Dystopia is only fun when it feels like something that could never happen. As soon as your favorite world-ending shows start to look closer and closer to real life, they often become a huge downer.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror, or The Last of Us, but sometimes watching these shows feels too close-to-home. If you can’t handle the dystopia, watch these shows instead. Prepare to feel uplifted.
Channel 4
Unlike American reality competition shows where drama and back-stabbing takes center stage, this British baking competition is much nicer. There’s something so wholesome about fellow contestants stopping what they’re doing to help their competitors. And the baked goods look delicious. The world would be a better place if all shows were like this one. Watch The Great British Baking Show on Netflix.
Netflix
For many in the queer community, this modern take on lgbtq+ romance feels more like a fairy tale than real life. I’d prefer to think of Charlie and Nick’s hopeful and sweet journey, as well as the tribulations of their group of wonderful friends, as a hopeful future for all queer youth. And sometimes it’s nice to believe in the fairytale. Watch Heartstopper on Netflix.
FX
You would think that vampires would be dystopian, right? Nope, not when the vampires are silly and fun. In What We Do in the Shadows we follow a group of centuries-old vampire roommates as they try to conquer Staten Island, New York. Too bad they’re so hilariously inept at it! After watching this, you’ll never say “New York City” the same way again. Thanks, Laszlo! Watch What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu.
CBS
The best feel-good shows are the ones that take topics that might feel scary and make them wholesome instead. That’s where Ghosts comes in. When a married couple wind up owning an old mansion, the wife sustains an accident that lets her see the ghosts that fill up the dusty old estate. As opposed to scary, it’s sweet, funny, and will often make you cry–in a good way. Watch Ghosts on Paramount+.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror, or The Last of Us, but sometimes watching these shows feels too close-to-home. If you can’t handle the dystopia, watch these shows instead. Prepare to feel uplifted.
Great British Baking Show
Channel 4
Unlike American reality competition shows where drama and back-stabbing takes center stage, this British baking competition is much nicer. There’s something so wholesome about fellow contestants stopping what they’re doing to help their competitors. And the baked goods look delicious. The world would be a better place if all shows were like this one. Watch The Great British Baking Show on Netflix.
Heartstopper
Netflix
For many in the queer community, this modern take on lgbtq+ romance feels more like a fairy tale than real life. I’d prefer to think of Charlie and Nick’s hopeful and sweet journey, as well as the tribulations of their group of wonderful friends, as a hopeful future for all queer youth. And sometimes it’s nice to believe in the fairytale. Watch Heartstopper on Netflix.
What We Do in the Shadows
FX
You would think that vampires would be dystopian, right? Nope, not when the vampires are silly and fun. In What We Do in the Shadows we follow a group of centuries-old vampire roommates as they try to conquer Staten Island, New York. Too bad they’re so hilariously inept at it! After watching this, you’ll never say “New York City” the same way again. Thanks, Laszlo! Watch What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu.
Ghosts
CBS
The best feel-good shows are the ones that take topics that might feel scary and make them wholesome instead. That’s where Ghosts comes in. When a married couple wind up owning an old mansion, the wife sustains an accident that lets her see the ghosts that fill up the dusty old estate. As opposed to scary, it’s sweet, funny, and will often make you cry–in a good way. Watch Ghosts on Paramount+.