The ES streaming guide

What is a 30-something supposed to do without the background noise of ‘toss a coin to your Witcher’ as the soundtrack to my WFH omnibus? Soon, without anything to watch, I’ll just have to start picking arguments with my neighbours in the hope of recreating some of the momentary dramatic tension that a HBO series would otherwise offer.

But don’t worry. I have dived into the never-ending chasm of online video streaming services and returned with a selection of TV programmes and films that will stave off the crushing weight of what to watch uncertainty – for another week at least.

The Mandalorian, Disney+

Narcos and Game of Thrones star, Pedro Pascal, dons the armour of the titular Mandalorian – an intergalactic bounty hunter – in Disney’s new Star Wars production. Created by Jon Favreau the series has already been given a 93 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has spawned endless ‘Baby Yoda’ memes in the US where the show was released in November last year. Strong the force is with this show.

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, Madness, Netflix

Big cats, contract killers, and a mulleted, gun-toting, polygamist and country western singer called Joe Exotic – what else could you want from a documentary? The seven part series charts the escalating feud between the Oklahoman zoo-keeper, Joe Exotic, and Big Cat Rescue CEO Carole Baskin. From the producers of that Fyre Festival documentary, </Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, Madness/> is, dare I say it, an improvement on the disaster doc genre.

Some Good News with John Krasinski, YouTube

Can’t seem to escape all of the bad news? Director and star of A Quiet PlaceJohn Krasinski decided ‘enough is enough world’ and created his own YouTube news series SGN ‘dedicated entirely to good news’. The first episode of his 15 minute chat show features a hilarious interview with The Office US co-star Steve Carrell and a run through of the best stories from the week – including the global clap for healthcare workers. Much needed positivity amid all the doom and gloom.

Vice, Amazon Prime

Remember when the world’s most pressing concern was the Iraq’s oil, Haliburton and the influence of Dick Cheney’s Bush era military-industrial-complex? Vice, from The Big Short director Adam McKay, is an almost nostalgic look back at the now distant problems of the last decade - as told through the eyes of US Vice President Dick Cheney. Christian Bale’s turn as the larger-than-life politician saw the actor put on a whopping 40 pounds for the role - something which we can all relate to after three weeks of boredom fridge bingeing.

One Punch Man, CrunchRoll/Netflix

I’m not some teenaged cosplayer who thinks it’s a travesty that Studio Ghibli films have only won best animated film awards at the Oscars. Cartoons are for kids – I know. But, hear me out on this recommendation...

One Punch Man is an animated series based on a Japanese graphic novel telling the story of Saitama, a super hero who has become so powerful that he is now bored of the day-to-day hero life. Perfect escapism for the current powerlessness we are all feeling currently.

Gangs of London, Sky/Now TV

For this one you will have to wait for all 9 episodes to be dropped on Now TV on 23rd April – but it will be worth the wait. Set in a busier version of our currently silent city, Gangs of London (starring Joe Cole, Colm Meaney and Michelle Fairley) dramatizes the power struggles of the capital’s most powerful crime family. Directed by Gareth Evans, who shot to fame with his cult-action classic The Raid back in 2011, this show guarantees to pack a punch.