As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I live a lifestyle that involves very little television. While there are shows I love, I am likely to catch up on TV in large chunks. That being said, while in the ‘detox phase’ a juice cleanse I decided to spend two days in marathon of rest, relaxation, and TV escapism. When you spend your life gallivanting around London, nothing seems more indulgent than catching up on a few of your favourite TV shows.
First up, Game of Thrones – when everyone about me caught the Game of Thrones bug I wasn’t sure what to expect. From what I gathered from broken conversations, I was anticipating lust, intrigue, Kings, Queens, savage scenes, and dark forces. Unable to resist temptation – though it didn’t really seem like my kind of thing – I settled in to see what all the fuss was about. Thoughts? It’s graphic, it’s exciting, and very easy to see why watching the struggle for the Iron Throne keeps everyone on the edge of their seat. (I later learned it’s based on A Song of Ice and Fire – one of George R.R. Martin’s best-selling novels!)
After watching a series of plots disentangle and several characters meet their fate, I decided it was time to put something a little more light-hearted on. Though I was late to join the fan club, I am slightly obsessed with the hit US comedy Girls. Almost every woman I know can relate to the happenings in this dysfunctional group of twenty-something women, and watching the countless mortifications (and few triumphs) unfold around the beauty of New York is only part of what makes this witty dramedy a must-watch. The girl crushes are rampant; Lena Dunham not only stars in the series but also created it (alongside Jenni Konner and Judd Apatow), and she has amazing chemistry Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet and Allison Williams .
To satisfy my ‘reality’ TV fill, I decided to finish my weekend watch with a few episodes of Entourage. Though it jumped the shark quite a few years ago, its depiction of celebrity lifestyle – following Vincent Chase on his journey to stardom – rings as true as ever.
It leaves no room for dispute: HBO is the TV Messiah. All of these hit TV shows (and many more I’ve loved; Sex & The City, The Wire…) are all aired on the network. There are a number of other shows I have my eye on (all here!)); for now, however, it’s back to the real world.