I watch a lot more TV than I do movies and rarely are either Important. Sure, I really love a lot of different shows but rarely does anything stick in my mind as something beyond “I enjoyed that, that was really good.” Nonetheless, I’ve listed what I’ve got plus a couple of recommendations of stuff that’s good but not Important towards the end.
- Three Idiots: I don’t actually watch a lot of Bollywood movies. I really should (given that I’m Desi), but they tend to focus so much on romance and boy can some of them draaaag. But there’s some really wonderful movies there. Like Three Idiots! I’ve watched this movie like eight solid times, way more than any outside children’s movies. Does it drag at times? Yup. Is there a completely unnecessary romance? Absolutely. But it’s incredibly funny, the music is great and has a really wonderful message for little me. The whole “Do what you love” spiel that’s common in western media but rarer in Pakistan. It’s unlike a lot of other pieces of Desi media, and there really isn’t anything quite like it, even after all these years.
- Jigsaw: No, not the horror movie. The stand up comedy special by Daniel Sloss. I maintain that he’s one of the funniest comedians of the modern era and one of the only ones who does dark comedy well. Most others will just say something bigoted and say “Wow, I’m just speaking my mind.” Sloss’s comedy features jokes about some really, really heavy topics. But it never comes across as mean or punching down. It’s actively punching up and adressing things seriously at times. There’s a playful cruelty to a lot of his jokes. There are bits about wanting to kick babies and convincing his Goddaughter to flip off horses, but it all feels like it’s in good fun.
Now that we have the general “This is why I like it” out of the way, let me talk about Jigsaw in particular. It’s a stand-up special about relationships, the way we in the West talk about relationships, mental health and the natural state of things. It’s about the ways in which we look to relationships as a way to fix other problems, since we’re taught that we need romantic fulfilment to feel whole. It’s a tight, well-written piece of comedy all in service of the point that it’s alright to take time. That love is difficult and complicated, but you shouldn’t break yourself to be with someone. He makes a joke about counting the number of break-ups and divorces his special has caused. It’s up in the quadruple digits last I checked. But it’s not sad, like the way that break-ups are usually presented. It’s moving on from toxic relationships and building a positive mindset. It’s a piece about trying to grow into being a better partner. And that’s a message I need sometime. Especially sandwiched between some very, very funny jokes.
- Resident Alien: I’m watching this currently. It isn’t the best show in the world, but Alan Tudyk as an alien kills me everytime and not enough people have seen it.
- Tuca and Bertie: It’s a comedy with a lot of heart and Amazing visual gags.
- Your Name: I know everyone has already seen Your Name by now, but hoo boy do I get super emotional every time I watch it (which has been a handful of times by now)
- Holy Musical Batman: I know this is neither a show nor a movie but it’s my list so shut up. It’s a Starkids musical about Batman that I watched with a friend. I can’t help but love it (even if I do think The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals is better.)
