What’s questionable about Ladybird?

The state financing parties is pretty valid and is practiced in many countries.

For example in Germany parties get paid around 1 € per vote received in elections.

millions in assets

Rich people and corporations will always be able to use their money to influence politics towards their interests.

Influencing politics works in other ways besides direct donations. The rich can put money into:

• media
• interest groups
• education
• studies
• events
• scholarships
• NGOs

Influencing voters to support your desired policies works well.

Then there’s of course the promise of investments, if policies are changed to your interests. In the simplest case this is a local government changing zoning, building infrastructure, softening environmental or noise regulations in order to for an investor to build a factory. This in turn brings money, employment, and tax revenue to the local government.

Instead of direct donations, a politician can be hired to give a speech somewhere.

Or less directly, hire the politician’s child into a well paying position.

Promising a politician a well paid job for their time outside government is of course also a popular way.

Of course you can regulate all of that in various ways to make it more difficult or at least more transparent.

It’s not a spoiler if you learn this in the first episode.

Yes, the first episode is about a missing person case.

It’s very clear by episode 2 that this is a show about time travel. That’s not really a major spoiler. It’s a good reason to watch it.

Fauda

Might be the best and most realistic show about the Israel-Palestine conflict. It’s focused on an IDF Mista’arvim unit, that specializes in operating covertly among Palestinians to capture terrorists. That means not only speaking Arabic, but knowing and living the culture. The soldiers are shown as determined, brutal, human, and conflicted. Palestinians, including Hamas terrorists and their families, are shown as human with feelings, interests, and so on. Cooperation between IDF and Palestinian Authority security forces is a recurring topic, as is political structures inside Palestinian society. Espionage, action, personal drama, political issues all get screen time.

For anyone interested in the conflict, regardless of what side you support, this could expand your horizon. It’s also simply a great show. It’s also popular among Palestinians and in Arab countries. Netflix

Watch the original with Hebrew and Arabic with subtitles. A dub removes this layer with the two languages.

Teheran

Mossad operating in Iran. An Israeli woman speaking Persian is recruited by Mossad and sent to Iran. Shows the Iranian system and how it works, without demonization. Other topics: Iranian opposition, counterculture, decadence of rich elites, dirty business of espionage.

Great show with contemporary relevance by Apple TV.

I will take this as an opportunity to list a couple of great war and military shows. Listed more or less in order of recommendation.

Catch-22

In contrast to the above, this is more of a satire, dark comedy, that highlights absurdities of warfare, perverse incentives, systems following their logic. It’s set with American bomber crews during the Italian campaign in WW2. The most anti-war, thoughtful, and fun watch of these listed here. Based on a fantastic book of the same name.

Das Boot (miniseries)

The famous movie about the German submarine U-96 in WW2 has a longer version as a miniseries. It adds a lot of smaller scenes providing more submariner culture, political commentary, etc. Highly recommend as the best submarine show.

Generation Kill

US Reconnaissance Marines riding Humvees during the Iraq invasion of 2003. Lots of fantastic characters and moments. Displays well what it’s like to fight for the US military. Based on a book from an embedded journalist. Excellent show.

Valley of Tears

Miniseries about the 1973 Yom Kippur war focusing on an IDF tank unit on the front with Syria and the Golan. It also displays political and social issues in Israeli society at the time like marginalization of Mizrahi Jews, trauma, etc. You also get a good insight into the strategic significance of the Golan heights, Israel’s lack of strategic depth, and fear of being annihilated by their neighbors. If you like tanks or IDF soldiers suffering, watch it.

Band of Brothers

The best show about WW2 in Europe from the American soldiers’ perspective, specifically paratroopers from the 101st Airborne. It’s based on real experiences and includes documentary snippets from veterans. Thin Red Line or Saving Private Ryan as TV series. It’s short and every episode is great.

SAS: Rogue Heroes

Follows a bunch of daring misfits and insubordinates forming the British SAS commando units eliminating Axis forces with raids behind enemy lines across the desert in North Africa and later Italy. Not super realistic or historically accurate, but fun, humorous, brutal, and action packed. Lots of fascinating characters demonstrating determination. Music is British punk rock and similar genres.

The Pacific

It’s Band of Brothers but for the campaign in the Pacific Ocean in WW2, and the Marine Corps. It doesn’t quite reach the level of the original, but is still excellent.

Masters of the Air

American aviators fighting in WW2 in Europe, specifically 100th Bomb Group flying B-17. Not quite as good as the first shows mentioned, but still very good.

Love it. Great storytelling, costumes, sets that bring ancient Rome alive.

Scavenger’s Reign

The most imaginative show I have seen that displays an alien ecosystem. Beautiful and creepy.

Bojack is a depressed narcissist feeling sorry for himself. The main character is a self centered asshole.

Counterpart

It’s a unique show. Cold War spy games in Berlin involving a gateway to a parallel universe. Mood is somber and intense. Looks great.

Deadwood

Excellent short and gritty show about a wild west town during the gold rush. Great small town politics.

Loki is a really good show about time travel, power of narratives, power structures, destiny, bureaucracry, and multiverse. Very compelling characters and the fun mood make this a great watch. Best Marvel show by far. Even if you don’t like Marvel, give this a chance.

One of the most thoughtful, educational, and funny shows. I rewatched it a few times and it was great every time.

Common Side Effects is a masterpiece.

Yes! If you like psychedelics and conspiracy theories, it’s a must watch.

Another animated show, that blew me away was Scavenger’s Reign, a serene and weird science-fiction show about exploring an alien planet.

The Wire

Absolute peak and realistic storytelling around crime, police, gang, poverty, politics, economy, media, society, friendship, failure, inescapable systems. Highly recommended show, even if you don’t like crime shows usually. Some really compelling characters and every season has a different vibe and topic.

Twin Peaks

A show somewhere in the middle of nowhere in a small town in the mountains. It starts with a murder investigation, but goes far beyond it. A growing mystery and surprises will keep you glued to it. Classic TV and in many ways unmatched.

One of the best time travel stories, I have seen. Also one of the best German language shows ever. There’s a great website that helps you keep an overview over timelines, characters, and storylines.

Game Boy cartridges not saving games due to dead battery is sad.