Once again, I’m running down the list of the 10 shows I most want to talk about from the past week. Not all may have audio description available, but it will be noted. Not all of these are recommendations, and i don’t binge watch, so I might be in a different place than you in a streaming series.
1) The Shining Veil (STARZ)
English Audio Description?: No
Definitely a show I would love to have audio description for, because I thought the pilot was clever as hell. It’s obviously not made to be taken too seriously, but there’s a hint that something sinister is still occurring around, and if there are ghosts, I can’t see them. But this show bears mentioning because I thought the cast, led by Courtney Cox, was perfection. I’m going to struggle to watch this one, I can feel it, until I just give up and the show just makes no sense to me anymore. I wish STARZ offered audio description.
2) American Idol (ABC)
English Audio Description Available?: No.
I’ve been thinking more and more about this. Yes, this should be audio described. As fun as it is to listen to these kids audition, we are missing critical things about their presentation, how they look, dress, and all the other stuff visual viewers judge them on. And since I watch this on Hulu, which religiously imports audio description for every other ABC show I’m watching, I know there just isn’t any. And we can vote too. So, the blind viewers should know what they are voting for.
3) The Tourist (HBO MAX)
English Audio Description Available?: Yes
Just cracked open the first episode of this four part Jamie Dornan limited series, and it’s nuts. And its great. It’ll keep you guessing, as the plot has several twists and turns, and I’m not even done yet. I’m hooked.
4) Raising Deon (Netflix)
English Audio Description Available?: Yes
To show just how slow I watch a show, I just finished the 8 episode second season of this terrific little show I’m terrified Netflix will cancel. Please don’t. Don’t leave us with that cliffhanger. That’s not fair. At least wrap up this storyline. I’ve been noticing more and more shows tapping out earlier and earlier, with planned finales, and it’s possible that Deon might end on Season 3 or 4, but I could watch him grow all the way up, and fully realize his potential.
5) Star Trek Picard (Paramount Plus)
English Audio Description Available?: Yes
These new Star Trek shows are all over the place for me, but Picard continues to be excellent through its desire to tell a more personal and intimate story. Patrick Stewart is perfection, and his admiration and love for Data clearly knows no bounds.
6) Severance (Apple Plus)
English Audio Description Available?: Yes
This Ben Stiller creation is odd, quirky, and for some reason reminds me of so many other things, from Being John Malkovich to Office Space. I love the concept, and the fact that it hasn’t fully defined itself genre wise. It seems to be straddling comedy and drama in such a way, it could be either, and it is very science fiction.
7) Our Flag Means Death (HBO MAX)
English Audio Description Available?: Yes
Taika Waititi has created another TV gem. The mastermind behind the terrific What We Do In The Shadows offered us another laugh out loud take on a normally violent group, that this time around is not so violent. Far funnier than we deserve. Highly recommend, and I’m not even done yet.
8) Young Wallander (Netflix)
English Audio Description Available?: Yes
Season two is back, and for me, while I enjoy that there’s a mystery, I still dislike the actor playing Wallader, and I’m tired of him whispering at me. I don’t know if its just me, but I barely made it through the first season, and I don’t think I can do another. Speak up man. you’re fucking Wallnder.
9) Joe and Carol (Peacock)
English Audio Description Available?: No idea. The Peacock app sucks.
I couldn’t not check out Kate McKinnon as Carol Baskin. Even if I don’t have audio description when I watch stuff on Peacock because their app design is awful, and they don’t care, this show is better than I expected. It’s not just a quick cash grab, nor is it mocking either Joe Exotic or Carol Baskin. Sure, it embraces their eccentricities, but McKinnon here is just a standout She’s killing it. It’s way better of a show than it deserves to be.
10) The Masked Singer (FOX)
English Audio Description Available?: No?
I threw this in at number ten, because like American Idol, it would be nice to hear descriptions of the costumes. However, I’ve heard at least one individual claim they are able to watch the show with audio description, in America, so I’m wondering why regardless of whether I watch it live through my cable service, or through Hulu, I never have experienced this in the shows entire run so far? Is anyone else watching this with audio description?
