Top six binge-worthy Netflix shows

Different genres to watch during quarantine

Ben Sanford

“Love is Blind” – ★★★☆

Fair use from Netflix. Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed cut the cake at their wedding. The two participated in the “Love Is Blind” television experiment.

The new Netflix original reality TV show “Love is Blind” centers around the premise of people meeting, dating and falling in love without ever seeing each other face-to-face. Separated into different “pods,” 15 men and 15 women talk and flirt to try to find one person to propose to. From there, the engaged couples go on a vacation to Mexico as they try to deal with the physical aspects of their new relationships and spend time with the other engaged couples from the pods. The show is filled with moments of jealousy, intensity and drama, which leaves the audience begging for more at the end of each episode. With only 11 episodes in the first season, Netlflix’s hit “Love Is Blind” would be a great option for your next binge-watch.

 

“New Girl” – ★★★★☆

Fair use from Fox. Schmidt (Max Greenfield), Nick (Jake Johnson), Cece (Hannah Simone), Jess (Zooey Deschanel), and Winston (Lamorne Morris) all pose together for “New Girl.” The five members of the main cast appear in all seven seasons.

The 2011 classic sitcom “New Girl” follows the optimistic, likeably over-bearing Jess (Zooey Deschanel), who moves into a new top-floor apartment with three single men, Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Winston (Lamorne Morris). All seven seasons are filled with iconic gags, loveable characters and heartfelt, genuine moments that draw you in the more you watch. From games like True American, to the on-again and off-again romances, “New Girl” manages to be simultaneously ridiculous and grounded in reality, making it entertaining and relatable to watch.

 

“The Haunting of Hill House” – ★★★★★

Fair use from Netflix. The Crain family comforts each other during a storm at Hill House. This scene take place in a past timeline, when the main cast were children.

“The Haunting of Hill House” focuses on themes of unity, loss and trauma as it follows the Crain family over the course of three different timelines that seamlessly intertwine. Each of the six family members struggle to cope with traumatic events that took place at their childhood home, Hill House. All of the characters grapple with family drama, grief and ghosts from the past. The show is filled with hidden easter eggs, fantastic transitions, stellar acting and an overall heartbreaking story that wraps you in within the first 15 minutes. “The Haunting of Hill House,” however, is not for the faint of heart. With earned jump scares, an eerie score and painful plot-twists, “The Haunting of Hill House” is filled to the brim with excitement and tragedy.

 

“Black Mirror” – ★★★★☆

Fair use from Netflix. Lacie (Bryan Dallas Howard) looks at her phone alongside the other people in public. Howard appears as the lead in season three, episode 1 “Nosedive.”

Netflix creates a different format for its science fiction television series “Black Mirror.” With a total of 22 episodes throughout five seasons, “Black Mirror” tells an individual story in each episode with a new cast and a new breakthrough in technology with every hour long special. With very few optimistic endings, the show often becomes draining and terrifying to watch, but not because of any horror or thriller elements of the show. “Black Mirror” finds a way to craft a sense of fear and dread simply by setting up the dangers of scientific advancements. The show is gritty and realistic, despite its futuristic elements. With clever and creative plot-twists in essentially every episode, this show finds a way to surprise and shock 100 percent of the time. 

 

“The Politician” – ★★★★★

Fair use from Netflix. River (David Corenswet) and Payton (Ben Platt) sit at the piano and play. The two friends become pitted against each other when they both run for high school class President.

From the creator of similarly binge-worthy shows like “Glee” and “American Horror Story,” “The Politician” mocks the real world arena of politics through a high school class presidential election. Through the eyes of ambitious senior Payton Hobart (Ben Platt), this Netflix original explores the current political climate in the U.S. while also analyzing the motivations and personal struggles behind the people in control. With themes of suicide and class, inequality and lies, “The Politician” covers a wide range of topics and emotions. The show feels larger than life in an enjoyable way. With only eight episodes in the one current season, “The Politician” is fast-paced and dramatic, a perfect option for a long day at home.

 

“The Umbrella Academy” – ★★★☆☆

Fair use from Netflix. Klaus (Robert Sheehan) and Five (Aidan Gallagher) pose together for “The Umbrella Academy.” Klaus and Five both have super powers, with Klaus being about to see the dead and Five being able to time travel.

In this futuristic action series, “Umbrella Academy” dives deep into the lives of six superpowered adults as they deal with trauma and abuse from their childhood. Each of the characters struggles to deal with the complexities and consequences that come along with their abilities, and attempts to manage the interpersonal relationships between them and their adoptive siblings. With fantastic actors and a plot that always goes in an unexpected direction, the show entices the audience as the lore and story continue to expand. Each of the 10 episodes fly by as you become more invested in the characters and their sometimes problematic actions.