Books, films and television to pair with a rancid fever
January 7, 2016 2:09 AM Subscribe
I've come down with a full-on flu, and despite my best efforts, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I'm basically couch-ridden and very, very feverish. Help me find media to consume that won't weave itself into my horrific fever dreams.
I'm in the UK and I have Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and Netflix. I made the mistake of watching the entirety of 'Flesh and Bone' on Monday, and not only does it have a ton of distressing scenes of sexual assault, it felt very druggy and gave me really strange dreams as I dozed on and off. I'm also reading 'Perdido Street Station' - same effect. I tried watching 'The Following,' but it seems my fever latches on to any scenes of violence and plays them over and over again as I sleep fitfully.
Help me find very, very bland, very light, very distracting content to stave off boredom over the next few miserable days. Things that have worked: reading my entire collection of Guy Delisle's wonderful travelogues, and a bit of 'Call the Midwife,' though all the placentas made me feel a bit queasy. My usual tastes do not apply here; I need TV and books your grandmother would love. Again, I'd really prefer stuff I can find on Prime, iPlayer and Netflix, but I'm happy to purchase things via Amazon.
I'm in the UK and I have Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and Netflix. I made the mistake of watching the entirety of 'Flesh and Bone' on Monday, and not only does it have a ton of distressing scenes of sexual assault, it felt very druggy and gave me really strange dreams as I dozed on and off. I'm also reading 'Perdido Street Station' - same effect. I tried watching 'The Following,' but it seems my fever latches on to any scenes of violence and plays them over and over again as I sleep fitfully.
Help me find very, very bland, very light, very distracting content to stave off boredom over the next few miserable days. Things that have worked: reading my entire collection of Guy Delisle's wonderful travelogues, and a bit of 'Call the Midwife,' though all the placentas made me feel a bit queasy. My usual tastes do not apply here; I need TV and books your grandmother would love. Again, I'd really prefer stuff I can find on Prime, iPlayer and Netflix, but I'm happy to purchase things via Amazon.
It's not really a program to sit down at watch, but 2 hours of real-time Arctic circle reindeer sleigh trip might be nice background sounds for dozing.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:55 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:55 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
The BBC show doc Martin.
posted by slateyness at 3:03 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by slateyness at 3:03 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Aronofski's Pi.
(don't. don't. because I did).
along what Brainmouse said, I'd go with shows like Pawn Stars or American Pickers. If you have the tendency to drift in and out of consciousness, most times things are settled between 4 and 7 minutes each in PS and maybe 10/15 in AP. And there's loads of shows like that.
posted by lmfsilva at 3:08 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
(don't. don't. because I did).
along what Brainmouse said, I'd go with shows like Pawn Stars or American Pickers. If you have the tendency to drift in and out of consciousness, most times things are settled between 4 and 7 minutes each in PS and maybe 10/15 in AP. And there's loads of shows like that.
posted by lmfsilva at 3:08 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
IThe whole of the 1990s BBC Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth one) is available on Netflix and should take up a few hours. I also recommend A New Leaf on Netflix (it does have a supposed murder subplot but nothing happens and it's essentially comic) and The Shop Around the Corner, which is available to rent from iTunes and is very easy to watch and charming. (There is a sub-plot involving infidelity and a suicide attempt for one of the secondary characters, but it isn't dwelt on and isn't really traumatic to the viewer.) Both meet the grandmother-friendly criterion for me.
If you like British comedy, Netflix also has the whole of Only Fools and Horses, The Office and The Thick of It, and a couple of seasons of That Mitchell and Webb Look. There are also some gorgeous and peaceful nature documentaries available on both iPlayer and Netflix. iPlayer just now has Gorilla Family and Me, the Great Barrier Reef, and one called Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth, and there are a few Attenborough documentaries on Netflix, including the whole of the Blue Planet series.
Also, when I'm ill and can't focus, I like panel shows and Graham Norton show episodes with celebrities I have a vague affection for. Quite a bit of Would I Lie to You is on YouTube, and four episodes of the current season of QI are still available on iPlayer. If you are willing to branch out to radio, old podcasts of Desert Island Discs and In Our Time are also quite soothing.
posted by Aravis76 at 3:14 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you like British comedy, Netflix also has the whole of Only Fools and Horses, The Office and The Thick of It, and a couple of seasons of That Mitchell and Webb Look. There are also some gorgeous and peaceful nature documentaries available on both iPlayer and Netflix. iPlayer just now has Gorilla Family and Me, the Great Barrier Reef, and one called Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean on Earth, and there are a few Attenborough documentaries on Netflix, including the whole of the Blue Planet series.
Also, when I'm ill and can't focus, I like panel shows and Graham Norton show episodes with celebrities I have a vague affection for. Quite a bit of Would I Lie to You is on YouTube, and four episodes of the current season of QI are still available on iPlayer. If you are willing to branch out to radio, old podcasts of Desert Island Discs and In Our Time are also quite soothing.
posted by Aravis76 at 3:14 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Once in college, when I was ill for an evening, I somehow had the idea to put Enya's "Watermark" on continuous loop. It was like very soothing aural wallpaper, and I don't even remember what I was ill with, I just remember fading in and out of sleep and that every time I woke up there was pretty music.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:35 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:35 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
The BBC show doc Martin.
It's an ITV show, not BBC. BBC America shows a lot of programming that is not actually "BBC content", and is produced by/shown on other channels in the UK.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:38 AM on January 7, 2016
It's an ITV show, not BBC. BBC America shows a lot of programming that is not actually "BBC content", and is produced by/shown on other channels in the UK.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:38 AM on January 7, 2016
The program that I find the most soothing, yet quite interesting is Antiques Roadshow. There are loads of full episodes on YouTube. Also, if you haven't watched them already, how about The Great British Bake Off & The Great Pottery Throwdown, on BBC iPlayer? I saw an eipsode of The Great Pottery Throwdown by accident while home over Christmas & really enjoyed it, despite having no interest in pottery whatsoever!
posted by cantthinkofagoodname at 3:42 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by cantthinkofagoodname at 3:42 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
When I am sick I like to watch Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.
It's been such a personal tradition of mine for years that now any time I feel like watching the movie I wonder if I'm coming down with something.
I also like youtube channels of people quietly building miniatures and model sets.
posted by phunniemee at 4:33 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's been such a personal tradition of mine for years that now any time I feel like watching the movie I wonder if I'm coming down with something.
I also like youtube channels of people quietly building miniatures and model sets.
posted by phunniemee at 4:33 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'd recommend all of the Thin Man movies. Pretty much anything from the 1930's. My Man Godfrey, anything by Preston Sturgis. Yeah. That's the stuff.
Feel better soon!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:52 AM on January 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Feel better soon!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:52 AM on January 7, 2016 [6 favorites]
Oh! Also, for some reason Edward Rutherford's book Sarum has become my go-to "I'm sick" reading book. Probably because I've already read it - I tend to just pick one of the chapters/time periods I feel like dipping into, and read. It's soapy, but calm.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:59 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:59 AM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh lord, Perdito Street Station with the flu - I feel your pain. When my wife was laid up with a fever a few weeks ago, she started marathoning Gilmore Girls, which is usually very much not our thing but was fluffy enough that you can watch VERY passively, and amusing enough to keep a flu-doped brain engaged (actually, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that we both got hooked on the danged thing and have continued watching it ever since). We're into the 4th season now and I can't really think of anything that would give you distressing dreams.
I would also recommend Once Upon a Time - it's kind of deliciously ridiculous, and while the plot does get rather convoluted at times, you can glaze over most of the details and just follow along with the glurge.
Feel better soon!
posted by DingoMutt at 5:14 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
I would also recommend Once Upon a Time - it's kind of deliciously ridiculous, and while the plot does get rather convoluted at times, you can glaze over most of the details and just follow along with the glurge.
Feel better soon!
posted by DingoMutt at 5:14 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Gilmore Girls! Got me through chemo.
posted by something something at 5:15 AM on January 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by something something at 5:15 AM on January 7, 2016 [7 favorites]
I would burn through all of The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones, but that is just me. Just kidding. Those are tough even when you aren't sick.
How about all of Downton Abby?
posted by jtexman1 at 5:59 AM on January 7, 2016
How about all of Downton Abby?
posted by jtexman1 at 5:59 AM on January 7, 2016
I always like something like Murder She Wrote or Psych or Miss Marple when I'm sick/can't really pay attention. Yes, you're going to doze off and miss some vital clue. No, it won't matter. I have had some weird Jessica-Fletcher murder dreams but they weren't particularly threatening-feeling.
posted by mskyle at 6:38 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by mskyle at 6:38 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]
Begin Japanology! (full seasons under Playlists)
Explores an aspect of Japanese culture (a food, a holiday, a piece of infrastructure) and is really light and pleasant. Episodes are just under a half hour each.
posted by hollyholly at 6:49 AM on January 7, 2016
Explores an aspect of Japanese culture (a food, a holiday, a piece of infrastructure) and is really light and pleasant. Episodes are just under a half hour each.
posted by hollyholly at 6:49 AM on January 7, 2016
I've been sick and binge watching tv too. My suggestion if you have Amazon Prime is Transparent. If you have Netflix, Mixology.
posted by Marinara at 7:38 AM on January 7, 2016
posted by Marinara at 7:38 AM on January 7, 2016
I'm not sure if The Paradise is on Prime, but it's on Netflix and is just the most low stakes little costume drama ever. I've been rewatching during some recent stress, which I rarely do, because it's just that comforting to watch spunky competence used to sell parasols and similar Victorian doodads.
posted by tchemgrrl at 9:18 AM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by tchemgrrl at 9:18 AM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Great British Bake Off is surprisingly soothing. Rest well and dream of absurdly elaborate pastries.
posted by bookgirl18 at 9:59 AM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bookgirl18 at 9:59 AM on January 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Librivox has thousands of audiobooks for free. Catch up on the classics and you can close your eyes.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:37 AM on January 7, 2016
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:37 AM on January 7, 2016
I have been home sick and "Happy Endings" which is now in its entirety on Hulu has done the ticket.
posted by raw sugar at 1:14 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by raw sugar at 1:14 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I gravitate towards cute cartoons and sitcoms in this situation. Maybe try We Bare Bears? It's cute and funny, not super childish, and doesn't have any moments of bizarro horror/acid trip weirdness like Adventure Time or The Regular Show do. Some episodes are available on the Cartoon Network website.
As for sitcoms, maybe try New Girl?
posted by yasaman at 5:18 PM on January 7, 2016
As for sitcoms, maybe try New Girl?
posted by yasaman at 5:18 PM on January 7, 2016
I'm having a similar issue (although my problem is chemo, not the flu), and I really enjoyed watching all of Brooklyn-99, a current sitcom about a police precinct. Funny, light, minimal violence or gross stuff. Streaming on Hulu.
I also really enjoyed the Chef's Table documentary series on Netflix. So soothing and pretty.
posted by jeoc at 6:51 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I also really enjoyed the Chef's Table documentary series on Netflix. So soothing and pretty.
posted by jeoc at 6:51 PM on January 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
When I had the flu a year ago, I watched many episodes of the YouTube series "Roadkill."
Per Wikipedia, "Roadkill is hosted by David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan, editor-in-chiefs from Hot Rod Magazine." As such, the two guys fix up cars and drive them foolishly, usually in contrived situations like:
posted by wenestvedt at 9:41 AM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
http://www.roadkill.comThere's no material to cause scary dreams; the episodes are about half an hour each, so there's no emotional drain; and they usually feature something happily dumb. It was perfect for being a brainless husk for five days, most of which I spent in a military sleeping bag or a hammock. I know very little about cars, and I found this a bunch of fun.
Per Wikipedia, "Roadkill is hosted by David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan, editor-in-chiefs from Hot Rod Magazine." As such, the two guys fix up cars and drive them foolishly, usually in contrived situations like:
- Turn an old Jaguar into a hot rod (YT link)
- Compare a day driving a Lamborghini with a day driving the Sailor Jerry Rum promotional hot rod (YT link)
- Compare a VM beetle and a pickup truck for driving up and down California's desert sand dunes.
- Fly to texas and allow themselves three days to select a junk car, fix it up, and race it at a local track (YT link)
posted by wenestvedt at 9:41 AM on January 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Of, if you are ok with things with engines, try anything Guy Martin.
posted by lmfsilva at 10:42 AM on January 8, 2016
posted by lmfsilva at 10:42 AM on January 8, 2016
« Older London hotels - dark, indulgent and luxurious? | Who can name this game from the late 90s? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by brainmouse at 2:25 AM on January 7, 2016 [2 favorites]