Originally published in print September 2021.
From titans of the medium like Breaking Bad, to those gone before their time like Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, the last 18 months have left me more focused than ever on my TV screen. As of March last year, my viewing experience changed. Gone were the days where I lived vicariously through the dizzying romances of period dramas or longed for the fantastical abilities found in science fiction series – now all I coveted was to hang with my friends, á la sitcoms. These were worlds untouched by the pandemic, where I could laugh, of course, but also cry, something I needed to do, without thinking about why I needed to. TV was very much a refuge, and for that reason, I had absolutely no interest in watching anything touching the pandemic. Of course, as the months passed, seasons ended, and writers’ rooms were forced to consider how they would handle our new reality. And for once, I wanted every show to be like Riverdale.
In February 2020, Archie and pals experienced a seven year time-jump. This decision was made to save Cole Sprouse from trying to pass as 18 at the age of 30, but it also meant that the writers had no need to mention the pandemic. Aside from a mention of returning to long-distance learning when the school was destroyed due to rampaging escaped convicts (because Riverdale), at time of publishing, none of the characters seem to have been affected by the pandemic in any way. Currently, the characters are dealing with different issues, as Cheryl seems to be starting her own musical cult, while Jughead is searching for the Mothman. This show has long since left relatability behind. Watching these caricatures try to contend with the very real fear, anger and grief so many of us are feeling would be, at best, garish. Which made it a perfect show for me, someone who wanted to think about the pandemic as little as possible.
But of course, some shows are populated by characters rather than Barbie dolls you can smash together, and several shows took on the challenge of entertaining us while still acknowledging our current reality. Mythic Quest, a workplace comedy set in a game design studio, handled this quite well. Between season one and two, there were two specials, the first of which was simply titled ‘Quarantine’. The entire episode was shown through Zoom calls between the various employees at the gaming company the show centres around, and it was incredibly moving to watch Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao), as an Australian expat, particularly struggle with isolation. After these specials the characters return to work, but C. W. Longbottom (F. Murray Abraham), an older member of staff, continues to work from home, a subtle reminder that things are not simply ‘back to normal’. I appreciated this tactic for handling Covid-19 in a comedy; acknowledging its existence, but only focusing on it briefly. While this level of engagement with the pandemic worked for this type of series, other shows must tackle the situation head on out of necessity.
Grey’s Anatomy is a perfect example of a show that couldn’t get away with focusing on the pandemic for one special, then having it in the background for the remainder of the season. Not only do the characters have to deal with the pandemic as doctors, but also as patients, with protagonist Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) contracting the disease herself. With the swell of conspiracy theorist-led belief in a ‘Covid hoax’, the writers of the long-running hospital drama paid homage to the people whose profession they drew from, and chose to educate viewers about the stark realities of frontline workers. This knowledge, combined with the time that had passed between the start of the pandemic and my watching of the series, helped me with my previous reluctance towards something so focused on it. It’s still not the kind of series I could binge, but in small doses it’s certainly compelling.
Though I’m glad I’m still able to watch series that haven’t become exclusively pandemic-themed programming, I no longer shy away from it. Those final joyous minutes of Mythic Quest’s ‘Quarantine’ special where the gang did something silly yet impressive to lift their spirits would not have been as enjoyable devoid of that context. Writers have to decide for themselves how, or even if, they want to grapple with the pandemic. And of course, we each have to decide for ourselves if we are ready to watch it.
