You know that deflated, desperate feeling when you’ve just finished an addictive series. You’re invested in the characters and since you don’t have a life you have taken on their lives and are rooting for them—or not, if they’re bad guys. Then it’s over. Poof, you’re back to your own sorry life longing for a new series to binge.
I’ve just finished the Australian version of Rake on Netflix and was enchanted by it. What’s not to like? Adorable protagonist, dark humor, Aussie accents, funny dialogue, complicated characters. Rake is about a bad boy crooked lawyer and the women who love him, the women who dump him, and the men who try to take him down which is just about everyone in New South Wales, where Sydney is located and where he practices. The corruption rivals that of, well, Florida. I could relate.
So, I’m frantically scrolling the New York Times What to Watch newsletter trying to find my next escapist guilty pleasure and all I see are shows with the unlined faced of young people trying to find love. Admittedly at least these faces are of different colors and ethnicities and some are even same sex faces, but they all lack even one wrinkle.
I want to see myself in a TV series. Is that too much to ask? How many times can I watch Grace and Frankie and The Kominsky Method? OK, there’s Hacks, the brilliant new series with Jean Smart that got me to pay for HBO Max, and The Good Fight with Christine Baranski which has moved to something called Paramount Plus which necessitates yet another monthly fee.
The pickings may be slim but good stuff is there on Netflix. Here’s my list based on The Times’ What to Watch list (and a few are what not to watch). I’m avoiding teen angst and young love and looking for edgy, original and immersive preferably with characters who have a few wrinkles.
Dirty John. True crime. Loved both seasons despite lack of wrinkles—especially season two about Betty Broderick, jilted wife who killed husband and his new wife. You go girl!
Lupin. French. A very large, very distinctive looking black guy puts on disguises to commit a variety of heists. The star, Omar Sy, is charismatic and sexy but the opposite of inconspicuous. A few OK episodes but premise got old quick.
Sweet Tooth. Adorable half deer/half human kid with horns trying to escape baddies who want to kill him in post-apocalyptic world. No visible wrinkles although James Brolin, 80, is the narrator. Will watch forthcoming seasons.
Russian Doll. Sci fi series with Groundhog Day type plot. Loved it despite lack of wrinkles. I’m a fan of lead, Natasha Lyonne. She’s young but has a weary maturity I relate to.
Shtisel. Jewish ultra-orthodox Israeli family. Wrinkles galore, and brilliant acting plus great writing and directing. All around binge worthiness in every way. Highly recommended.
Kim’s Convenience. Yes wrinkles, but on the faces of parents trying to control the lives of their adult children. Not my cuppa.
Murder Among the Mormons. On my watch list. Love anything about religion gone wrong.
Orange is the New Black. I loved this series about women behind bars. I think I’ll watch it again. When it comes to wrinkles there are a few old lady prisoners who are highlights of the show.
The Sinner. Murder mystery. Looks good and Bill Pullman, who plays the sullen sleuth, has a few attractive wrinkles. On my watchlist.
Bridgerton. Regency romance. I watched it and reviewed it here. Young characters are mostly a yawn but there are some delightful older ones.
The Good Place. My heartthrob, Ted Danson, who just gets handsomer the older he is, anchors this brilliant comedy about life, death and the meaning of it all. If you haven’t seen it put it on your watchlist posthaste.
Pretend it’s a City. Just the photo of Scorsese and Lebowitz in all their wrinkled glory was a refreshing change from the youthful gorgeousness that ruled the rest of the list. Here’s my review.
Cobra Kai. I tried it but I think you had to have grown up in the Eighties to like this one. I grew up in the Fifties. Wrong decade.
Supernatural. A couple of brothers fight demons. My daughter loved it. I’ll give it try despite the lack of wrinkles because it is sci fi and I have a weakness for the genre. Fifteen seasons are a bit daunting though.
Ozark. Ordinary American family gets caught up with vicious Mexican drug cartel. Best crime series since Breaking Bad. Read this for my take on the older characters in Ozark. Verdict: Don’t miss it.
Outlander. Shall I swoon now or later. Time travel romance. Read all the books, seen all the episodes, am impressed that Jamie and Claire grow old together and stay hot for each other. Watch it—the historical details alone are worth it.
The Queen’s Gambit. Girl chess champion in the sixties. I would forgive the lack of characters with wrinkles if the star looked less like a fashion model and more like the nerd she is supposed to be. Here’s my review.
The Haunting of Bly Manor. I want to see this and the first one in the series, The Haunting of Hill House. But I’m embarrassed to admit that, much as I love horror, I hate to watch it alone--which is how I see most series. So c’mon over and we’ll get scared together.
Gentified. Old Mexican guy tries to save his taco shop with the help of his wacky Mexican grandkids. I love Mexico, tacos and colorful old guys. On my watchlist.
Better Call Saul. How did Saul Goodman get so crooked? If you haven’t seen this prequel to Breaking Bad you are missing a series that’s as good (if not better) than its predecessor, and stars excellent older actors, especially Michael Kean as Saul/Jimmy’s older brother and Jonathan Banks as his partner in crime.
Stranger Things. OK, I didn’t grow up in the 80s but still loved this retro sci fi series. Eagerly awaiting next season—if there is one.
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. NY Times describes it as a “fast-paced funny sketch series steeped in comedy of obnoxiousness.” They got the obnoxiousness right. Guess I’m just getting too old.
Halt and Catch Fire. I started this one about the early days of the computer industry a while back and abandoned it even though I liked it My bad. I must have had a life at the time. I plan to catch up.