8 TV Shows We’ve Been Watching In 2021 So Far

A list of some of the TV shows we’ve been watching this year…

14th May 2021

In a year where there’s not been all that much to do other than stream TV shows, here’s some of what we’ve been watching in 2021 so far…

The Serpent

True crime in a backpacker’s paradise

The Serpent is a period drama based on the true story of Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer and conman who murdered at least 12 backpackers across Thailand and South East Asia in the mid-1970s. The story follows Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg as he tirelessly and obsessively works to bring Sobhraj and his associates to justice.

It’s gripping stuff, beautifully shot and accompanied by a brilliant rock and roll soundtrack that perfectly captures the feel of the era. The plot jumps around a little too often, sometimes making it difficult to follow, but the slick presentation and engaging performances more than make up for it, especially Tahar Rahim’s calculated, reptilian portrayal of Sobhraj.

This is a thrilling and compelling drama that successfully balances the romantic nostalgia of the 70s with the cold brutality of a sociopathic criminal’s actions.

Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000)

The best adaptation of Dune available right now

Despite its hardcore cult following, let’s be honest here, David Lynch's 1984 film adaptation of Dune is an objective failure. But, even though it’s a pretty bad film, it’s still the best-known screen version of Frank Herbert’s seminal novel and to many, it’s probably the only one they know about.

In the year 2000, though, the SyFy channel produced a genuinely excellent 3-part miniseries that deserves the attention of science fiction fans. SyFy might be better known for their low budget schlock but “Frank Herbert’s Dune” is a lavish and loving adaptation that gives the source material more room to breathe.

Two decades later, the special effects are showing their age but, even still, that famous worm encounter is a tense and breathtaking moment. Until Denis Villeneuve’s new film is released later this year, SyFy’s Dune is the best version available and who knows it might still be afterwards.

Reality Z

Deat Set gets a Brazilian

“Charlie Brooker deserves better than this truly terrible Brazilian remake of Dead Set.” is the headline from The Telegraph’s review of this modern re-tooling of Charlie Brooker’s satirical classic. Sure it’s not as original or iconic as Brooker’s original vision but there’s still a lot of fun to be had here.

For the most part, Reality Z is a pretty straightforward re-telling of Dead Set that swaps out Elstree Studios for Rio de Janeiro and Big Brother for Olympus - basically, Big Brother with Roman costumes - but Dead Set’s original story is expanded upon over a number of extra episodes which makes this version worth watching and more than just a comparison exercise for Brooker fans.

Reality Z is quite silly and it’s not particularly original but “truly terrible” it is not. Perfect for those who are looking for something that’s a little more “Z Nation” than “The Walking Dead”.

The Great

Comedy drama. Period.

Bridgerton may have been getting all the headlines in the UK for its modern spin on the period drama but if you’re looking for something that leans a little more on the side of comedy then “The Great” should not be overlooked.

The story follows Catherine II as she’s inducted into the house of Peter III, her husband and emperor of all of Russia. Catherine quickly tires of Peter’s irresponsible, childish antics and hatches a deadly plan to overthrow the court and remove the unpredictable emperor from power.

For comedic effect “The Great” chooses to play fast and loose with its historical accuracy which really works in its favour and is heightened by the wonderful performances from its core cast. Elle Fanning is perfect as the strong, opinionated Catherine but Nicholas Holt steals the show as Peter with his particularly memorable, adolescent and carefree performance. Huzzah!

Can’t Get You Out Of My Head - An Emotional History of the Modern World

Acclaimed filmmaker Adam Curtis’ latest mindfuck

Every few years, Adam Curtis pops up with a new mindfuck documentary that’s typically equally as mesmerising as it is bewildering. His latest effort “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” is no different.

This time around, Curtis explores how society got to where it is today by looking at social, political and technological trends across the world, focussing particularly on the UK, USA and China. It’s a fascinating look at the past and present that pulls together themes of nostalgia, conspiracy and revolution in a powerfully compelling way.

Curtis is an expert at hypnotically stringing together a narrative, his soft informative voiceovers connected with archive imagery and unusual music selection, draw you deep into his world. It’s a style that’s immediately engaging but can be difficult to understand and unpack at first so really rewards repeated viewing.

If you’re looking for something a little different to your typical Netflix documentary, “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” is a perfect choice.

Back To Life

Small town life with a deadly twist

Written by Laura Solon and Daisy Haggard, Back to Life is a dark yet endearing comedy about a woman who returns to her home town after an 18-year stint in jail for killing her best friend.

It’s an interesting premise that makes for some hilarious moments but it’s the performances that hold everything together. Daisy Haggard is brilliant as Miri Matheson and it’s her awkward and often exasperated interactions with the locals, her family and her friends that make Back to Life such an enjoyable experience.

The show works as both a quirky study of small-town life and an emotional reflection on how past mistakes can affect your relationships within a small community. The fact that it’s also hilarious is just the icing on the cake.

The Devil’s Dust

Bringing a corporation to justice asbestos he can…

The Devil’s Dust is a powerful Australian drama chronicling the effect of asbestos on the workforce in the mining and processing industries and uncovers the attempts of big businesses to shirk their responsibility and to downplay the health risks of working with the deadly material.

The story is based on journalist Matt Peacock’s book “KIller Company” and focuses on his own efforts to uncover the truth and on activist Bernie Banton as he campaigns to bring manufacturer James Hardie to justice over their failure to properly protect and compensate workers and their families.

Nowadays we all know how dangerous asbestos really is, but this drama looks back at a time when the health risks were kept from the public and shows just how devastating the material’s impact and legacy have been on Australia.

The Russian Lord Of The Rings

A soviet oddity re-surfaces

In 1991 this television play aired just once on Leningrad Television but, after being lost for 30 years, finally re-emerged to wow audiences in 2021.

This two-part adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring is of the so bad it’s good variety (sort of!) but is also notable for including scenes from Tolkien’s book that were omitted from Peter Jackson’s seminal film. It all feels a little bit like community theatre but is well worth watching to see an odd relic from a bygone era and have a bit of campy fun in the process, especially in advance of Amazon’s mega-budget adaptation due later this year.

Of course, the original version is completely in Russian but there are a few different versions on YouTube with English subtitles.

Thanks for checking out this list. Let us know what you’ve been watching this year!