To quote Avenue Q, the world is a big, scary place. And of late, much more so, I'm afraid. While I could spiral into depression and a nice bottle of Two Buck Chuck (well, technically Three now), I'm choosing to focus on some fun stuff today (might still drink the wine). Here are recommendations for various things I've enjoyed lately.

TO WATCH
Signal : This was a runaway hit on the Korean drama scene early this year, and deservedly so. The premise is a time paradox: a police profiler hears someone calling his name over a radio transmission and he finds an old walkie-talkie and starts getting messages from the past to help solve cold case crimes, from a detective who, in the present, has been missing and presumed dead for over a decade. It's part murder mystery(/ies) and part thriller, grounded in profound emotion. It's about the human connections we make, the decisions that change the course of history, the lifelong regrets about the things we never said. Top-notch acting and gut-wrenching in the best way.

TO LISTEN
The Comedian's Comedian Podcast : Anchored by British stand-up comic Stuart Goldsmith, who is both easygoing and penetrating as an interviewer, this podcast delves into the creative processes that drive different comedians' work. I love behind-the-scenes kind of stuff and learning how things are created, as well as many of the comedians interviewed, so this ticks several entertainment boxes for me. Even with comedians whose performance style aren't my cup of tea, I often find their interviews funny and thoughtful anyway.

TO DO
More Love Letters : Everyone has crap to deal with, and some shoulder more crap than others. More Love Letters' mission is to make sure they know they're not alone. People from all over the world contribute letters to share their support and love, and it's a beautiful illustration of the simple kindness of strangers. Check out the founder Hannah Brencher's TED talk here, and if you feel so moved, write a letter.