James Corden is better known in the U.S. as a talk show host rather than an actor, but his resume is packed with lead and supporting roles in fictional movies and shows. The star has now teamed up with renowned British playwright Jez Butterworth for his latest project, the Prime Video series Mammals.
In the fantasy dark comedy, Coden plays Jamie, a chef who finds out his wife has been having an affair. In a surprise twist, his life drifts into a magical world. It’s a unique plot, but for those who wish to dive into similar shows, there are a few series to check out.
Outlander (2014–present)
Stream On Netflix
While on a honeymoon with her husband, World War II nurse Claire Beauchamp Randall, mysteriously time-travels to 1743 Scotland. There, she falls for Highland warrior, a development that complicates her life forever.
Great costume design, likable characters, and never-ending twists make Outlander one of the best TV historical dramas on TV. Additionally, as is the case Mammals, events in the Starz series kick off when a relationship that was considered perfect gets destroyed by unforeseen events. And in both shows, the jilted lovers slowly turn into obsessive freaks.
Schmigadoon! (2021–present)
Stream On Apple TV+
Josh and Melissa, a backpacking couple, find themselves in the magical town of Schmigadoon where the townspeople sin and dance all day. They are then forced to stay until they find true love.
Like Jamie and his wife in Mammals, Josh and Melissa think they have true love when they really don’t. And magic makes it all the more complicated. Still, the tale in Schmigadoon! Is less sad, thanks to the likable, ever–singing characters. The songs are quite captivating too, making this one of the most recommendable TV musical shows. The show’s Emmy for outstanding original music and lyrics also sums up its awesomeness.
Pushing Daisies (2007–09)
Stream On HBO Max
Events revolve around Ned, a pie-maker with the ability to bring the dead back to life. When he brings back a former crush, his life becomes more labyrinthine.
Ned and Corden’s Jamie are two peas in a pod. They are not only in the food-making business but have complicated love lives. As for the shows, both infuse humor in accurate servings too. The similarities aside, Pushing Daises is one of the binge-worthy dark comedies because every character is quirky, and the dialogue is extremely fast-paced. And the show has 17 Emmy nominations to show for the good work that was put in by everyone involved.
The Time Traveler’s Wife (2022)
Stream On HBO Max
Henry discovers he has the ability to travel through time involuntarily. But as eventful as his life is, his wife Claire struggles to cope.
Claire and Coden’s character, Jamie, are both molded in the same way as they initially have happy lives only to have their worlds overturned because of their partners. The Time Traveler’s Wife also distinguishes itself from other shows in the streaming landscape by creating interesting scenarios such as the main character ending up naked whenever he shows up in a new timeline. Additionally, the dialogue is quite crisp too.
Beauty And The Beast (1987–90)
Stream On Paramount+
After being rescued by a man-beast named Vincent, Catherine, a District Attorney, falls for him. The two then become bonded when Vincent develops the ability to sense whenever she is in danger.
The visuals might come off as unsatisfactory when viewed using the modern eye, but the series does better than the popular fairy tale by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve because it prevents the Beast from changing in order to match society’s idea of beauty. Instead, it’s his inner beauty that remains the focus. Furthermore, there is a high emphasis on professions rather than just love, something Mammals also excels at.
Bewitched (1964–72)
Stream On Prime Video
The show follows Claire, a witch who vows to live a normal life after marrying a normal man. However, that proves to be harder than she thought.
With over 254 episodes, Bewitched is one of the longest-running shows of all time and it isn’t by accident that the fantasy sitcom remained on air for so long. Though the sorcerer-in-love plot might seem thin from the outside, the show manages to create many interesting sub-plots out of it. And as is the case with Mammals, there are plenty of relationship ups and downs that magic helps solve.
Once Upon A Time (2011–18)
Stream On Disney+
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Events alternate between a fantasy world where fairy tales are real and the proceedings in a seaside town called Storybrooke. Tying all the events together is the protagonist, Emmy Swann.
Traditional fairy tales are full of awesome love stories and Once Upon A Time takes all kinds of creative liberties with them, making them more palatable to adults. Plenty of professionals like Corden’s Jamie pop up throughout the series and through them, it’s emphasized just how hard balancing work and love is.
Wolf Like Me (2022–present)
Stream On Peacock
Gary, a widower, struggles to connect with his daughter. But things change when falls in love with Mary, a columnist who also happens to be harboring a deep secret.
There are parallels between the way in which Gary finds out about Mary’s powers and the way in which Jamie discovers his wife’s secrets in Mammals. And in both cases, the protagonists try to get to the bottom of things despite the risks involved. What viewers will also enjoy the most about the series is that it’s precise. With only six 30-minute episodes, there are no filler scenes and every single development appears well-thought-out.
Love Between Fairy And Devil (2022)
Stream On Netflix
Xiao Lanhua, a flower fairy, accidentally revives the demon Dongfang Qingcang after years of him being locked away. This leads to love as well as dangerous consequences.
Love Between Fairy And Devil matches Mammals by taking viewers through an intense fantasy adventure that’s full of the craziest of twists. The two main characters are extremely likable too, making it easy to root for them even when they misbehave. A couple of formidable secondary antagonists emerge along the way too.
Miracle Workers (2019–present)
Stream On Disney+
Two angels attempt to convince God to not destroy Earth. They then promise him to help two humans find love. With a cast that includes Daniel Radcliffe, who has lots of experience in the fantasy arena, and Steve Buscemi.
Miracle Workers doesn't fail to impress when it comes to performances. Since it presents a heaven-and-earth scenario, the fantasy elements are a lot less complicated, making the show digestible even to those who don’t love the genre. The stalking themes seen on the show are quite similar to those in Corden’s new show too.
Source:gamerant.com