Nick’s List of Pop Cultural Stuff 2019

Favourites, in no particular order other than that in which I remembered them... (and yes, I really do own that telly above).

TV

Chernobyl

Dramatising the history of the USSR is difficult to get right while still telling the story with a sense of emotional truth, because cold facts alone can ground it in a kind of historical inertia. Not only did this mini-series get it absolutely right, it is both harrowing, utterly and painstakingly focused and gives the viewer the sensation of what is must be like to be consumed by the state system that surrounds you. It is superb from top-to-bottom, must-watch drama that should, along with certain other works that so accurately detail unpleasantly truthful episodes in humankind’s story, be a “set text” in schools globally to show children how not to run the world. 

Spiral (Engrenages) S7

Gilou, Laure, Josephine et le Juge Roban with a couple of episode’s worth of Tintin. ‘Nuff said. If this is the end, it was one of the best cop shows ever. If we get a series 8, I truly wonder if they will be able to keep the tremendous quality of writing going, but I wouldn’t say merci, non. 

The Expanse S4

Mind-expanding. Just gets better and better with each season. Probably the best SF show on TV in the last decade. 

Fleabag S2

Like nothing else on TV. Might actually be art with a capital A, and also maybe one of the most memorable shows ever. 

Dark S2

Also like nothing else on TV (although maybe it is a German-language Lost done right).  Purports to be a spooky show about time travel but is in fact an exquisite, labyrinthine family drama with a superb cast. I love it. Probably the best SF show on TV in the last decade. (Yes, I may have already said that.) If you haven’t seen it, make sure you watch in the original German language version via Netflix’s cc subtitles option, because the dubbed version robs it of much nuance.

Succession S2

Intolerably grotesque rich people tie themselves in knots for our entertainment. Well, there has to be some compensation for us poor scum. Jesse Armstrong (show creator, formerly of Peep Show) is a genius. 

For All Mankind S1

Alt-history hidden away on Apple TV. Fans of NASA (like me) will love this finely-wrought screed upon how history might’ve gone if the USSR had landed on the moon first, but it’s much more than that. Mrs. Abadzis does not “do” SF, but was enraptured by this. The scenes set on Luna are mind-blowing, but it’s the character drama that holds it together. 

The Morning Show S1

Also an Apple TV original (I got a free year’s subscription when I bought a new phone). Star turns by many famous faces maybe but boy, it builds. Excellent performances all round but worth watching for Billy Crudup alone. The ending of S1 is both satisfying and aggravating for a variety of reasons, but we’re still talking about it and looking forward to S2. 

Euphoria S1

Stylish and sometimes dreamlike insight into the alien world of, er, teenagers and teenage drug addiction. Sags a little in middle episodes but recovers well. Great chemistry (no pun intended) between Zendaya and Hunter Schafer.  

The Man in the High Castle S4

Alt-history done right (2). Wonder if this show hasn’t found a larger audience and appreciation because of the too-timely and disturbing subject matter, but hoping that it becomes the true cult hit it deserves to be. Excellent performances all round but worth watching for a mesmeric Rufus Sewell doing the full Tony Soprano with Obergruppenführer Smith. Also superb production design.  

Mindhunter S2 

Long awaited in this household, season 2 was even more psychologically detailed and subtly chilling than the excellent S1. 

The Mandalorian S1

“You can’t do Star Wars on TV.” Yes, you can, as Jon Favreau and directors like Dave Filoni and Deborah Chow demonstrate. I won’t comment upon Baby Yoda, but my daughter did me a painting of him for a Christmas present. Pop culture rools.  

Years and Years S1 

Gaze into Russell T Davies’ crystal balls with humour, thrills and many twists. Ouch. 

The Virtues

Shane Meadows writing for the superb Stephen Graham. The ending is slightly implausible and OTT, but it’s well worth the journey. Liltingly moody soundtrack by PJ Harvey. 

Back to Life S1

Laugh hard and laugh well. Daisy Haggard has an incredible knack for capturing existential nausea and making it funny. 

Stranger Things 3

Seems to get ever more satirical with each season, an added ingredient that I enjoy. Nostalgic horror-fantasy which still shouldn’t work but continues to. 

Derry Girls

Laugh hard and laugh well (2). Daft but always highly amusing. I love the relationships in this show. 

Vienna Blood

BBC2 sleuth show set in 1900s Vienna yet somehow infused with a sense of forensic currency regarding matters of a modern society. That is, plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.  Built with primetime tricks and tics but offbeat, brilliant, hugely entertaining and stunning production design. (Coming soon, apparently to PBS in the USA.)

The Deuce S3

David Simon and George Pelecanos wrap up their portrait of the peoples of the porn industry in 70s and 80s NYC. No-one gets out unscathed. 

Russian Doll

Netflix does an episodic Groundhog Day, made bearable by Natasha Lyonne being endlessly watchable.

A Christmas Carol

I’ve seen a fair bit of online outrage towards the non-traditional approach this new version takes to Dickens’ classic, but I’d venture that Dickens, like Shakespeare, is endlessly flexible in accommodating new interpretations. I really enjoyed this take and Guy Pierce made an excellent Scrooge, while Vinette Robinson steals it.

Worzel Gummidge

A lovely, lyrical and charming adaptation of the beloved children’s books from Mackenzie Crook, also channeling his appreciation of the pastoral joys of the English countryside a la Detectorists.

Still waiting to see Year of the Rabbit, Godfather of Harlem and various others in the queue.  

Books and GNs

These days I seem to read almost entirely for the purposes of research - a pursuit that’s satisfying in its own right - but I’m not going to list those. These are a few I read entirely for curiosity or pleasure’s sake.  

The River at Night - Kevin Huizenga (Drawn & Quarterly)

The Big Nine - Amy Webb (Public Affairs / Hachette)

The Making of ALIEN - JW Rinzler (Titan)

The Lonesome Era - Jon Allen (Iron Circus)

Is This How You See Me? - Jaime Hernandez (Fantagraphics)

Billionaires - Darryl Cunningham (Myriad)

Film

I’m sure you, dear reader, have heard of most of these. If you haven’t, I doubt any critique from me will inspire you to watch them, but you should check ‘em out. 

The Lighthouse (dir. Robert Eggers)

Atlantique [AKA Atlantics] (dir. Mati Diop)

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (dir. Quentin Tarantino)

One Child Nation (dir. Nanfu Wang & Lynn Zhang)

The Rise of Skywalker (dir. JJ Abrams)

The Irishman (dir. Martin Scorsese) 

Diego Maradona (dir. Asif Kapadia) 

Booksmart (dir. Olivia Wilde)

Judy (dir. Rupert Goold)

Us (dir. Jordan Peele)

Shoplifters (dir. Hirokazu Koreeda)

Apollo 11 (dir. Todd Douglas Miller)

Can You Ever Forgive Me (dir. Marielle Heller) 

Fast Color (dir. Julia Hart)

The Favourite (dir. Yorgos Lanthimos) 

Sorry We Missed You (dir. Ken Loach) 

Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-ho)

Memory: The Origins of Alien (dir. Alexandre O. Phillipe)

Hala (dir. Minhal Baig)

The Farewell (dir. Lulu Wang)