You've done it! Finals are over, and the sun is beginning to shine. The time has come to begin the true work of summer: relaxing as hard as possible.
If, like me, you have a job or internship this summer, you know the struggle. You're supposed to be enjoying this break from schooling, but you're still on the grind. We all know that the answer is alcohol Netflix. That's why I'm here to share with you the fruits of my years-long research into the very depths of everyone's favorite viewing platform.
Each show conforms to these three criteria:
1. It is no longer than five seasons. I'm not asking you to commit yourself to a monster like "Bones" (10 seasons) or "NCIS" (12 seasons). That's a lot of time to put into a show in your free time. Even fan favorites like "The Office" (nine) and "Buffy" (seven) get a bit overwhelming after a while.
2. It displays basic human decency towards its characters. I'm not going to recommend shows that are grossly sexist, racist, transphobic, or give any sort of institutional discrimination a voice. They won't be perfect, because nothing is, but they'll be better than some of the alternatives.
3. I have personally watched and enjoyed it. I'm hardly going to recommend shows I don't have first-hand knowledge of!
So, here are five shows you should be watching right now:
1. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (Three series: 34 hour-long episodes total)
She's bad, she's bold, she's a rich-as-sin flapper in the late 1920s who spends her free time solving murders and flirting with danger (and a revolving cast of handsome men). She's Phryne (fry-nee) Fisher, and I'M IN LOVE WITH HER.
This Australian show, set in Melbourne, hits all the right notes. Phryne is progressive, even by today's standards- the first episode deals with how difficult is was(/is) for women to find safe abortions, and Phryne is absolutely horrified. She also uses a "family planning" device when she sleeps with her flavor-of-the-episode, SCANDALOUS for her day. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see a lady get this much unashamed booty.
The other characters are just as lovable: Bert and Cec, the socialist cabbies; Dot, her adorably-uptight Catholic maid/lady's companion; her best friend Mac, a suit-wearing lady doctor who serves as a medical examiner as well as physician. And, of course, Jack Robinson, the police detective who accompanies Phryne on all her adventures. Their flirtation is going to kill me. KILL ME. This is one of the slowest slow-burns I've ever experienced, and I love every excruciating minute of it. KISS ALREADY.
This show is, I want to emphasize, PROGRESSIVE AS HECK. Despite being set in the Roaring 20s, it handles issues as varied as homosexuality, abortion, mental health, abusive relationships, racism, classism and sexism in a generally graceful and sensitive manner. There are characters of all colors and nationalities, and despite having a mainly white, straight cast, I felt like this show does everything pretty well. There's definitely some serious stereotyping, but in a show as trope-filled as this one, it's not too bad. The show runners are women, and it shows; I've been impressed by nearly every episode.
For campy, murder-filled, fashionable, joyous fun, I strongly recommend "Miss Fisher." The only caveat: the show isn't over, and a fourth series hasn't been confirmed nor denied yet, so it ends on a delicious cliffhanger. If you require perfect resolution, this is perhaps not for you at the moment.
2. Sense8 (One season: 12 hour-long episodes total)
This brainchild of the Wachowskis is as weird and cerebral and interesting as they are, and it's only a 12-hour commitment. You'd better have 12 hours to spare if you decide to watch this, though, because it sucks you right down the rabbit hole.
Basically, the show is about eight people from all over the world, who have never met, who can share their brains. There's no way to say that without it sounding completely off the wall. But each of these eight people are interesting, and you root for all of them as they go about their daily lives, and as those lives begin to crumble as they become aware of their mind-and-body sharing capabilities, you just want to protect them. It gets VERY dark and scary, and the violence is what you'd expect from a Netflix original: completely in your face at times. But the diversity of the characters, and the complexity of the world they inhabit, will keep you with them right to the nail-biting end of the season. (Season two, while in the works, won't be out until next year!)
Not everything is perfect, of course; the characters of color have fairly cliched plotlines based on their country of origin (Kala, from India, is facing pressure to marry a man she doesn't love; Capheus, from Kenya, is struggling to make sure his mother gets her AIDS medication). But you love them and you respect them and the variety of plots, and how they're woven together, is incredible. Also, the trans character is portrayed by a trans actress, there are multiple gay characters, and it's beautiful.
My boyfriend took about 3 episodes to get into "Sense8," while I was hooked by the end of the first; if it doesn't speak to you right away, give yourself some time. Also, there are some serious trigger warnings for things as varied as childbirth, forced institutionalization, abusive relationships and transmisogyny. If you even think you might be affected by something, look into the possibility of it being included in the show. "Sense8" covers a LOT of bases in 12 hours.
3. Leverage (Five seasons: 77 40-minute episodes, about 50 hours total)
Do you love the idea of fighting back against capitalism? Do you enjoy crime, wisecracks, and slow-burn relationships? Then "Leverage" is the show for you!
This team of four criminals and one mastermind is brought together to do a single job, but when their employer double-crosses them, they get back together to get revenge (and get paid). At the end of the first episode, they're all very rich and ready to help others. They're basically a diverse group of Robin Hoods. The plots are varied and fun, there's very minimal sexism/racism/etc, and it's goofy while taking on some serious topics. TWO interracial couples, lots of witty repartee, so much crime.... it's really one of my favorite shows ever.
The plots get pretty wild towards the end of the show, but it's all still fun- except when it's not. It's not a laugh-a-minute when dealing with some of the harder aspects of life: one of the characters carries around guilt for the death of his son, and drinks to forget; another was raised in a series of foster homes and became a criminal to survive. The balance between serious and silly is well-done, though, and it's the kind of show that makes you smile when it's over, because you love the characters so much.
4. Dollhouse (Two seasons: 26 hour-long episodes total)
Like "Sense8," this show can get a little heavy. But this show is an underrated gem, especially for Joss Whedon fans. It centers on the "Dollhouse," an underground business that centers on implanting personalities into people known as "Actives," who are blank slates before and after each time they're sent out. The wealthy essentially rent "dolls" to be their perfect person, whether it be for a romantic evening or a bank heist.
The central plot revolves around Echo, an Active who is becoming, for lack of a better word, sentient. She begins remembering the people she was, bits of personalities and skills, even after her "wipes." There's an interesting B-plot centering around two other Actives, Victor and Sierra, who begin to fall in love when they're not imprinted and manifest their feelings even when they've been given other identities. There's a lot of depth about personhood and identity- who are we? What makes us who we are? The other characters, the non-Actives, have divided opinions on this, and thus the story unfolds.
Whedon fans will see many familiar faces among the cast, as one would expect from the man. Trigger warnings for sex work and violence, as well as mental health issues such as dissociation. It's a fascinating show, and was mostly under-appreciated in its day.
5. Bob's Burgers (Five seasons: 88 20-minute episodes, about 30 hours total)
Frankly, the only reason this show is on this list is to remind you to get caught up on it, because who HASN'T been watching "Bob's Burgers" at this point?
If your answer to that question is "me," I'm here to tell you: Watch. This. Show. "Bob's Burgers" is everything that other animated comedies for adults WISH they could be, because this is the one that's actually funny. It finds humor without resorting to racism, sexism, homophobia or any of the other tired, gross tropes that shows like "Family Guy" rely on for their "humor."
The biggest thing, for me, is that Bob's family really loves each other. The jokes aren't that so-and-so is dumb, is fat, shouldn't try so hard; this family loves and supports one another, even when they don't agree, even if they think the other is being ridiculous. And yes, there is dumb humor. Jokes about butts and puberty are par for the course. But that's all part of the fun! And really, when three of the main characters are children, jokes like that should be expected. But there's also a lot of clever humor, puns with depth and jokes that wink a sly eye at those who catch them.
A diverse cast and wild plot lines keep it from getting boring, and as crazy as it gets, you never stop rooting for the Belchers. This show is truly one of the modern masterpieces of television.
If you decide to watch one of these shows and love it, let me know! Alternatively, if you hate it, feel free to also let me know! Was there a show I criminally neglected to mention? Have a bone to pick? Tweet me @pistolproof and let's have it out!
