non-sentimental movies/shows

Ana Ng

Hi forums, I've posted here a lot it feels like but you're all quite lovely at helping, so I'm hoping I can get some suggestions and advice this time around as well.

This morning, my lovely, lovely kitty passed away very unexpectedly. She was young and otherwise healthy until literally the moment she died, so it's quite a shock for me and my husband. We have no children - she basically was our baby.
We're not doing super well, the house is hard to be in right now but it was impossible trying to be out with friends so we're back here. Plus at some point we need to attempt sleep, I guess.

We tried to game together but I can't focus for shit right now. So pretty much what I need are non-triggering, non-sentimental things to just put on netflix/hulu plus/amazon instant till we can pass out. Usually we watch pretty heavy stuff, but I honestly am not sure what either of us can handle.

I don't know. What do you watch to take your mind off grieving?

Melinoe

I'm so sorry for your loss

If it were me, I'd probably put on something dumb, happy, and nostalgic; they just put the first season of Pokemon up on Netflix, and it was surprisingly fun yelling at Ash for being a much worse Pokemon trainer than I remembered. Just maybe skip the Bye Bye Butterfree episode.

TychoCelchuuu

Police Squad, The Marx Brothers, Danger 5.

ceres

I would pick something pretty light. One thing I watch when I'm not doing too well is How I Met Your Mother. They have the whole thing up on netflix except the last season.. I usually start with season 3 and just let it go. There's a Bollywood movie up there I really like (Rab ne bana di jodi, starts with some death but is good from there), and a random assortment of other things that make me happy to rewatch, and those are old standbys I bring out when I need to be amused and don't want to think too hard. Psych is another one that's really good and always pretty funny, but doesn't hold up quite as well to repeat viewings.

Creagan

I can't watch comedies when I'm upset... I usually go for something that's completely devoid of emotional content, like documentaries. How It's Made works pretty well- not particularly "heavy" in terms of content.

But if you are the type that prefers comedies for rough life stuff, I second the psych recommendation. Whose Line is it Anyway would also probably work.

ceres

Creagan wrote: »

I usually go for something that's completely devoid of emotional content, like documentaries. How It's Made works pretty well- not particularly "heavy" in terms of content.

This is a very good suggestion... with the caveat that you vet your documentaries first. Netflix has some fun ones.

LostNinja

I'm going to agree with ceres about How I Met Your Mother. It is my go to chicken soup show for when I'm sick or depressed.

Donovan Puppyfucker

I go the other way and watch something terribly depressing, try to work out most of the sads in one big hit. In your situation I would watch something like Milo & Otis, at least it has a super happy ending so I could bawl like a baby for the first 7/8ths of the movie, then cheer up a bit.

I'm glad your kitty had parents that cared for it as much as you do, I'm sure it had a wonderful life.

LaPuzza

Top Gear is a good answer to anything. Good clean fun without any compromises.

Hahnsoo1

Take as long as you need to when grieving. I still tear up a bit when I think of my Mollie, and she died three years ago. Losing a cat is, in some ways, worse than losing a friend, because while a friend can let you down sometimes, a pet will always be there for you, no matter what.

As far as TV shows, I would recommend Mythbusters or a light comedy with a lot of seasons under its belt, like Monk, Psych, HIMYM, Scrubs, Cheers, etc. Alternatively, an actiony show like Burn Notice or Leverage. Finally, this could be time for a Star Trek marathon.

Ana Ng

Thanks everyone. Last night we watched Inside Pixar and then I watched Mitt while the hubs fell asleep on me. Tonight we're playing Catan with family, and once they leave I'll probably suggest Mythbusters or some documentaries to lull us to sleep.

The Star Trek marathon is a really good idea too.

WiseManTobes

How I met your mother has some sleeper episodes with giant gut punches if you aren't ready for them, so be wary there. But as ChrisHallett said, sometimes getting teh sad out can be helpful ( There's actual science to it, for lack of the sciency terms, proper tears from sadness actually adjust something or other and is like a natural anti depressant)

Earth's Mightiest Heroes is currently on Netflix, Better Off Ted was up there recently also, not sure if it still is.

When I need to zone out and want to play video games but in too weird a mood to actually play them, I load up a Game Grumps playlist of a game sometimes and just let them play the game and be stupid for me.

*hugs* also, I lost my cat a few months ago and it's not fun.

ceres

LostNinja wrote: »

I'm going to agree with ceres about How I Met Your Mother. It is my go to chicken soup show for when I'm sick or depressed.

You might be my soulmate.

Mad Jazz

Futurama is pretty great for that too (but under NO circumstances should you watch S5E02. Don't do it, not now, not ever).

see317

I like the documentary idea. I'd also suggest cooking shows. Good Eats, maybe feasting on asphalt/waves are good if you're a fan of Alton Brown.

If you're looking for something to fall asleep to, I'd also recommend The Joy of Painting (yeah, the Bob Ross show). Not so much for the content (though it's fun to watch his apparently random brush strokes turn into landscapes), but that man's voice is like an auditory sedative.

V1m

Ana Ng wrote: »

Hi forums, I've posted here a lot it feels like but you're all quite lovely at helping, so I'm hoping I can get some suggestions and advice this time around as well.

This morning, my lovely, lovely kitty passed away very unexpectedly. She was young and otherwise healthy until literally the moment she died, so it's quite a shock for me and my husband. We have no children - she basically was our baby.
We're not doing super well, the house is hard to be in right now but it was impossible trying to be out with friends so we're back here. Plus at some point we need to attempt sleep, I guess.

We tried to game together but I can't focus for shit right now. So pretty much what I need are non-triggering, non-sentimental things to just put on netflix/hulu plus/amazon instant till we can pass out. Usually we watch pretty heavy stuff, but I honestly am not sure what either of us can handle.

I don't know. What do you watch to take your mind off grieving?

Attenboroughs.

All the David Attenborough natural history