So you’re a beauty junkie and want to watch something diverting while you’re social distancing? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. (Also have a look at our reading list here.) Here’s our beauty binge watching compilation!
What we’re watching
Dorit: ALLLLLLLLL the reality TV shows running right now: nothing better than watching other people bake (Bake Off everywhere!) and sing (The Masked Singer). The last movie I watched was David Tennant’s and Kelly McDonald’s The Decoy Bride (Amazon): the Hebrides and people with romantic problems. It’s like comfort food for the soul. (I needed subtitles, though – the Scottish accent is real!)
Astrid: I realized that in times like this, or overall when I’m going through tough times, I tend to crave two things: escapism and things that make me laugh.
Currently I am binging on Kingdom (Netflix). It’s gory, it’s full of zombies, it’s a period drama, and the story is so well made. One of my favorite series ever. Also, Elite (Netflix): One part drama of rich school kids, other part murder mystery. Not as great as La Casa de Papel, but if you want to see Gossip Girl meets crime show, this is the one!
Escapism
D.: 7 Days Out – World’s Biggest Events: Chanel Fashion Show (Netflix)
Do you find watching highly competent people doing their thing as soothing as I do? Then let the preparation to Chanel’s 2017 Spring runway show in Paris wash over you. The show follows the seven days before the show and gives you a peek into a very foreign world (at least for me) – that’s part of its charm.
A.: The Lord of the Ring trilogy, extended version (the longer the better!) (Amazon Prime)
I can definitely conquer the tough time when Frodo can get to Mordor!
A.: Star Trek series, any of them (Netflix, Amazon Prime)
I’d love to imagine the future where we live sustainably on earth, have higher ethics, explore outer space, and collaborate with other species. It is almost like an ideal future to me (not really wanting to occupy Mars, but rather solving earth’s issues and then to boldly go to where no man has gone before!)
A.: All the Studio Ghibli features (Netflix)
Everyone knows Spirited Away (my personal fave!) and Princess Mononoke, but you know what I unexpectedly find really great?
My Neighbors The Yamadas. It tells a story of a (flawed) Japanese family. After a while, you can totally relate to them, especially in this time where some of us would get ‘stuck’ with our family almost the entire day. I can’t be one who is all zen about it and be like ‘I love spending every moment with my husband!’ Yes, I love him very much, but there are moments where he drives me nuts (and I him). It is nice to get to see that families fight, get silly, and stick together despite their flaws.
Reality TV
D.: Glow Up (Netflix)
Watching ten makeup artists compete in different challenges to work with a global agency should be fun and I definitely hoped to get inspired or pick up a trick or two. Sadly, instead of a light-hearted romp like The Great British Bake-Off (the BEST reality show, no question), I found the scripted drama a bit heavy-handed and the judges (MAC’s Dominic Skinner and L’Oreal’s Val Garland) cliché-laden at best. Watching it while doing chores, though? Just the thing.
D.: Queer Eye – more than a makeover (Netflix)
Okay, I’ll take it back: THIS is the best reality TV show. Five gay guys bring makeovers to deserving people, and it’s heart warming and uplifting. If you haven’t watched it: watch it now! If you’ve watched it before: watch it again!
A.: Next in Fashion
Hosted by Tan France (of Queer Eye) and Alexa Chung, this is like Project Runway without the contestant dramas. I love how the designers are (mostly) supportive of each other and less catty overall. Also, the designers came from different countries which made the design perspective so much more interesting!
A.: Nailed It!
I am most likely going to do a worse job than the contestant in this show! Sometimes it could seem too scripted but overall it’s really really funny.
Educational
D.: The September Issue (iTunes/Amazon)
This 2009 documentary follows the US-Vogue staff (including the formidable and terror-inducing editor-in-chief Anna Wintour) around when they prepare the most important issue of the year: the September Issue. (You could, for a fictionalised narration of the same thing, just watch The Devil Wears Prada, of course.)
D.: Beauty Laid Bare (BBC Player)
A rather deep dive into the beauty business. It definitely brings some interesting facts to the fore, and while its four (amateur) investigators can be slightly annoying, I found it definitely worth my time (also, I enjoyed seeing both ColourPop’s and Benefit’s PRs squirm at some of the questions). You’ll need a VPN for watching, but googling should help with that.
Laughs
D.: Blow Dry (Amazon)
This 2001 gem has Alan Rickman and a host of great actors in a dramedy about a former star hairdresser called back to the stage when his ex-wife begs him to compete in the national hairdressing championships. Hijinks ensue. Sheep are dyed green. Heart warming.
A: Fun animation shorts on Netflix like…
- Aggretsuko. It’s about a cutesy working girl in Japan who love metal music for tension release. The characters are depicted as animals.
- Molang (also on YouTube). It a friendship story of a tiny bird and a bunny. There is no dialogue, just funny sounds. The characters are just so blissfully happy, in a way that someone without a burden can do. I love to get reminded of that. Also perhaps it’s fun to watch with your kids.
- Dino Girl Gauko. A schoolgirl who turned into a dinosaur when she’s angry. It could turn into a totally kiddish show, except that her friends are an insane bunch (aliens, talking baby, duck, ‘normal’ kids, and so on). It’s completely absurd but it super fun to watch.
1 Comment