“Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.”

— Mark Twain

 

A little laughter doesn’t hurt anybody, does it? The current times are tough and sombre, and unpredictable to boot. Who knows what we have today, we might not tomorrow. Including this precious life with our loved ones.

Therefore It helps to hold on to sweet hope and joie de vivre. And make the moments count.

 

Lord Byron rightly said: “Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.” 

 

I’m not much of a television screen person. But with the current lockdown situation, I have slowly but surely started watching a few shows now and then. And sometimes a film or two.

Most of the televised shows are grim, dark, overflowing with despair, showcasing derelict lives and gut-spilling crime galore. I realised they add to my anxieties, and there is no way on earth that I can give in to an emotional roller coaster ride, of bleakness and gloom. I watched a few recommended ones, and broke out in sweat, waking up to dark dreams of despair.

Pick up the newspaper, or tune in to the news and it’s all out there – lives riddled with misery, a grave pandemic situation, deaths by seconds, political dramas and dread unleashed, wars ready to be fought, an impending environmental crisis, forests burning away; and so on so forth.

Therefore, I am done watching any more shows with serial killers, or reading the newspapers (I gave up more than 6 years back on that!); or watching the news on a loop.

Instead, I chose to make space for hope and laughter in my life.

Recently I watched two shows which warmed the cockles of my heart. I recommend you watch them too. But only if you are looking out for laughter and hope and not stuck in the quagmire of despair.

 

 

 

Heroes of the Wild Frontier 

 

Streaming on Discovery Plus

This six-part documentary series showcases the lives of Indian forest guards or vanrakshaks, and the challenges they face, in their endeavour to protect our wildlife.

 

Directed by Krishnendu Bose, noted conservationist and Founder Director of Earth Care, this hopeful series takes you through a tapestry of ecosystems from the trans Himalayan cold deserts of Leh-Ladakh, to the deep sea coral systems of Andaman islands, the mangroves of Sundarbans to the sprawling grasslands of Assam, along with rare glimpses of our Indian wildlife.

Absolutely fantastic direction and stories straight from the wild landscape of India. This series imparts hope amidst these gloomy times, reminding us that there are a bunch of people toiling very hard to conserve this precious planet.

 

Schitt’s Creek 

 

 

Steaming on Netflix

Suddenly broke, the formerly filthy-rich Rose family is reduced to living in a ramshackle motel in a town they once bought as a joke. A town called Schitt’s Creek!

An award winning, Canadian television sit-com produced by the actors themselves, Daniel Levy and Eugene Levy; will have you in splits. Schitt’s Creek comes with just the right doses of wit and humour that will stream right into your souls. With each episode running upto 20 minutes, this six season show is sure to keep you glued to your television sets.

 

 

So, if you are looking at lightening up, adding a dose of optimism, and revving up the humour engine in your lives, these are the two #mustwatch shows. I don’t watch too many shows to recommend more, but these two are surely up my sleeve.

 

So tell me what you are giving in to? Laughter or despair?

Have you watched either of these shows? Would love to know what you think?

Would you consider watching them now, if you haven’t?

 

Sprinkling handful of fairy dust brimming with laughter and optimism your way.

Love,

Natasha

 

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Linking up with Mel’s #Microblog Mondays