Seeing as we’re back in lockdown again, I thought I’d share my top recommendations for 11 things I’ve watched on Netflix recently, including 2 youtube channels I have discovered recently..
Netflix Recommendations
◦ Emily In Paris – I’m sure everyone has seen this so I’ll keep it short. It’s a a slightly trashier version of Gossip Girl meets Sex And The City. I love seeing how Paris is always portrayed to be a dreamy city on TV, like in this show. However, I’m not a fan of Paris, so in my opinion it’s not like that at all, in real life, but it made me realise that Paris to Americans is like New York City to us – we just can’t get enough of it!
◦ Interior Design Masters – I’m really into interiors at the moment, so loved seeing the creativity of everyone in this competition. A group of contestants have to design various places including a hotel room, restaurant, retail shop and student halls. I thought the main judge was a bit harsh but I loved seeing all the different decor styles.
◦ Jack Whitehall Travels With My Father – Jack takes his stuffy dad around the world on a gap year, in a bid to loosen him up and encourage him to see the world in a new light. The whole show is just pure banter and even though Jack is the comedian, his dad’s quick wit and ability to outsmart his son at every given opportunity is hilarious. The show is a bit like marmite though, because while I love it, Jass can’t stand it because it often comes across as scripted. The first season is the best one!
◦ Dead To Me – A dark comedy about two women who become unlikely friends despite their polar-opposite personalities. The show deals with some heavy issues like the mutual grief the two women share, but it’s also full of comedy and drama.
◦ Somebody Feed Phil – A great watch if you love travel and food. Phil travels to a different city in the world in each episode and tries the local cuisine. I’m not sure he’s the best person to host the show as he doesn’t have any opinions on the food apart from ‘I love it’ which gets a bit boring. I find it fascinating though, especially seeing the countries I’ve already visited, partly because, as a vegetarian I haven’t been able to try a lot of these dishes myself. It does make me want to travel the world even more than usual though.
◦ Indian matchmaking – this was a very divisive dating show, showing how various affluent families hire a matchmaker, Sima Taparia to find a spouse for their children. Though it may seem far fetched in parts, it gives you a true insight into the reality for many (not all) Indian families. Haters say the show is sexist, classist, casteist, racist, misogynist, regressive etc, but annoyingly, it’s sadly all true. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions if you watch this though, a lot of it made me quite angry!
◦ Netflix India posted a follow-up video, reuniting the cast of Indian Matchmaking, on their YouTube channel. I have to say that the presenter is very annoying and a bit cringey to watch but it was nice to see what happened after the show was filmed. They caught up with the people featured and one of the girls that everyone disliked in the original show came across really well, and actually, I understood where she was coming from a bit more after watching that. It’s only one 40 minute video, but it’s a great watch if you’re as invested in the lives of everyone on the show as I was.
◦ A suitable girl – This is actually a movie that I think was made before Indian Matchmaking. It follows three women up until their wedding days; observing the severe social and familial pressures they face to get married and documenting their loss of independence. I felt incredibly sorry for two of the girls, and interestingly, the third one is actually Sima Taparia’s own daughter!
◦ Selling Sunset – This is reality TV with a difference. The show revolves the women who work for around the Oppenheim Group; a high-end real estate firm in LA. There’s high fashion, glamour, stunning houses and of course, drama. It’s almost like one of those guilty pleasure shows we hate to admit we enjoy watching while secretly waiting for the next season to drop!
YouTube Recommendations
◦ Ziang’s Food Workshop – This channel is a mum and son; Chin and Choo who show you how to recreate Chinese takeaway dishes. I’m a huge fan of Asian food, and they have been running takeaways for 3 generations in their family (and still currently do too) so I find it fascinating to see how the food is made. There’s a video on crispy seaweed which made me feel like I’d been lied to my entire life as they don’t actually use seaweed at all! Iv’e also made some of their recipes, and I have to say they are spot on!
◦ Delish – Another food channel, but this is a business that employs numerous people (chefs?) who each film food related videos. They had a video; ‘Cooking 8 dinners for $25 in NYC’ that went semi-viral and kept popping up in my sub box so I caved and watched it. It was the start of a ‘budget eats’ series and I’ve been obsessed with June & have watched lots more videos she’s filmed. Not only is she entertaining to watch because of her great personality, she’s also a culinary genius and can create some incredible meals out of very basic ingredients. She needs her own channel for sure!
Have you seen any of these? Let me know what you think of these; if you’ve seen them, or especially if you have any recommendations of things for me to watch.
If you’re sick of watching lots of Netflix, and are looking for more things to do during lockdown, I made a list of 101 Things To Do When Social Distancing & Bored At Home here.
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