Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Prescience

By necessity, I've had to curb my news intake since the election. I used to read BBC news every morning, and always had NPR on when I was working in the kitchen, but since every day brought new horrors as Cabinet choices were announced, I've cut down drastically. I read and listen enough to stay informed, make my donations, and practice peace and tolerance.

I work at home, and sometimes it gets pretty quiet. Because I was no longer listening to NPR all the time, I thought maybe a Netflix series would make good background watching/listening. I had watched The Crown twice, so the bar was fairly high, and then I remembered The West Wing. The first four seasons portrayed the wonderful kind of fantasy world that I liked to imagine represented the Obama administration - caring, intelligent, thoughtful people always trying to do the best for their country. And then I came to the end of season four.


I had completely forgotten about John Goodman as House Speaker Walken, who becomes President when President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) invokes the 25th Amendment. President Walken is a bully, ready to wage war and bulldoze everything that Bartlet's team has accomplished. We see him arriving at the White House as a dark, looming shadow, then striding confidently into the Oval Office. He takes over, saying, "Now, I thought you all had some good ideas, but somebody ought to make it clear to the people in this room that someone is in charge." 



Soon after, President Walken says, "I'm going to blow the hell out of something, and God only knows what happens next." 

I could only play a few episodes of season five before my imagined similarities of life after January 20, 2017 became too much for me. It looks like I'll be giving Stranger Things a try. Your suggestions for other good series to watch are welcomed!

13 comments:

  1. I've had to cut way back on the news I watch as well. Dale, on the other hand, is listening to NPR even more intently than he did before the election. I assume you've watched House of Cards? How about True Detective?

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  2. Soooo scary. I second True Detective, particularly Season 1. Veep is pretty funny too!

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  3. I cut WAY back. Like little. And unfortunately I love WP and NYT but they write such inflammatory titles that I stopped clicking their op eds. It's too much. Like you, I am focusing on me, I watch the evening news (abc or nbc) I find that to be the least upsetting. It is what it is.

    I find NOT reading news feeds has freed up some significant crafting time :) :) :)

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  4. I am practically living in a cave these days . . . just can't listen or watch the news at all. I venture out for the NY Times enough to keep informed. But ... I've just been listening to audiobooks. Or concertos. XO

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  5. Ooof. Little blips of news is about all I can take!!

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  6. I'm also in avoidance mode. Audio books, podcasts, and music have been my companions. If I'm in a TV mood, anything that's a BBC crime drama will get me to watch. Currently I like The Fall, but FYI, it's a bit gruesome. (IMO, House of Cards is too much like the news.)

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  7. Like all the rest, I am really trying to limit my news intake, however, my husband is a news addict, so I can only avoid it so much. For Netflix, I recommend the series River, Marcella, Last Tango in Halifax, Happy Valley, and Rake(the original Australian version). Rake is hilarious, Marcella has a strong female protagonist, River is just weird in a wonderful way (the acting!), and Last Tango is a family oriented drama. Happy Valley is a crime drama that is very good. If you have not watched The Night Of on HBO, it is a murder mystery that involves immigration issues that is mesmerizing and one of the best of the year. Can you tell I lean toward BBC productions? ;) I agree with your assessment that political dramas are all too reminiscent of real life right now.

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  8. You've just given me an idea for another series to watch while there is nothing on tv! I do not have Netflix, so have to buy them on DVD. But I'm find with that. We are presently watching China Beach!
    Been a long time since that show was on. But I'm enjoying it - again... and we finished with the 4th season of Longmire. I read the paper every morning and I start to read political articles and then I'm like I can't - I just cannot read any more of this! Then I try again the next day and start mumbling and pacing around the room. So I'm going to quit any of them in the paper - unless they have to do with Obama or Clinton - LOL!

    Linda in VA

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  9. I am in the "aimlessly searching out intelligent news" that does not speculate on what every tweet means, what the unsaid means - and it saddens me that PBS Newshour and NPR seem to have joined the bandwagon. IMO, the news needs to be reporting on real news - and leave him out to hang. Seriously. Tweeting is not newsworthy.

    As for Netflix - The OA is so far, so very good! Other very good things - Hinterlands (because Wales) Broadchurch, Witnesses, Spiral, The BBC's Wallander as well as Henning Mankell's Wallander, Top of the Lake, Dicte, The Honorable Woman, The Fall, Chef's Table (excellent and worldly!) I second River, Last Tango in Halifax, and Happy Valley! They have made 3 of the Department Q novels into movies - they are well done and riveting. If you like Viking history - The Last Kingdom is not bad either. Oh.. and LUTHER!!

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  10. I never watched West Wing ... and now it looks like I never will! I do think The OA is very nice diversion...haven't seen the entire season, but five episodes in I can't wait for Marc to got to bed so Sara and I can watch Ep 6. Haven't read all the comments, but Kat is right above me and I second The Honorable Woman and Last Tango in Halifax.

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  11. Just this evening I thought that maybe I need therapy because I can't watch the news without feeling anxious, upset, angry, & frightened, but the more I thought about it, the more my response seems normal. I read the weekend NY Times and listen to enough NPR just to keep informed. I spend more time reading and watching Netflix. I enjoyed Last Tango in Halifax & Wallander & am currently enjoying the 2nd season of Frankie & Grace. I'm looking for anything to take my mind off current politics.

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  12. I'm going to recommend Midsomer Murders (also know in my house as Midsomer Massacres). It's a wonderful BBC detective series. (18 seasons I think) If you find you enjoy you will have many hours of enjoyment.

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  13. If you have Amazon Prime, try Good Girls Revolt.

    I'm with you on news. My filter bubble now needs a filter bubble.

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