The impending elections and crisis in Syria pale in comparison to today’s hottest topic: Netflix and Chill. Gone from a lame date idea to a national joke, the trend has inspired me to think about how I really spend my time on Netflix. Should I watch Bob’s Burgers for the millionth time or try something new tonight?
If you’re feeling adventurous, Netflix has a whole stock of awesome original series that are definitely being overlooked during the evening binge watch. After combing through more than 30 TV shows – one tough assignment, believe me – I’ve narrowed it down to the top 8 original Netflix programs to step up your Netflix and Chill. Except, for the sake of these great shows, don’t get too caught up in the chill…this Netflix game is strong.
1. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Tina Fey is my personal idol, so it’s no surprise that her voyage into female-driven original programming for Netflix would be fabulous. Starring the always funny Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt tells the story of Kimmy, who must adjust to life in New York after being locked in an underground bomb shelter for over a decade. However ludicrous her situation, we can all understand how it feels to still be a teenager in a very adult world.
2. Narcos
At the complete other end of the spectrum from the happy-go-lucky Kimmy Schmidt is Narcos, telling the story of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and the Medellín Cartel. For anyone well-versed in today’s bloody drug and gang conflicts, the show provides a history lesson in how we arrived to this point. Narcos is equally perfect for anyone looking for an edge-of-your seat thriller filled with top-notch performances.
3. Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
If you’re even a bit interested in classic 80s cinema, you’ll have seen Wet Hot American Summer, the movie that gave Bradley Cooper his film debut. The original movie captures the staff and children of a summer camp during their last day together – and all the chaos that those 24 hours can capture. Netflix’s series is a prequel to the film, giving us all the summer’s juicy details.
4. Sense8
For your sci-fi fix, Netflix offers Sense8, which asks the question: how are all humans connected? The show follows eight people, across the globe, who suddenly become mentally and emotionally linked. While on the surface it investigates a cool supernatural experiment, Sense8 has a greater point: to touch on some of the topics sci-fi writers tend to ignore, including race, politics, gender, identity, and intersectionality.
5. BoJack Horseman
If you haven’t yet watched BoJack Horseman, you’ve almost certainly seen images from the show, floating around online, depicting a terrifying man’s body with a horse head. Voiced by the hilarious Will Arnett, the title character (an anthropomorphic horse) struggles with his lost fame after his 90s TV hit Horsin’ Around ended. BoJack plans to release his tell-all autobiography, while dealing with the antics of his girlfriend, roommate and frenemy.
6. Hemlock Grove
A not-so-closeted lover of True Blood and other vampire lore, I loved Netflix’s Hemlock Grove, which recently released its third and final season. Set in a small Pennsylvania town, the show centers on two teenagers from very different backgrounds, as one stands to inherit his family’s billions and the other comes from a poor Romanian gypsy clan. Yet, strange murders in town – and even stranger circumstances within themselves – bring the two together to solve the mystery. It doesn’t hurt than Roman Godfrey, the young heir, is played by Alexander Skarskard’s younger brother, Bill. (Where’s the heart eyes emoji?!)
7. Daredevil
Every other movie anymore brings to light some new superhero and their fantastic story…and I’m certainly not complaining about it! Daredevil shows Netflix’s voyage into this genre, where the title character is a blind lawyer by-day and vigilante crime fighter by night. You may remember this role from the 2003 film, starring Ben Affleck.
8. Master of None
Master of None has a pretty innocuous plot: a young actor in his 30s navigates his life in the big city. Yet, what makes this show worth watching is its creator, writer and star, Aziz Ansari. Everything that man touches turns into a hilarious, creative work, laden with his social commentary, and his Netflix series is no exception. With a firm 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Master of None will soon be a show everyone is talking about.
Whatever genre of show you’re searching for, Netflix has an answer. So, this weekend turn your binge-watching game up a notch, because there’s no excuse for watching Gilmore Girls for the millionth time.
Featured image via cottonbro on Pexels
