So you wanna watch something...

Mare of Easttown: Starring Kate Winslet as a local detective, this is a mini-series set in bleak small-town Pennsylvania. Critics unanimously praise Winslet’s powerful and brooding performance, and the un-glossy realism of the series—which also has Guy Pearce as her love interest. Read the reviews over at CNN and The Guardian.Currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

Kathmandu Connection: This series is set against the backdrop of the inquiry into the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts. An investigative officer is murdered, a hotelier is kidnapped and a well-known journalist is being stalked. And both the journalist and hotelier received calls from the same phone number in Kathmandu. The ingredients definitely sound interesting. Times of India criticises the confusing start, but says the last few episodes are totally paisa vasool in terms of suspense. Check it out on SonyLIV!

Life in Colour: A David Attenborough documentary is always a joy to behold—and listen to. This one promises to be even more of an eyeful as he walks us through three episodes of stunning footage—as the title promises. As Variety puts it, “‘Life in Color’ is for all those who tune in to a nature documentary in the hopes of being dazzled by the majesty on display. It’s as vibrant as its animal subjects, making it easy to identify with the unmistakable note of awe in Attenborough’s voice as he explains exactly what we’re looking at.” Watch it now on Netflix.

A list of good reads

• National Geographic covers the many reasons for which animals feign death. Surprise, surprise—it’s not just to avoid getting eaten. Some pretend to be dead in order to trick a potential mate. Talk about phishing! 
• Also in the National Geographic: growing and alarming evidence of the effects of the pandemic on animals. For example: a fish stuck inside a disposable glove.
• The Wire laments the demolition drive that is the Central Vista Project. 
• Atlas Obscura profiles the work of photographer Taha Ahmad who captured the desire and desperation of people trying to commune with djinns in Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. 
• Vanity Fair has an entertaining read on JLo’s ex  Alex Rodriguez—who has the “weirdest breakup style ever.” 
• BBC News talks with India’s first intimacy coordinator who ensures the safety of actors during scenes that involve simulated sex, nudity and sexual violence.
• Also in BBC News: Thanks to the pandemic, employers know far more about our lives at home. Is that really a good thing? 
• Feminism in India has a lovely review of ‘Geeli Pucchi’—one of the short films in the ‘Ajeeb Dastaans’ anthology on Netflix. 
• Nirupama V. in The Wire pens an excellent essay on her experience at a five-day camp for “whiz kids”—as a small town kid who didn’t speak a word of Hindi.
• We highly recommend this viral New York Times essay on “languishing”—the word that captures the lethargy induced by the long pandemic.
• Esquire gets dating lessons from Maurice Sanders—a man in the 99th percentile of all matches made on Tinder.
• The Atlantic offers a thought-provoking essay on the three equations for a happy life.