If you’re anything like me then you probably spend a lot of time on your laptop binging series after series of drama, soap, comedy, or documentary. I stumbled upon one series over the summer that I found particularly interesting, and series two was recently uploaded to All4.
‘Hate Thy Neighbour’ is a documentary series in which comedian Jamali Maddix travels across the globe, meeting people with some, shall we say, ‘extreme’ views. He spends time with people unafraid to go on camera and admit they are a Nazi preach about how they want abortion to be banned, or believe all LBQTQ+ people are going to hell. Then we get to see him back in the UK talking about his experiences during a stand-up routine, in which he usually ridicules these people and pokes fun at their arguments.
As a politics student, I find these debates really interesting to watch unfold. ‘Hate Thy Neighbour’ addresses some really topical and divisive issues, putting a spotlight on the extreme sides of each argument and highlighting just how ridiculous some of their claims really are. The first series sees Jamali travel around the world from America, to Ukraine, to Sweden, and finishing off home in Britain. Series two focuses purely on the US, delving deep into the most topical issues dividing the nation today.
It’s not a program that’s without its triggers, and you should definitely be prepared to yell at your screen in frustration if you do decide to watch; but it handles these complex issues really well, particularly for a program that’s 50% a comedy.
So if you’re looking for your next binge, and are interested in exploring the unpopular and extreme aspects of current topical debates, I’d 100% recommend giving this series a go. And hey! If you do decide to give it a watch, let us know what you think by getting in touch with us via social media, we always love hearing from you!