Social media platforms are currently awash with "ten years ago" challenges, where everyone from your next-door neighbor to your favorite Bollywood star shares photographs from a decade past. These images often reveal faces that look remarkably similar to their present-day versions, highlighting our collective tendency to romanticize the recent past. This phenomenon mirrors how superhero franchises undergo reboots every few years or how local cafes frequently refresh their branding and music selections. It appears we have cultivated an astonishingly brief attention span for nostalgia itself.
The Paradox of 2016: A Year of Global Turmoil and Entertainment Revolution
However, we must guard against viewing 2016 through rose-tinted glasses. This was the year of Brexit, the year of demonetisation in India, and the year Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. In many ways, it was a period where conventional wisdom faltered on multiple fronts. Yet, 2016 also marked a watershed moment for Indian viewers, as streaming giants Netflix and Amazon Prime officially launched their services in the country. This technological shift fundamentally altered how we consume entertainment, making a retrospective glance at what captivated our screens genuinely compelling.
The Columnist's Journey: From Film Critic to Streaming Evangelist
If Instagram were to inquire about the state of this newspaper column back in 2016, the answer would be surprisingly unchanged in format. The author began this very column that year, embarking on a journey that would involve watching more television series than might be considered healthy. As a seasoned film critic, they sensed a profound transformation underway. Streaming television was unleashing a deluge of content that was more distinctive, engaging, and diverse than the offerings in traditional movie theaters. This new paradigm provided unparalleled choice and complete control over viewing schedules and companions.
Consequently, the author felt an urgent need to dedicate more space to discussing television shows from across the globe than even to films. The inaugural column celebrated Lisa Kudrow's brilliant series The Comeback, available on JioHotstar, which chronicles an aging sitcom star's attempt at a resurgence. A decade later, that very show has announced a new season. In this, the 456th installment of the column, the author remains delighted by that self-aware satire of the entertainment industry.
Landmark Shows That Defined 2016
What truly illuminated our screens in 2016? For many, it was the year of encountering Fleabag, long before the iconic "hot priest" entered the narrative. Phoebe Waller-Bridge's creation broke the fourth wall with raw immediacy, inviting viewers into a world of sharp wit, self-destruction, and poignant friendship. The experience of watching the first season was exhilarating, featuring a heroine who was both brutally honest and secretly vulnerable.
Genre-Defining Narratives and Artistic Boldness
2016 also gifted us Donald Glover's masterpiece Atlanta, a series that defied categorization by blending surrealism with melancholy. It presented a world where Justin Bieber was portrayed by a young black actor without explanation, capturing the absurdities of modern life through the lens of rap music and personal struggle. Meanwhile, the true-crime genre reached a zenith with The People v. O.J. Simpson. Ryan Murphy's star-studded courtroom drama offered a cinematic, nuanced exploration of the infamous trial, with Sarah Paulson's portrayal of Marcia Clark standing out as particularly powerful.
The year also introduced audiences to the opulent world of The Crown, where Claire Foy's Elizabeth II embodied regal resilience amidst post-war austerity. For a time, the series seemed to carry profound historical weight before evolving into a spectacle of heritage. From the Vatican came Paolo Sorrentino's The Young Pope, featuring Jude Law as a chain-smoking, vaping pontiff in a baroque narrative that challenged conventions with operatic flair.
Comedy, Tech Satire, and Animated Genius
On the comedic front, Silicon Valley delivered a razor-sharp third season that skewered tech culture with precision, perhaps foreshadowing today's AI-driven billionaires. And then there was the animated tour de force: BoJack Horseman Season 3, Episode 4, "Fish Out of Water". This nearly silent episode, set underwater, was a masterclass in visual storytelling and emotional depth, representing what many consider Netflix's finest half-hour of television.
The Essence of Nostalgia: Longing for Our Younger Selves
A decade is not an extensive period in the grand scheme. The contemporary "golden age syndrome" stems less from yearning for a bygone era—which was often fraught with challenges—and more from missing our younger selves. Ten years ago, we were more naive, more captivated by life's possibilities, and more actively engaged with groundbreaking content. Streaming television expanded our horizons, and we devoured exceptional shows with genuine enthusiasm. Today, in contrast, we often relegate them to endless watchlists, opting instead for the fleeting gratification of short-form videos.
Fundamentally, the world has not transformed drastically: political landscapes remain turbulent, and economic pressures persist. Yet, perhaps we should consciously carve out time to watch what truly resonates with us. Otherwise, another ten years may slip away, leaving us with even fewer meaningful memories. After all, what is a decade? Merely the interval between the first and second seasons of a show like The Night Manager.
Streaming Recommendation for the Week
This week's highlight is the psychological horror film I Watched The TV Glow on Netflix. It follows two teenagers obsessed with a 1990s children's television program, leading them down a surreal rabbit hole of self-discovery and terror. For the optimal experience, avoid spoilers and watch it with the spontaneous curiosity of popping in a rented VHS tape.
The author, Raja Sen, is a noted screenwriter and critic who co-wrote the film Chup and is currently developing an absurd comedy series.
