TV show and Movie recommendations from the deep dark depths of quarantine
‘GBBO’ cooks up sweet, necessary distraction to misery of 2020
From the Great British Bake Off Facebook Page
As we’ve all heard many times before, 2020 was a “horrible” and “unprecedented” year; and like Ellen Degeneres, so much stuff was cancelled. Despite all the gloom and doom 2020 brought, there was one glimmer of light, and that was the fact that the Great British Bake Off was able to continue.
The most recent series began by explaining that all bakers participating as well as the judges, camera crew, and everyone else on set were quarantined together, hence why no one is wearing a mask in the show. The newest host, Matt Lucas, was also introduced in the first episode. Though I absolutely loved Sandi as a contestant in the 2018 and 2019 seasons of GBBO, bakers Matt and Noel had better chemistry and their goofiness together brought the show to a whole new level.
The bakers themselves are definitely one of the best parts of the show, not only because of their talent but also because of their personalities. They are all so unique, but one thing they have in common is their compassion for each other. Since the show began in 2010, the bakers have always helped fellow competitors if they were able and cheered each other on without fail. A main draw to the show is how courteous the bakers are no matter what, making this a very wholesome, feel-good show.
SPOILERS coming up! As I had been rooting for Peter since the beginning, I was thrilled when he won! He made GBBO history as the youngest winner ever at age 20 and the only winner from Scotland. I also had a deep adoration for Sura and Hermine, and therefore I was quite disappointed when they were eliminated. Personally, I think that Hermine should have made it to the final instead of Laura, but it was up to Paul and Prue in the end.
Though the 2020 series of the GBBO was definitely a beacon of hope during the darkness of Covid, it wasn’t quite my favorite season. This can be attributed to the fact that they were unable to have the big festival at the end like usual where they crown the winner, but also because the 2019 season just cannot be topped. (I mean, come on, Henry and Michael were the best contestants ever!)
Even if you are not interested in baking, I recommend watching the Great British Bake Off for its blend of feel-good, comical, and suspenseful elements that offer a dish for any viewer’s palate.
By Cora Pizon
From the Designated Survivor Facebook Page
Designated Survivor delivers political drama without real life consequences
Over quarantine last spring, my sisters and I dove into many different Netflix series, one such title being Designated Survivor. We finished all three seasons in a matter of one week and, even given that we had ultimately nothing else to do, three seasons in one week is still quite a record. The show begins with a breathtaking scenario where every single person in the capitol building dies due to a bombing, including the president, vice president, and all members of congress. As a result, an unqualified, inexperienced city architect is assigned to the presidential position. He is the titular designated survivor. I was totally unaware of what a designated survivor was until I watched the show- a person chosen to stay in an undisclosed location during huge events like a presidential inauguration or State of Union addresses in the event that something happens to all of the members in line for the presidency. In the show, the designated survivor performed his duty to put things back in order and has a very sensible moral compass that guides him through. By seeing all of the behind the scenes in the oval office and the way a chief of staff, chief of defense, and all the other members of the president’s cabinet work, I became really interested in how our government runs. The TV show is filled with drama, romance, and mystery, all things that made my sisters and I unable to turn it off. A chilling conspiracy plows you through the first season in the hands of a federal investigation, which I found extremely engaging. Yes, Netflix, I am still watching.
By Sage Wesenberg
Oshkosh West Index Volume 117 Issue 4
January 117 Issue 4