By Rachel Lankester, Mutton Club editor
There is so much good TV to watch around. Especially if you have access to the various streaming services. I’ve pulled together some of the best series to watch, especially if you’re a woman in midlife and beyond.
My husband says I watch too much TV, but there’s some seriously good escapism around! These are personal favorites, recommendations from our community, and some random series thrown in for good measure.
I’ve also tried to highlight series with strong female characters and if they are in midlife and beyond so much the better! We’ll be updating this list with new favorites.
Gentleman Jack – iPlayer and HBO
I’m a huge fan of Suranne Jones, the brilliant star of this wonderful period drama set in Yorkshire in the early 19th century. Based on the diary of the real Anne Lister, written in code, about her many romantic liaisons with women, living a secret life in plain sight!
The Morning Show – Apple
I gobbled this up. Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Anniston in all their messy midlife glory. It feels so real and follows real world issues almost in real time. Wonderful.
This Is Us – Prime
I just love this series about an American family at different stages of their collective lives. I’ve watched all of it and feel so invested in the characters. I’m now watching the final season and I’m going to miss them all!
The Split – iPlayer
Another brilliant midlife actress leads this wonderful series about a firm of family lawyers, three of whom are actually family themselves. Nicola Walker is the troubled woman at the center trying to juggle life and work and getting them mixed up along the way. Lots of older women lead the drama here.
Grace and Frankie – Netflix
Another series I will be very sad to see end. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are sublime in this show about two glorious older women coming to terms with betrayal, new love and getting older. This show was the first of its kind and is still a true and hilarious ground breaker.
Big Little Lies – HBO and maybe Prime
A fabulous cast of midlife women grappling with lives that may look perfect on the surface but are seriously shaky underneath. Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Kravitz, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern – what’s not to like?!
Spiral (Engrenanges in French) – Prime
This is utterly brilliant too. Beware, as you might get sucked into the 8 series. (See I told you my husband said I watch too much TV – but he did enjoy this one too). A French cop drama as only the French could do it – with all of messy life mixed in and beautifully flawed characters. Caroline Proust as the main character is sublime. I like shows with subtitles as they stop me scrolling on my phone while watching!
See – Apple
Some strong female characters in this dystopian vision of a future where a deadly virus has left survivors blind. It’s fascinating and disturbing, especially if your worst fear has always been to lose your sight like me! It is beautiful to watch and gripping. There’s a final season coming in August 2022!
The United States of Tara – Possibly Showtime or Prime
This one’s a little out of leftfield and is quite old having started in 2009. Sadly there are only 3 seasons – I could have watched more. Toni Collette stars as a mother grappling with dissociative identity disorder and if you’ve ever been the least bit interested in this condition, this series is brilliant. Funny and sad. And very entertaining. I love anything Toni Collette is in and she’s currently starring in Pieces of Her on Netflix which I haven’t watched yet.
The Lincoln Lawyer – Netflix
I haven’t seen this yet but I’ve seen it recommended twice. Something for my wishlist.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my roundup of the best series to watch – especially for women in midlife and beyond! Let me know at rachel @ themuttonclub.com if you have other suggestions!
You may also like: Great Summer Reads 2022 – Fiction and Best Podcasts For Women In Midlife
Rachel Lankester is the founder of Magnificent Midlife, author, host of the Magnificent Midlife Podcast, a midlife mentor and editor of the Mutton Club online magazine. After an initially devastating early menopause at 41, she dedicated herself to helping women vibrantly transition through the sometimes messy middle of life, helping them cope better with menopause and ageing in general, and create magnificent next chapters. She’s been featured in/on BBC Woman’s Hour, The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, The Age Buster, Woman’s Weekly, Prima Magazine, eShe, Tatler HK and Woman’s Own amongst others. She believes we just get better with age. Get her book Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond.
Last Updated on June 11, 2022 by Editorial Staff
