Space Westerns and Genre-Bending, WandaVision and The Mandalorian

In this age of streaming, the ways we now consume our media have changed. Between Covid and being locked out of cinemas, new premium TV shows are the new hottest trend. As the major networks and channels all jostle for their thirty seconds of your time, it can be harder and harder to find just what to watch. I know I’m guilty of scrolling through the Netflix menu for ages, before finally just giving up and re-watching an old favourite (for me that’s lots of Steven Universe). So come and gather round, and I’ll take you on a taste-testing journey, and hopefully find you some new favourites you’ll love too.

Let’s start with a recent media storm. Disney has brought us back to the weekly release with the slate of new TV shows, forcing us to deny our usual binging habits and delay that sweet instant gratification. The two biggest toppers are The Mandalorian and WandaVision.

For long time Star Wars nuts, The Mandalorian is like dessert with an extra serving of cake; a massive emotional and geeky payoff for long hours slaved over the fandom fire. Its media reception and the utter love of Baby Yoda have elevated the show to something of a meme. You’ve probably watched a few eps, love the stoic man in the helmet and just want more.

For me, there are two ways to go. If there were any head-scratching moments where you thought, am I missing something? Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. Lots of the show works of lore built in the Clone Wars TV show. Sure, it began as a show for the younger fans, but it went on to become an epic saga, worth the label Star Wars. If you’re watching The Mandalorian on Disney+, chances are it’s already been suggested to you. If you just want more Star Wars, that’s a great place to start.

But maybe it’s not the Star Wars element that’s got you hooked? Maybe it’s the rogue in the space, bound by morals but on a new journey of discovery, just set on spaceships, not earth. In that case, you’ve fallen into the subgenre of space western. Two prime examples shine in this subgenre – both are deep loves of mine. The first is a little thing called Firefly. Back in 2002, Fox aired 14 episodes of a show that would go on to be one of the most fan loved and obsessed pieces of media ever. We follow a scavenger crew aboard the Serenity, a beat-up old ship that runs on luck. Her captain, Mal Reynold, has rejected the ways of the Alliance and now toes the line between pirate and hero. Give this one your time, and I guarantee it’ll touch your heart.

Coming in a close second, I’m turning to a classic anime series (no giant robots, I swear). Cowboy Bebop was one of the pioneers of space westerns, pulling from classic cinematic language to make a different kind of show; one grounded and gritty. Spike and Jet are bounty hunters aboard the Bebop – a down on her luck ship just coasting from planet to planet. Very episodic in nature, the bounty of the week can shift genres, from comedy to noir, horror to romance. Joined by Faye, Ed and Ein (their dog), Cowboy Bebop has hands down the best soundtrack ever put to film. Yes, I know that sounds like a big claim. Wanna prove me wrong? Watch it.

Back in the hands of Disney, let’s talk about their most recent viral hit – WandaVision. Their first streaming show set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, WandaVision broke barriers between MCU diehards and newcomers, taking licence with style and format to change the way TV looks and feels. Borrowing from classic 50’s TV, all the way up to current trends, WandaVision tried something new and played off the episode of the week format to pull their viewers in.

I’m gonna stick with the genre-bending here, (what I think made WandaVision so great), and go with two shows, both a bit out of the box.

Before WandaVision, there was Legion, an FX show that played around with the Marvel mutants. David Haller lives in a mental hospital and by all measures of a man, is perfectly at home with other mad people. Presenting with Schizophrenia, David flashes back and forth in this timeline, with what’s actually “now”, a bit fuzzy. If I hadn’t said mutant, you’d probably not guess anyone had powers, their all just a bit mad. Until David meets a girl, Syd, and everything spins right out of control. This one will have you guessing, episode to episode, even if binging is your style.

Lastly, we come to Maniac. A mini-series made by Netflix, Maniac follows two people, Annie and Owen, who take part in a pharmaceutical trial, claiming no strings attached. I don’t want to spoil this one too much, let’s just say if genre-bending is a groove for you, this one has it in spades. Made by the filmmaker Cary Joji Fukanaga, famous for his first season of True Detective and recent Jane Eyre adaptation, Maniac is dripping with style. As more and more filmmakers flock to TV, the increase in quality is a schmorgers board for the eyes and Maniac is no exception.

Take my advice, curl up on your couch and enjoy some new treats that will hopefully become old favourites. Hopefully next time someone asks you for a recommendation, you’ll be the one in the know.