Monthly Watchlist: Dramatic, Traumatic, and Hysterics This October
PUBLISHED October 13th, 2022 09:00 am | UPDATED October 18th, 2022 11:48 pm
It’s officially spooky season, but if you’ve already finished binging your favourite horror movies or just want to be able to sleep at night, check out what we’ve been watching! From dramatic retellings of real life stories, side-splitting slapstick, and dark tales that are more horrific than horror, we’ve got it all.
Emily’s Pick: Thai Cave Rescue (2022)
Genre: Drama
Though slightly overshadowed by petty accusations of pedophilia over a submarine, the Tham Luang cave rescue in 2018 was a deeply intense and high stakes event that ended as well as we could have hoped. The Thai-American series is the the only production to involve the Wild Boars as the companies involved secured the rights from the company established by the boys’ families and their coach. Thus, the roller coaster of emotions is heightened in reenacting the efforts and experiences of the international rescue party as well as the trapped youth football team members.
Thai Cave Rescue is available for streaming on Netflix.
Kim’s Pick: Man vs. Bee (2022 – )
Genre: Comedy
Trevor Bingley takes on a house-sitting job for a wealthy couple to save up money for a trip he promised his daughter. But there’s a problem – a bee. This nine-episode long war depicts the struggle of one man fighting to fix the messes started by his battles with the bee, only to create more in a never-ending but endlessly hilarious cycle. Kim’s on the bee’s side. As she puts it, “[i]t is relentless, unbeatable, unkillable, intelligent and vengeful”. Of course, it’s also winning.
Man vs. Bee is available for streaming on Netflix.
Tanisha’s Pick: Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
Genre: Biographical Crime Drama
This true story follows the journey of the legendary Gangubai Kathiawadi, known as one of the “Mafia Queens of Mumbai”. Tricked and sold into the sex trade by her very own lover, Ganga struggles in dire circumstances after her betrayal until rising to the very peak and helping countless people along the way. It’s a horrific yet inspiring and engaging tale, which Tanisha feels is deeply important as it “sheds light on the red light industry – which India is known to run away from to safeguard its reputation.”
Gangubai Kathiawadi is available for streaming on Netflix.
Leo’s Pick: Fleabag (2016 – 2019)
Genre: Dark Comedy
Where is the line between coping mechanism and unhealthy avoidance? Fleabag tells us there might not be one. As the titular Fleabag (the protagonist is never named in the show) gets into various messes, running away from the grief over the death of her best friend, she turns to the audience with looks and quips as if gossiping with a friend. And she’s funny. Very funny. But while privy to her humour, we also become privy to how her inability to take things seriously and hypersexuality as trauma responses destroy her life and relationships. It’s very funny. And extremely tragic.
Fleabag is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
Wen Jing’s Pick: The Bear (2022)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
We’ve all seen the ‘Sexually Competent Dirtbag Line Cook’ photo, but did you know there’s actually a show behind those tatted arms? Fine-dining chef Carmy finds himself back in his hometown of Chicago after being left a sandwich shop by his late brother. Used to the glitz and glamour of fine-dining in New York, he struggles with the gritty affair of managing a small business, along with the cast of characters working with him. For Wen Jing, Marcus the pastry chef’s passion and innovation made him the most endearing,
The Bear is available for streaming on Disney+.
Sharmaine’s Pick: The Handmaid’s Tale (2017 – )
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
This needs no introduction. The dystopic tale by Margaret Atwood comes to life in a gripping series set in Gilead, “a strongly patriarchal, totalitarian theonomic state” that has overtaken the former United States of America. Here, some women such as our protagonist Offred are assigned to be ‘handmaids’, serving as brood mares to the male ruling ‘commanders’ with no say. It’s a disturbing warning of the dangers of allowing misogyny to run rampant, and one that feels especially pertinent after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The Handmaid’s Tale is available for streaming on HBO.
Top image: Fleabag, courtesy of BBC Three.
