Sick Day Recommendations

Escapism and passing the time while your body heals.

May 18, 2025

We’re nearly in winter here in Aotearoa, which means the season of sick days is upon us. Fortunately for you, I’ve spent the past six months mostly bedbound, so I’ve put together a selection of shows, movies, and podcasts that kept me entertained.

When I’m unwell, I want entertainment that pulls me completely out of my head — a bit of escapism to help the time pass while my body heals.

I actually find it hard to read when I’m sick. People often ask what I’m reading, because of my work, and I usually feel guilty if I’m not deep into a novel. But I still get plenty of creative inspiration from films and series. So, I’ve decided to embrace my love of TV and not pile on more guilt to the thick layer already coating my current quiet existence.

Good luck this winter — and if you think we have similar taste, please send through your recommendations. (No personal development or self-help, plzzz.)

Dangerous Memories

It began in Florence, when a group of young English women were drawn to a therapist whose reputation travelled by word of mouth. One by one, they entered sessions that promised insight — but for some, the experience was far more complicated. Dangerous Memories examines what unfolded between these women and the therapist, and what’s at stake when we let someone else shape how we remember our own lives

SCAMMERLAND

Scams aren’t what they used to be. Today, many originate from heavily guarded compounds in Southeast Asia, where hundreds of thousands of people are reportedly held against their will and forced to defraud others online. Scammerland explores how this industrial-scale exploitation operates, hearing from those who’ve lived through it and those trying to dismantle it. A multi-part video podcast from Superreal, hosted by Julian Morgans.

Guru: Don’t Cross Kat

Kat Torres built a large online following with posts about spirituality, luxury, and self-styled mysticism. But behind the curated image, allegations of manipulation and control began to surface. When one woman tries to reconnect with a friend drawn into Kat’s inner circle, the search leads to a wider investigation. Based on the original Brazilian series, journalist Chico Felitti traces a story about influence, loyalty, and the blurred line between community and control.

Blood Vines

In 1980s California, White Zinfandel wine was booming — and so was the Licciardi family, whose grape deals helped fuel the trend. But behind the rise of this wine empire was a long-running fraud that unraveled into violence, legal battles, and lasting damage to the industry’s reputation. In Blood Vines, investigative journalist Chris Walker traces one of the largest wine scams in U.S. history and the web of deception that supported it.

TV Series

The Leftovers (2014) | Neon

I’m not usually into dystopian series, but The Leftovers is now my favourite TV show. It’s not just the hot cast — Carrie Coon, Liv Tyler, Margaret Qualley — but the way the series handles uncertainty, belief, and human behaviour with both grit and playfulness. Set after 2% of the world’s population vanished without explanation, the story focuses on a small New York community struggling to make sense of what happened. Grief, cults, reinvention, and chaos unfold in a world that resists easy answers. It’s unsettling at times, often moving, and consistently surprising.

American Primeval (2024) | Neon

I’ve been quietly obsessed with the Mormon church for years — mainly for how its influence shows up in unexpected places, like multi-level marketing. American Primeval doesn’t focus on that but digs into an earlier chapter: the Mormon Wars. Set in the Utah Territory in 1857, it’s a gritty, fictionalised look at the cultural and religious clashes that shaped the region, including the events leading to the Mountain Meadows Massacre. What struck me most was the way the series explores self-righteousness — particularly when backed by power. It’s unsettling, historically layered, and more relevant than it first appears.

Mindhunter (2017) | Netflix

I rewatch both seasons of Mindhunter every year. It’s not just about catching serial killers — it’s about understanding how childhood neglect, abuse, and damaged environments shape these individuals. The show carefully portrays the contexts where these crimes emerge and the psychological toll on both killers and the agents studying them. Holden Ford and Bill Tench’s pioneering profiling is less about sensationalism and more about grappling with the human damage beneath the violence. Executive produced by David Fincher and Charlize Theron, the series refuses easy answers and stays grounded in trauma’s complexities.

True Detective Season One (2014) | Neon

This is by far the best season of True Detective and another one I rewatch annually. Season 1 follows two Louisiana detectives, Rust Cohle and Martin Hart, as they reopen a 1995 murder case of a sex worker with possible occult ties. The story shifts between 1995 and 2012, weaving the investigation with the detectives’ personal struggles. The show explores obsession, morality, and the blurred lines between good and evil, all framed by eerie occult symbolism. It’s a rare crime drama that lingers long after the final episode.

Movies

True Romance (1993) | Crime/Romance

Directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino, True Romance follows newlyweds Alonzo (Christian Slater) and Flo (Patricia Arquette) fleeing the Mafia after stumbling into a drug deal gone wrong. The film blends crime, romance, and action with sharp, playful dialogue that’s pure Tarantino, set against a distinct Southern California backdrop. It wasn’t a hit at the box office but has since earned a cult following, thanks to its unique style and remarkable supporting cast including Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, and Brad Pitt.

Tickled (2016) | Documentary

I LOVE David Farrier — he’s our nation’s sweetheart and runs one of my favourite Substacks, Webworm. Tickled is a New Zealand documentary he co-directed with Dylan Reeve that starts with something almost absurd: “competitive endurance tickling.” But it quickly turns into a serious investigation of the questionable practices behind the videos and those producing them. When Farrier reaches out for an interview, the response is shockingly hostile, revealing a darker side. The film raises important legal and ethical questions and has faced its own legal challenges. Strange, unsettling, and compelling.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) | Horror/Crime

Silence of the Lambs is rightly iconic. Though labelled horror, it relies more on suspense and psychological tension than gore or jump scares. It follows Clarice Starling, a young FBI trainee who seeks help from Dr. Hannibal Lecter — a brilliant but imprisoned psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer — to profile another murderer, Buffalo Bill, who skins his victims. The story hinges on Clarice’s willingness to reveal personal parts of her past to gain Lecter’s insights, setting up a tense and dangerous game between hunter and hunted.