I’m Going To Be Stuck On A Plane For 20 Hours: What Should I Watch?!?!

By Meghan O'Keefe @megsokay
Published Jan. 21, 2015, 4:00 p.m. ET

Every once in a while, entertainment writers like myself are coaxed out of our dark offices and invited to go on press tours. So, next week, I am going to be hanging out with the pirates of Black Sails in South Africa, but to get there, I have to spend over 24 hours of my life traveling. First, there’s the cab to the airport, so I can take a 7+ hour long flight to London. Then, I have to run through Heathrow Airport like I’m Sam in Love Actually so I can make a connecting flight to Cape Town. That flight is over 12 hours long. All told, I will be logging 20 hours in the air, and that’s just one way.

Don’t worry. I will be packing the latest Elena Ferrante translation, my laptop, and a pocketful of ZzzQuil. Still, I am going to be in the air for 40 hours of my life. FORTY HOURS. That’s almost two days!

This is where you guys come in. I need help figuring out what I will watch on the plane.

Things I’ve enjoyed watching on planes in the past:

  • In A World — I found it charming, refreshing, and the perfect thing to watch before popping an over-the-counter sleep aid.
  • The first half of The Great Gatsby — I had already seen this and had an hour and a half to kill. It was great.
  • Doctor Who — What? It’s fun.
  • Random Parks & Recreation episodes — What? It’s cute.

Things I have not enjoyed watching on planes in the past:

  • All Is Lost — While I’m a fan of J.C. Chandor’s directing style and Robert Redford wailing the word, “Fuuuuuuuuucccckkk!”, the screen was too small to really enjoy such a visually-driven film.
  • Blue Jasmine — I was happy to see Cate Blanchett in her Oscar-winning role, but the film is just, eh.
  • The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer — Okay, if I’m being completely honest, I kind of liked this as a “plane” watch, but it is a truly terrible film that I never want to see again.

Now, I’m willing to download stuff off of iTunes before the trip, but I also will have a wealth of pre-programmed titles available. With all this in mind, what should I watch en route to South Africa? (Oh, and is there anything you’re dying to ask the cast of Black Sails?)

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