Baby, it’s cold outside, and the season of Netflix and Chill is well and truly upon us. It’s the perfect temperature to make yourself a blanket fort, boil yourself a hot choccie and grab a packet of TeeVee snacks.
So call up your friends and arrange a Netflix binge weekend to ward off those Winter blues! There’s nothing better than snuggling up on the couch when it’s blowing a gale and raining sideways. We’ve put together a list of our top binge-worthy TV shows to kick off your mammoth marathon. Just like when you’re on a 24-hour flight, remember to get up every now and then and S-T-R-E-T-C-H those limbs. You’ll need to rise from your cocoon to boil the kettle after all!
Comedy
We’re kicking off with the lighthearted! If you want to watch something entertaining, fluffy and funny, you’re in the right place!
The Good Place
Rated M
The Good Place is full of tongue-in-cheek wit and bountiful in giggles. Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell, aka the voice of Gossip Girl and original Veronica Mars) has died and wakes up in the afterlife, to find that, despite her somewhat questionable character and morals, she has ended up in “The Good Place.” The series follows Eleanor’s struggles to convince everyone in The Good Place that she does indeed belong, even though she knows there has been a mixup. The Good Place is packed with quirky tidbits that we all associate with the idea of heaven, and many twists and turns that keep the audience guessing.
Archer
Rated MA 15+
If your kind of humour is more on the raucous and rude side, you’ll love Archer; an animated comedy for adults. The show centres on an international spy agency who are, well, a bit rubbish at their jobs. The lead grunt man is Sterling Archer, is, well, a bit of an ass. Archer is rife with hilarious shenanigans, attempts to get out of many a pickle, and moreover, riddled with burns, insults, screw-ups and short-lived spurts of camaraderie. There’s a whopping nine seasons for you to burn through, all with a different theme to keep things spicy.
Crime
In the mood for something dark, twisted, mysterious and mentally consuming? We’ve got you covered.
Broadchurch
Rated M
Nobody quite does small-town murder mysteries like the Brits. Broadchurch is set in coastal Southern England and follows the case of a young boy who has been murdered against the stark backdrop of grey cliff faces in a small, close-knit community. DI Alec Hardy is an out of towner with a mysterious past of his own and a not-so-friendly disposition. He and local DS Ellie Miller set out to solve the murder, which quickly creates rifts amongst friends, family and prominent members of the community. Tension is high, suspicion is rife, and the probability of finding the murderer bleak. Broadchurch scrutinises a few topics that can be hard to swallow, chiefly, the inability to trust those you hold dearest.
Sci-Fi
Netflix has released some truly fantastic Sci-Fi serials lately including The OA, Travellers, Sense 8, The Expanse and Star Trek Discovery. But there’s one in particular that we just can’t stop raving about.
Stranger Things
Rated M
We’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard of Stranger Things by now. The show has developed a relentless cult following with a thirst for Sci-Fi that harks back to the likes of 80s classics such as ET and Back to the Future. Plus it has some of the best darn kid actors around! Will Byers, a boy of 11, goes missing in the small American town of Hawkins in 1983. On the same night, a girl with psychokinetic powers escapes from a top secret government facility nearby. Select residents of Hawkins start to recognise supernatural events occurring around the town, which police chief Jim Hopper suspects may have to do with the boy’s sudden disappearance. Venture into the spooky world of the upside down with this period thriller that incorporates stellar performances with fantastic timing and an even better soundtrack!
Reality
Reality TV can sometimes blend into the realms of mindless dross, easily consumed after a long day at work. But you don’t need to call it your guilty pleasure anymore. Because there’s nothing guilty about watching this warm-hearted recap of one of the early 2000s seminal reality TV shows.
Queer Eye
Rated M
Yes, we’re talking about Queer Eye! The Fab Five are back, and though they aren’t the same faces of the original show, they have much to give, teach and learn! Season two has just dropped to an enormous audience following and acclaimed reviews. But make sure you have a box of tissues ready for every episode because the emotions ARE REAL! There’s something incredibly touching about five strong men unafraid of exposing and de-compacting what many people find to be uncomfortable topics. The Fab Five not only give generously to the people that they take under their wings but also work hard to detangle some of the common misconceptions that are rife amongst heterosexuals, concerning the LGBTQI community. We’re talking race, sexuality, religion and identity. This isn’t your average reality TV show! The emotions are raw, the heartwarming expressions of acceptance and respect are deep and, of course, the style is on point!
Drama
Ok, so shoot us now but you may realise a few things about the shows outlined below. Firstly, both are historical dramas. Secondly, they have incredibly strong female leads. It was very difficult to cut this list down! Netflix is killing it with their category ‘TV drama’s with strong female leads’. If you like your women bold and your stories epic, you’ll love these series!
The Crown
Rated MA 15+
Who knew the Queen’s life was full of such trials and tribulations? Well, I guess we had some idea, but The Crown really humanises the Royals in a way which we never thought possible. And gee is Claire Foyle on fire! Track Queen Elizabeth II’s life from her coronation after her father’s sudden death, through her early reign. The series is still in production, with Season 3 set to start filming in July of this year. Olivia Colman will take over Claire Foyle’s depiction as the Queen in her middle years. Watch and feel Queen Elizabeth’s constant struggle with notoriety in a way that is humbling, and gain an insight into a few of royals’ pasts (namely Prince Philip and Princess Margaret) that are quite enlightening. It’s all too easy to get caught up in these character’s lives, even if you’re adamantly anti-Royalist!
Godless
Rated MA 15+
Godless is totally kickass. We’re not kidding. It’s a Western centred around the small town of La Belle, made up almost entirely of women whose husbands died in a tragic mining accident. These women have learnt to fight, negotiate trade deals, build, repair, hunt and gather. All is peaceful until an outlaw shows up on Alice Fletcher’s ranch. After shooting him on the spot, she decides to allow him refuge in exchange for his assistance breaking in her horses. He is being headhunted by Frank Griffin’s bloodthirsty gang of thieves and murderers. Classic shoot-em-ups, stand-offs, hoe-downs and yee-ha’s ensue. If you love a good Western that pulls out all the stops, and the notion that sisters are doing it for themselves, guns blazing, you’ll love Godless.
We could really go on and on with this list, but we’ll stop there so you aren’t overwhelmed with options! After all, you don’t want to waste your whole binge-fest deciding what to watch. Happy Netflixing!
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