You have no idea!
At tvplus we watch an absurd amount of television. And while we might not like all of it, we do our best to give every show a fair viewing. But it’s not all work. We do get passionately attached to shows.
Streaming allows us to follow series and binge to our hearts’ delight, and also fit our favourite shows in around all the live TV viewing that we do professionally. It allows us to sit back with a sweet, funny pickme-up after reviewing intense dramas and thrillers on dark topics. And sometimes it just lets us switch off and enjoy for a moment when we’re neckdeep in season 4 of a twisty, detail-driven show with 40 different essential characters.
This issue, here’s what tvplus is watching for fun… and why.
Name: Genevieve Terblanche.
Position: senior writer, stalked by a streaming service for not finishing series.
I am watching: reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race (2019-now) season 13 on Netflix.
My take on this show: as a Drag Race fan, I’m a bit overwhelmed. I barely made it through Canada’s Drag Race (2020) and flunked out of Drag Race Holland (2020) last year, so I was a bit pressed when I learnt that the original show’s new season was starting early January, with season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (2020-now) launching in the UK mid January. But the moment I saw the first episode of season 13, I was back in fullon obsession. The artistry of the transformations and the performers’ singing, dancing and comedy talent gets me every time. And this season brings the twists to the series’ format! My favourite moment so far: Drag Race performer Denali being forced to lip sync for her life in her entrance outfit… which meant she was dancing in ice skates.
Why I am watching it now: I am a drag addict and I was even catching up on (the incredible) Drag Race Thailand (20182019) while waiting for this season to start
Familiar faces: the most delightful guest judge so far is Nicole Byer, host of baking disaster reality show Nailed It! (2018now). Can she join the panel permanently, please?
Name: Lucia Poolman.
Position: editor who’s craving all-you-can-eat sushi.
I am watching: drama show Better Call Saul (2015-now), season 1 (of 5, so far) on Netflix. Looks like there will be 6 seasons in total.
My take on this show: this prequel spin-off from drug drama show Breaking Bad (2008-2013) reveals how Saul (Robert “Bob” Odenkirk, see below) became such a successful rescue-thedodgy lawyer. I was astounded at how they pulled in characters from Breaking Bad into the episodes, but Better Call Saul can completely stand on its own.
It’s not as violent as Breaking Bad but forms a solid backstory of an interesting, enigmatic and troubled character.
My favourite moment so far: in the first episode, the colour-play is amazing. Everything you see in black and white is Saul’s current situation at the end of Breaking Bad. Then he watches a tape with his TV commercials and you can see it reflecting in colour in his glasses, hinting that everything you’ll see in colour is the backstory to how he got there.
Why I am watching it now: it was natural to watch this after Breaking Bad. I may get tired of gangsters and schemes soon, but I’m enjoying it for now. Familiar faces: before his success in Breaking Bad, Bob was active behind the scenes as a writer for sketch show SNL (1965-now) from 1987 to 1991.
Name: Andrea Lewis.
Position: scheduler who loves New York City.
I am watching: documentary series Pretend It’s A City (2021) on Netflix.
My take on this show: renowned US author and public speaker Fran Lebowitz gives opinions, anecdotes, history lessons and social commentary on everything New York City. Her acerbic wit and observations are spot-on and hilarious. What a life she’s lived. I love that each episode has her walking through NYC, and it made me eager to return, having vowed not to go while deranged, racist Donald Trump was president.
My favourite moment so far: too many to count. In episode 2 Fran recounts being chased by legendary jazz pianist Charles Mingus. In episode 3 she talks about the time when she was possibly the only female cab driver in the city, and in the same episode, in an interview clip, she tells movie director Spike Lee (Do The Right Thing, 1989) how she dislikes sports but then casually mentions she was with Frank Sinatra at the 1974 boxing fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden.
Why I am watching it now:
I miss travel, going anywhere, and stumbled on it while trying to ease my restlessness.
Familiar faces: New York movie director Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, 1972) appears. He also directed the doccie series.
Name: Ipeleng Rakgantsho.
Position: writer who’s bingeing early noughties Bollywood movies. The drama, suspense, dancing – so therapeutic.
I am watching: crime drama Top Boy (2011-now) season 3 (2019) on Netflix.
My take on this show: set in a fictional estate in London, this gripping British drama follows the rise of best friends Dushane Hill (Ashley Walters, Ronnie in action series Bulletproof, 2019-now) and Gerard “Sully” Sullivan (Kane Robinson, Mark in thriller film Tower Block, 2012) who’re determined to be the most-feared drug dealers aka Top Boys in their neighbourhood once again. However, there are plenty of hurdles they must overcome before taking over the streets, like a crew of teen sellers led by charming yet ruthless Jamie (Michael Ward, Marco in crime film Blue Story, 2019). The fight is wild.
My favourite moment so far: there’s a moment in episode 4 where a friend of Sully’s dies in a tragic scene. I was in tears. Why I am watching it now: one word: Drake! I read that it was canned after season 2 (2013). But following musician Drake Graham’s (2018 album Scorpion) interest in the series,
Top Boy was renewed for a third season. Drake is also the executive producer.
Familiar faces: singer Simbiatu Ajikawo, who’s known by her stage name Little Simz (2019 album Grey Area), as Dushane’s love interest Shelly.
Name: Craig Falck.
Position: deputy editor who is a grumpy old fart (Ed’s note: all lies, he’s lovely!).
I am watching: drama series Succession (2018-now), seasons 1-2 are on Showmax – hopefully there will be a third soon.
My take on this show: tycoon media boss Logan Roy (Brian Cox, Hannibal The Cannibal in 1986 horror movie Manhunter) throws his family into chaos by announcing that he’s not going to step down as CEO because none of his children are good enough to succeed him. Then he suffers a stroke, leading his kids to fight over the job. Miserable old geezer that Logan is, even a stroke can’t stop him and he seizes back control.
My favourite moment so far: every single time Logan reminds his son Kendall (Jeremy Strong, Art in drama Masters Of Sex, 2013-2016) what a disappointing imbecile he is.
Why I am watching it now: I’m tired of being sweet and kind. Just kidding. I watched historical drama film Troy (2004) in December and needed to see if Brian (who played mean King Agamemnon) was as moody and cruel in any other work. Familiar faces: Alan Ruck (Stewart in sitcom Spin City, 19962002) as Logan’s eldest son Connor, Keiran Culkin (Rye in 2015 of drama Fargo, 2014now) as wild-child little brother Romulus, and James Cromwell (George Sibley in drama series Six Feet Under, 2001-2005) as Logan’s hateful brother Ewan.
Name: Kashief Achmat.
Position: scheduler who has only now discovered the joys of frozen grapes.
I am watching: anime series Great Pretender (2020-now) season 1 on Netflix.
My take on this show: Makoto Edamura considers himself Japan’s première conman, and rightly so. Not caring about scamming old folks out of their last savings, he meets his match when he comes across French conman Laurent Thierry, who drags Makoto into a whole different level of scams and cons that makes him question whether he’s really as good as he thinks he is, and if he should continue living his life as a career criminal.
Why I am watching it: I’ve never been one to shy away from suggestions from Netflix and this show hasn’t disappointed. The stylised animations are a breath of fresh air with polarising colours that shouldn’t be put together, being mashed up to make characters and scenes work perfectly.
My favourite moment so far: each episode leaves you on a sort of cliffhanger, so you’re lured into watching the next episode as soon as possible. Which brings us then to the end credits song, Freddie Mercury and Queen’s 1973 rendition of The Great Pretender. Familiar faces: no – it’s anime. Netflix offers an English dubbed version, which is cool, but it just doesn’t feel very anime-ish when you do watch it.
Name: Tumi Kunene.
Position: senior designer who’s had enough of the aircon! Where’s my blankie?
I am watching: medical drama series Transplant (2020-now) season 1, Mondays on Universal Channel (*117) at 20:00 and also on DStv Catch Up.
My take on this show: another medical drama, I know, but it looks more realistic than the others I’ve watched.
My favourite moment so far: when Dr Bashir Hamed (Hamza Haq, Gopal in crime comedy series The Indian Detective, 2017) is on the phone trying to help his medical student friend back in Syria to treat a girl who needs to have her leg amputated. That was an “at the edge of the seat” moment for me. Eventually, Bashir’s housemate Dr Theo Hunter (Jim Watson, Pat in sci-fi series Between, 2015-2016) helped to get the procedure done despite the language barrier, thanks to his super phone skills.
Why I am watching it now: I got drawn in from the first episode when the truck drove into the café where Bashir was working as a cook, and he displayed his knowledge of medicine by saving Dr Jed Bishop (John Hannah, DI Stephen Grover in crime thriller series The Victim, 2019), head of the hospital’s emergency department, by drilling right into his head with a power drill. Familiar faces: Torri Higginson (Commander Truffault in sci-fi series Dark Matter, 20152017) as head emergency nurse Claire
Malone.