Ou have o 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 and failed naughty dog disciplinarian.
I am watching: Season 3 (of 3) of vampire mockumentary series What We Do In The Shadows (WWDITS) on Showmax.
The vampire roommates dominate the Vampiric Council this season
My take on this show: Our four favourite inept, bickering vampire roommates went from certain slaughter for breaking the rules of the dreaded Vampiric Council at the end of last season, to being in a position to sit on the (single) throne themselves this season thanks to their “familiar” and dogsboy, Guillermo’s (Harvey Guillén) skill with the stake and Van Helsinglike genetic reflexes. But ruling anything nowadays doesn’t mean sacking, pillaging and burning villages. Instead, it requires a dreary amount of red tape, administration and website maintenance. And as the series’s larger world of creatures expands, we also get to meet a mythologically accurate Siren. My favourite moment so far: Nadja’s (Natasia Demetriou) possessed doll is back for a major storyline in episode 7 and we get a montage of her life in the house with the vampires. Why I am watching it now: I was eagerly awaiting this season but it dropped in December when I was being avalanched by work. Rediscovering this was like finding a secret tub of ice cream. Familiar faces: Celebrated director and WWDITS co-creator Taika Waititi returns as his original vampire character Viago.
Terry Settle composes a classic murder board.
My take on this show: I love the premise – part of the show is scripted in that detective Terry Settle (Will Arnett, see below) is given a new partner (played by a celebrity, like actress Sharon Stone) in every episode. The new detective duo then have to solve a murder with three suspects. Terry follows a broad script, but his new partner doesn’t have it and doesn’t know what is coming. In the end, the new partner has to identify the murderer with the clues they gathered during their investigation. Even Will Arnett can’t hide his laughter sometimes when he gives his new “partner” ridiculous tasks, such as walking funny, mimicking someone’s moves or going undercover. I love to watch for the hidden clues and guess the murderer with the partner (I’ve been right each time so far!). My favourite moment so far: Seeing a “corpse” trying to hide his smile when the celeb guest is pulling something from their open mouth!
Why I am watching it now: I liked the idea of a show that’s scripted but also made up on the spot. And I like the celeb “detectives” they’ve chosen. Familiar faces: I remember Will best as George Bluth in comedy series Arrested Development.