Movie theaters, you were my first love. I will never give up on you, and I promise I’ll be back in due course. In the meantime, here’s a list of the ten best things I watched while couch potatoing this year.
10. Enola Holmes (Netflix). This is definitely a children’s movie and I enjoyed it very much.
9. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Disney+). Please indulge me for a minute—this show was way better than it had any right to be. At its worst, it was cookie cutter Disney Channel fare. At its best, it was a less cruel, more authentic version of Glee and an unapologetic celebration of actual theater kids.
8. The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix). Very solid all around. Some parts of the story felt underdeveloped (tell me more about Jolene!), but overall I liked this a lot.
7. Bridgerton (Netflix). Despite its gorgeous (and no doubt expensive) production design, Bridgerton is basically raunchy candy-coated trash. It’s delicious and it never takes itself too seriously. I’m addicted.
6. Palm Springs (Hulu). A zany, creative romantic comedy with just the right mix of humor and heart. I really wish Cristin Milioti was in more movies.
5. Never Have I Ever (Netflix). Probably the most bingeable show on this list. Never Have I Ever was a breeze to watch but also has enough depth to warrant (hopefully) many more seasons to come.
4. Normal People (Hulu). I hope Imogen Heap is getting royalties for the number of times I listened to “Hide and Seek” after watching this series. Normal People made my cold dead heart feel like it was in my throat for 10 hours straight (in a good way!).
3. God’s Own Country (Hulu). As a proud cinephile, I’m ashamed to admit I missed this one in 2017. It’s a brilliant and unforgettable work of art—both searing and subtle, gut-wrenching and full of grace. Josh O’Connor could have gone toe-to-toe with Timothée at the Oscars that year.
2. Anne with an E (Netflix). A true hidden gem. This show was so clearly written and produced by women, and it made me feel so celebrated and seen. It breaks my heart that season 3 was its last, but the final episode (in particular, the final scene) was perfect. Booking my tickets for PEI as soon as it’s safe to travel again.
1. Schitt’s Creek (Netflix). I’m fully on this bandwagon and loving it. The popularity of Schitt’s Creek this year with both viewers and critics affirms its place in TV history, and its thesis about the transformative power of love is sure to stand the test of time. It is, quite simply, the best.
