Must Watch Shows on NETFLIX

Netflix, the reason for all procrastination.

If you’re anything like me, then you can spend hours on Netflix – you enjoy a good programme. or any programme as a matter of fact, so long as it entertains you. This doesn’t just concern Netflix but any media-entertainment company. ITV, BBC Iplayer, Channel 4, Amazon Prime etc etc.

I take such an obsessional interest in crime-based programmes and shows, it’s sometimes worrying ha. Anything concerning prisons, serial killers, conspiracy theories, missing people mysteries, murder documentaries – the LOT. (i also realise how crazy/obsessed/weird (delete as appropriate) this makes me look. But I can also sit down and watch a good sitcom or comedy and love it equally.

( I think I’ll definitely create a separate post listing and possibly linking my fave crime-based programmes because there are MANY, and I know I’m not the only one who enjoys watching them. )

I’ve seen so many shows (arguably not all, and not all the ‘popular’ ones.) So I thought to make a ‘top shows on Netflix’ list.

Prison Break

Okay, my love and admiration for this show and the cast may not be expressed significantly but believe me when I say I am a die-hard fan. I would argue that prison break is the greatest tv show of all time. I absolutely love it. Nothing I’ve seen could ever compare to it. Obviously, the show wouldn’t be what it was, without Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell, and the incredible casting.

Prison Break follows two brothers, (Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows) one of whom is facing death row for the murder of the US vice president’s brother, Terrence Steadman. Except for one minor detail; he’s innocent and did not commit the crime, but instead has been falsely incarcerated due to a political conspiracy. The series follows Scofield’s elaborate plan to help break his brother out of the Fox River Penitentiary and clear his name. The seasons are fast-paced, pays an insane amount of attention to detail and the vision of the plot is all around very well delivered. The incredible storyline, paired with the unique personalities of the cast, will get you binge watching the episodes until 3 am. It’s a definite MUST watch.

There are 4 series which still can be watched on Netflix, with a new (2017) season 5 which was aired on FOX (from April 4 to May 30). I’m sure you can find the latest season somewhere online.

Fun fact: I got a chance to meet them!

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a classic. If for whatever reason you haven’t seen Fresh Prince, let me give you a quick rundown of the sitcom. The show stars a fictionalised version of Will Smith (played by Will Smith, of course), an often rebellious street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia. After getting into trouble, his mother sends him to move in with his upper-class Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian in a Bel-Air mansion, to essentially get his act together. The series follows his player-like personality, mixed in with the lifestyle of his relatives.

The show gained large success and popularity, primarily due to the reliable humour. There isn’t an episode where you wouldn’t laugh. It has incredible timing for comedy and that’s what made the show as great as it was. Though, aside from the comedy, it also addressed sensitive issues such as racism, violence, drug abuse, family (father-son) relationships and so much more. It originally aired from 1990-1996, yet remains one of the nation’s favourites.

Orange is The New Black

This was one of those shows that I’d started and stopped. But once I got back into it, I loved it and ended up binge watching episodes after episodes (esp the most recent season to be released). The series follows a woman in her mid 30’s – Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a woman who was sentenced to 15 months to Litchfield Penitentiary, a minimum security woman’s prison. She was convicted for the transportation of drug money for her then-girlfriend Alex Vause, taking place over 10 years ago. So the arrest was unexpected and sudden.

The series follows Piper’s relationship with Alex in prison (did I mention Alex was also incarcerated in the same prison), with several setbacks, flashbacks and issues which occur as an inmate. The show highlights officer-inmate affairs, the types of attitudes/personalities which accompany women (including b*tchiness), gender identity, sexuality, relationships and most recently highlighted the black lives matter movement. There are so many different characters explored, you really do get to see the spectrum that women inmates lie on. A new season has been released and I finished watching it in 3 days, which says more about myself than I would like, ha. So I definitely recommend.

Suits

Suits is one of those shows that many like/love/enjoy, but you do get the few people who think it’s okay (though I think they’re very few). It’s a legal drama – so my interest in the justice system was the main reason for watching. The series focuses on Mike Ross, a college dropout, yet one intellectual genius with a photographic memory who gets hired as an associate in a law firm for experienced lawyer Harvey Specter – despite not having the required graduation from law school. The show follows Mike and Harvey as they attempt to close several cases whilst maintaining the secret.

The chemistry between the two lead characters (Mike and Harvey) is admirable with dramatic declarative sentences that will make you laugh, concerned or confused – as most of the time there’s some legal talk going on and as a viewer, you just got to pretend like you know what they’re on about. (it’s not that legal-heavy, not so you need to stop and google every other word.) The dynamics of the characters in the firm is also so entertaining, so it’s very easy to get into. I think so anyways.

How I Met Your Mother

I loved watching this show, although personally, I have to say the ending was somewhat disappointing (spoiler – maybe). This American sitcom follows the main character, Ted Mosby and his group of friends in Manhattan. Throughout the episodes, Ted recounts the story of events which lead to the meeting of his children’s mother (which is obvs being told several years later).

I know, I know, you may draw comparisons to Friends as both follow a similar style of setting and characters but I think it’s just as entertaining, with its own twist. You learn to adore the characters and the unique position they hold in the show. Personally, my favourite character is Barney, as he just brings so much natural humour to the table, you can’t help but laugh at/with him. If you’ve seen Friends, yet want to watch a different sitcom, give it a watch. You may just end up binge watching the episodes like I did (honestly, when do I not).

So, there you have it. My favourite Netflix shows. (Apart from no.1, the rest are in no specific order as such).

I know they’re probably the clique go-to sitcoms and programmes but I’d say they’re honestly some of my favourites that I occasionally return to. Let me know what your faves are and if there’s something you think I might enjoy, comment down below as I’d happily watch something different.

Fyza.