Summer is a time to lounge. Even more if you’re European. The vacation culture here is far stronger than where I’m from, though Italians sometimes don’t have the money to travel despite having lots of time. As a student who likes expensive fashion, I now fall into this category.
My internship only lasts eight weeks, but I had twelve days off for Ferragosto from August 5th to the 23rd to travel a bit (Zurich and Stockholm). Otherwise, I was not busy, and Milan has been (still is somewhat) empty. Whatever does one do??
Guarda le te-voo, certo! Here is my summer watchlist, and a brief explanation of each show:
Netflix
Narcos
While it was all mostly over before my time, the drug trade of early 1980s Miami still fascinates me. Narcos is essentially the other end of that story, from the supplier’s side. Season 1 is on Netflix now, with a second to come shortly.
Narcos on Netflix, Season 1
Chelsea
Back when she had her late-night talk show on E! Network, I wasn’t Chelsea Handler‘s biggest fan. But, I think she has evolved and her humor has become mostly spot-on. She mixes silly things, like her experience posting her LA mansion on Airbnb, with more serious guests and topics (Ariana Huffington, Maria Sharapova). Plus, she is unabashedly liberal and passionately hates Donald Trump!
Chelsea Handler
A Very Secret Service
This is an adorable French dramedy about a spy agency in the 1960s. The main character is just a pleasure to watch. Episodes are short.
A Very Secret Service on Netflix
Stranger Things
This series has been covered plenty elsewhere, but I enjoyed it like everyone else. I was never a big sci-fi person, but the acting is good and it is just mysterious enough to draw in even the least of the devoted.
Stranger Things (2016)
Ray Donovan
I tell people that this is a cross between The Sopranos and Scandal. One part shady immigrant family and one part VIP crisis-fixing. And HELLO, Liev Schreiber! Several seasons are on Netflix in Italy, with hopefully more to come.
Liev Schreiber in Ray Donovan on Netflix
Scream
Probably the guiltiest of my secret TV pleasures, this is an MTV-backed reboot of the 1990s movies that became almost a joke in the horror genre. The two-season series reinvents nothing, but it is fun to watch teenagers being terrorized by a masked serial killer in a small town (filmed in Louisiana).
Scream Seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix
YouTube
An African City
This series was covered in The New York Times as Sex and the City for African viewers. It is nowhere near as professional, but it is entertaining, if for nothing other than the scenes of Accra (Ghana).
Absolutely Fabulous
Unfortunately, there aren’t any legal channels to find AbFab online (so far as I can tell), but many episodes are bootlegged onto YouTube and they are still silly and hilarious. I still haven’t seen the new feature film!!
Dave Trippin
Somehow I stumbled onto these two YouTube channels about living in Japan (next one below). Dave Trippin is the vlog of an English teacher from Vancouver, on topics from cost of living to dating and romance. Really fascinating!
Only in Japan
This channel is perhaps more focused on the strange and bizarre parts of Japanese culture. For instance: its obsession with white strawberries, which can cost around $6 apiece, or entire restaurants comprised solely of vintage vending machines.
