Binge watching material

If you're in need of some binge watching material, I'll tell you what we've been using to avoid ordinary television, particularly any news beyond an hour here and there.

We just finished the second season of Britannia, which was so long in coming that I could watch the first season again and be surprised by it. It's not for everyone, but it is wild. Set in the first century, with the Romans trying to conquer Britain and having a hell of a time trying to deal with various tribes and their mystery religions. Some hilarious characters, and the title song is Season of the Witch (highlight of the opening of each episode) performed by Donovan himself. Not sure when this version was recorded. Really sets the tone. We subscribed to Epix just to get this season.

Also on Epix is Pennyworth. Entire first season is available. Second season just starting with new episodes each Sunday. It's the back story on Batman's (Bruce Wayne's) loyal butler Alfred Pennyworth. This is Alfred as a young man, after his service with the SAS in WWII or some fictionally equivalent war. He's essentially the British version of a Navy SEAL, trained in all that jazz. It's a DC comic world with blatant anachronisms where the 60s, 50s, and 40s are all colliding with each other. One minute you think it's the 50s, then it's the late 40s, along those lines.

Finally there's The Crown on Netflix, which has gotten a bit dreary this time around, as you would expect given that it focuses a great deal on Charles and Diana. He's a Royal douchebag and she's a neurotic twit. And for whatever reason the writers spent some time dwelling on her bulimia. Got the sense that they hated both of them and wanted them to go away, which is pretty much how the audience must feel. But, still, if you've watched the first three seasons, you'll want to stay with it.

Oh, and then there is Gillian Anderson (Dana Scully from the X-Files) as Margaret Thatcher. Some good moments, but it's more an SNL impersonation than a portrayal. Maggie was quite a bit less brittle than Anderson plays her and much more feisty, and brilliant. But I like Gillian Anderson a lot and I'm happy to watch her do anything. She was also once a waitress in the East Village at well-known restaurant on St. Mark's Place called The Dojo.