Great TV: Dark Matter, The Following

Little has changed since yesterday in terms of election results, and in politics more broadly. In the presidential election, two states—Michigan and New Hampshire—have yet to be called, and margins of victory in the others could still shift dramatically as votes continue to be counted. In the North Carolina gubernatorial contest, the most significant race yet to be called, only a few thousand votes separates Governor Pat McCrory and his Democratic challenger, with all precincts reporting, and the counting of provisional ballots could easily take another week.

Meanwhile, the idea of President-elect Trump is slowly normalizing, as his time begins to finalize a list of potential Cabinet appointments.

Next week I’ll begin to look at the statewide results in more detail, and discuss where the party and country could go from here. But allow me to take today to get away from politics, and make a couple TV recommendations for anyone looking to enjoy the first weekend free of Campaign 2016.

Dark Matter is one solid pick, a strong and underappreciated show that just wrapped its second season on SyFy. A good choice if you’re looking for a good science-fiction show heavy on space travel, and without the hype of The Walking Dead or Stranger Things, it boasts strong acting and writing, compelling characters, and a plot that repeatedly defies expectations. There are too many surprises, from the very first episode, to describe that plot beyond the opening premise—a group of strangers waking up on a spaceship, with no memory of who they are or how they got there.

For something completely different, try The Following, a procedural show that ran on FOX for three seasons. It opens with an FBI agent (played by Kevin Bacon) playing a Silence of the Lambs-style game of wits with an imprisoned serial killer and former college professor, who used the stories of Edgar Allen Poe as inspiration for his crimes. The agent’s initial goal is to help track down the small cult of criminals who have been inspired to carry out similar murders—although that goal changes dramatically several episodes in.

Fair warning: the first and second seasons are strong, but by the third The Following seems to lose its focus, with the original storyline largely left behind and a broader focus on FBI investigations of various criminal cults. The final season still has its moments, but they come few and far between.

Overall, however, both shows boast strong plotlines, acting, and above all little overt political commentary. Perfect for enjoying the first weekend free of election coverage in over a year.