There should be an ‘Covid-19’ category on Netflix: here’s what I’d add to the list

Ever feel like what you’re watching on Netflix is mirroring your reality? Here are some self-isolation-appropriate watches

Around how much of Netflix’s catalog would you say you’ve gotten through by now? 50%? 60%? We’re more or less living on the streaming platform these days, with its endless supply of movies and series providing us with much-needed distraction from the current Covid climate.

The one thing that I wish Netflix would spend some time on is creating a Covid-19 category. You know, for quarantine-specific content, so we all feel a little less alone? The escaped virus thriller, the comedies about monotony, all the shows and movies that remind us that, although this pandemic is truly an original, we’ve all had the same ideas about how self-isolation makes us feel.

Need some Covid-19 inspiration for your next binge? Here’s what I would include in a Covid-19 category.

Groundhog Day

No matter how many new hobbies you start, or new workout videos you try, it’s hard to not to feel like every day is the same as the one before. Groundhog Day illustrates this theme perfectly, starring the eternally entertaining Bill Murray as a TV weatherman, who, while on assignment to cover the local town’s Groundhog Day celebrations, gets caught in a time loop and has to relive the same day over and over again.

Contagion

If this was a scary watch before, imagine watching it now while living through the reality. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the early minutes of this 2011 film really do get it spot on about what dealing with a global virus outbreak is like. Matt Damon (especially relevant as he is apparently spending his quarantine in Dalkey at the moment), Kate Winslet and many other stars feature in this thriller about a global virus pandemic, spread by respiratory droplets (sound familiar?) and the process of trying to contain the disease.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Imagining the day when we can all break free from our bunkers and go out into the sunshine is bringing us endless joy right now, and watching Kimmy Schmidt do it on screen helps a lot. The eccentric comedy stars Ellie Kemper as Kimmy, an innocent small-town girl who is thrust into the big bad world after her rescue from a doomsday cult, where she lived underground for 15 years. It sounds depressing, but watching Kimmy’s adjustment to life in New York City with some fabulous characters (Titus Andromedon, take a bow) is hilarious.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

Is your house cleaner than it’s ever been? If not, you need to watch Marie Kondo work her magic. This tidying series was a global hit when it hit Netflix early last year, and provided us all with the tools and tricks to transform our homes into havens. Learn all about sparking joy, and the Kondo method of folding your clothes (it’s a gamechanger).

Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak

In a truly serendipitous turn of events, this documentary was released in January of this year, just before Covid-19 became a global crisis. The series covers a range of issues relating to pandemics, including emerging viruses, how vaccines are developed, anti-vaxxers, and the dedication of those who work in the field. A great watch if you’re interested in how we came to this point in the current climate.

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