Where do you watch your video content? For a significantly large number of global viewers, the answer is Netflix! Netflix is a literal treasure trove of movies that you can stream or download on demand. Like so many others, the bulk of my Spectrum silver package is exhausted on Netflix. Moreover, if you are looking to commit to more than 2 hours, Netflix is the place to go. It has a wide selection of contemporary, old as well as original TV shows to satisfy any binge craving.
Why Netflix?
Netflix is the best place for binge-watching TV shows. Their selection is so huge that many users spend significant amounts of time, simply deciding what they want to watch. Netflix is so popular it has given rise to the euphemism “Netflix and Chill”. Whether or not you have someone to “chill” with while watching Netflix is up to you. What we can help with is a selection of outstanding TV shows, so you don’t have to spend hours browsing. Here are the five, in our opinion, the best TV shows on Netflix this year:
- She’s Gotta Have It
- West Wing
- The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
- Mad Men
- Mindhunter
These 5 are our top picks from Netflix’s vast selection. Let’s discuss each one’s uniqueness briefly
She’s Gotta Have It
Spike Lee made his directorial debut with the film. She’s Gotta Have It in 1986. Thirty or so years later, Spike Lee has re-imagined his first directorial success in a 10-episode series titled (fittingly) She’s Gotta Have It. The show follows the life of Nola Darling played by DeWanda Wise. Nola is an artist and a free soul. She has no patience for life, love or the notion of settling down. Nola, being the free-spirited soul she is, is polyamorous.
For the prudes among you, that means she has multiple sexual partners. Her three recurring lovers are the egocentric male model, Greer Childs, controlling older gentleman Jamie Overstreet and sweet but immature joker Mars Blackmon. The original 1986 had a very tight focus on Nola’s whirlwind relationships, but the show is different. Making use of more available time, the show focuses on many other aspects of Nola’s life, adding a rich depth of character. The show captures, through its excellent cinematography, the essence of the leading lady’s bohemian lifestyle.
West Wing
Many vocal critics agree that West Wing is perhaps the best political drama ever written. The show follows fictional POTUS Jed Bartlett, played by Martin Sheen, and his dedicated staff as they navigate the treacherous political landscape. The President and his team deal with numerous political and personal problems throughout his two-term tenure.
West Wing is so highly regarded because political pundits, critics and White House personnel all agree it is an accurate dramatization. This may be in part due to the genius that is Aaron Sorkin. The show aired its finale on May 14th, 2006 but still lives on through numerous memes and twitter handles. All seven seasons are available on Netflix.
The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
American Crime Story captures the drama behind one of the most infamous murder trials in U.S. history. The show follows the real-life, wildly publicized trial of O.J. Simpson, played to perfection by Cuba Gooding Jr. O.J. is the number one suspect involving the murder of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Following a nationally televised high-speed car chase, the DA brings charges against the athlete.
This is followed by one of the most televised murder trials in the history of television. The show brings its own quirk by examining the trial from different angles. It includes the perspectives of key players including Simpson, the DA Marcia Clark (played by Sarah Paulson) and Simpson’s legal team. Robert Shapiro is played by Jon Travolta while David Schwimmer offers a memorable performance as Robert Kardashian. A must watch for people into real crime dramas.
Mad Men
Mad Men follows an era where the glamour and stiff competition of the advertising industry were at its height. In 1960’s New York, one of the city’s most prominent ad agencies is doing well. But as the competition begins to stiffen up and the industry grows, it becomes a battle for survival. This is a time when the whole world, including the advertising business, is being shaken up.
The show focuses on mysterious Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) and succinct Peggy Olson (immortalized by Elizabeth Moss). Don is a self-made executive who just can’t seem to escape his past. Peggy is a former secretarial assistant who fights her way up the corporate food chain. From the pilot to the finale, Mad Men is a gripping drama you absolutely must watch.
Mindhunter
Mindhunter is based in a time long before Spectrum cable services and serial killers. In fact, in 1977, serial killers are beginning to emerge out of the mangled remains of American society. The FBI faces off against murderers who kill without any apparent reason or cause. The show focuses on FBI agent Holden Ford (played by Jonathan Groff) and Behavioral Science Unit agent Bill Tench (played by Holt McCallany). Together the agents travel across America, interviewing this new breed of killers to gain a perspective into their minds.
However, coming too close to the abyss threatens their relationship with each other as well as raising more questions. The show has a sleek, urbane feel to it. It is more focused on the minds behind the crimes than the actual bloody act. You won’t be able to stop binging!
