Mood: The world is too serious, I want easy laughs
Shows: The Office and Parks and Recreation on Prime Video; That 70s Show and Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Netflix
You can’t go wrong with the classics. These shows have perfected the art of delivering good vibes in the most effective way, and let’s be real, we could all use more of that right now.
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Mood: That wasn’t enough, I need more laughs, please
Shows: Schitt’s Creek, Man like Mobeen, and Derry Girls on Netflix
Watch them before you go to bed to minimise the stress of COVID-related dreams, or in the morning to start your day off on a light note, or in the afternoon, because really, there is no bad time for feel-good humour.
Related article: 12 signs that you’ve adjusted to being in quarantine
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Mood: I need my problems to seem small
Shows: Black Mirror on Netflix; The Handmaid’s Tale on Prime Video
You might think we are already living in a dystopia, and you wouldn’t be wrong. But these shows will remind you how much worse it can be (or is likely to be in the future).
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Mood: I need to shake my brain into action
Show: Money Heist on Netflix
This Spanish language crime series is fast paced, intriguing, and anti-establishment—what more could you want? As a bonus, the subtitles make sure your mind is actively engaged, and not wandering down a TikTok rabbit hole.
Picture courtesy: Rawpixel
Mood: I want something that will see me through the entire lockdown period
Show: Jane the Virgin on Netflix
This telenovela has 100 episodes, and each one is 45 minutes long. That’s 4,500 minutes of pure drama, complete with suspenseful music and over-the-top narration. If you like your TV shows to be grounded in reality, we suggest you avoid this one.
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Mood: I want something to anchor my day around
Show: Ramayan on Doordarshan
Tune into it on Doordarshan at 9 AM and again at 9 PM, every single day of the week. Plan the rest of your day around it to give yourself a false semblance of order.
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Mood: I want something wholesome to watch with my family
Shows: One Day At A Time on Netflix; Panchayat on Prime Video
The former is about a tightly-knit Cuban-American family. The latter is an honest depiction of a rural community in Uttar Pradesh. Family feels are guaranteed.
Related article: “There’s a TV show for that”
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Mood: I need something tangible to be angry about
Shows: Love is Blind on Netflix
Really, it will have you yelling at your screen. As a bonus, if you ever needed an argument supporting your theory that marriage as an institution is problematic, this show is it.
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Mood: I want to go back to the time when the words ‘COVID-19’ and ‘coronavirus’ had no meaning
Show: Game of Thrones on Hotstar
Sure, the final season was such a drag that you renounced the show for good, but maybe watching season one again will take you back to a simpler time, when your anxieties were not pandemic-induced.
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Mood: I want to watch what the IDR team recommends
Show: Fleabag on Prime Video
You’re welcome.
