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Cape Town – We’re totally addicted to television! Comedy, drama, action, documentary and even some science fun – here’s what the team at Channel24 is watching right now.
1. SHOT IN THE DARK
Available on: Netflix
My first job as a journalist was as a crime reporter at a community newspaper. Those first two years of my career were probably the toughest. I used to have to rush out to crime scenes in the middle of the night. While everyone else was sleeping, I was staring at dead bodies. That might be why I’m obsessed with this new Netflix series, Shot in the Dark. It’s a docu-series that follows three rival freelance stringers in Los Angeles as they scour the streets at night to film crime scenes, fires, accidents - and anything else they can sell to news outlets. It’s like the real-life version of that very disturbing Jake Gyllenhaal flick, Nightcrawler. The cinematography, grading and finishing touches on this show are spectacular. Don’t expect dodgy camera work or grainy footage – these guys know what they’re doing. The underlining rivalry, danger and voyeuristic look at tragedy is what makes this show thrilling to watch. It’s not for the faint-hearted. – Herman Eloff (Editor)
2. THE GOOD DOCTOR
Available on: M-Net (DStv 101) and DStv Now
Who doesn’t love a good medical drama? But let’s face it, Shonda Rhimes set the bar pretty high with the not only medical but emotional drama Grey’s Anatomy. Having said that however, The Good Doctor is a breath of fresh air we all need from all these other mediocre Grey’s wannabes. Shaun Murphy is autistic and has savant syndrome, he also happens to be a surgeon who faces the challenges of being judged for his condition, having to constantly prove himself and making it in the world on his own. In The Good Doctor, creator David Shore has managed to tie emotion, humour and suspense together to make a perfect package and in case you’re wondering, the medical cases the TV doctors face are totally legit and actually make sense – that coming from a close source who happens to be a doctor. If you’re into medical dramas, funny bits and perhaps shedding a tear or two then The Good Doctor is for you. - Bronwyn McKay (International News Editor)
3. THE BIG BANG THEORY
Available on: Showmax (Seasons 1-9)
Yes, I know what you’re all thinking… Big Bang Theory?! Yes, The Big Bang Theory. I know there are many people who just don’t like this series (here’s looking at you Alex), or get it, but I have truly liked it from the very beginning. So, after having just finished Mindhunter, which is a very dark and disturbing series, watching Big Bang Theory is the happy-go-lucky series I need right now. I can literally be in the worst mood ever until I watch a random episode of Big Bang Theory, then I’m all better. Characters Leonard, Sheldon, Amy, Penny, Bernadette, Howard and Raj are fun and relatable and it’s just a series where you don’t have to think about anything, you can just relax. Jean-Marie Korff (Music Editor)
4. MYTHBUSTERS
Available on: Netflix
MYTH: The reason that some pirates wore eye-patches had very little to do with an eye wounded in battle, but rather keeping the eye accustomed to low-light conditions, and improving night vision. This is one of the interesting myths busted that totally blew my mind on a recent episode of Mythbusters. In the 45-minute episodes, hosts - Jamie Hyneman, Adam Savage, Kari Byron, Tory Belleci and Grant Imahara - put weird (and sometimes outrageous!) myths and urban legends to the test, to find out which are confirmed and which are busted. With 15 seasons under its belt, and having first aired in 2003. The myths are still relevant, interesting and each episode is funny, and entertaining. So, if you want to know whether a penny dropped from a skyscraper will embed in concrete or if a high tension cable snaps could it slice a person in two, Mythbusters is the show to watch. Graye Morkel (Editor, The Juice)
5. WYNONNA EARP
Available on: Netflix
If you're into butt-kicking action with a side of the supernatural and a sprinkle of awesome then I would highly recommend this show. It was created by Emily Andras who was the showrunner on another one of my favorite shows, Lost Girl. This ultra-cool Buffy the Vampire Slayer-like series stars Melanie Scrofano as the title character who is the descendant of lawman Wyatt Earp; a legacy that entails much more than it sounds. She's joined by her sister Waverly (played by Dominique Provost-Chalkley) and a slew of other characters that round out the fantastic cast and play really well together. From demonic revenants to witches and hellbent baddies, Wynonna Earp is the kind of show that someone who revels in unpredictability might enjoy. – Alex Isaacs (The Juice – Content Producer)
6. THE FIXER (AKA SCANDAL) S7
Available on: DStv Now
I have been a die-hard fan of The Fixer since it first hit our television screens. When the announcement was made last year that season 7 would be the final season I was both relieved and a bit sad. Relieved because the show can end on its own terms and sad because I’ll be saying goodbye to Olivia Pope and the gladiators. The new season picks up where the last one left off: Mellie as the new president of the United States, Quinn now in charge of OPA (now QPA) and Olivia as the new head of B6-13. The new Olivia is scary AF, papa Pope has nothing on her. What’s keeping me glued to my screen is to see if the character will find some redemption before the end of the series. As far as the rest of the plot goes the mixture of politics and personal drama still has the same intrigue to entertain and in some ways enlighten as it is filled with social commentary about the political state of the US. – Leandra Engelbrecht (TV and Movies Editor)
Channel24 is part of Media24 a subsidiary of Naspers.
(Photos: Supplied/Vuzu Amp/Netflix/M-Net/Facebook)
(Hat tip to The New Yorker)
