Yell at Your TV

Here’s my TV suggestion for what to watch when Grandma and Sonny have to share the remote. Or for people like me. People who like TV programs that inform as well as entertain and surprise. If you love the spectacular BBC’s Planet Earth series (who doesn’t?) but also occasionally enjoy getting the bejesus scared out of you, then you will love Netflix’s Night on Earth.

Late at night, when I can’t get to sleep, watching nature documentaries like Planet Earth is a favorite way for me to get my mind off of the stressful stuff of the day. (If you say What stress? then you’re not from my world.) Their incredible footage of thousands of flamingos strutting across the swamp or hundreds of hippos bobbing in the African rivers never fail to inspire my awe, wonder and sleepiness. Thanks to the hardy photographers who tromp through the jungles, and David Attenborough who tromps through the sound studio, I feel like I am in reliable hands whenever I watch one of their documentaries. Just hearing Attenborough’s trusty British accent immediately relaxes my shoulders. A Pavlovian response if there ever was one.

Although it might seem counterintuitive, horror is also a great way for me to relax. I guess watching scary things from the safety of my bed lets me say to myself, Well, at least I’m not getting chomped by zombies. And watching scary shows is a participatory sport for me. I like to give suggestions, “Don’t open that door! Run! Get Out! Run! Ruuuun!” I’m sure psychologists can explain the therapeutic value of my shouting helpful tips at the TV screen. Interacting with the on-screen story perhaps gives me a sense of control that is sorely lacking in my real life. My neighbors probably don’t appreciate this though.

Of course, I only watch scary movies of things I’m not likely to encounter in real life. Things like sharks and zombies and platforms laden with gourmet food. By the way, I loved The Platform, a Spanish social science fiction-horror film directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia. Now there’s a scary film with lots of layers. If there’s meaning and metaphor in the frightening show, I’m a sucker. But no, I can’t watch shows with politicians, clowns and dentists. The morning news is way too scary for me to watch.

Netflix’s Night on Earth combines the best of both worlds. Nature documentaries and horror. The nature photographers use new technology which allows them to go where I would never dare go. The ocean at night. The Arctic during one of their six month nights. And even the cities in the wee hours when we are all normally fast asleep. Of course, Night on Earth features the usual nocturnal animals like bats, owls and lemurs. But I was amazed by many creatures I’ve never even imagined seeing in my dreams, much less in real life. Huge centipedes the size of a man’s arm. Sea creatures that glow like alien spaceships. Real-life monsters to inspire whole new categories of phobias for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -DSM-5. Truly frightening yet also magnificent creatures.

And I love the narrator’s voice, too. I picture Samira Wiley as a powerful big sister. Reliable, warm and sexy at the same time. (Not that I consider sisters sexy.) But definitely someone to be with when meeting scary night animals. I’m grateful there are nature photographers out there who are willing to brave the most terrifying nights out there just so I can yell at my TV from the comfort and safety of my bed. Thank you.