That’s not to say it’s good, per se, but that it’s so bizarre, it’s hard to look away.
TV to watch if you can’t take U.S. politics
— Sonia Rao
on
The Witcher,
plus other shows you can str eam right now to take your mind off
... else,
everything
Between Supreme Court confirmation hearings, buzzy vice- presidential debates, and the prospect of duelling town halls between networks and presidential nominees, live television is a necessary evil in these times. But, blessedly, it’s not our only option. With that in mind, we bring you this multigenre list of shows you can stream right now to take your mind off ... everything else.
Schitt’s Creek ( Netflix/ CBC Gem)
All six seasons of this Canadian sitcom, which became a sleeper hit and went on to sweep the comedy categories at this year’s Emmy Awards, are now available to stream. The show follows the Roses, a wealthy family that loses its vast fortune and is forced to relocate to a motel in a small, unfortunately named town the father originally bought as a joke. Veteran comedy duo Catherine O’hara and Eugene Levy play the matriarch and patriarch, and the supporting cast (which includes Levy’s real- life son and daughter) is nothing to slouch at. Go forth and binge this pure delight.
The Boys ( Amazon Prime)
So you have a Prime subscription, but you always forget to check out the offerings there. We’ve got you covered. This comic-inspired series follows a team of vigilante outcasts determined to save the world from superheroes drunk on their own power. As The Washington Post’s David Betancourt noted following the show’s second-season première last month, The Boys is not for the faint of heart — expect gore galore — but it’s a thrilling ride if you like to root for the underdog.
The Haunting of Hill House ( Netflix)
Before The Haunting of Bly Manor premièred Friday, there was this stirring horror about the Crain family and the ways in which its members were affected by the creepy, sprawling mansion they once called home. Watching the first season of Netflix’s anthology isn’t a prerequisite for Bly Manor, but if you’re a fan of gothic horror and standout acting, you won’t regret it.
The Witcher ( Netflix)
How to best explain this fantasy drama starring Henry Cavill as a platinum- blond monster slayer for hire? Let’s revisit what The Washington
Post’s Sonia Rao wrote last year when The Witcher became a thing. “It’s been advertised as Netflix’s very own Game of Thrones, but has also proved to be an entertaining fantasy series in its own right,” Rao explained. “That’s not to say it’s good, per se, but that it’s so bizarre, it’s hard to look away.”
You ( Netflix)
Penn Badgley is unnervingly good as Joe Goldberg, a literature- obsessed ser
ial killer who exudes Boy Next Door- charm even as he fixates on his would- be victims. The first season enjoyed a low- key following after premièring on Lifetime, but the show really got attention after it hit the streaming service. The second season, which premièred exclusively on Netflix, upped the thriller ante by introducing Love Quinn ( Victoria Pedretti) — Joe’s latest object of desire — and a delicious twist.