I’ll level with you, Deep Divers: I’m not a beach person. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m from a mostly landlocked New England state, but there’s just not much appeal to schlepping all my stuff to a location where I will somehow be freezing and hot at the same time, and also surrounded by salt and stinky seaweed. At least I’m in good company: almost 60 percent of you said you won’t be visiting the beach this summer. But just because I don’t personally want to find stowaway sand for days after a weekend jaunt doesn’t mean I don’t like to look at the beach, and these dramas are the perfect solution: all the aesthetics and fun, with none of the sunburn.

Enjoying the vibes from my couch,
Jackie Bruleigh, Local Digital Content Editor

P.S. GBH has, at long last, unveiled a merch shop. If you do end up braving the beach, we might have just the tote bag to bring along. Check it out!

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These Shows Are a Shore Thing

MASTERPIECE: The Durrells in Corfu

What do you get when a widow takes her four children to live on the Greek coast? A lot of fun, hijinks, and romance, that’s what. This might be our ultimate summer comfort show.

MASTERPIECE: Sanditon

I suspect you all know about Sanditon by now, but I just couldn’t leave it out. Yes, this show has all the drama and romance you could ask for, but it also makes playing cricket on the beach look fun, somehow? A perfect substitute for a beach day, in my humble opinion.

Seaside Hotel

One of the nicest things about this show is that the drama is just the right amount of juicy, and there are so many episodes to watch. Escaping to a Danish coastal resort for ten whole seasons? Ja, tak!

Death at the Beach

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Broadchurch

Sometimes actually terrible things happen at the beach, and that’s the premise of Broadchurch. Set in a small coastal town, the show follows two detectives (played by David Tennant and Olivia Colman, which was enough to sell me) working to solve the murder of a young boy.

MASTERPIECE: Annika

Annika (Nicola Walker, Unforgotten) and her Marine Homicide Unit solve puzzling murders that wash up in Scotland’s waters. So far, so good. What makes this show different is the layer of literary references applied to every episode. Call me Ishmael ready to watch.

MASTERPIECE: Maryland

Find out what happens when two estranged sisters reconnect after learning that their mother has been conducting a secret second life on the Isle of Man. I loved this moody family drama, not in small part thanks to the stacked cast (Suranne Jones! Eve Best! Stockard Channing!!)

MASTERPIECE: Moonflower Murders

This follow-up to Magpie Murders finds our hero Susan living in an absolutely stunning coastal town in Greece. Yes, she makes it look fabulous. No, she’s not having an amazing time, which really proves my point that the beach is best enjoyed from afar.

Recipe of the Week

Coast-to-Coast Cioppino

Celebrate the best part of the beach — seafood — with this fish stew from Homemade Live! Still hungry for more? Find recipes from our programs here.

Even More Drama

* One of my favorite dramas of all time (seriously, I’ve written about it three time: here, here, and here), Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, is sadly no longer streaming on GBH Passport. The show has multiple beach-related storylines, and I love it so much that I have to give an honorable mention to the sequel movie, which is NOT set at a beach, but does manage to include sand. It’s also airing on GBH 44 on August 25 at 8pm. 

* After 11 years, Grantchester has solved its final case. Don’t miss this interview with Al Weaveron playing Leonard, this playlist inspired by the final season, this roundup of some of the best Geordie moments, or this roundtable with the cast. 

* Looking for something new to watch? MASTERPIECE just announced an upcoming adaptation of Henry James’ The Portrait of a Lady that I just can’t wait to see … and when you see the cast announcement, I think you’ll agree with me.

Dive Into America 250

Grofé’s Guide to Grandeur, Part One: The Grand Canyon Suite

Travel through America’s natural wonders with CRB Classical 99.5 starting with “The Grand Canyon Suite.”

Off Topic

1. The elephants are on parade! One-hundred life-size elephant statues will be on display on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall from August 8 to September 13 for The Great Elephant Migration exhibit. Hear more about it Thursday on The Culture Show and see a clip of elephants and hippos playing hide and seek and even more elephant goodness in the Elephant edition of The Deep Dive. 

2. We lost the legendary Irish musician Glen Hansard last week, a performer who was one of the inspirations for the creation of NPR’s All Songs Considered. Watch his Tiny Desk Concert.

3. Why are Beyoncé’s boots in Haverhill? Find out!