Can anybody recommend me a series that's light and soapy but well acted?

[User5612347]

I'm watching The White Lotus but I'm finding it quite dark and depressing. I loved Nashville and Desperate Housewives back in the day. Is there anything with a similar vibe on any of the streaming services? I don't have Apple but I have Netflix and Now.

I’m think it’s hard to find shows like this that are particularly well acted! But if you don’t mind a bit of the supernatural The Vampire Diaries and The Originals are my guilty pleasure soapy shows

Smash has a similar vibe to Nashville. Its about a theatre company producing a musical about Marilyn Monroe. Has some cracking songs and lots of rivalry between the potential Marilyns, relationships with directors/fellow cast etc.

Devious Maids is fun and reminds me a bit of Desperate Housewives.

Our Friends and Neighbours on Apple
The Morning Show on Apple
Ted Lasso if you haven't seen it
4 seasons on Netflix
Sirens on Netflix
High Potential on Now
Matlock

Sorry, just saw you don't have Apple.

Another shout for This Is Us

Peaky Blinders is my number one show ever. But light and soapy it isn’t.

Four seasons currently on Netflix really easy viewing and good cast so well acted

Thank you all for posting. I know I'm getting good suggestions because I also loved This is Us.
I hadn't heard of Smash, Sirens or The 4 Seasons so I'll look into them.
I watched Season 1 of Peaky Blinders years ago and it is brilliant but I just struggle with anything dark or violent on television. I need to unwind with something gentle.

Gilmore girls
sweet magnolias
modern family

Ginny and Georgia is on Netflix

We've just started The Waterfront on Netflix, which was described in the newspaper as Dawson's Creek for grown ups also Friday Night Lights is a classic if it's still on Channel 4 (and also features Connie Britton / Rayna James!)

Jilly Coopers Rivals really fitted a gap for an indulgent and purely entertaining series for me. Unfortunately I think it's Disney+?

Sirens was great so another vote there

I watch "just like that" the sex and the city sequel on sky i think it's great better than sex and the city as carrie actually acknowledges what a self absorbed arse she is. And then after I finished an episode sky reccomended "Divorce" it's so good!! Both have sarah Jessica parker in, ive really enjoyed them both!!

Manifest on Netflix is good, it's like a soapy sci-fi

Similarly, Nobody Wants This is good.

You need:

Colin From Accounts

Think there may be two seasons. Can’t remember which streaming platform but it would almost be worth signing up for.

The idea of Peaky Blinders being light and soapy is - gobsmacking! 😂😂

Firefly Lane on Netflix was great.

Our go to wind down series are Father Brown and Agatha Raisin for UK cosiness. Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory for US multiwriter series, light and relaxing.

Another one for Seaside Hotel on 4 - absolutely loved it. Danish hotel open every summer for the same guests - character-based humour, staff and guests of equal interest, really beautiful place and you really get to care about them

Emily in Paris is amazing, new series due soon
If you like period stuff, presumably you have watched Downton Abbey, the Gilded Age is good.
Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte.
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, is fabulous and I'm still a bit sad it's finished

Unreal is a great show

I wish I could recommend

The Buccaneers (Apple)

because it’s beautiful to look at. But it’s surprisingly dark and actually quite depressing. 🤷‍♀️

Is it an adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel about US new money heiresses marrying into the British aristocracy, @Bailiwitch? I didn’t know there was another one — the novel was unfinished at EW’s death, and everyone was very rude about the 1990s finish by Marion Mainwaring, and the BBC adaptation yonks ago had a good cast but not much else…

Yes, @SlightlyTooMuch - season two is currently unfolding weekly on Apple. It’s very Bridgerton as a production - 21st c language and music; stunningly pretty interiors, landscapes, costumes; and somehow both saccharine and grim.

Just remembered Rita is great on Netflix but is Danish so subtitled, which may take away from the easy watch aspect! Very funny though.