At Bethesda Gardens in Arlington, TX, we encourage residents to get out and enjoy the activities and fellowship afforded by vibrant life in the assisted living community. But we also know everyone needs their own downtime, and sometimes a nice way to relax is to settle into a comfortable chair for a good episode of television. Classic shows are great, but if you're looking for something new to add to your list, here are some recent television shows that you might find interesting.
The Good Doctor airs on ABC and is a medical drama that focuses on autistic surgeon Shaun Murphy and the rest of the surgical staff at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. The show follows the typical format of a medical drama, with the larger story framed around stories of patients in each individual episode. The show draws unique material from Dr. Murphy's struggle to work in a world designed for neurotypicals, but it does a good job of showing the other residents' and surgeons' struggles too.
Seniors who want to catch up with this show can stream it via their own subscriptions on services such as Hulu or Amazon Prime.
Any viewer warnings? As with any medical drama, the show gets into the nitty gritty of medical conditions, so it may not be a good view for anyone who deals with hypochondria or may be triggered about their own medical worries.
Perfect Harmony aired for the first time in 2019 on NBC. It's the story of a hoity-toity Princeton music professor who finds himself a lonely widower in a small southern town. He finds a small church choir in great need of his guidance. It's a silly romp with some heart-warming story lines that seniors might enjoy.
Any viewer warnings? No. This is standard network comedic fair that's friendly for most audiences.
Netflix reimagined the classic horror novel, play and movie into a 10 episode series many people hailed as the scariest thing on television in 2018. Seniors who enjoy a good slow-burn horror flick or who remember the original with fondness might enjoy this series. You do need a Netflix subscription to view it.
Any viewer warnings? Many people called this a very scary horror series, so if you're prone to nightmares or don't enjoy frightening television or movies, this one may not be for you.
Midge Maisel was a 1950s Jewish housewife living up to all the expectations that entailed before her husband left her and she discovered she could make crowds roar with laughter as a stand-up comedian. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel chronicles her journey through the 1950s and early 60s comedy scene and how that impacts her personal life. Seniors who enjoy a good laugh and brave female character might like the punchy Midge and her antics. The show also includes numerous Easter eggs of the comedy scene of that decade. The show is an Amazon Prime original, which means you need an Amazon Prime membership or must pay for the show to stream it.
Any viewer warnings? The humor can be quite raunchy and the language definitely makes this a rated R production.
This Is Us has aired on NBC for a number of seasons, and seniors can also view episodes via their Hulu subscription. The show is an epic chronicle of a family and their network of friends and others across decades. Motifs include how small events and decisions make big impacts and how important connections with others are.
Any viewer warnings? The show can be extremely dramatic and emotional; reviews report crying at major scenes and episodes.
