With lockdown restrictions easing slightly, there is a little more scope to get out and about. That said, for the foreseeable, the majority of our time is to be spent at home. And, TV is often still the entertainment order of the day.
We’ve taken a look at some of the TV stations’ online catch-up services and of course the ever-trusty Netflix, to pick out some of the best series for you to watch on demand. Whether that is an indulgent binge watch or a steady episode a day, is totally up to you.
The RTÉ Player can be accessed online at www.rte.ie/player. It is the national broadcaster’s catch-up service, where you can re-watch TV shows that have already aired. Since the lockdown, they have started to leave whole series up and reintroduced old favourite shows.
Normal People
It is fair to say at this stage, most people will have heard of Normal People. The series’ sex scenes have attracted much attention and caused some pretty heated debates on the airwaves. But, in all seriousness, nudity aside, it is the skilful adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel and the superb acting of Kildare’s Paul Mescal and English actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, that makes this a stand out series people will be talking about for years to come. Normal People is set in Sligo and Dublin. It follows the love story of Marianne and Connell, as they struggle to find a place in the world. You can catch up with the episodes that have aired on RTÉ so far (eight of 12) on the RTÉ Player. Normal People shows Tuesdays at 10.15pm on RTÉ One.
Love/Hate
Many fans of Love/Hate will remember the void left in Sunday nights after the final episode finished on a cliff hanger. And, while there have been no new episodes and we still don’t have answers, all four series of Love/Hate are now on the RTÉ Player for those who want to watch the show again. For those who have never watched Love/Hate, the Dublin-based crime drama exploring the murky and violent world of Ireland’s drug kingpins, is a must watch.
The Act
From the outset it is important to note that The Act is heavy viewing and not for those looking for an easy watch. However, the story is gripping and will keep you wanting more. Based on a true story, this crime drama stars Joey King and Patricia Arquette. The plot surrounds the extremely toxic relationship between a Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother Dee Dee. All eight episodes of the series are on the RTÉ Player now.
Netflix is an online subscription streaming service where you can watch TV shows and movies on demand. Netflix costs €7.99 a month and has a one-month free trial, netflix.com
The Last Dance
The Last Dance is one of the top trending shows on Netflix of late. The 10-part documentary series follows the career of Michael Jordan, widely considered to be basketball’s all-time great. It focuses on his sixth and final NBA championship run with the Chicago Bulls in the late 1990s. What gives The Last Dance an extra edge is Michael Jordan’s own take on events. You don’t need to be a sports fan to appreciate and enjoy this series, there’s plenty to it along with the basketball action. All 10 episodes are now on Netflix.
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
Tiger King, upon its release at the start of lockdown, was a phenomenon. So much so that farmers were dressing up themselves as the characters and their cattle as tigers! This seven-part documentary series is populated by eccentric characters. Tiger King is an exploration of big-cat breeding and its bizarre underworld. There’s more to it than just big cats though, it takes several twists and turns in different directions.
Farmers paint their cow as a tiger and stage a Tiger King photo shoot. \ Jim Sheridan on Twitter
Much like the RTÉ Player, the Virgin Media Player is Virgin Media’s online catch-up service, www.virginmediatelevision.ie/player
Love Island
Love Island is a bit like marmite, you either love it or hate it. And, no one can deny its huge success and growth over the last few years. For those who enjoy its escapism, they will miss the show throughout the summer evenings, as 2020 filming has been cancelled due to COVID-19. To counteract this, Virgin Media has released all of Love Island 2018 on the Virgin Media Player, so fans of the show can rewatch the old series to their hearts’ content.
As with the other channels, TG4 has an online catch-up service, www.tg4.ie/player. At the moment there is loads of great watching on it, from old GAA matches to music shows and of course, documentaries; all with subtitles.
Hector USA – Ó Chósta go Cósta
TG4’s programming is interesting to many and accessible through subtitles. TG4 documentaries are outstanding and one of the most popular yearly instalments is always Hector Ó hEochagáin’s travel show.
Hector Ó hEochagáin.
His last eight-part documentary saw him travel coast-to-coast across the southern states of the US. Hector uses both English and Irish, always meeting interesting and colourful characters along the way.
Read more
Living Life: keeping the lights on
Living Life: staying connected through dance
With lockdown restrictions easing slightly, there is a little more scope to get out and about. That said, for the foreseeable, the majority of our time is to be spent at home. And, TV is often still the entertainment order of the day.
We’ve taken a look at some of the TV stations’ online catch-up services and of course the ever-trusty Netflix, to pick out some of the best series for you to watch on demand. Whether that is an indulgent binge watch or a steady episode a day, is totally up to you.
The RTÉ Player can be accessed online at www.rte.ie/player. It is the national broadcaster’s catch-up service, where you can re-watch TV shows that have already aired. Since the lockdown, they have started to leave whole series up and reintroduced old favourite shows.
Normal People
It is fair to say at this stage, most people will have heard of Normal People. The series’ sex scenes have attracted much attention and caused some pretty heated debates on the airwaves. But, in all seriousness, nudity aside, it is the skilful adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel and the superb acting of Kildare’s Paul Mescal and English actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, that makes this a stand out series people will be talking about for years to come. Normal People is set in Sligo and Dublin. It follows the love story of Marianne and Connell, as they struggle to find a place in the world. You can catch up with the episodes that have aired on RTÉ so far (eight of 12) on the RTÉ Player. Normal People shows Tuesdays at 10.15pm on RTÉ One.
Love/Hate
Many fans of Love/Hate will remember the void left in Sunday nights after the final episode finished on a cliff hanger. And, while there have been no new episodes and we still don’t have answers, all four series of Love/Hate are now on the RTÉ Player for those who want to watch the show again. For those who have never watched Love/Hate, the Dublin-based crime drama exploring the murky and violent world of Ireland’s drug kingpins, is a must watch.
The Act
From the outset it is important to note that The Act is heavy viewing and not for those looking for an easy watch. However, the story is gripping and will keep you wanting more. Based on a true story, this crime drama stars Joey King and Patricia Arquette. The plot surrounds the extremely toxic relationship between a Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother Dee Dee. All eight episodes of the series are on the RTÉ Player now.
Netflix is an online subscription streaming service where you can watch TV shows and movies on demand. Netflix costs €7.99 a month and has a one-month free trial, netflix.com
The Last Dance
The Last Dance is one of the top trending shows on Netflix of late. The 10-part documentary series follows the career of Michael Jordan, widely considered to be basketball’s all-time great. It focuses on his sixth and final NBA championship run with the Chicago Bulls in the late 1990s. What gives The Last Dance an extra edge is Michael Jordan’s own take on events. You don’t need to be a sports fan to appreciate and enjoy this series, there’s plenty to it along with the basketball action. All 10 episodes are now on Netflix.
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
Tiger King, upon its release at the start of lockdown, was a phenomenon. So much so that farmers were dressing up themselves as the characters and their cattle as tigers! This seven-part documentary series is populated by eccentric characters. Tiger King is an exploration of big-cat breeding and its bizarre underworld. There’s more to it than just big cats though, it takes several twists and turns in different directions.
Farmers paint their cow as a tiger and stage a Tiger King photo shoot. \ Jim Sheridan on Twitter
Much like the RTÉ Player, the Virgin Media Player is Virgin Media’s online catch-up service, www.virginmediatelevision.ie/player
Love Island
Love Island is a bit like marmite, you either love it or hate it. And, no one can deny its huge success and growth over the last few years. For those who enjoy its escapism, they will miss the show throughout the summer evenings, as 2020 filming has been cancelled due to COVID-19. To counteract this, Virgin Media has released all of Love Island 2018 on the Virgin Media Player, so fans of the show can rewatch the old series to their hearts’ content.
As with the other channels, TG4 has an online catch-up service, www.tg4.ie/player. At the moment there is loads of great watching on it, from old GAA matches to music shows and of course, documentaries; all with subtitles.
Hector USA – Ó Chósta go Cósta
TG4’s programming is interesting to many and accessible through subtitles. TG4 documentaries are outstanding and one of the most popular yearly instalments is always Hector Ó hEochagáin’s travel show.
Hector Ó hEochagáin.
His last eight-part documentary saw him travel coast-to-coast across the southern states of the US. Hector uses both English and Irish, always meeting interesting and colourful characters along the way.
Read more
Living Life: keeping the lights on
Living Life: staying connected through dance
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