Many popular shows are returned for another season this fall, so take a break from studying for finals to indulge in an episode or two of your favorites! Here are some tips on how to catch up on earlier seasons, what to expect, and more.
“The Good Place”
The whimsical, fast-paced comedy starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson returns for its fourth and final season. Receiving an astonishing average rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, the eccentric portrayal of the afterlife is a favorite among critics, with charming characters and unexpected twists keeping audiences hooked on the fast-paced show. Previous seasons can be binged on Netflix or Hulu, through short, less than half an hour episodes that will have you saying “Okay, just one more.” New episodes are aired weekly on NBC on Thursday nights and can be streamed online the next day on Hulu or NBC.com. Expectations are high as this is the last season of afterlife adventuring we’ll get.
Suggestions: Watch with friends for simultaneous laughter and light-hearted philosophical discussions. You might want to grab a hot drink and a blanket for the couch — creative conversations about the afterlife can get long.
“BoJack Horseman”
The sixth and final season of the animated Netflix original BoJack Horseman was released in two parts, the first on Oct. 25, the second will be released on Jan. 31. Will Arnett voices the show’s anti-hero, BoJack: a depressed, alcoholic, Hollywood star wannabe that weaves through destructive relationships and habits with sarcasm and denial. With an average rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes with seasons two and three at 100%, the satire forces viewers to face their inner struggles while making them laugh again and again. Unflinchingly honest, clever, and at times devastating, “BoJack Horseman” evokes empathy for a cast of bizarre characters, some human and some anthropomorphic animals. Previous seasons are available on Netflix or Comedy Central. Fans eagerly wait to see if the final season will offer BoJack any resemblance of redemption.
Suggestions: Watch alone for individual musing and self reflection; Watch with friends to avoid being dragged down by some of the admittedly dark episodes and to pool your collective knowledge of pop culture so you don’t miss a single celebrity reference.
“Fresh Off the Boat”
The popular sitcom starring Randall Park and Constance Wu returns for its sixth season following Wu’s controversial Tweet expressing her disappointment at its renewal. The show created a buzz when it first aired, as the cast focuses on a Taiwanese-American family, making it the first sitcom in over 20 years featuring a predominantly Asian cast (“All-American Girl” aired in 1994, which consisted only of one season after a disappointing run inaccurately portraying Korean-American life). Earlier this year, Wu’s social media outburst brought the show some attention, as she had to explain numerous times that her frustrated Tweet (“So upset right now that I’m literally crying.”) was due to the show’s renewal conflicting with a project she’d had to turn down, and that she is still dedicated to “Fresh Off the Boat”. Despite this short period of negative coverage, many fans are eager for the new season. Previous seasons are available on Hulu and new episodes are available on ABC.
Suggestions: Watch with friends or family. Prepare to laugh together, relating to similar family struggles or learning about problems unique to Asian-American families or families living in places where they are considered a minority.