Five retro shows to escape into this weekend
Step away from the conveyor belt of new content and savour some old TV hits, as well as a gripping true crime rec and a fascinating doco about Kiwi hip-hop group Home Brew.
This week in Rec Room we’re tipping our TV caps to the shows of yore. With so much new and premium content at our fingertips these days, it’s easy to forget that some of the best shows to watch are the ones we loved decades ago – the shows that resonated with us at a young age, or comforted us through tough times, or had a weird obsession with farting cows. I’m all for a nostalgic watch, and I’ve found some of the best box sets on the telly for you to fall back in love with this weekend. / Tara Ward
Let’s embrace the nostalgic joy of watching vintage telly
In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with the latest “must watch” prestige drama, there’s something special to be said for acquainting yourself with some good old TV. Over the summer, I rewatched Ally McBeal (Disney+), the quirky American comedy-drama about an eccentric group of Boston lawyers. The show dominated popular culture in the late 90s, and watching it two decades later, I rediscovered a series that was both smarter and more problematic than I realised. It also featured a lot less of that ooh-ga-chugga dancing baby than I remembered, which is probably for the best.
Streaming services also seem to be aware that viewers are seeking escapism and nostalgia through their TV screens. It’s no accident that Suits was the most streamed show in America last year after being added to Netflix, or that thousands of New Zealanders have watched the original Shortland Street episodes from 1992. As the world becomes more uncertain around us, it’s reassuring to revisit those shows we enjoyed years ago, as imperfect as they might be by today’s standards, or just finally getting around to catching up with content you missed the first time around. (Game of Thrones, I’ll get to you one day, I promise.)
Just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it’s not good, right? Here’s a few recommendations for some of the best TV shows from the past few decades to binge watch, preferably while wearing a pair of low waist bootleg jeans and playing snake on your Nokia 3310.
House (Netflix, eight seasons): The world went batshit for House in the late 2000s, and now that Netflix has dropped every season of the Hugh Laurie medical drama, we’ve fallen in love with it all over again. It’s currently sitting in Netflix’s top 10 most popular shows, with eight seasons of the cranky but brilliant Dr Gregory House (Laurie) using his extraordinary skills to solve the weirdest of medical cases. One online fan described the show as both serious and “rib cracking funny”. They might want to see a doctor about that.
McLeod’s Daughters (TVNZ+, eight seasons): McLeod’s is a heartwarming, feminist series from the 2000s about two sisters running a farm in Australia, but it’s also a valuable educational tool about how not to drown unexpectedly in a silo of grain. Remember when Claire made Tess walk a bloated cow around the garden until it farted? You don’t get that in Netflix’s nine millionth Harlan Coben adaptation. Be warned: season three is an emotional rollercoaster, and I’m not talking about the time Meg’s chutney went all weird and she couldn’t work out why.
Line of Duty (TVNZ+, six seasons): Line of Duty set the bar high for police dramas when it debuted in 2012, giving us six action-packed seasons about three detectives working for a police corruption unit. More than anything, Line of Duty proves that you can’t trust anyone and you should always wear a nice vest when dealing with the criminal underworld. It’s British crime drama (and waistcoat fashion) at its very best.
Grey’s Anatomy (Disney+, 19 seasons): If you’re committing to watching all 19 seasons of Grey’s then you won’t have time to read this newsletter ever again, so thank you and goodnight. Like old mate McBeal in the 1990s, Greys dominated popular culture in the late 2000s, bringing “vajayjay” into the public consciousness and making ‘Chasing Cars’ a global hit. The medical drama also gave us season after season of empowering friendships, heartwarming relationships and compelling storytelling. Justice for Denny! Justice for everyone wearing scrubs.
Gloss (YouTube, three seasons): I’m nervous about recommending Gloss in case it gets taken down from YouTube, but if it does I shall put on my widest hat and channel my fiercest Maxine Redfern to get over it. You can also see episode one on cultural treasure trove NZ OnScreen. Gloss is one of our most iconic shows, a weekly primetime drama that revelled in the opulence and glamour of the 1980s. Don’t let the cultural cringe factor stop you from rediscovering this gem – yes, it’s over the top, but the fashion is delicious, the drama genuinely gripping and the plot absolutely out the gate. Bring it back, immediately.
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Why you should watch: American Nightmare (Netflix)
I have a hard time trusting Netflix originals, but believe me when I say that this four-part true crime twister is well worth your precious time. Directed by Felicity Morris and Bernadette Higgins, the duo behind The Tinder Swindler, American Nightmare is a genuinely astounding suburban kidnapping saga that takes the very sharpest of turns at the end of every single episode. I binged the entire thing in one sitting last weekend and genuinely was so captivated that I could not even get up to pee. Is my Netflix-induced UTI the real American Nightmare? If I learned anything from this documentary, the answer can and WILL shock you. / Alex Casey
Why you should watch: Run It Back (YouTube)
The Spinoff’s resident Home Brew fan Tommy de Silva dived into Run it Back, a new two part documentary that captures the New Zealand hip hop group’s rise and rebirth over the past few years. Tommy says the docuseries is a frank portrayal of the musicians whose music represents New Zealand society like nothing else, and a fascinating insight into why it took the group 11 years to make their second album.
“Home Brew’s journey throughout Run It Back is nothing short of inspirational,” he writes. “Run It Back is a must-watch film for fans keen to get a behind-the-scenes look into the psyches of Huavi and Scott, as well as front row seats to Home Brew’s rise, hiatus and triumphant rebirth.”
The Spinoff pop culture links of the week
You can stop looking! Alex Casey found the mystery Shortland Street baby.
Check out all the new shows and movies dropping this week, including Asher Keddie’s new Australian drama and a fresh season of Ghosts.
With One Day taking the streaming world by storm, Mad Chapman devoured the series in one sitting and reckons you’re probably not prepared for that ending.
Comedian Guy Williams reveals the TV stunt he rejects the most in this week’s My Life in TV.
Sam Brooks spoke with TikTok megastar (and Auckland teacher?!) Paloma Diamond.
Why you should watch: This is Me…Now: A Love Story (Prime Video)
This might just be the most bonkers film you watch this weekend, this year, this lifetime. This is Me…Now: A Love Story is Jennifer Lopez’s new musical film, a cinematic extravaganza that’s part romance, part drama and part fantasy, and everything unfolds to the soundtrack of Lopez’s first studio album in 10 years. Even the film’s synopsis doesn’t clarify what the heck is going on: “This is Me…Now: A Love Story is like nothing you’ve ever seen from Jennifer Lopez, a narrative-driven cinematic odyssey, steeped in mythological storytelling and personal healing.” J-Lo fans, your time is now.
Before we pop off…
That’s it for Rec Room for this week. If you liked what you read, why not share Rec Room with your friends and whānau.