5 Recommended Shows on Netflix
- The Movie Buff
- Dec 27, 2019
- 6 min read
#1 - Mindhunters
A binge-worthy show that combines two things: the masterful direction of David Fincher (Se7en, The Social Network, Gone Girl) and a dramatized true story about the birth of criminal psychology.
What more could you ask for with Mindhunters; a Netflix original based on the 1996 book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, written by former special agents John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The show follows special agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as they begin to lay the foundations to what will become criminal psychology and the terming of the name "serial killer". In that time, set in the late 1970's, it was commonly understood among law enforcement that when people commit murder, it is because they are simply evil and are not worth discussing any further. Ford and Tench dare to ask the question, "Why did these people do it, and are there common denominators across all serial killers?" Turns out, there are quite a few.
The show is everything you'd expect from David Fincher, with amazing dialogue, suspenseful tones, and signature panning shots that we've come to expect from his perfectionist mind. The best part about the show is the portrayal of the interviews that Ford and Tench had with some of America's most prolific serial killers. The craziest thing about these interviews (besides how true-to-life the bone-chilling dialogue was) was the casting of the serial killers which was near indistinguishable from the real people.
#2 - Love, Death, + Robots
A show that has flown under everyone's radar is Love, Death + Robots, a sci-fi anthology series that tells a different, 10-15 minute science fiction story each episode. The coolest part about it is that each story is told using a different kind of animation style. Although all the stories from the 18 available episodes are very good, here are my favorite ones I recommend you watch:
Suits: A story about a community of farmers who use homemade mechanic battle suits to fend out alien creatures that keep attacking their herds. Somehow, in just 15 minutes, the story manages to get you emotionally involved in the several families who band together to fight the aliens while the other families run to their safety bunker. The animation style is very comic-book looking and reminds me of Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse. This is a highly-entertaining watch, and arguably by favorite of the bunch.
Three Robots: A very simple, comedic story about 3 robots, each with a funny and unique personality, who go sightseeing through a post-apocalyptic city. You don't know much about what happened to humanity, but you know it's pretty much all gone to hell. You follow the robots as they treat a destroyed city as a museum of history, and it's hilarious.
Beyond the Aquila Rift: This story is very creepy, but fascinating nonetheless. You follow a ship's crew as they wake up after accidentally drifting light-years off their course from Earth. It looks like they had just stumbled into a remote base, with a familiar face greeting them once they awake from their hibernation pods. However, the ship's captain, Thom, realizes something isn't right. It's a freaky, suspenseful story with animation so realistic you would swear it's real people on screen.
Shape-Shifters: This one is extremely cool and interesting to think about. The story follows two marines deep in Afghanistan who happen to also be werewolves. Yeah, I know, werewolves. But the story has a fascinating approach to them, as apparently they've existed alongside humans, though they are treated with intense discrimination from everyone. Since they're superior to humans, they are used as recon, front-line soldiers in war. You find out that the Taliban also has a werewolf in their ranks and the American werewolves have to track him down. It's amazing looking and a cool watch. To be honest, I would hope this gets made into a movie one day.
#3 - The Witcher
Okay, I will be the first to admit I am incredibly biased with this recommendation, but hear me out. The Witcher is based on the books and games of the same name (both of which I have read and played, respectively). I must say I was very nervous to see my favorite book series and favorite video game series come to life on screen, but I must say I am very satisfied.
The show stars the talented Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter, who roams a fictional continent in search of contracts on horrible beasts that terrorize the less fortunate. This sort of plays as a backdrop to the true problems Geralt faces: humans. In the show, we see Geralt as a mutant who is shunned by society even though he wants nothing more than to help them, and we are shown that people are sometimes more wicked than the monsters that Geralt kills. The show has three separate timelines that all converge: one follows Geralt as he navigates morally grey areas with his scene-stealing bard companion, Jaskier, one follows a hunchback woman with a tragic childhood on her quest to become a powerful and beautiful sorceress, and one follows a young princess with unnatural abilities that is on the run from an invading empire. All three timelines have their own versions of the main theme of destiny and how it plays in these characters' lives.
If you haven't picked up on it, this is Netflix's answer to Game of Thrones. A clear attempt to fill the hole in our hearts left by the disappointing wrap-up to HBO's fantasy epic and to keep us fantasy-nerds happy until Amazon comes out with its Lord of the Rings series. So, if you absolutely hate fantasy and didn't even like Game of Thrones, then this is not for you. But, if you enjoyed Game of Thrones, then I highly recommend this show. Though it is more heavy on magic and creatures, it doesn't shy away from the HBO-style nudity and violence with excellent characters and jaw-dropping fight scenes.
#4 - Mad Men
Likely the most-watched show out of the five, Mad Men is the period drama series created by Matthew Weiner of which was released over seven seasons on AMC cable network. All 7 seasons are available on Netflix and I have to recommend this show because of its signature characters, incredible writing, and awe-inspiring set and wardrobe design.
The series follows Don Draper, played by Jon Hamm (who plays the role as if he were born to do so), as he navigates the ins and outs of the advertising industry through the 1960's and 1970's. Mad men was the term given to the advertisers (all of which were men) who worked on Madison Avenue in New York City.
What is brilliant about this show is that it uses advertising to show the changes that society went through during the 1960's and 1970's. It tackles politics, workplace discrimination against women and minorities, racism, style-changes, moral-prioritization, and what society did and did not deem acceptable. We see how smoking and drinking were as commonplace as computers in the workplace. We see how an advertising agency adapted to the ever-changing waters of America's desires.
The show is home to multiply dynamic and unforgettable characters. There is (of course) Don Draper, who is the definition of suave, though we see it is a front of a man who is haunted by his past and a slave to his own desires at the expense of everyone he loves. Another great character we meet is Peggy Olsen, who acts as the female POV in a time when the idea of women working in an agency as anything other than secretaries was laughable.
Give this show a watch, it could act as a history lesson if you pay close enough attention.
#5 - The Office
Have you heard of the new NBC show starring Hollywood newcomers Steve Carrell, John Krasinski, and Rainn Wilson?
Of course you have. Even if you're one of the seven people worldwide who do not own a Netflix subscription, you've at least heard of The Office and witnessed its cultural footprint on today's generation.
I'm not even recommending this show because I already know that everyone reading this has either already seen the show (several times over) or given it a shot and decided it wasn't for them. I know I am also not the only person who has deemed the show one of the most re-watchable experiences ever put to the silver screen. Some of you may currently have it on in the background and are so passively listening that you may have just realized you've memorized the entire episode.
This is, however, a reminder to watch and enjoy this show before NBC takes it off of Netflix in January of 2021 for their own streaming service. Keep turning it on while you're doing your homework. Keep turning it on when you're feeling sad and need a smile on your face. Keep appreciating the antics that Dunder Mifflin's Scranton Branch keep getting into, because this is our generation's Dallas (kinda).
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