Author: Annie Hoang
Whether you’re avoiding your responsibilities or taking a little break from your packed schedule, I’ve compiled a short list of some of my favorite procrastination pastimes. With no further ado, here’s a list of some of the shows I watched on the days I spent on streaming services instead of checking Canvas.
1. The Midnight Gospel (Netflix)
The Midnight Gospel is a glorious display of sensory overload, from its psychedelic visuals to the leaps that its dialogue takes, from conversationally absurd to absolutely heart-wrenching. The series follows Clancy, a space caster who traverses different worlds through his universe simulator, interviewing inhabitants about life, death, and everything in between. Even more insightful is the fact that most of the dialogue is unscripted. Clancy’s interviews with intergalactic guests are derived from the podcast of Duncan Trussell, one of the creators of the show. The show’s guests range from an addiction medicine specialist, playing the “Little President” to a country ravaged by zombies, to Trussels’ own mother, who passed before the release of the show. I’ve watched the series through twice and still find myself wanting to go back and see what little details I missed. Despite the bright, trippy visuals there’s something so raw and human about these conversations. Paired with these bits of honest wisdom are strange and, at times, endearing, characters, creatures, and landscapes that act as a metaphor for the topics discussed. Honestly, of any of the shows on this list, I would say that this is the one you wouldn’t want to miss out on! Plus, with all its little bits of honest wisdom and mastery of animation, it’ll absolve you of the guilt from putting off a huge art project or avoiding that hundred-page philosophy reading.
2. Reservation Dogs (Hulu)
If you’re interested in a coming-of-age comedy that packs a tragic punch, look no further than Reservation Dogs. This show follows four indigenous teenagers after the loss of the fifth member of their group, navigating life on the reservation as they attempt to steal, barter, and save enough money to escape rez life in rural Oklahoma. It’s a beautiful depiction of friendship and the triumphs and tragedies of youth, occasionally tilting towards the surreal and always putting its all into its humor and heart.
3. Inside Job (Netflix)
This one’s for all you STEM majors with daddy issues, mommy issues, and/or a taste for conspiracy theories. Inside Job is a workplace comedy centered on Cognito, Inc., an American shadow government organization that controls the world through subliminal messages and the concealment of conspiracy theories. Yes, lizard people are real. The same cannot be said for the moon landing. Most importantly, flat earthers are the same amount of idiotic in this cartoon as they are in real life. The earth is, however, hollow, so I guess they weren’t too far off. Reagan Ridley, our protagonist, is an absolute mess with big dreams of taking over the world and a knack for engineering just about anything other than a healthy relationship with her parents…or anyone around her. She gets paired with Brett Hand, a people pleasing, ex-frat guy who has deep-seated abandonment issues. Together, they lead a team of equally dysfunctional individuals with specialized skills to manage the world’s conspiracies. The show’s humor is raunchy, tragic at times, and doesn’t shy away from weirdness. The characters grow on you, just as they grow on one another.
4. Heartstopper (Netflix)
If you’re in the mood for something short and sweet to tug on your heartstrings, then Heartstopper is for you. This show is the embodiment of a warm hug on a rainy day. Also, it’s British…very British. Heartstopper follows the love story of Charlie, a shy boy who’s got a plethora of talents and an unfortunate past with bullying, and Nick, the kind-hearted rugby jock who’s having a bi crisis over wanting to kiss his new best friend. Along with Nick and Charlie’s budding romance comes the compelling stories of their friends. Elle, a trans girl from Charlie’s friend group who transferred from their all boys school following harassment from faculty and students alike, navigates new friendships at the all-girls school next door. Tara and Darcy, a lesbian couple who have newly come out to everyone at school, navigate the impacts of coming out to the world, supporting one another along the way. The characters are quickly loveable, and I found myself quickly rooting for everyone, despite the missteps taken along the way. The webcomic that the show is based on, which is free to read on WEBTOON, goes on to tackle topics of mental health and navigating a relationship with someone struggling to get the help that they need. As someone who enjoyed the comics, I can wholeheartedly say this was one of the best page to screen adaptations I’ve seen. Let’s hope that it gets a second season!
Annie Hoang | If you check any of these out, I’d love to hear your thoughts! | KXSU Arts and Music Reporter