Personally, when I'm hobbying away I tend to have something on the background. Sometimes its music but most of the time it's a show that I want to catch up on.

So, considering our current predicament I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on shows you can watch which might help inspire your hobby!

Altered Carbon

The first of these shows is Altered Carbon. The show delves into a Cyberpunk world where 'Sleeves' have become a thing.

Whereas beforehand death meant death; if you have the money to do so, you can simply move your stack between one Sleeve and the next to keep on living. Based on the work of Richard K. Morgan, the series stars Takeshi Kovacs who finds himself trying to solve a murder and come to terms with what else is going on behind the scenes.

The show is well worth checking out. The action is great, the story is fascinating and the aesthetic of it all is pretty stunning. If you're a fan of the likes of Cyberpunk or Infinity then you might even take some cues from this in the painting of your next character!

Star Trek: Picard

Perhaps you're someone who likes a different take on Sci-Fi? Well, Amazon Prime has Star Trek: Picard in the mix right now following The Next Generation's iconic captain.

This one won't be for everyone but if you're a fan of Star Trek and The Next Generation in particular then you'll find something to enjoy in this series. There are a lot of callbacks and sometimes it can feel like it's turning into fan service with the array of side characters that pop up but overall, Patrick Stewart carries the role as well as he ever did and the story is actually becoming quite intriguing as they delve further into an unfolding plot.

The Expanse

The Expanse is another series based on the books by James S. A. Corey and it has really gone through the motions when it comes to the Sci-Fi

The first series plays out very much like a mystery with a tantalising tale to follow from start to end. The second and third season then expand this into a proper expansive (hah) Sci-Fi epic with plenty of fascinating concepts explored. The fourth season then changes things up again and plays out more like an old frontier western with a little bit of the weird thrown in for good measure. The series first launched on Netflix but was saved by Amazon and thank God it was! This is one of those shows you can't really take your eye off once it starts.

The Last Kingdom

Now for something a little bit Historical. The Last Kingdom is another show which has come from a book series. Based on the work of Bernard Cornwell, The Last Kingdom follows the adventures of the very hotheaded Uhtred Of Bebbanburg as he deals with his origins as a Saxon and his upbringing amongst the Vikings.

The show has been around for a while now through the BBC and now via Netflix and it's well worth diving into. It might not be the most accurate of shows but it certainly introduces some interesting concepts and might just get you thinking about your next adventure onto the tabletop during the Dark Age.

The King & Outlaw King

Sticking with something Historical we've also got a couple of fun ones from the Medieval period too. The first of these is The King which follows King Henry V in a quite Shakespearian take on his tale with a little dash of mud, blood and brutality for good measure.

Again, bu no means is this a historically accurate retelling of the tale and events from the period but it is a rather fun watch; if a sombre one. The moody colours of the film certainly delve into a less colourful view of the period that you might have seen back in the 60s and 70s but it might help you work out what you're next going to paint up for your games set during this time.

You've also got Outlaw King which follows the exploits of Robert The Bruce. Similar to The King, this is a neat look at the Medieval era and might even get you looking at some of those fun Footsore Miniatures & Games figures that they were showing off not long ago!

Vikings

I don't think I need to tell you why you should be checking this out. The series has spanned a handful of seasons now and features some fantastic stories of Ragnar Lodbrok and his kin. The story is very much coming to an end soon so it's the perfect time to dive in and watch it from the start.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the series from start to finish and whilst it might be a little mad at times, the action has always been great and this snapshot into Viking life, albeit with a pinch of salt for good measure. You'll certainly want to get your hair cut like Ragnar by the end of it...

Studio Ghibli Collection

Now we're moving onto something a little different again. We've talked Historical and Sci-Fi but now we're venturing to something animated and fantastical with the Studio Ghibli Collection which has recently started appearing on Netflix.

Now, you're going to have to find some more time to put aside for this but the whimsical worlds created by Studio Ghibli are absolutely fascinating and if you've got the time to spare, it is well worth diving in this with. Again, whilst it might take a bit more investment away from the actual hobby side of things it might be worth having on in the background whilst you're writing up that next bit of your roleplaying campaign

Castlevania

Sticking within the realms of Fantasy and animation you've also got Castlevania. Based on the hit video games of the same name, it follows the Belmont's as they struggle against the forces of Dracula and also villains hidden behind a veil of zeal.

The show has a great voice cast and whilst the animation isn't entirely faultless its a very brutal, bloody and entertaining style! Also, the show takes some interesting twists and turns with the storytelling here and you might find yourself understanding the motives of some characters which might otherwise have been relegated to simply cookie-cutter.  If you're looking to run a new Dungeons & Dragons campaign soon it's well worth a look as it might help inform some interesting character choices and it could get you into the mindset of Strahd!

The Dragon Prince

We're staying with animation one more time and bear with me here. This one is very much for kids and younger folk but I found myself enjoying it too! I think it's mainly because of all the dragons. So, this is The Dragon Prince.

This entirely original story follows the core cast of Callum, Ezran and Rayla as they try and complete their mission and deliver something exceptionally special in order to stop a war. There are plenty of tropes on display here and it won't be for everyone but I've had a lot of fun with this series and it's well worth venturing into with an open mind.

The Witcher

Finally, for the realm of Fantasy, we have The Witcher. This show is based on the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski and follows Geralt Of Rivia, a mutant monster slayer who is looking to make money and try and avoid having to get involved in too many earth-shattering events. It turns out, he's not very good at avoiding those.

The show features great action sequences, some compelling character development, a rich and investing world and whilst on occasion the digital assets are a little off-putting, the show is a pretty fascinating romp all the same. If you've not heard of The Witcher before it might be a bit of a headache as you learn what everything means but it's well worth sticking with!

What Shows Are You Watching?

This is of course not an exhaustive list of big shows to watch but it might help you out if you're in a bit of a bind. Some of them are going to be great to dive into whilst your at the hobby table and others might be fun to watch with the kids.

Regardless, I'd love to hear what is on your watchlist right now and if there have been any big shows like these that have caught your eye and inspired some tabletop goodness!

Let me know in the comments below...