As time at home drags on, an obvious solution to boredom is Netflix. I’ve found myself looking for more informational pieces lately in hopes of merging education and entertainment. A streaming platform like Netflix has so many options that things can easily get clouded, but three series stand out among the rest.

‘Tiger King’ – ★★★★★

I was skeptical about “Tiger King” at first — all the hype on the internet and trailers rubbed me the wrong way for some reason. I didn’t know if I could enjoy a series about people forcing tigers away from their natural instincts, but as soon as I started to actually watch the show, I realized why everyone loved it so much. The people are so fascinating you can’t look away. It’s not just about Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin’s feud over proper care and management of big cats, there are other elements involved like attempted murder, politics and potential cult activity. There is so much depth to the story that eight episodes doesn’t seem to capture it all. “Tiger King” deals with the issues surrounding endangered animals being held in captivity, but it also shows the people behind some of the most mismanaged zoos and enclosures. The true crime element is just an added bonus to gawk at. People have compared the situation to a train wreck, no matter how bad it is, you can’t help but watch. To me, that is a perfect classification for this series.

‘Salt Fat Acid Heat’ – ★★★★☆

Based on the book written by the show’s host, Samin Nosrat, this Netflix series stood out to me because of its simplicity. Nosrat guides viewers through the show’s namesake to explain the four basics of cooking. There are four episodes to focus on each element individually in a different country, and every single one is presented beautifully. I have never been as compelled by food as I was watching this. There is so much thought and precision in every dish made or consumed by Nosrat — it’s obvious that her passion is food. Aesthetically, I was blown away. The camera work is as impressive as the food, there was not a second while watching that I wanted to be doing anything else. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes food just because it can give you a deeper understanding of the thought that goes into cooking and what makes good food stand out.

‘Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez’ – ★★★★☆

This series is shocking to say the least. It goes in depth on the crimes committed by a professional NFL star, giving context and background along the way. The directors do a great job at showing the glorification of celebrities in legal trouble. There were countless people rooting for Aaron Hernandez after his arrest despite the evidence against him, making the hard facts in this story even more important. The series dives into various aspects of Hernandez’s life in a concise package. Whether it be family drama, sexuality, murder or neurodegenerative disease, this series has it all.