If the quarantine has given us anything these past few months, it’s more time to binge/catch up/rewatch our favorite shows and movies. This week, our staff at Downtown Devil is giving their recommendations on what shows we loved, shows we cried for and shows we obsessed over so much that we’re watching them again.
Sara Edwards – Executive Editor
Pick: The Bold Type
Where to watch: Hulu
I’ve been a die-hard fan of this show since the first episode. The show follows three young women working at Scarlett Magazine in New York City. Kat, a social media editor, wants to make a difference even if that means getting her into trouble. Jane is one of Scarlett’s newest writers and finds her voice throughout the show as she deals with problems in and out of the newsroom. And Sutton (my personal fav) is a secretary that wants to do more at Scarlett than answer phone calls and fetch green juice. I always feel so empowered after watching an episode and it’s exactly what I need to keep my spirits high during this quarantine.
Kyla Pearce – Staff reporter
Pick: The End of the F***ing World
Where to watch: Netflix
I’m totally hooked on the Netflix Original Series The End of the F***ing World. This dark British humor follows the lives of two teenage outcasts on an adventure to find one of the characters’ fathers. I’m a huge fan of Wes Anderson films, and I feel like this show has a similar vibe. I love the dark humor, character development and the way the show was written and shot. It’s beautiful and hauntingly funny.
Hailey Rein – Staff Reporter
Pick: The Mindy Project
Where to watch: Hulu
To get through my time stuck inside, binge-watching The Mindy Project on Hulu has been my saving grace. From the mind of Mindy Kaling (The Office), The Mindy Project is a romantic-comedy gem focusing on protagonist Dr. Mindy Lahiri (Kaling) as she navigates her career, love life, and being 30. The writing is clever and quick-witted, and with 6 seasons (117 episodes), it is the perfect show to get you through your time inside. Also starring Chris Messina (Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey), Ike Barinholtz (Blockers), and a very long list of celebrity cameos. If you need a good laugh paired with excellent writing, this is the show for you.
T.J. Triolo – Community Editor
Pick: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Where to watch: Disney+
I’ll admit I’m late to the party on this one. While it originally aired when I was in middle school, I never watched this animated series from the “Star Wars” universe while it was on TV. I began watching it a few months ago, and I’m now on the fifth season of it. Between the character development of many people from “Star Wars” that are minor characters or do not appear in the main movie series and filling in the gaps between the second and third movies, this show has a lot to offer. There’s even a good amount of humor in it, especially from pirate captain Hondo Ohnaka, who you might recognize from Disneyland’s ride Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.
Lisa Diethelm – Politics Editor
Pick: Parks and Recreation
Where to watch: Netflix
I just recently watched this show because my older sister made me, and honestly she did the right thing. The entire cast portrays a wholesome story that is both funny and relatable. It’s also slightly educational about how local government works, and is slightly satirical in a way too because of how it pictures the ‘red-tape’ of politics. And, my favorite part of the show is that it is an entire love story. Because it hits so many different themes Parks and Rec is a cultural phenomenon, and I think it has one of the best character and plot development in any other television series I have seen.
Luis Zambrano – Staff reporter
Pick: 30 Rock
Where to watch: Hulu
I’ve binge-watched this show at least three times, that’s seven seasons worth of episodes. What hooked me about 30 Rock is how funny it is satirizing celebrities and TV culture. Tina Fey plays a stressed-out head writer of a mediocre comedy who tries to have a personal life while also dealing with the sheer lunacy and chaos all around her and her show. It’s funny going back to this series because not only do you see how insane the show slowly becomes, but you also see many of the characters experiencing real development yet maintaining that comfortable familiarity that you expect when watching a comedy sitcom. It’s definitely my go-to comfort watch that leaves me with a big grin on my face by the end of each episode.
Jonmaesha Beltran – Education Editor
Pick: American Vandal
Where to watch: Netflix
Honestly, you just have to watch the show for yourself. After you watch both seasons, email me and we can talk.
Contact the reporter at smedwar7@asu.edu.
Sara Edwards was the executive editor of Downtown Devil. She is a graduate student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Sara has additional bylines in Phoenix New Times, West Valley View, L.A. Downtown News and Boardwalk Times.
Sara is also the co-secretary for the Multicultural Student Journalists Coalition.
