It’s that time of the year again! You guessed it — midterm season. Three years into university, the only coping method I know to survive this dreaded season is to watch television. If you’re like me and turn to shows for a momentary escape from the stress that comes during this time, here are three shows of various genres that will hopefully cure your midterm blues, if only for a short while.
Based on the 2013 video game, this HBO post-apocalyptic series is set 20 years into a fungal pandemic that continues to wreak havoc on society with its ability to turn humans into zombie-like creatures. Like the video game, we see the world through Joel’s and Ellie’s perspectives as they trek across the United States to find a possible cure. Played by the iconic and lovable duo that is Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, respectively, this is the perfect show to cure your midterm blues.
If you haven’t watched The Last of Us, stop reading this article and watch this show immediately. With new episodes airing on Crave every Sunday night, it’s one of the hottest shows on television right now and is definitely not one to be missed.
I admit, as someone who’s never played the video game and not a huge fan of dystopian dramas, I was reluctant when friends recommended that I see the show. But 20 minutes into the pilot and I was sold. The series is absolutely amazing. Not only is the cinematography beautiful in every episode, but the storylines are next-level. I can’t recall the number of times I’ve openly sobbed while watching. However, the real reason why you should watch The Last of Us is to witness the heartwarming father-daughter relationship between Joel and Ellie that grows throughout the show. Fun fact: did you know that the first season was shot in Alberta? All the more reason to watch this spectacular series!
For all you sitcom enthusiasts, Abbott Elementary is another show that I guarantee will eliminate your midterm blues. Set in Philadelphia, the series follows the lives of a group of teachers at an underfunded public elementary school. Led by the ray of sunshine that is Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson), this rag-tag team gives it their absolute all to educate the minds of tomorrow. Fans of The Office and Modern Family will enjoy Abbott Elementary as it is a mockumentary-style workplace comedy.
If you have younger siblings or want to watch something with the entire family, look no further. This laugh-out-loud series is a breath of fresh air in a world that seems increasingly dark and dreary. In addition to being a hilarious show, it also critiques the pitfalls of the American education system in a smart and entertaining way. Convinced? You can binge-watch season one on Disney Plus.
Although bungee jumping may not be for everyone, The Amazing Race is a show definitely worth your while to cure those midterm blues. Hosted by New Zealander Phil Keoghan, every season opens up with eleven pairs (some seasons have had a dozen teams) from all across the United States of America who compete around the world to win a million dollars. Each leg of the race (aka episode) comprises various tasks related to the city or country they are in and ends with one team being eliminated from the race.
When you think about it, the show is almost like exploring the world from your own living room! I’ve watched this show since I was a kid, and let me tell you, it’s the best reality show out there. Every time I’m feeling down and stressed out, I turn to the show to remind me that the world is so much more than school and academics. If you love travelling around the world and competition shows, this is most certainly the series for you.
Note: I recently found out that Disney Plus Canada has taken down The Amazing Race from their platform and that there are no other streaming services that have it. No worries! Alternatively, there is The Amazing Race Canada which you can stream for free on the CTV app and website.
Whether you want to cry, laugh or learn, hopefully, these shows bring you a bit of relief during these stressful times! Good luck with your midterms!