Staying In(stant): The Fashion Show Even Fashion People Like
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Photo: ABC/REX USA.
Some shows are just better when binge-watched. Whether it's the latest BBC comedy, a PBS miniseries from the '70s, or just that cultish show prematurely scrubbed from a network, we're hooked on the stream. Staying In(stant) is your guide to the best of streaming content. Each week, we bring you a show we're obsessed with and think you should be, too.
This Week: Ugly Betty
Where To Watch: Netflix
How I Got Hooked: I first got hooked on Ugly Betty when it debuted in 2006. It had everything my dream TV show would have: over-the-top style (thanks to Patricia Field), a ridiculous glimpse into fashion world (at the time, I was a student in Wisconsin and craved any show with an inside look into glossy editorial land — other than The Hills, which I loved, too), and Vanessa Williams (die). So, when I stumbled upon the entire series on Netflix recently, I decided to do a full-on marathon and watch it all the way through — again. Right now, I’m pacing at least two episodes per day, sometimes more if I decide a date with my computer is better than a date with my boyfriend (it’s fine, he understands).
Best Episode: Season 4, episode 19. I'll admit it; I cried like a baby during this particular episode. No, no, not because it's the second-to-last episode of the series, but because it's the moment when Betty's nephew, Justin, finally comes out of the closet. As a gay man myself, I really connected with this story line. I only wish I had the courage to be my true self at such a young age (Justin was a young teenager). Yes, I just got real and mushy with you. Deal with it.
Why You'll Love It: It’s amazing, that’s why. It has absolutely everything you could ever want and more: humor, romance, twisted plots... And, it actually digs deep into important social issues (see above). Most of all, it serves up legit style inspiration, episode after episode. Looking for a new way to wear a full, printed skirt? Betty’s your girl. How to wear a three-piece suit and look cool, not stuffy? Turn to Marc St. James. Pat Field can do no wrong.
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