They say moving to a new home is one of the most stressful moments in your life - they’re right.
With boxes piled a mile high, furniture haphazardly put where it might end up staying or not and spending money on things you never thought you needed; It’s one of the most mentally (and physically) exhausting things a person can do.
So when it came time to finally sit down and watch something, I initially reached for the lowest common denominator. Bordering on a meditative fugue state, I turned to The Great Canadian Baking Show on Netflix (also available on CBC Gem).
Based on the popular Great British Bake Off in the U.K., the show sees 10 amateur bakers compete in a variety of challenges to show off their skills in the kitchen, with one coming out on top.
As the season proceeds, they go from French pastries to warm bread and even less-than-appealing looking sandwich cakes.
The show is fine, especially with host Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) adding some much-needed levity in the first two seasons.
But it didn’t really matter if it was good or not, it was simply satisfying to watch these enthusiasts make delicious-looking food for an hour at a time while my boxes sat in the corner, unpacked. They were stressed and busy and I was not.
Sometimes you just need something incredibly simple and low-stakes, and that’s just what The Great Canadian Baking Show delivered. Warning: it will also make you hungry, even if you just ate.
Level up
As I gradually adjusted to my new surroundings, I decided to treat myself with something a tad more stimulating and engaging. High Score, a mini-series/documentary from Netflix on video games hit the spot.
Focusing on the early development of the video game business and culture, from arcades and Atari in the '70s up to early 3D games in the ‘90s, High Score offers a refreshing and well-produced look at the medium, which is near and dear to my heart.
The producers were afforded pretty incredible access to some of the founders of gaming, from the creator of Space Invaders to the musician behind the sound effects of Donkey Kong.
But it’s not just the highest echelon of video game legends that get the spotlight. High Score also focuses on gamers who participated in early gaming competitions before eSports became an international phenomenon as well as lesser-known but equally pivotal figures in the medium’s rise.
I’m hoping we’ll see another High Score in the future, perhaps starting out with the entrance of Sony and Microsoft in the console wars, looking at the explosion of mobile gaming, the popularity of streamers. The potential topics are endless.
Full of nostalgia and a fascinating look back at a bygone age, anyone who loves video games should give this a try.
House of horrors
With most of our things put away, I was ready to get back into something with a little more depth. Along comes Lovecraft Country. Just in time.
Lovecraft Country is a horror/fantasy/drama series set in 1950s segregated America. It focuses on Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) and his mission to find his father who has gone missing.
He has to travel across the country, with his uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) and friend Letitia Lewis (Jurnee Smollett) in tow to track him down.
Things quickly take a turn after leaving their safe, vibrant neighbourhood in Chicago and pass into the rural, largely white countryside.
Gothic monsters in the Lovecraft tradition show up, but it’s the racial violence and prejudices the main characters face, both large and small, that produce the most terror and tension.
Both a thrilling story with captivating characters and a critique of the genre’s history, this is definitely one to watch.
Lovecraft Country is available on Crave with the Movies + HBO add-on and new episodes debut every Thursday. Warning for those who don’t do gore: there are some intense, violent scenes.
Here’s some of what’s worth checking out in September:
CRAVE
Raised By Wolves (Movies + HBO add-on), series premiere, Sept. 3
The Invisible Man (Movies + HBO add-on), Sept. 25
NETFLIX
Young Wallander, series premiere, Sept. 3
I’m Thinking Of Ending Things, Sept. 4
Enola Holmes, Sept. 23
The Good Place, season 4, Sept. 26
DISNEY PLUS
Note: You’ll see I’ve left out Mulan, which comes to Disney Plus on Sept. 4. I am looking forward to the movie myself and If you really, really want to watch it, it’ll cost you an extra $34.99 on top of your monthly/yearly subscription. However, I can’t recommend it at that price point. Watch the animated version instead.
