Weekend Watchlist | Deserved Another Try

In this edition of Weekend Watchlist, our streaming recommendations cover shows that deserved one more season.

Freaks and Geeks (Hulu) // Heaven Infinity, Staff Writer

There are a few things that I feel very strongly about, and one of those things is that “Freaks and Geeks” deserved a second (and a third, fourth and fifth) season! The cast was full of young talent like James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segal and Linda Cardellini. The plot was interesting and easy to follow, there were Freaks and there were also (wait for it) Geeks making their way through the tumultuous days of high school. 

Executive producer Judd Apatow went on to create dozens of hits like “Bridesmaids,” “Superbad” and most recently “The King of Staten Island,” so why was one of his earlier projects cancelled before it got good? According to Apatow, there were many reasons. The show was booked for a terrible time slot, Saturdays at 8 p.m.,when the show’s target audience would surely have better things to do. Ratings plummeted from there. There was also a crazy airing schedule, including the time the show took a three week hiatus to open a time slot for the 1999 World Series. I think many of us can agree that we could have sacrificed a little baseball for a couple more seasons of “Freaks and Geeks.” I guess we’ll just have to drown our sorrows in the catchy theme song as we hit play on episode one for the millionth time.

Game of Thrones (HBO Max) // Megan Williams, Digital Manager 

If you’re anything like me, thinking of “Game of Thrones’” horrible ending makes you hiss like a feral cat. I dressed up as Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) for several Halloweens straight, drew strength from her to leave an abusive relationship and even considered dying my hair white, so to watch her suddenly go crazy — with virtually no characterization to support the shift — infuriated me. 

The problem is that “Game of Thrones” held a lot of promise. The first seven seasons varied from good to fantastic. The nosedive it took at the end was a result of rushed writing, so another season might genuinely answer the questions still lingering in fans’ minds. Though I would be unhappy with any ending wherein Daenerys dies, if her descent into madness was earned, I might not be brought to tears by the mere concept of dragons anymore. Cersei (Lena Headey) might die in a way the most devious woman in Westeros deserves, rather than just getting crushed by some stray rocks. The White Walkers, a threat built up from the first scene of the first episode, might actually impact the finale, rather than being dealt with in a single episode by a stupid trick knife move. If GoT had another season, fans might be able to think of it fondly again. Until the wrongs are righted, however — back to feral hissing.

Community (Netflix) // Rachel Bachy, Staff Writer

“Community” and its cult following live by the motto “six seasons and a movie,” but six seasons and six years later, we’re still waiting on that movie. The show had its fair share of setbacks, but its lovably flawed characters and consistently funny meta-comedy keeps fans committed to “Community.” It powered through the departure of its creator and showrunner, causing an unfortunate fourth season which ultimately forced the original showrunner to return. After its ratings fell throughout season five, it was cancelled on NBC and moved to the short-lived and little-known streaming site, Yahoo! Screen and later seasons lost half of the original cast. Looking past some dated jokes (mostly made by Chevy Chase), the show’s meta-packed, genre-bending episodes defied the situational comedy norms that plagued early 2010’s television. Using the backdrop of Greendale Community College, each episode tackles a new trope or reference for the ensemble cast to explore. From paintball tournaments set in the old West to claymation Christmas episodes taking place in a library’s study room, “Community“ manages to build a universe out of film and television history while keeping its feet firmly planted in reality.

Unfortunately, it could never last. As its committed fans and supportive cast hold out hope for a film adaptation, “Community” has yet to be greenlit for the long-awaited movie. Until then, the show only gets better with each rewatch as it hosts seemingly endless visual gags, references and meta-moments viewers may not catch the first time.

High Fidelity (Hulu) // Ny’Ara Willis, For The Pitt News

Hulu original “High Fidelity” is a one-season wonder following the painful love life of a 20-something woman in New York City. Rob (Zoë Kravitz) owns a record shop and spends the show exploring her heartbreaks and attempts to overcome them. The music in the show is impeccable, with selections such as Minnie Riperton’s “Lovin’ You“ to modern references to Frank Ocean, and Ho99o9’s “War is Hell.” It all takes you on a natural and complete experience of what the main character Rob goes through on an emotional and mental basis. Not only is there strong dialogue between the music and the audience, but there is a fourth-wall break presence that talks you through the season and the history behind it. 

Rob, her brother Cam and her employees Cherise and Simon all live dynamic lives — including pursuing musical passions, having a baby and navigating their love lives. They grapple with a harsh but necessary pressure from each other to improve and grow because they love each other. The cultural inclusion and the diverse fashion all play a role in this drama and its beauty. A second season would have been nice, but I guess Hulu wasn’t ready for Kravitz.