Watching: A Canadian Charmer

Or a cartoon adventure.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 14, 2020 By Margaret Lyons Dear Watchers, If you’re in the middle of another “Office” rewatch, be warned that the show is moving to Peacock on Jan. 1; Seasons 1 and 2 will be free to stream, but 3-9 will require a Peacock Premium subscription. Have a safe week. I like banter Brent Butt, foreground, is the creator and star of “Corner Gas.”CTV ‘Corner Gas’ When to watch: Now, free on IMDb TV (which you can also access through Amazon). Truly nothing happens on this Canadian comedy — in the best way. In the absence of big stories or complex arcs, there are just … lots and lots of jokes. Most are in the form of mild pedantic bickering, à la “Sports Night,” and plenty are in the “we do things our own quirky way in this small town” vein, à la “Northern Exposure.” The show, which aired from 2004-09, is set in Dog River, Saskatchewan, and centers on Brent (Brent Butt, also the show’s creator), who runs the gas station, which is also sort of a community hub. Sometimes “Corner Gas” feels a little like if “Cheers” had five Cliffs, or if “Gilmore Girls” focused more on Taylor, but this only becomes a problem if you accidentally watch, oh, 49 episodes in a row without watching any other shows in between. Ask me how I know! If you miss the lightness of “Schitt’s Creek,” watch this. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT I’m in an earth-tones phase A scene from “Hilda.”Netflix ‘Hilda’ When to watch: Now, on Netflix. Season 2 of this fantasy woodland series maintains the show’s brains and charm, a warm and happy antidote to screechy, repetitive, consumption-oriented children’s programming. You do not have to be a child to enjoy “Hilda” and its adventurous spirit, though; you just have to be someone who enjoys shows where characters say, “That must mean the librarian is a witch!” or yell, “Fly, Cedric, fly!” to a pigeon with an elf on his back. If you follow multiple ceramicists on Instagram, this is for you. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT EXTRA-CREDIT READING Same-Sex Kisses Under the Mistletoe: Holiday Movies Rethink a Formula In a conservative genre that has mainly told straight stories, six new films, including titles on Hallmark and Lifetime, center on gay or lesbian characters. By Erik Piepenburg The Best Worst Year This Was the Year When Everything Became TV As a global pandemic left us homebound, cousin Emily in Pittsburgh existed on the same plane as “Emily in Paris.” By James Poniewozik Stephen King Has Thoughts About Stephen King TV Shows With a new adaptation of “The Stand” arriving Thursday on CBS All Access, the best-selling author looked back at the best and worst adaptations of his stories for television. By Calum Marsh Beethoven’s 250th Birthday: Here’s Everything You Need to Know Explore the music, life and times of the composer who changed culture. critic’s notebook Finding More Than Humbug in Scrooge and Company “A Christmas Carol” is a favorite of Maya Phillips, but this year, she writes, she found in it “a timely study of what it truly means to be a decent person in a community.” By Maya Phillips 9 Great John le Carré Adaptations to Stream From the beginning, his novels of Cold War espionage and moral ambiguity attracted leading actors and filmmakers. Here are nine that can be streamed. By Scott Tobias WarnerMedia Chief Has Become a Movie Villain to Some in Hollywood Jason Kilar’s decision to release 2021 movies simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max has angered many in the industry, including some of the star filmmakers his company relies on. By Nicole Sperling 7 Films to Help Children Dealing With Grief We are at a time when large numbers of children are experiencing loss. Here are seven movies to help them develop coping skills. By Stacy Brick Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. Tips and advice to help you live a little smarter Since you receive Watching, we think you’ll like the Smarter Living newsletter as well. Every Monday, get a weekly roundup of the best advice from The Times on living a better, more fulfilling life. Sign up here. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Watching from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018