Fantasy Realness Overload

I acknowledge that my title sounds like an episode of RuPaul's Drag Race, but that's not what this post is about.I write fantasy. It's an umbrella term I'm comfortable standing under. I've written stories in adult fantasy, paranormal, historical fantasy, YA and even a middle grade fantasy about a boy who's half unicorn. Needless to say I appreciate the renaissance of Must See Speculative Fiction TV that is finally getting its due.But you should see my DVR queue. Episodes record one after the other and I can't bring myself to watch. The fantasy shows I watch are reflecting real life so much (minus magic, mutant abilities and aliens) that it's lost the one element which draws me to it--escapism.I read the news. I have a graduate degree in history. I know how bad the world has been and the parts that still are. Fantasy and sci-fi are supposed to mitigate the holy crow moments that come at me fast and furious daily. So even though I want to watch the eight episodes of The Gifted I've saved, I also don't want to be bothered. I want to be entertained. And because it's a show and not a movie the hoped-for pay offs are seasons away. It's a slog because they lack hope. A happy ending would end the show so the bad guys keep winning. The Gifted isn't unique in this. It's not the only show waiting for my attention.It's why I like The Magicians. It is so far removed from real life (despite taking place mainly in New York) that I can enjoy the reversals and plot twists. It's my escapism from what used to be my escapism. That and reruns because I know how those end.I'm not bashing shows that borrow from current events (I've watched my share of Law & Order marathons), but sometimes I want to breathe a sigh of relief and pretend--if only for 30 minutes or an hour--that nothing real is happening. Just me, comfy clothes, and