As they say, series are the new movies. When you have 90 hours instead of 90 minutes to develop a plot, it’s obvious why all the big name actors, writers and directors are switching to the small screen. And with all-new ways of watching, from downloading to renting to borrowing and lending, everybody is discovering their favourites.
So welcome to our new section called My Series. This is where we ask some of our favourite people what they’re watching, what they hate, what they love, and how badly they binge-watch.
First up is award-winning playwright Louis Viljoen (right), whose latest work The Eulogists will open at the Fugard on May 31. Viljoen is currently the Fugard Theatre’s Writer in Residence. He’s also appearing on stage in The Play That Goes Wrong at the Theatre on the Bay, so we don’t know when he has time to watch series – but he clearly does.
WS: What series are you watching at the moment?
LV: I always watch a few things at a time; maybe two series with occasional breaks for movies. Right now I’m catching up with Penny Dreadful and re-watching all of Archer .
WS: How advanced are you into the series?
LV: I’ve just started Penny Dreadful season 2 and I believe I’m on season 5 of Archer.
WS: What do you think of it all so far?
LV: Penny Dreadful is a blast. The show is a reimagining of classic film and literary monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman) set in Victorian London and it just drips with beautiful production design, good writing and Eva Green chewing scenery like a rabid termite. Archer is probably my favourite animated show and it features some of the best comedy writing I think I’ve ever seen on television.
WS: Do you have any favourite characters, and if so, who are they?
LV: From Penny Dreadful it has to be Eva Green’s Vanessa Ives. My God, that woman knows how to sell pulpy material. Special mention to Josh Hartnett, who plays Evan Chandler,a cowboy hiding a hairy, toothy secret. I’ve always thought Josh Hartnett is an extremely underated actor. From Archer is has to be Archer. The man is equal parts brilliant, moronic, self-obsessed, pop-culture enthusiast, and a douche-bag who is justy goofy enough to make him very endearing. H. Jon Benjamin does his voice and I believe that man deserves an award for his work.
WS: Are you a binge-watcher?
LV: I am, but I take it a step further and I binge watch a few things at a time.
WS: Can you tell us the longest time you’ve spent watching a series without leaving the couch?
LV: My friend and I once did a full weekend of watching the first four seasons of 24 without leaving the house and only stopping to make the occasional meal, fetch beers from the fridge and to have a brief nap in between seasons 2 and 3.
WS: What are your best snacks/drinks/treats to have while watching a series?
LV: If you give me a bottle of Pinot Noir, some biltong and a stack of movies/series then I’m a happy little binge-pig.
WS: How do you get your series?
LV: If I love a series enough, I’ll buy the boxset. I’m a sucker for physical media. But these days I mostly stream.
WS: What do you think has been the mightiest, most excellent series ever made?
LV: It would be a dead heat between Deadwood and The Wire. Deadwood has, hands down, the best writing ever commited to television and The Wire is basically the great American novel, but in television form. I’ve watched both series more than ten times. I cannot imagine a world without those shows and goddamnit, why would I want to imagine that?
WS: Have you ever cancelled a real, live social engagement to stay at home to watch series?
LV: I do it constantly and without hesitation.
What: The Eulogists
Where and when: The Fugard Theatre, previews from 30 May, runs to 26 June
Book: Computicket
Age restriction: 16 (language)
WS
