Recommend me some TV shows
February 6, 2023 5:53 AM   Subscribe

I need to spend a lot of time lying down and resting, which means I need a lot of TV to watch. I've run out - recommend me some (details of past shows that I've liked inside.)

Things I like in TV shows: female characters, LGBT characters, characters of colour, found family, people being competent.

Things I don't like in TV shows: sexual assault. Murder is okay.

Some of the shows I have enjoyed in the past include:

All Creatures Great And Small (2020);
Astronaut Wives Club;
Bletchley Circle;
The Durrells;
Ghosts;
Hacks;
His Dark Materials;
Horrible Histories;
Legend Of Korra;
The Nevers;
Our Flag Means Death;
The Owl House;
Pose;
Prehistoric Planet;
Resident Alien;
Rutherford Falls;
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power;
Wellington Paranormal;
What We Do In The Shadows.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries to Media & Arts (53 answers total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
I just posed a link today about Rita - which I think fulfils many of your criteria.
Also: Wednesday, Lupin, The Americans, Station Eleven, The Leftovers.
posted by rongorongo at 5:59 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


Poker Face
posted by rikschell at 6:04 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]


Out of left field, but if you enjoy competence, you might like Alone on the History Channel, particularly the later seasons. It's a reality show, but there's only one gimmick: professional bushcrafters and survivalists go out in the wilderness completely alone (except for med checks) to live as long as possible off the land in winter. Don't be fooled by the "manly"-looking marketing; the tough guys don't necessarily make it. There are great women contestants, and although there aren't enough POC, they are definitely some of the best.
posted by Countess Elena at 6:08 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


Heartstopper!
posted by obfuscation at 6:12 AM on February 6, 2023 [3 favorites]


You might enjoy Sense8. I've only watched about 3/4s of it but I think it fits your criteria wrt content stuff. I can't remember any sexual assault and can't find references to any in IMDB. There's a fair bit of violence tho

Queer found family is a core theme and the main characters are majority POC and women, all being competent and solving problems. I've been enjoying it a lot
posted by okonomichiyaki at 6:13 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]


If you enjoyed Bletchley Circle, you very well might enjoy Call the Midwife. I personally am not interested in stories about babies per se, and yet I really love that show. It also eventually hits every single one of your criteria.

Plus, I'd second Poker Face, which is new.
posted by theatro at 6:16 AM on February 6, 2023 [3 favorites]


Came in here to say Sense8 as well. "female characters, LGBT characters, characters of colour, found family, people being competent." is pretty much exactly what this show is to it's core!
posted by merocet at 6:26 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


Derry Girls
posted by staggernation at 6:26 AM on February 6, 2023 [13 favorites]


Gravity Falls
Only Murders in the Building
Miracle Workers (start with season 2!)
Blackadder (also start with series 2)
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:34 AM on February 6, 2023


Pokerface
Columbo
Murder She Wrote
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:35 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


Halt and Catch Fire
posted by staggernation at 6:36 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]


Extrordinary! (on Hulu)
posted by bondcliff at 6:39 AM on February 6, 2023 [3 favorites]


Wynonna Earp checks a lot of your boxes and it’s a fun ride.
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 6:50 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]


Parks & Rec for female lead and found/work family (watch from start but know s1 is the worst, stick with it!)
Queer as Folk for LGBT characters (UK version - must admit I've not watched it since broadcast so don't know how it's held up but was great at the time)
It's a Sin for LGBT characters and found family
Homeland for a strong female lead and people being competent - though can be othering in places in a 'the middle east is full of terrorists who the Americans must defeat' kind of way.
posted by penguin pie at 6:50 AM on February 6, 2023


I recently watched The Capture, a 2-season BBC thriller that's essentially about surveillance culture. I would highly recommend it. Female lead, characters of color, extraordinarily relevant plot, no sexual assault, terrific acting. It is literally the best show I've seen in years and reminded me of what I felt the first time I watched early seasons of Black Mirror, but with the pacing of 24.

No one I know has even heard of this show (I'm in Canada). I gave both seasons a 10 on IMDB. I watched it with a VPN on the BBC iPlayer but am told it's on Netflix in Canada and Peacock in the US (though they might have only the first season).
posted by dobbs at 6:51 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


Oh, and I'd add maybe Detectorists for found family, because the metal detecting club is like a found family. And also just because everybody should watch it because it's so lovely.
posted by penguin pie at 6:51 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]


The recent adaptation of the Baby-Sitters Club. It's two short seasons but it was such a delight when it premiered during lockdown.
posted by Constance Mirabella at 6:54 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]


Lockwood & Co. (Netflix). Such a great show!!!!!
posted by ichimunki at 6:58 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]


For All Mankind (Apple TV)
posted by capnsue at 7:10 AM on February 6, 2023 [2 favorites]


Paper Girls (the only negative to this show is that the season ended)
The Americans (my favoriteist TV show ever)
Reservation Dogs (this show is so incredibly kind to its characters)
For All Mankind (for fans of The Right Stuff)
posted by NoMich at 7:22 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


Given The Owl House and She-Ra, I’d recommend Steven Universe and Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. You might also dig Maya and the Three. They variously tick several boxes you listed.
posted by xenization at 7:23 AM on February 6, 2023 [2 favorites]


The Bear
Pushing Daisies
Acapulco
Kleo
Ted Lasso
The Good Place
Abbot Elementary - I bounced off it, but you might like it. A lot of people love it. It's a pseudo-documentary like The Office or Parks and Rec.

They don't all tick every one of your boxes, but they all tick at least some of them.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 7:27 AM on February 6, 2023


i liked extraordinary attorney woo quite a bit. it's very sweet.

some have objections over the savant trope of autism in television. otoh, 'rare but accurate' has been said often.

posted by j_curiouser at 7:28 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


seconding rita. the protagonist is - for a change - an older-than-22, self-assured, empowered single mom. also, flawed.
posted by j_curiouser at 7:32 AM on February 6, 2023


The Dragon Prince on Netflix is delightful and hits many of your boxes. Nthing the suggestion for Call the Midwife. Maybe also Downtown Abbey if you like british period shows?
posted by snowysoul at 7:38 AM on February 6, 2023


I wanted to sing the praises of Lockwood & Co. I mentioned above as it is a new series and I don't think it has gotten the attention it deserves. The leads have fantastic chemistry and this alternate London is crafted well. I also love the soundtrack - postpunk/goth anyone? My favorites include "Song to the Siren" by This Mortal Coil, "A Forest" by The Cure, and "No Love Lost" by Joy Division. I think this is a hidden gem. I really hope it gets the audience it needs to continue!
posted by ichimunki at 7:48 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]


Brooklyn 99
Warrior Nun
Chuck
The Green Glove Gang
posted by Enid Lareg at 7:54 AM on February 6, 2023


Sort of
posted by sleepingwithcats at 8:18 AM on February 6, 2023 [2 favorites]


Death in Paradise (Britbox or local PBS broadcast)
Capitane Marleau (French, via MHz Choice)
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:28 AM on February 6, 2023


Halt and Catch Fire (40 episodes). The 2 women become the show's main characters, or at least have the most interesting stories, in seasons 2 and onward. Spoiler-y content note:
1 death by suicide in the 3rd season


The Middleman: a 1-season comedy-action show about a young adult, a Latina woman.
posted by brainwane at 8:30 AM on February 6, 2023 [2 favorites]


Another vote for Detectorists! I think it’s got a similar kind, funny found-family vibe to Ghosts.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:39 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


BoJack Horseman.
posted by SPrintF at 8:41 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


How do you feel about Kdramas? Because once you find one that hooks you in, you’ve got at least 16 hours of interesting TV ahead of you. Little Women on Netflix is a beautifully filmed crime-solving mystery (very!) loosely based on the book. Excellent female characters and people being competent.

I also loved Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Crash Landing on You, and Because This Is My First Life.
posted by Maarika at 8:49 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


Another vote for Steven Universe. Great story that is developed over 6 seasons, and truly revolutionary in its representations of diversity in a mainstream cartoon, and the power of empathy over violence. The best kind of science fiction for exploring alternative social realities. Funny, feel-good, chill, well animated.
posted by snarfois at 9:03 AM on February 6, 2023 [2 favorites]


Please Like Me, Call the Midwife (don't know about sexual assault though), Parks and Recreation (I actually skipped season 1 and it was fine).
posted by lookoutbelow at 9:33 AM on February 6, 2023


I just watched Better Things on Hulu, and it's an underappreciated show. Pamela Adlon is a single mom raising her 3 daughters in LA. She's a kind person who surrounds herself with found family. Funny moments, but also poignant. I haven't seen a show like it before. I'd watch an episode and wonder what it was about, but still knew that I enjoyed the ride. Passes the Bechdel test with flying colors. Some great clips/teasers here.
posted by hydra77 at 9:34 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


oh! jane the virgin is so underated and charming.

looking forward to the new gina rodriguez vehicle, gina rodriguez's not dead yet
posted by j_curiouser at 9:48 AM on February 6, 2023 [3 favorites]


You don't mention any reality competition shows, but Top Chef checks all these boxes except "found family" for me, and even somewhat checks that box when the chefs talk about why they got into cooking, what keeps them in the kitchen, what they love about their work, etc. In the later seasons particularly they really bond as a group and while of course they want to win, there's a real feeling that they're pulling for each other to do well and they admire each other's skills.

Bonus: FOUR QPOC winners in nineteen seasons!
posted by epj at 9:55 AM on February 6, 2023


You really, really need to watch Legends of Tomorrow. Skip season one or watch the first season knowing that it's really, really bad, and the production team quickly realizes that it's really, really bad and says "with season two, we're taking this show in a whole new, completely unexpected and totally bonkers direction." As the seasons progress, women come to play an even greater role, the diversity of the cast increases dramatically (by pretty much every metric you can name) and the found-family aspect becomes more important.

Even though it's a DC Arrowverse superhero/space opera/time-travel entry, you should be able to watch it without having seen any of the rest of the shows. There are a few crossovers and crossover characters, but I think they're pretty self explanatory and if not we had lively discussions on FanFare about the show, so there's a resource you can use to (maybe) get some of your questions answered. And if you get really stuck, ping me and I'll glady fill in your background holes.
posted by sardonyx at 9:58 AM on February 6, 2023 [4 favorites]


Strongly seconding The Middleman. Only one season but it is wrapped up well.

Try My Life is Murder (Lucy Lawless), set in Australia and New Zealand, and Recipes for Love and Murder (set in South Africa). Obviously both involve crime/murder mysteries but there is so much more going on, including strong competent female characters, people of color as major and ongoing characters, etc.

I like Abbott Elementary but you really need to give it a few episodes to get going.
posted by gudrun at 10:13 AM on February 6, 2023


How do you feel about musicals? If that’s a genre you feel good about, consider Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. It has a core of complex female characters with a bit of a found family dynamic. It has the best bisexual representation I’ve seen in a TV show. The songs are well-written, will not leave your head for days, and will give you funny little catch phrases to slip into your everyday vocabulary.

I watched and loved this show after someone recommended it in my own TV recommendation AskMe, so I’m always trying to pay it forward.
posted by ActionPopulated at 10:14 AM on February 6, 2023 [5 favorites]


Inside Man on Netflix. Just four episodes, great actors, good female characters, gripping.
posted by beagle at 10:41 AM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


Shrill. So funny, and has real character growth in the imperfect lead.
posted by mwahlalala at 10:58 AM on February 6, 2023


If you enjoyed Legend of Korra, I would suggest (If you haven't already seen it) - Avatar: The Last Air Bender.
posted by Julnyes at 10:59 AM on February 6, 2023 [3 favorites]


The Doctor Who spin off Torchwood is more geared towards adults than Doctor Who and has a focus on the characters and their romantic relationships, which are often same sex.
posted by cali59 at 11:09 AM on February 6, 2023


Superstore or Community on Netflix might be of interest.
posted by foxmardou at 12:25 PM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


It isn’t supposed to be fiction, but it’s full of competence and there’s a lot of it: Time Team.
posted by clew at 1:49 PM on February 6, 2023


Someone mentioned Downton Abbey and I just wanted to flag there is sexual assault. It caught me completely off guard, was not expecting it in what I thought of as a very safe, comforting show, and it was super triggering for me so heads up.
posted by Adifferentbear at 2:01 PM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]




Abbott Elementary - work place comedy, competent people, high percentage people of color in main cast and almost all of the young students. Warm feelings, easy to watch.

Lower Deck - cartoon Start Trek spinoff. Extremely diverse cast (including aliens) with a young black woman as a lead and her mother has captain of the ship. Adventures are engaging but not overly scary or suspenseful - a comedy not a dark drama.
posted by metahawk at 5:43 PM on February 6, 2023 [1 favorite]


If sci-fi interests you at all, can’t recommend The Expanse enough, several strong female characters.
posted by oldnumberseven at 7:10 PM on February 6, 2023 [3 favorites]


Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries might tick a lot of your boxes. Highly competent, fabulous, forward-thinking heiress becomes a private detective, solves murders with her found family in 1920s Melbourne. There's also a follow-up series where her relative solves mysteries in the swinging 60s.
posted by champers at 2:56 AM on February 7, 2023


I highly recommend Somebody Somewhere on HBO, as well as Everything's Gonna Be Okay which is available on Hulu.
posted by drlith at 7:47 AM on February 7, 2023 [1 favorite]


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