My 2023 list of interesting TV shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime

----------------------------------- NETFLIX SHOWS ---------------------------------------

Bodies turns detective work into a time-traveling comedy, where four sleuths from different time periods in London team up to solve the ultimate whodunit. It satisfies my time traveling craving for the season.

The Fall of the House of Usher : The series is a wild, haunted romp that turns Poe's classic tale into a dysfunctional sitcom-meets-horror mashup.  It's Netflix's way of turning horror into a comedy of errors, making Usher's fall a laugh-out-loud tumble into the absurdly supernatural.

Guns and Gulabs Season 1 is like a crazy curry of '90s nostalgia and gangster drama. The cast is doing their thing, living on their own terms, and you can't help but be part of the ride. Raj and DK deserve a shout-out for the killer screenplay.

Kohrra is not your typical murder mystery. With knock-out performances and a screenplay that packs a punch, it's like peeling back layers of a mystery onion. Punjab's not-so-pretty realities like drugs, forced NRI marriages, and a sprinkle of patriarchy drama form the background of the story. The characters are a hot mess in the best way, fighting personal battles while solving the big mystery.

Beef: Starting from a road rage incident which then leads off to a cascading series of escalating incidents, 'Beef' explores the human condition with a raw, relatable touch. It is a gripping drama about two people living parallel lives in different circumstances. Money, status, and mental health are key topics covered in this series with a unique Asian American cultural twist

MH370 The Plane That Disappeared: The series navigates the complexities surrounding the disappearance of Flight MH370, shedding light on the emotional toll on families, the relentless search efforts, and the lingering questions that resonate globally. It's a poignant blend of investigative journalism and human narratives and expertly steers clear of sensationalism to present a respectful examination of an enduring mystery.

Cunk on Earth:  A mockumentary gem that simultaneously pokes fun at and revels in the absurdities of our historical narrative. The comedic timing is impeccable, and Cunk's deadpan delivery (Diane Morgan at her comedic best) makes even the most mundane historical tidbits downright hilarious.

-------------------------- AMAZON PRIME SHOWS -----------------------------------

Dahaad Season 1: Dahaad is a stellar crime thriller set in the heart of rural Rajasthan, India, exposing the deep-seated biases and injustices ingrained in the region's culture. Sonakshi Sinha shines as Anjali, a determined police officer challenging societal norms. It is based on a true story, the series keeps viewers on the edge, skillfully unveiling the twisted mind of a serial killer.

The Power Season 1 is  a thought-provoking exploration of societal upheaval in a world where women command electric abilities. The writing strikes a balance between drama and the weighty implications of a world transformed. Strap in for a journey where the real shocks aren't just in the superpowers but in the societal currents they unleash. The show adeptly navigates the complexities of power dynamics, instigating a paradigm shift that is both electrifying and deeply reflective.

Wilderness Season 1: Liv and Will, the seemingly golden couple, take their British charm to the Big Apple. The couple's cross-country trip to iron out wrinkles in their relationship turns into a wild rollercoaster of emotions, and suddenly, that dream holiday takes a detour into a living nightmare. 'Wilderness' isn't just a twisted love story; it's a journey into the chaos of relationships, proving that even the best-laid plans can go off the rails. Jenna Coleman is captivating and capitalizes on a well written female lead character, but most of other characters didn't the same kind of attention from the screenwriters.

Vadhandhi : The Fable of Veloni:  Eight captivating episodes centering around the mysterious death of a young woman, setting off a web of deception. SJ Suryah, in the role of Sub Inspector Vivek, skillfully navigates the intricate investigation, revealing layers of lies and deceit. Sanjana, portraying the beautifully haunting Velonie, adds a magnetic charm to the narrative, owning her role effortlessly. Vadandhi may have its flaws, but it's a compelling watch, showcasing the creators' mastery in crafting suspenseful narratives.

Hush Hush Season 1, with its women-centric vibe, shines a spotlight on the talents of Juhi Chawla, Karishma Tanna, Shahana Goswami, Kritika Kamra, Soha Ali Khan and Ayesha Jhulka. The ensemble cast plays a crucial role in weaving a narrative that delves into friendship, secrets, and the highs and lows of contemporary women's experiences. 

When I look at my Amazon Prime picks I realize that these are all series which are either women-centric or has strong lead characters who are women.  Prime also has more quality international content which is not just Korean.

BTW this is how a blog post would look if it was written by generative AI, like this post was :-) Will be switching back to the human mode in the new year. Happy 2024!

Writing Credits for this post : ChatGPT 3.5, the free version.

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Supernatural, Paranormal or Time Travel TV shows : Best of Netflix & Amazon Prime 2021

su·per·nat·u·ral  /ˌso͞opərˈnaCH(ə)rəl/

Learn to pronounce

adjective

1. (of a manifestation or event) attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.

Beyond scientific understanding, defying logic and laws of nature - these two attributes give unlimited freedom to story writers. While I pooh-pooh at the fantasy genre and couldn't care less about the American construct of zombies or their living relatives vampires or werewolves, I cannot explain why I am drawn to the type of supernatural / science fiction shows I have listed below, but I am.

Tunnel (Netflix US): Tunnel was my introduction to K-Drama. I still consider it as my favorite. It is a police procedural about the hunt for a serial murderer with a time traveling detective thrown in. All the Korean stars are young and immaculate - must be the reason why Korean skin care products are a rage everywhere. They are easy on the eyes and glide the narrative along a smooth-as-butter path, even when it is along a dark and ominous abandoned tunnel. Highly engaging and binge-able.

Signal (Netflix US): I was looking for Korean shows to watch after Tunnel when I chanced upon Signal. I almost gave up after the first couple of episodes. But I am glad I did not. Signal get better and stays engaging for the rest of the episodes. While no-one really time travels, there is real time communication happening between past and the present through an old radio.

Dark (Netflix US): Dark is like the German cousin of Stranger Things, where time is the upside-down. It checks my time travel subject box. But the story went into the Matryoshka doll zone in Season 3 - nesting of characters never before seen in the space-time continuum we inhabit. I had to quit watching after a couple of episodes in Season 3. Still Season 1 and 2  are worth the watch and many die-hard fans, especially in millennial age group can't sing enough praises of the series.

Equinox (Netflix US): From Denmark, Equinox feels like Frozen meets Stranger Things, played out on a darker, adult canvas. It starts with an incident where 21 high school graduates go missing, never to be found again and progresses through a sister's search for the truth behind the disappearance of her sibling.

The Haunting of the Hillhouse (Netflix US):: This is one of those rare instances where the show/movie was better than the book it was based on. I went to sleep trying to read Shirley Jackson's original. Although I did finish it almost succeeded in driving me off ghost stories, usually one of my favorite subjects to read, altogether. Unlike in the book where the people who spend time at the Hillhouse are a group of strangers, in the TV adaptation it is a family - that change improves the narrative. If you are looking for a spine-chilling ghost story to scare the living day lights out of you, look no further, you have arrived at your destination.

The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix US): This show is a follow up to The Haunting of Hillhouse, but it is not half as good, not enough spine-tingling qualities and not very scary ghosts. It is more of a gothic romance than a ghost story, if you ask me.

Glitch (Netflix US): Ghosts or the living dead (who are not zombies, not blood-thirsty) who have time traveled to reach the present day. Glitch is Australian for highly binge-able. More detailed review here.

The OA (Netflix US): The first season was addictive with cross-dimensional travel, life after death and blind girls gaining sight. The second season is kind of weird and I am not sure what the producers where trying to do, but then Netflix canceled the show after Season 2. The OA was where I first came across Kingsley Ben-Adir.

Erased (Netflix US): A one season Japanese TV show based on a popular thriller manga series Erased has the protagonist Satori Fujinuma traveling back in time to save some of his elementary school friends. It is a quick and compelling watch if you don't mind watching shows with subtitles.

Intruders (Amazon Prime): Produced for BBC America, you can see a young Millie Bobbie Brown in this paranormal series about returning souls. Ms. Brown is quite an acting powerhouse. The series does have many edge-of-your-seat moments and if you can not get lost in the logistics and timing of soul transfers and mummification is a gripping mini series. 

The Living and the Dead (Amazon Prime): English ghosts in the turn of the (20th) century English countryside in a TV show with excellent production quality - that is The Living and the Dead. During the years 1880s to the First World War, one of the most happening fields was psychoanalysis. All the cool kids were psychoanalytical theorists or psychologists like Freud, Jung, Karl Abraham and the protagonist of the series, Nathan Appleby. Is it schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder or real ghosts from the future and the past?

Truth Seekers (Amazon Prime) : If you love the quirky British duo Nick Frost - Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, The World's End & Hot Fuzz) who usually have been showcasing their talents in movie-dom only, this supernatural ghost buster TV show is their first foray into TV land. If you want a show that is warm, fuzzy, spooky and very British, try Truth Seekers.

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Live Streaming Malayalam TV channel site

Malayali’s tendency to emigrate is well known. From chayakkada (tea shop) on the moon jokes to meeting a Malayali in Alaska(that would be me), we Keralites think that we have a monopoly in the category. The problem is the Chinese, the Punjabis, the Gujaratis , the Philippinos and the Koreans, to name a few, also claim that they are in the driver seat when it comes to driving away from their home countries. Just look at all the China towns in all major cities across the globe, you’ll see that the Chinese have a strong case.

The emigration competition can wait, that was not I came here to write about. As usual, meandering thoughts took control of my keyboard. What I wanted to post about is a  website I chanced upon recently – turbotv.in, that brings live streaming of major South Indian TV channels and a few Hindi channels to your home anywhere on the planet, provided you have an internet connection. Goes without saying, it should preferably be broadband.

For Indians like us who live in places where the scarcity of sub-continental Indians(South or North) have failed to entice satellite TV providers to generously beam down our desi TV channels, turbotv.in is quite a find. Reception is fabulous, even in this remote niche of the world called Alaska. It is almost like I never left home more than a decade and a half ago. 

Some observations after watching a few hours of Malayalam TV:

• Move over prescription medicine ads, make way for gold jewelers. Both items promise to make us better than we are, through different approaches. Clearly a Malayali prefers wearing a three stone (precious of course) gold bracelet specially anointed and blessed by his astrologer to ward off his Pharmacophobia. 
  
• Politicians continue to bicker and reconcile over power, liquor, women and prayer.
  
• TV presenters still can’t enunciate Malayalam properly and insist on speaking in some version of English undecipherable outside Kerala . Along the lines of Lou Gehrig Disease this affliction can hitherto be called the Ranjini Haridas Disease after its most famous proponent and propagator.
  
• Reality television has become a reality. ‘Inspirations’ of Judge Judy, The Amazing Race, Maury and Survivor are all over the place bringing the traditionalist Malayali to bare and give all in front of a television audience for fifteen minutes of fame.  

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