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I used to enjoy dystopic books, TV, movies. Now I feel world-weary and I don’t need any more help getting nihilistic and depressed. Why do so many people like to consume negativity as entertainment(myself included, some recent examples: Dexter, Breaking Bad, West World).

Can anybody recommend quality positive, uplifting, non-delusional entertainment? Movies, TV, books, anything?

Jagnostic 6 June 2
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Call the Midwife
Slumdog Millionaires
Little Miss Sunshine
Moonstruck
Up
As Good As It Gets
A Few Good Men
Jerry MacGuire
Hidden Figures
Moonlight
The Big Chill
Gandhi
Beaches
The Full Monty
Bringing Down the House
Waking Ned Devine
When Harry Met Sally
My Cousin Vinny
The Birdcage (with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane)
You've Got Mail

"What do you want to talk about now Danny, my favourite colour?" Jack N, AFGM πŸ™‚

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Call the Midwife

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Good Omens is always a favorite of mine. Or anything by Neil Gaiman for that matter. Most recently I’ve read his retelling of Norse Mythology. I can’t remember the name of it tho. (Might be β€œNorse) He’s fun because he brings humor to religious claims. It’s like his writing is a mirror to the hypocrisy of any religion. If that’s what you’re looking for.

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Dexter, I disagree...he only kills bad people !!!!.... West World, ah Dolores !!!... C'mon, those are good !! I guess is just like anything else, it depends how you choose to look at it

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I like darker stories because it's more realistic, and (for the most part) it makes me realize my life could be a lot worse.

As for possible recommendations:
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Yes it's about horrible people, but they always end up losing. The show has been my one ray of hope helping me through my depression.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Wonderfalls
Master of None

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I like Nurse Jackie. Good cast. Not all ice cream and candy, but there is hope in it sometimes.

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The negative is more realistic. As for uplifting, idk, Star Trek?

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the Vedas

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that is pretty hard to find. It is almost formulaic i guess since there is such a demand for it.Good question. If I find something that fits that bill I will PM you . Just not thinking of something right of the bat now.

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It is difficult to create drama when everything is la-di-da awesome. You need things to go to shit in order to be able to fix them. And of course, in case of ongoing shows, the writers aren't allowed to fix anything - things have to spiral out just enough, and in the right way, to enable the protagonist to make it out in one piece, but not to completely resolve everything - because then the show ends.

I think positivity is easier to convey in movies, since they are finite. My favorite recent example of a feel good movie is "Chef", with Jon Favreau. It's a modern day fairy tale with a really kind vibe.

A great example of a "feel good" show is Bob The Builder: everything is great; can we fix it? Yes, we can... We're missing drama.

That's true, but struggle against adversity with hope and idealism is the core idea of drama. But increasingly it's futuristic struggle against adversity, all hope gone, and what the hell is idealism? That's the theme of dystopian drama now, and it's intentional.

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Totally agree. The constant stream of dystopian content now feels more like a strategy by power to makes us feel fatalistic about a future where the world is ruined, the elite have all the power and money, and all we can do is pathetically and ineffectively struggle against it. They've turned this on its head. Dystopian material used to be a kind of warning about the future. Don't let this happen. Now, it's about acceptance. The future's lost. Corporate fascism. Techno fascism. Dog eat dog in a climate destroyed world. I don't buy it.

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Just look at that little ball of wonderfulness that is your profile pic. There is your reason. As for upbeat stuff...throw the TV away and go for a walk in the woods, find exciting things, brew nettle beer and sing songs...much love

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I agree. Their only purpose is to atrophy hope for the future, which only benefits the ruling class who would much rather we remained pessimistic and defeatest. We surrender - they stay in control.

Life affirming films:-

'It's A Wonderful Life', 'Daens' (1992), 'Les Miserables', 'Ladies In Lavender', 'Pride' (2014).

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Marigold Hotel is quite lovely, Love Actually, Quartet? But many movies have a good force that wins the day in the end don't they? Try Jimmy Buffet instead of Leonard Cohen too πŸ˜‰

Marigold Hotel and the sequel, both good movies.

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