The second part of my winter catchup, and let’s be real, we need to get this out the way so I can start talking about the TV shows I’ve watched recently - there has been some good stuff. But as a quick recap of some of last year’s viewings, here are eight shows that caught my eye.

Acapulco

I’ve written about this show a couple of times, and always love it but thought it worth to revisit just as it came to an end last year after four lovely series. The show remained bold and fun, multi-lingual joy with a great cast, and as the series’ progressed, we had layers of new characters to love. But underneath it all it was just about good storytelling and building a family that includes people you’re related to but also who you choose to love.

Film Club

This was a cute little six-part series on the BBC that starred Aimee-Lou Wood, who has gone absolutely stratospheric recently. This was a down-to-earth little number though, with Wood as a young woman struggling with agorophobia and a will-they-won’t-they love story with her best friend. All hanging on a film club so lots of nerdy moments and film trivia to enjoy as well.

Wayward

I, like many people, fell for Mae Martin a little bit after their appearance on Taskmaster. This series was created by, and featured Martin as a police officer who ends up investigating a school for troubled teens, and as you might imagine, the plot is far bigger than it first appeared. It takes a lot to outshine Toni Collette, who also star, but Martin does a fantastic job.

Boots

This Netflix comedy-drama is one of those that has you laughing one minute and bawling the next, as we follow a misfit teenager signing up to the US Marine Corps and having to hide his sexuality, as, set in the 90s, it was don’t ask don’t tell. The show is well made and hard-hitting in places, and I really liked it, so I’m not surprised that it was controversial in certain areas. A shame it’s been cancelled, as I think there was a lot more to explore.

Girlbands Forever

After previously devouring the Boybands Forever miniseries, I was desperate for there to be a girlbands version, and thankfully, it arrived! It’s brutal though, featuring all the pressures and mental health issues that the boys suffered with the added scrutiny of the horrific 90s tabloid press, and the stresses around when’s the best time to start a family. A must watch.

Cold Feet

I started watching this a while back and just recently finished powering through the last few series, including the more recent return. It’s obviously a classic, but I didn’t realise how well-sustained the series is, the characters grow and change and fall in and out of love, but are always humorous and moving in equal measure. I love that the final episode references the theme tune from the series at the beginning, it feels full circle.

Forever

A really nice teen love story, I didn’t realise this was a loose adaptation of a Judy Blume book, but then I haven’t read it anyway, so it probably wouldn’t make much difference. I loved the characters in this, the way their relationship developed, the things they were faced with, it all just felt very real and well done.

Trigger Point

The gorgeous Vicky McClure makes this an absolute must watch, every single series has been tense from start to finish. This time we’re dealing with serious mental health issues, particularly PTSD, and it’s handled well and realistically whilst also covering several quite terrifying bomb-related incidents and a big mystery to solve. Love this series so much.

We’re really spoiled for TV at the moment, there’s great stuff out there and so much more to be devoured!