During quarantine in 2020 and even into 2021, watching television shows that were made “B.C.” (before COVID) felt odd. I remember thinking, “Ack! They are hugging! And gathering in big groups!” I’d get worried for them, wanting them to step back and put on a mask so they wouldn’t end up on a ventilator.
In a period that was already fraught with anxiety, seeing people acting so normal was jarring.
A similar phenomenon has been happening since late January. If I see commercials for cancer research, the first thought that comes to mind is, “Good luck with that.” If one of the features promoted by a product is that it’s good for the environment, I immediately wonder how long that company will be in business.
This week, we started watching the new Netflix show starring Robert DeNiro called “Zero Day.” Although it just debuted, so many of the details seem weirdly dated and wildly unrealistic. For one thing, the President of the United States is a Black woman. For another, everyone in government, regardless of party, agrees that Russia is the bad guy. It’s not up for debate: the Russians are the enemy.
The showrunners couldn’t have foreseen that this element of their plot would become laughable in 2025. When viewers are asked to suspend disbelief, that normally doesn’t include the part of the story where America and Russia aren’t on the same side. Welp! Here we are.
Everyone points to The Handmaid’s Tale as the foreshadowing of what’s to come for the United States. With Elon Musk fathering his 14th child this week, as well as the existence of something called the “natalist movement”, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched.
In fact, I’m starting to think that The Walking Dead was a documentary. It was a good run, guys.
Article author - Marian Vitale (archive)
