2024 Recommendations: TV, Podcasts & More
This week marks 2 years of Sujata Said...Thanks for reading and sharing
Television
Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix - 3 seasons): This show is an enjoyable legal procedural and has a wonderful cast, the best being lead actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. There is always one season long case focus, along with small cases and the lives of the friends and staff and adversaries of the law firm. I hope Netflix continues it past its third season.
Little Bird (PBS or Amazon Prime): This is a 6-episode Canadian drama that originally aired on the Aboriginal People’s TV Network. Focused on the history of Canadian settler colonialism, specifically children they “apprehended” and put out for adoption - this is based on the real “Sixties Scoop.” This fictional series follows Behzig as she looks to find her born family in 1985, with simultaneous flashbacks of the 1969 period when she and her siblings were “apprehended” from their family, and then separated by adoptions. The themes of belonging, assimilation, trauma, genocide, and yes, of dividing existing marginalized communities (her Jewish adoptive family and her born Native family) are reflected in the strong and emotional storytelling and acting.
Man on the Inside (Netflix): Created by The Good Place and Brooklyn 99 creators, this show was delightful, moving, and funny with a great cast full of the showrunner regulars like Ted Danson and Stephanie Beatriz (using her real voice, not her Rosa voice!) along with great character actors you will recognize. It’s about friendship, family, aging, grief, trust, and there’s a mystery! The show was inspired by a true story told in this Chilean documentary, The Mole Agent, and I expect another season is on tap.
Shrinking (Apple TV - 2 seasons): I loved season 1 of this show, created by the Ted Lasso team, and season 2 continued on a good path. It deals with grief and expectations, found and chosen family and friends. It’s also fun. It’s a great ensemble cast, and Harrison Ford and Jessica Williams have great chemistry. Jason Segal’s character is still my least favorite but eveyone else is tops!
Slow Horses (Apple+ - 4 seasons): Season 4 just finished airing and at least one more is on the way. It’s a spy show. It’s an action show. It’s also about a bunch of misfits who have to support each other. I haven’t read the novels it’s based on but I was drawn to it because of the Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Sophie Okeonedo of it all.
Somebody Somewhere (HBO/Max - 3 seasons): The final season ended last week and I already miss these people. This group of found and chosen family in Kansas are wonderful, quirky, funny, and real. I love this show and its creator/star, Bridget Everett.
“But everyone in the HBO series’ found family of friends, centered on BFFs Sam (Bridget Everett) and Joel (Jeff Hiller), is decent and struggling with the kinds of everyday issues that are small in the wide scheme of things but also the most important stuff life has to offer: feeling left behind when friends couple off, making space for your partner’s countertop appliances after moving in together, getting offended when a friend’s wife suggests you’re a bad influence on their spouse because you brought doughnuts to softball practice…Also, if this show were a person, it would make fun of anyone who said “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” loudly and using a great deal of profanity…Watching every single episode makes you feel better about humanity, at least for a little bit. What a gift.” - Vulture, Best TV Shows 2024
Sort of (Max - 3 seasons): I have already mentioned this AMAZING, funny and sweet show in previous newsletters, and now it’s over, with 3 seasons of great stories. This is a Canadian dramedy created and written by and starring Bilal Baig, a queer, transfeminine Muslim creator, as Sabi. Sabi is one of the most lovely people on TV. I want to know them, be their friend and hug them. The cast of friends, employers and family (oh the family! I watch these scenes over and over) is something!
We are Lady Parts (Peacock - 2 seasons): In 2021, this British show captured my heart and I told everyone who would listen that they had to watch it. It is about a Muslim women punk bad (We Are Lady Parts), their friends, their lives, their families and their audiences. It’s everything great about British comedy series - banter, eclectic groups of people thrown together in a challenge, and lots of ridiculous journeys they take together. Season 2 was about what happens after they have success and it’s about pride, ego, great music, and what it costs to have success.
Podcasts
I still listen to my faves Vibe Check and Pop Culture Happy Hour and The Slowdown on the regular and to Empire which, since I first mentioned it in my inaugural newsletter 2 years ago, has covered not just the British Raj in India, but the Ottomans, Russians, US, Mughal, Chinese, Buddhist, Persians and so many more, and continues to go into many many more empires over history! But these are the limited series podcasts and specific episodes that really got to me this year.
Behind the Bastards Podcast: I go through their library and listen to the episodes I’m personally interested in and recently that’s been the Peter Thiel, Dr. Oz and Robert F Kennedy Jr episodes, current and worrisome Bastards, but they do a wide range from all eras of history and the world!
Empire City-The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD (Limited Podcast Series): This series is well-researched and timely. It is the untold history of the NYPD, why it was founded, by whom, who fought it, the inherent corruption, and the too many connections to the present. History repeats and rhymes, and yes, corrupt NYC mayors who are former cops play a part! And added bonus is the host, Chenjerai Kumanyika, is someone I really enjoyed on another fav podcast series, Seeing White.
“On Volatile Emotions with Naomi Klein and Hala Alyan,” On the Nose Podcast episode by Jewish Currents: I was moved and challenged by this conversation and cannot recommend this 48 minutes more especially in these times. With favorite poet, author, and psychologist, Hala Alyan and writer Naomi Klein, this was about grief, trauma and volatility specifically about Palestine and the Genocide, but then so many other things came up during the robust conversation. It was so good, it’s not even an hour and worth your time.
Three Million, BBC Radio Four Podcast (Limited Podcast Series): During World War II, an estimated 3 million British Citizens, died of famine in Bengal. This famine was intentional, all for the benefit of the British war effort and Empire, at the direction of Winston Churchill. It’s relevant to those of us who care about telling history without whitewashing, and about evergreen military tactics, like forced famine, that feel like "history” but are being used around the world today.
Baby Animal Joy
Moo Deng is 5 months old and still the best!
Pesto the Penguin is fully fledged and can swim!
Haggis: Edinburgh Zoo shared that a baby pygmy hippo was born on October 30th and they named it Haggis!! So yet another account I visit daily for joy.
Baby Huskies in the Snow!
Baby Cheetahs at the Cincinnati Zoo!
