Menu

Post Tagged with: "Netflix"

Carole & Tuesday

I’ll just keep going with the Netflix recommendations since I really wanted to do a series just for those. So here’s my second recommendation which is perfect for the situation we’re in: Carole & Tuesday.

It’s only two seasons long and I doubt there will be a third season, although I’d welcome it. The end of the second series feels like the perfect conclusion though. It’s a nice binge for a weekend of laziness.

Part-timer Carole meets rich girl Tuesday, and each realizes they’ve found the musical partner they need. Together, they just might make it.

The two girls meet on Mars which is recently colonized. Tuesday’s mother is running for president and her politics are familiar looking at the current state of the world. Carole is an orphan who fled Earth. She has her own set of problems, and the two couldn’t be more different. The one thing they have in common is their passion for music.

The world-building is amazing. They never explicitly say something about how it’s different from Earth (it’s their daily life so they wouldn’t, right?), but you’ll see things they take for granted that we can only imagine (for now). It’s an interesting take on the future, not just our society, but the possible colonization of Mars.

I love how these two unknown girls try to make it with their pure music in a world that’s so reliant on AI and technology. The anime is filled with great music (see the playlist below) but the songs hold more meaning if you know the story. Especially the epic conclusion ‘Mother’.

It’s absolutely a feel-good anime with some drama aspects to deepen the story, but the most important element of the show is the friendship of the two girls. No matter what they’re going through, they’ll always have each other, an army of two.

The King’s Avatar

I’ve been wanting to write about this series ever since I finished it last year. The King’s Avatar is a Chinese web series that was added Netflix last year. Since I’m watching a lot of Asian shows, Netflix recommended it to me and the premise was interesting.

When an elite gamer is forced out of his professional team, he becomes a manager of an internet cafe and reinvents himself to return to online glory.

With the current lack of sports, watching a fictional show about esports might fill a small part of that hole. You’ll see in-game footage of the battles and practices, and I’ve to say, I’m seriously impressed with the CGI. Even if none of it is real, it still looks like a game that could’ve been released last year.

This is the avatar from the main character Ye Qui

It’s a typical Chinese show aimed at a younger audience with its silly characters, humor, and character archetypes. If you’ve watched any anime, you’ll probably recognize them.

What I liked the most about this series is the character of Ye Qui, our lead. He’s incredibly good at the game, but you’ll never hear him say that. And he still struggles with his own demons.

It’s not the usual prodigy trope where the lead figures out their hidden abilities and take on the world. He already is good after paying his dues so there is no need to focus on him and his abilities. He has other goals and through those, helps others discover their talents.

The pacing of the show is pretty good too. They include a lot of in-game footage to mimic the training sessions and battles. None of this is played in real-time though. With the way it’s set up, the movement of the characters’ faces and the perfectly choreographed attacks, it’s just not possible. There are also a few mistakes that if it was real-time wouldn’t happen. And that’s okay. After all, it’s still a fiction series and a story needs to be told. Then again. Choreographing these in-game scenes is a feat on its own and they’ve done it well.

I think it’s an interesting show to check out if you’re a gamer and interested in esports. There’s a lot of drama, but you’ll be entertained until the last minute. The show is 40 episodes long, almost an hour each, so it’s perfect for binging. Bonus points for finding references to other games.

Makeover versus Makeunder

Netflix has all kinds of shows, but the shows that I enjoy the most are the makeover and makeunder shows. Queer Eye and 100% Hotter are two of such shows. In Queer Eye the Fab Five give men a make over, some straight, some gay, but all turn out fabulous. In 100% hotter a team of a stylist, make up artist and hairdresser give people with extreme looks a makeunder.

The reason why the participants agree to their nomination and selection is different for each one. In Queer Eye the men often want to do something back for their partner (look nice, take them on a date) or someone special (mother, future girlfriend). In 100% Hotter participants often want to look more presentable for the workplace or less embarrassing to their family members.

100% Hotter for a makeunder

In 100% Hotter the participants are nominated by a friend or family member because they think they need a little help with their style. A few even nominate themselves. The participants have extreme looks which make it hard to find a job or be part of society. Daniel, Melissa and Grace are the styling team who takes care of them.

The incredible team takes care of them, physically and mentally. The participants are coached to see themselves in a more natural way, without all the makeup and big hair. This helps in the process of becoming more like their true self.

Only a few participants reverted back to their usual ways, while the others learned from their 100% Hotter experience.

Queer Eye for a makeover

If you haven’t heard of Queer Eye, you better watch it now. I’m talking about the Netflix reboot with Tan, Karamo, Jon, Antoni and Bobby. Bring tissues. I binged both seasons as soon as they came on the streaming service and I just can’t get enough.

Each of the men have their own area of expertise, just like in the original show. They’re also all their own character and all of them are pure love. The Fab Five transform not only the participant, but also their house and help out in the kitchen. Karamo is doing coaching in the areas needed. For some it’s dating advice, for others it’s a heart to heart talk about coming out.

Each participant has their own touching story. I remember the talk between Karamo and Cory, a police officer, about police brutality and how he, as a parent, experiences it. It was so real and both parties talked about it in a respectful manner.

The whole series has these little nuggets of wisdom and touching moments. The makeover isn’t just in regards of the participant’s look, but their whole life. Coming out is a big step and not something you can undo. But also getting more in touch with yourself after undergoing surgery to become your real gender, is life changing. Some wives got their man back, the one they fell in love with years ago. Others were proposed to. If you need to watch something feel-good, this is an excellent choice.

I like both series in which it’s not just dressing up or dressing under, but that the teams are influencing the participant’s life in a positive way.  What is your favourite makerover or makeunder series?

My posts in your inbox

Enter your email address to subscribe to receive my posts via digital pigeon posts. Don't worry, I treat the pigeons well.

Join 2,026 other subscribers

Guild Wars 2 Fiction

Miira Lightbringer:
Fried Moa Steak
Quiet Before the Storm

Young Miira:
Tail Tugging Part 1
A Promise Made Part 2
Night Falls Part 3
Grawling Preparations Part 4
Badazar Incarnated Part 5
Graduation Part 6 - Final

Savyrius Belain:
We Meet Again...

Naella Ysangwan:
Dogs and Ogres

Play with me!

Do you want to game with me?
You can add me on Steam, Origin, Raptr, X-Fire or League of Legends. All use the same nickname: Endalia.

Or, if you want to give me some extra love and want to play League of Legends and you don't have an account, you can sign up here and give me some love <3
Diablo 3 Battle Tag: Endalia#1709
Guild Wars 2 Identifier: Endalia.8109

Goodreads