A Taste of TV Time-Pieces

Introduction

I have had two major activities while staying at home to occupy my time during the pandemic: Binge TV shows and eat. While the latter has been something I have always seen as a hobby (I am a self-declared foodie by nature), I hadn’t really leapt into the realm of streaming services until March of 2020. What I’ve come to realize is there are a plethora of period-piece shows that appeal to those with various tastes. Some shows are like a comforting cup of tea, while others can shock your taste buds like a sour grape. I will share with you the recipes for each of the shows I’ve watched during the pandemic, and what each one has tasted like to me.

Bridgerton

Recipe

• 1 cup of charm
• 2 tbsp. of seduction
• 3 tsp. of romance
• 1 tsp. of gossip
• 1 much-needed scoop of diversity
• A dash of attractive actors

To Prepare: Bake for 60 minutes, check after 45 to ensure the only burning is done by the Duke of Hastings.

What it Tastes Like:

If you haven’t savored the Bridgerton craze, then you are missing out. A first-season show on Netflix set in England in the early 1800s; it imitates the propriety of a Jane Austen novel, but reveals its true self as a show that you no longer feel comfortable watching in the same room as your parents. Bridgerton tastes like a chocolate cake, delicious, predictable (so it seems), comforting, and then you realize at the cake’s center is some hidden mousse filling of pure delight. And like a really good piece of chocolate cake, you don’t want to stop after the first bite. Many viewers would agree, as Bridgerton has been set to run a second season and is estimated to continue through all of the eight Bridgerton novels by Julia Quinn. If you need some more Shondaland shows, keep an eye out for another Netflix release, Inventing Anna, or go back to re-watching Grey’s Anatomy (I know some of you have!)

The Great

Recipe

• 2 cups of scandal
• 1 cup of humor
• 1 tbsp. of blood
• 3 tsp. of fun
• 1 tsp. of Huzzah!

To Prepare: Beat ingredients together with fists and serve after chilling for 1 hour.

What it Tastes Like:

This is another show not to share with your parents. Seriously, this one is not a pizza where everyone should sit around it and eat a slice together. Watch this in the comfort of your own couch, alone, or with a friend that you are comfortable watching some raunchy scenes together. This show, on Hulu, focuses on the coup of Catherine the Great of Russia in the mid-1700s. I can equate watching this show to eating pop-rocks for the first time without knowing what they are. At first, your reaction is, “what the heck are these things?” Then as they dissolve, and the initial surprise has worn off, you find the experience fun, and you want to try them again. The Great seems to be an amusing experience for most viewers, as it has also began production for season 2. If you want to see Nicholas Hoult in a wonderfully done, but more serious film, Tolkien, which was released in 2019, can be ordered on HBO.

Outlander

Recipe

• 3 cups of pure adoration
• 2 cups of kilts
• 1 cup of adventure
• 3 tbs. of conflict
• A sprinkle of Sassenach
• A dashing ginger

To Prepare: Mix in fits of passion, gruesome torture, and beautiful music until well combined.

What it Tastes Like:

When the first taste of Outlander comes to mind, I can only think of, “Freedom and Whiskey.” Comparable to creating Whiskey, the show takes its time to develop and build strong characters. Don’t give up on it in the first couple of episodes, like I almost did! The show matures with the strong notes and hues of Scottish history (albeit fictional) and landscapes, as well as the budding romance between Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall. The show actually takes place in two different time frames, one in the 20th century, and the other in 17th century. The nice thing about Outlander, is even though the most recent episodes are on Starz, you can view seasons 1-4 on Netflix to escape to the Highlands. Forewarning, you may feel a little tipsy if you binge the whole show through, make sure you stand up in-between episodes to gauge just how drunk off of Jamie Fraser you truly are. If you can’t get enough of Sam Heughan (who plays Jamie), or Graham McTavish (who plays his Uncle in the show), the two can be seen taking a road trip through Scotland on their new show on Starz, Men in Kilts.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Recipe

• 3 cups of sass
• 1 cup of wit
• 3/4 cup of humor
• 1 tbsp. of grit
• 1 of my favorite red dresses

To Prepare: Drizzle on some feminine liberation and serve with a brisket.

What it Tastes Like:

Finally! A show I can watch with my mom that doesn’t make me blush (but note, she doesn’t mind foul language). The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is refreshing pink lemonade that is served on Amazon Prime. Light, fast-paced, energizing and fun; this show hydrates the soul. It gives you a zip and makes you want more. Set in the late 50’s early 60’s, with some seriously good costume design, and sharp acting, it is just what I needed to take a tall glass of to have a good laugh and thoroughly savor. Production has wonderfully begun for season 4. If you’re wondering why Susie Myerson (played Alex Borstein) sounds so familiar to you, it’s because she’s the voice of Lois Griffin from Family Guy (go watch it, you’ll hear it now).

This is Us

Recipe

• 2 cups of nostalgia
• 1 cup of marriage
• 2 tbs. of growth
• A dash of tragedy
• 2 bunches of siblings

To Prepare: Heat low and slow to bring out the best flavors. Do not use a crockpot.

What it Tastes Like:

I am not sure if this can be considered a period-piece; but this story on NBC spans from the 1980’s up until the current date. It’s the spaghetti dinner of all shows. The sauce is home-made, though the noodles are from a box, and the garlic bread may be a little burnt around the edges; but this show represents family; how they grow, change, and what it is to be a part of one. I cannot help to find connections to the show with my own family, which tugs at the heart strings and sprinkles some tears like parmesan cheese. And like all good spaghetti dinners, sometimes it needs to be accompanied by a bottle of wine, when you see everything a family has to go through while navigating life. If you need some more of Randall (Sterling K Brown), like I do, he has a role in the movie Black Panther and you will actually see him in later episodes of the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel too!