that she couldn’t bring herself to read a graphic novel (or a ‘comic book’ as she called it) about superheroes.
Watchmen is not about superheroes. It is about humanity.
Watchmen uses the idea of a world in which superheroes exist to tell a story that transcends class, gender, race and creed. After all, superheroes are nothing more than idealised versions of ourselves – people in brilliant costumes with limitless resources, seemingly superhuman abilities and a brilliance unmatched by any real human being. Who among us hasn’t dreamed of fighting crime like Batman, or doing battle like Wonder Woman, or flying high above the clouds like Superman?
Watchmen creates a world in which superheroes or ‘masked vigilantes’ exist, and through the course of the story it asks if a utopia for and by human beings can ever really exist. The world it builds and describes should be perfect as it is filled with people who have the power, intelligence and motivation to do good without any limitations. Instead, ‘saving the day’ is revealed to be bloody, ugly and disturbing and the closest thing we have to God sim- ply doesn’t care enough to act. Watchmen is about humanity’s struggle with itself and asks: if our goal is to create a perfect world and that utopia is revealed to be a fantasy, or an ugly distortion of itself – do we really deserve to exist?
The answer is yes, to that and many more questions that dominate the story and its characters. Watchmen is not only great television and a brilliant read but it offers an escape from our current crisis and would distract anyone from news of restaurants closing, governments in crisis to general misery. But more importantly, by the end of the story (all 400 pages and nine hours of it), it makes an impassioned argument for humanity and will inspire even the most cynical, depressed or disillusioned person to believe that deep down we can find solace in ourselves and that our lives are meaningful, because we live them. In the graphic novel a man with godlike powers chose to save the world, not because of any great government or charismatic lead- er, not for fame or fortune, but because he is reminded that human beings and their relationships, particularly their capacity for love, defy logic. In the HBO series, the most imaginative yet far-fetched and insane conspiracy theories shouldn’t demand an emotional reaction and yet they do because they are grounded by a love story which seems more human than most real relationships.
This is why I struggle when I hear that people choose to avoid Watchmen because they think it’s about superheroes or because they don’t like comic books. I accept that ‘masked vigilantes’ (as Watch- men chooses to refer to them) don’t work for everyone. And I know that comic books are not always easy to read or follow. But Watchmen is both more than the medium which presents it and is made richer for it. Everyone should experience this story. Not because it is a brilliant graphic novel, not because of its breadth of imagination, not even because of its characters or the impact it has had on the world. But simply because it offers hope, and in a time like this, when the world turns upside down, hope is more than enough.
CONTENT WARNING: Brief Mentions of Stalking, Cults, Suicide, Abortion,STIs, Men- tal Health, Terrorism, Death, Sexual Assault, Homophobia and Transphobia
It is a trying time for all of us. Feelings of anxiety, anger and sadness are all normal reactions to the current unprecedented situation. We need now more than ever to be kind to ourselves. Finding something to keep ourselves busy and distracted is so vital for our mental health. Watching Netflix shows can be an excellent distraction. To save the time and effort scrolling through the abyss of Netflix shows, I have compiled a list of binge-worthy hidden gems and popular Netflix TV shows.
Unorthodox
I recently finished watching this four-part mini-series after binging it in just two days. Esther Shapiro (Esty) is only nineteen when she flees her ultra-orthodox Hasidic Sat- mar community in Brooklyn, New York and travels to Berlin. The show is based on the bestselling autobiographical novel Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman. The large part Feldman played in the show’s production shines through in its authenticity. I was awed by the beautiful, heavily detailed sets and costumes. If you are looking for a show to sweep you up in its emotions and incredible storyline, then Unorthodox is a mustsee.
WARNING: This show includes themes of marital rape, stalking and cults.
Lovesick
I have re-watched this hysterical series numerous times. The humour is just so British. After testing positive for chlamydia, Dylan, played by Johnny Flynn, must contact each of his sexual partners to inform them of his diagnosis. It may seem like a weird premise for a TV show, but it is an ingenious device that slowly unravels the dynamics of the friendship between the three main char- actors Dylan, Evie and Luke. Each episode focuses on a different woman from Dylan’s past as we see his multitude of failed attempts at love. If you need a TV show that will make you laugh as well as include the most accurate depiction of friendships on TV out there, then please watch this piece of brilliance.
The OA
I have never watched a show that so en- thralled me in its mystic. I am not much of a sci-fi fan, but the ending of the first season of this show had my entire body pulsing with excitement. Season one of The OA follows Prairie or ‘OA’ as she returns home after being missing for seven years and is mysteriously no longer blind. When she forms a group with four outcast boys and a schoolteacher, she recounts bizarre tales of angels, near-death-experiences, time travelling, and celestial movements. While the show defies normal narrative logic and may verge on the side of lunacy, I urge you to take the leap.
Please Like Me
WARNING: This show includes themes of suicide and abortion. I started watching this show with my friends at the end of my first year at university. It was the perfect show to unwind post-ex- ams. Set in the suburbs of Melbourne, Please Like Me is written by and stars Josh Thomas. His geekish charm and light-heartedness is so refreshing even though he deals with serious issues like mental health, sexuality and family issues. The show’s script is very millennial. There’s a sense that none of the characters knows what they are doing in life, but weirdly, this is comforting. One delight you get from binge-watching this series is the opening credits song ‘I’ll be Fine’ by Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes. Give it a listen to uplift your mood.
Peaky Blinders
This series is a work of art. The acting, script, costumes, hairstyles (notably the famous Peaky Blinder undercut) will trans- port you to the gangster world of Birmingham in the late 1910s and early 1920s. Thomas Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, is the brooding, fearless and intellectual leader of the notorious family gang. Cillian’s acting and chiselled jawline will have you enthralled. The rest of the cast is also incredible. If you want to be swept up in a different era, Peaky Blinders is for you.
Bodyguard
WARNING: This show features a protagonist who experiences PTSD. This three-part mini-series is one of the most addictive shows out there. The stakes are high, and the drama is intense. The show follows David Budd, played by Richard Madden, a war veteran who now finds himself as a Specialist Protection Officer assigned to protect Home Secretary Julie Montague (Keeley Hawes). Budd must deal with terrorist plots, inside jobs and bomb threats. If you want a show with intense twists and turns, then watch Bodyguard.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
There is something so wholesome about this police television comedy. The characters are so loveable and funny that their blunders and mishaps never cease to make me smile. Watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine is always a sure way to put me in a good mood. It is no wonder that, when this show was about to be cancelled in 2019, its viewers rallied together to make sure that NBC would renew the series for a seventh series. If you haven’t watched Brooklyn Nine-Nine yet, then what are you doing? Open your laptop now and give it a go.
Elite
This show is suspenseful and dramatic – everything a good teen Spanish drama should be. The show is set at Las Encinas, an elite private school where a teenage girl has been murdered. Everyone has secrets, and everybody is a suspect. You will only be relieved of your intrigue in the final episode where the killer is revealed, and my gosh is it shocking. The series continues for another two seasons where the drama just gets bigger. If you want a show packed to the brim with secrets, teen drama, lies and intense characters, then you will enjoy Elite.
Unbelievable
WARNING: This show includes themes of sexual assault. If you are into watching crime and detective shows and you haven’t watched Unbelievable, please do. This series is based on the real-life police investigation of serial rapist Marc O’Leary. The first episode follows the story of Marie as she reports her rape, enduring the trauma of recounting her story to multiple people, invasive medical examinations and detectives who doubt her truth. The series is an eye-opening look at how police deal with rape and its aggravating tendency to question the victim. If you want a show that demonstrates the unglamorous and arduous police work that goes into convicting a rapist, I highly recommend this show.
Queer Eye
This new rebooted series of Queer Eye includes five fabulous men who aim to bring positivity and joy to the world. Each episode focuses on a person, nominated by their family or friends to have their life revamped. It examines various aspects of their life, e.g. hairstyle, dress, style, confidence and environment. You cannot walk away from watching an episode of this show without feeling like you haven’t your- self received a pep talk from Jonathan, the fabulous ice-skating hairdresser. If you want a boost of positivity, then watch Queer Eye.