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Luna Hollander’s Top 3 TV Shows

Luna Hollander

Welcome to the next installment of Studentenkrant’s Top 3 TV Shows. Each week, one of SK’s writers dives into their top three favorite shows of all time. Spanning different decades, runtimes, and genres, this series will confront readers with a diverse list of top tier television and explain to them what they are, why we love them, and why you should give them a watch!

This week’s writer: Luna Hollander

Introduction

I am an absolute sucker for comedies. While I’ve certainly devoted my fair share of time to critically acclaimed and “must-watch” series, there’s a special place in my heart for the kind of shows that can whisk me away from the business and stress of daily life with some light-hearted goofing around, preferably mixed with a story I can lose myself in. 

Honorable mentions: 

  • Avatar: The Last Airbender (Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko, 2005-2008)
  • The Legend of Korra (Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko, 2012-2014)
  • Gravity Falls (Alex Hirsch, 2012-2016)
  • Stranger Things (Matt Duffer & Ross Duffer, 2016-)
  • The Last Of Us (Craig Mazin & Neil Druckmann, 2023-)
  • The Midnight Gospel (Duncan Trussell, 2020)
  • Rick and Morty (Dan Harmon & Justin Roiland, 2013-)
  • Arcane (Christian Linke & Alex Yee, 2021-)
  • The Queen’s Gambit (Scott Frank & Allan Scott, 2020)
  • Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (Ann Druyan & Steven Soter, 2014)

Pat & Mat (Lubomír Beneš & Vladimír Jiránek, 1976-2020)
Available on Netflix & Amazon Prime & YouTube

Have you ever found yourself wanting to barbecue some sausages on the stove with your friend, only to encounter a series of completely preventable events that result in an explosion in your basement? If so, you’re not alone!

Pat & Mat is a beloved Czech stop-motion animated series featuring two neighbors who hilariously attempt to solve a bunch of problems each episode, like wanting an indoor barbeque. These problems are typically the result of their own clumsiness, and they go about solving them in the most inefficient ways imaginable.

The pilot aired all the way back  in 1976, yet the show remains amusing to audiences of any generation. The episodes only last about eight minutes each but because of the complicated process of stop motion, especially back in 1976, it took about three months to film all 11.000 frames within a single episode.

Aside from the Dutch version of the show, which is dubbed with improvisation by two comedians (Kees Prins and Simon van Leeuwen), the characters in the show do not speak. There are no sick fight scenes, no inventive world-building and no complex character arcs; it’s just two neighbors being clumsy. 

And it doesn’t need all that to be hilarious! The unnecessarily complicated solutions to simple problems never fail to put a smile on my face. I’ve watched this show with my family since I was a child, and I still watch it. It’s simply unadulterated fun.  

Dimension 20: Fantasy High (Brennan Lee Mulligan, 2018-present)
Available on Dropout & YouTube

Dimension 20 is a tabletop role-playing show produced by Dropout. To put it simply, a bunch of comedians play Dungeons & Dragons. And, yes, I’m aware that that might be a hard sell for anyone who isn’t really familiar with DnD. So, I’ll speak the language that every student in Groningen speaks:

They have a bunch of FREE seasons! On YouTube!

This includes the first two seasons of my personal favorite: Fantasy High. Led by Brennan Lee Mulligan as the dungeon master, Fantasy High is set in Spyre; a world brimming with high fantasy wonders, except for Elmville, which feels more like a throwback to an American town in the 1970s. The story follows six freshmen from their very first day of school. 

There’s Figueroth ‘Fig’ Faeth (portrayed by Emily Axford), grappling with her newfound devilish heritage after sprouting devil’s horns. Riz ‘The Ball’ Gukgak (portrayed by Brian Murphy), an (unlicensed) licensed investigator on the hunt for his missing babysitter. Kristen Applebees (portrayed by Ally Beardsly), chosen by the god Helio, though her divine destiny gets a bit complicated as time unfolds. Fabian Aramaris Seacaster (portrayed by Lou Wilson), living in the shadow of his infamous pirate father. Adaine Abernant (portrayed by Siobhan Thompson), a divination wizard suffering from anxiety. And finally, Gorgug Thislespring (portrayed by Zac Oyama), who thinks he might be his own dad.

With a cast this talented and funny, and a dungeon master whose improvisation skills and repertoire of accents and voices is nothing short of astonishing, Dimension 20 never fails to deliver. Aside from Fantasy High, there’s a show set in space, a show inspired by Game of Thrones, a show set in a magical version of New York, and many more! If you’re still not convinced, go look up Dimension 20 shorts on YouTube or reels on their Instagram account, and get a small taste of what the episodes are like!

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Dan Goor & Michael Schur, 2013-2021)
Available on Netflix

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a comedic take on the detective genre, following the detectives of the 99th precinct in New York City. At the forefront is Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), a talented detective whose immaturity adds a lot of entertainment and many opportunities for character development. 

Like Andy Samberg, the rest of the cast is almost exclusively made up of comedians. Not only does this lead to a lot of well-placed improvisation, it also results in a hilarious on-screen dynamic between the characters. This includes Captain Raymon Holt (Andre Braugher), whose relative unfamiliarity with the comedy scene makes the deadpan delivery of his lines all the more comical.

Another thing it does really well is its blending of comedy with more serious themes. The writing is at times silly, yet when it comes to exploring sensitive topics such as racial profiling and LGBTQ+ representation, maintains a respectful tone. 

From B&E’s (breaking and entering) to hunting down serial killers, the show’s lighthearted atmosphere consistently draws you in. The filler episodes are never boring, the mix of humor and heart has you fully invested in the characters, and the main storyline and cliffhangers at the end of each season leave you wanting more.

When I pick an episode to watch from this show, I tend to pick one with my eyes closed. I’ve seen all the episodes at least five times by now, and with only a handful of exceptions, I’d watch them all again.

Final thoughts

If you’re like me, and you want something to relax on the couch with, then check out my suggestions! Whether you’re in the mood for simple comedy or fantastical adventures, there’s something there for everyone who seeks a good laugh. So grab your popcorn and start watching. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

[Click here to read Luna’s Top 3 Movies article!]