By Riley Dauber
Lifestyle Editor
With spring break only a few days away, most WC students are looking at a luxurious week off from class and responsibilities.
While some students may have planned vacations, others may want to use the time to relax and watch movies or a new television show. The limited series format works perfectly for those with only one week; the eight-to-10 episodes are entertaining and easy to binge.
Typically, limited series are based on books, but unlike film adaptations, these television shows have plenty of time to flesh out the characters and intricate plotlines, according to MovieWeb.
The following miniseries are based on books, and set in different time periods, making it easy for students to escape into a different world.
“Little Fires Everywhere”
Based on the Celeste Ng novel of the same name, “Little Fires Everywhere” is an entertaining and thought-provoking Hulu original that features a talented cast and a well-written story.
The show focuses on two families: the affluent Richardsons, including mother Elena (Reese Witherspoon), and the new-to-town Warrens, including artist Mia (Kerry Washington) and her daughter Pearl (Lexi Underwood).
The two mothers meet when Mia rents one of Elena’s properties. The latter cannot help herself; with her role as a part-time journalist, she becomes interested in the Warren family’s past.
According to The New York Times, “Looming behind the family drama is a double-barreled mystery. Elena eventually gets to use her reporting skills to investigate Mia’s shadowy past. And the viewers know, from the show’s opening moments, that someone is going to burn down the Richardsons’ vintage McMansion before the season is over.”
“Little Fires Everywhere” seamlessly intertwines the Richardson and Warren family backstories with the concurrent plotline of an Asian mother looking to gain custody of her young daughter, who is currently living with a rich white family after her mother left her at a fire station.
Witherspoon and Washington’s performances are also spellbinding as the two transform into their characters. Their feuds and interpersonal drama are fascinating to watch and are guaranteed to leave you yelling at the screen.
“Daisy Jones and the Six”
Similar to “Little Fires Everywhere,” this Amazon original series is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
The show follows the titular band as they rise to fame in the 1970s. At the center of the band are lead singers Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) and Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin), who start off as bickering enemies but find that they work well together. However, their relationship conflicts with Billy’s marriage to the sweet Camila (Camila Morrone).
Over the 10 episodes, viewers witness the band write and record their album, “Aurora.” Mock interviews are interspersed with the flashback scenes to make the show look like a music documentary about the fictional band.
The drama in “Daisy Jones and the Six” is unmatched, as romantic relationships and feuds threaten to end the band and their legacy.
According to prior Elm coverage, Keough, Claflin, and Morrone are great in the lead roles, but the show also has plenty of time to devote plotlines to the side characters that were often overlooked in the novel.
This show is sure to entertain students looking for an escape from the real world, and the catchy original music is a great bonus.
“Feud: Capote vs The Swans”
Ryan Murphy’s most recent series is currently releasing episodes on Hulu, but fortunately for students, the finale will air March 13.
“Feud: Capote vs The Swans” focuses on the infamous feud between writer Truman Capote and the upper-class New York society women he befriended. Despite their close relationships, Capote betrayed the women by publishing stories about them in Esquire magazine; even though he changes the names, the Swans know they have lost a friend in Capote.
Like many of Murphy’s projects, this show is full of drama, but the real-life inspiration adds some legitimacy. Tom Hollander is pitch-perfect as Capote, while the six Swans are played by household names, including Naomi Watts, Molly Ringwald, and Demi Moore.
This series is perfect for students interested in English and history, or even for viewers looking for dramatic plotlines and excellent performances.
Regardless of which show you decide to indulge in this spring break, it is important to remember to take a break. Whether relaxing looks like watching a miniseries, investing in a new hobby, or spending time with family and friends, use this week off from class to focus on yourself — and not all the assignments you have waiting for you when you get back.
Photo caption: Many popular miniseries, like “Daisy Jones and the Six” and “Little Fires Everywhere,” are based on bestselling novels.
Photo by Riley Dauber.