We don’t mean to sound dramatic, but our lives were over when Mad Men, Game of Thrones and Sherlock reached their season finales. To fill the emptiness till our beloved TV series return to the screens once again, we managed to find (some) solace watching these shows. Here’s what has been keeping some of the Honeycombers team on the couch:
Chris is engrossed in Orange Is The New Black
It’s snazzy, shocking, and sizzlin’ good. Seriously, there ain’t no better show around! The vicious power struggles between Red and Vee in season 2 were terribly fascinating to watch, and I’m looking forward to see what else unfolds in season 3.
Skye has a thing for Masters Of Sex
Who knew that the sexual revolution started in 1950’s St Louis? The show centres on the taboo-breaking study of human sexuality by Dr William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan). As they break new ground, you can feel them wanting to break beds together, too – and made all the more illicit because it’s based on a true story (Masters was newly married and expecting a child and Johnson was an uncommon divorcee with 2 kids). I devoured the first season and can’t wait to embark on the next.
Emily goes sleuthing in The Bridge
I love gritty crime dramas and this couldn’t be more perfect. A woman’s bisected corpse is found on the Bridge of Americas, which connects Texas to Mexico, leading Detective Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger) and Detective Marco Ruiz (Demián Bichir) joining forces to track down the Zodiac-style killer. Gain mini lessons in sociology and history from the problems plaguing the border (my inner geek speaks), and get a glimpse of the parasitic relationship between US and Mexico. Season 2 premiered in July, and I’m sure it’ll be as riveting as the first season.
Shairah thinks Orphan Black deserves an Emmy
I’m no science nerd (never was in school, never will be) and I usually avoid sci-fi flicks like the plague. But Orphan Black changed all that – yes, it’s that good. Don’t be turned off by the show’s theme of human cloning: it’s a real cracker with edge-of-your-seat action, snappy dialogue, and loveable characters. Lead actress Tatiana Maslany also kicks ass: she plays seven different characters without breaking into a sweat. How she was recently passed up on an Emmy nomination simply boggles the mind. #cloneclub forever.
Wanyin is obsessed with Halt & Catch Fire
Just as I was mourning the announcement of Mad Men‘s last season, AMC rolled out news of the channel’s next big series – Halt & Catch Fire – and it’s like a Mad Men-meets-tech drama. The story takes place in early 1980s Texas, and focuses on three technology-minded dreamers – the Don Draper-esque Joe, talented engineer Gordon, and spunky tech prodigy Cameron – all looking to make it big in the industry. Throw in deception, manipulation, and ample sexual tension, and I got totally hooked!
Isabel hunts for answers in Extant
My (usually dormant) inner sci-fi geek rejoices at this new space show, especially since Steven Spielberg was one of the executive producers. Halle Berry delivers a compelling, nuanced role as the dumbstruck astronaut Molly, who discovers she has a bun in the oven after a 13-month mission away in space. The first few episodes gave me goosebumps, and I’m waiting with bated breath for someone – or something – to ‘fess up as the baby’s father.
Lindsay adores everything about Suits
I look forward to Suits coming back every season – there’s something about the witty exchanges, unexpected plot twists and entrancing female power players (plus their killer office wear!) that I can’t get enough of. And I’m excited to see how Harvey and Mike reunite forces at some point. I mean, they have to, right? My favourite character is hands-down Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman); I love the complexity of the character and the way Hoffman has embodied the comedic genius of the role.
Vanessa is partial to Penny Dreadful
Eva Green’s brilliant performance in Penny Dreadful is to die for. And from its creepiness to its goriness, it’s everything a vampire series set in victorian-era London should be – so expect none of that Twilight fairytale.
Aliff finds The Strain frightfully good
Say goodbye to the romanticised vampires in Twilight and True Blood and welcome back the terrifying bloodthirsty vampires you know and love. I’ve been spellbound watching this series, which is a mix of psychological terror and old-fashioned scare tactics. A word of caution: you’ll need a strong stomach to endure the whole season.