Laughs & Larks in a Lockdown

 

This is a strange time to be living in right now. Everyone is currently in the same boat, in that we all are in a lockdown due to the pandemic crisis that is sweeping the world. Even though I don't have any answers to how you may be able to cope during this unusual situation we find ourselves in, I do want to share some choices that I have been watching in the quarantine. The TV shows I have chosen to feature are all classified as comedies, to distract oneself and to have a lighter escape from reality. Take a look at what I decided to write about... 

Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

Never have I come across a TV show that was as warm-hearted as it was hysterically funny, until I started to watch Schitt's Creek. Schitt's Creek follows the Roses, a family of four who, up until recently, have led very wealthy and comfortable lives. That is until a bad decision by their business manager sees them go completely bankrupt. However, they come to their realisation that they do have one asset left, a town that Johnny Rose had bought his son, David, as a joke. That town is Schitt's Creek and it's there that the Roses, including Johnny's wife Moira (a former soap-star) and their daughter Aexis (a socialite) have to live and adjust to their new way of life. When the show starts, it's safe to say each character of the Rose family is out of touch with reality, learning to coincide with the town's quirky residents. Most of the comedy comes from the family and the clashes of the residents' lifestyle, the family's reluctance to do anything that they consider beneath them and the residents' reactions to this once-wealthy family.
As the series grows, so do the characters, especially the Roses and it is truly heart-warming to see each character become a better person, away from their self-centered ways. You come to love the characters as the show continues and want only what's best for each of them. Who can doubt a TV series fronted by comedy legends Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara? The fact that it is created by Eugene Levy's real-life son, as well as his on-screen son, Dan Levy, shows that the talent runs deep in the family. I love how Dan Levy has stated that he has created the show to purposefully not feature any negative prejudices against any character, something that is refreshing to see on a series. Schitt's Creek is easy to binge, due to the length of each episode (around 20-30 minutes long) and the lighthearted topics covered in the episode. It also helps that each character is so likeable, that the audience eagarly awaits what happens next. Alas, all good things must come to an end and it was just last month that the series had its conclusion in Canada and America. The good news is that it's readily available to view on Netflix and UK viewers should be getting the final season in May 2020.



Barry (2018-present)

Ok, if you know me in real life, you really should not be surprised that this choice made it onto my list. It's become a running joke that whenever someone wants a TV show recommendation, I will respond with suggesting they give Barry a whirl (shoutout to the one person who had the sense to listen to my wisdom and binged the whole series). It's only because I want them to discover how good the show is.
I first heard of Barry a few months after it was released in America and I vaguely knew of the plotline: a comedy series about a hitman. I remember thinking to myself, how on earth do they get a show about a hitman to be remotely funny, without being slapstick? And then I saw the reviews it was getting, along with people raving about the show, and the awards it was picking up, so I decided to give it a watch. And boy, did I not regret that decision.
Like I briefly mentioned, Barry is a comedy series about a hitman, named (you guessed it) Barry. But it is so much more than that one-line description can ever convey. Bill Hader plays Barry, a former Marine who has taken up the occupation of carrying out hits on intended targets. When the series begins, we see Barry stuck in a rut, deep in the depression he used to feel after leaving the military. When attempting to carry out a new hit, he follows his target into an acting class and somehow winds up on stage with who he was sent to kill. As they end the scene they were performing, the class applauds and you can see Barry finally finding that something that he felt was missing in his life. Even though he is a terrible performer, he is accepted into the class and finds that is his new mission, while struggling to juggle his other lifestyle alongside. The comedy is mainly featured in the acting class scenes, at how terrible Barry is at acting and the reactions of the acting teacher Gene, (played by the always delightful Henry Winkler). However, Barry is not just a comedy, it's also a tense drama and there have been moments of the show that have stunned me and left me breathless. Each season has ended on a shocking cliffhanger, with no room for laughs and making the viewer desperately want more. Every actor involved in Barry is outstanding, especially the afore-mentioned Henry Winkler and the absolute star that is Anthony Carrigan with his performance as No-Ho Hank. Both actors bring the comedy to the series. I can spend days raving at how much of a genius Bill Hader is, with him not only being the lead but  the co-creator who has written and directed some of my favourite episodes. However, I will let you decide for yourselves. Barry is available on HBO in America, to purchase on YouTube in the UK, and for however else you may enjoy shows that aren't as easily accesible to stream.


Derry Girls (2018-present)

 
For my final choice in comedy TV shows to binge in a lockdown, I went with Derry Girls. Even though the series started in 2018, I've only recently jumped on the bandwagon in discovering this delight of a show. Better late than never, right?
Derry Girls follows the lives of Erin and her friends who are growing up in 90s Northern Ireland. It gives an insight into how life was during the major troubles going on in the town of Derry, all from the perspective of the five main characters: Erin (played by Saoirse-Monica Jackson), her cousin Orla (played by Louisa Harland), their friends Claire (played by Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (played by Jamie-Lee O'Donnell) and her cousin James (Dylan Llewellyn). Each episode features a mishap that the characters manage to get themselves into, with the comedy elements coming from each character's way of getting themself out of trouble. A running joke throughout the show is that of all the characters teasing and mocking James, due to him being English. Each actor brings their personality to their character, with Saoirse-Monica Jackson's facial expressions and mannerisms, along with Jamie-Lee ODonnell's brassy character, Nicola Coughlan's anxiety and hysteria of her character Claire, Louisa Harland's amazing abilites to portray her quirky, spacey character and Dylan Llewellyn's dumbfoundness of being roped in every adventure that the girls find themselves in, all a major highlight in each episode. Being a TV series that is set in the 90s is always fun to watch, due to being someone who grew up in that era and being able to remember all the fashions and pop culture that went alongside it. The show does have its moments of reminding the viewer of the serious situations happening in Northern Ireland at that time, but mostly it is lighthearted and truly a laugh-out loud series. Another show that is easy to binge due to its length and subjects, Derry Girls is available to stream on Netflix and All4.


So those are my choices that always bring a smile to my face, and I hope the same applies to you. If you have any other suggestions of light-hearted shows to binge during this time, I am always open to hear from you. Remember to stay safe out there and to stay distracted with however you decide during this uncertain time.


 
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