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What shows will you be watching this Ramadan?

You may just be one step ahead this year...

With shorter office hours and more time at home, Ramadan traditionally prompts us to settle on one of a number of TV box sets out there, hunker down and take in the hours of entertainment over the course of around 30 days. The year 2020 will go undoubtedly down as unique for a number of reasons, though the fact we already have a head start on our usual Holy Month viewing habits will at least be a footnote. Normally we're brimming with anticipation to share our 'what to watch' list but, as most of the UAE has been inside for the last few weeks and the streaming services are posting record profits, much like a Colin Jost joke, the punchline has been somewhat blown. For novelty's sake we have had to get more specific. This time, rather than nudge your eyes towards a run-down of our uncovered screen gems to consume, we're presenting a few suggestions the whole family to enjoy together.
Al Ghurab
If you haven't managed to insert yourself into the powerful world of Turkish and Egyptian comedies and dramas, you are missing a David Copperfield-size monumental trick. Rectify the situation by tuning into OSN Ya Hala Al Oula and OSN Yahala for a whole host of shows every night. We like the look of Al Ghurab (AKA Kuzgun), where events take Diyala and Al Ghurab on a journey of love. Al Ghurab is available in Arabic and Turkish with Arabic subtitles on OSN Yahala Al Oula from Monday to Thursday at 11pm but will then move to OSN Yahala during Ramadan and air daily at 5.30pm.
Gama' Salem
If Pan-Arab content is what you crave, streaming platform Viu has secured a star-studded line up of shows. Viu Originals will see renowned Egyptian actor Hassan El Raddad and Hana Shiha in Shahed Ayan. Egyptian actor and model, Zeina, is also set to come back to her millions of fans in Gama' Salem. Since her debut in 1995, Zeina has taken on several leading appearances in popular Ramadan series. 
The Mandalorian
There are only two possible scenarios in which you have not heard of The Mandalorian. One: the WiFi has gone in your bug-out bunker and you're having to make your own entertainment banging together some empty tins, or two: we were joking, there isn't a second reason, the first case is the only answer. Around the world audiences have been falling hook, line and light sabre for this Star Wars series, so we had to include it. Available exclusively on OSN Streaming, where you'll find all the Disney + content, do we really even need to go into the plot? It's you're usual cowboys in space story - saddle up!
Community
Okay, so it's not the newest show on the block, but this quirky, outlandish and heartwarming sitcom has recently dropped in its entirety on Netflix, which dictates quite a few more people will be able to enjoy the six seasons of hilarity. Community's premise is simple: a ragtag bunch of student failures band together to form a study group at their underperforming public college. Over the years the comically diverse group, led by the initially selfish and egotistical Jeff (Joel McHale), traverse life's mysteries; delighting with the poppiest of pop references and snappy dialogue. Watch a young Donald Glover, Alison Brie and John Oliver blossom, not to mention the formation of Ken Jeong's Chang dynasty.   
Pushpavalli
Arguably the greatest bank of South Asian entertainment in the UAE, Amazon's Prime Video has a number of series from which to choose, but we have been enjoying the slightly unconventional comedy Pushpavalli. With access to two seasons worth of shows, follow stand-up comedian Sumukhi Suresh's character as she defies her mother's wishes to get married and follows the charming Nikhil to Bengaluru where her adoring nature could be misconstrued as stalking. What is she going to do when the web of white lies she has told begins to disintegrate?
Sunderland 'Til I Die
Hands up if you're missing sports. Both ours are firmly raised. With all bat, ball and field activities shut down we recently found ourselves streaming  a 'legends' ('has-beens') five-a-side soccer tournament from 2003. We're getting desperate. Thankfully Netflix has a bit of a salve with its groundbreaking documentary series, Sunderland 'Til I Die. Capturing two seasons of the often ill-fated English football side's activities, the access and ensuing drama both on and off the pitch are compelling. Just make sure to have the subtitles on if you're not from the UK.   
david@khaleejtimes.com