I first jumped on the Netflix train a year or two ago and have been OBSESSED ever since.
It started first with "American Horror Story" and then later I got into my ultimate favorite television series, tying for first with "Pretty Little Liars" (which is also available on Netflix)...
1. "Gossip Girl"
Girly - Drama - Comedy - Romance
Where do I begin? The show was at its peak of popularity when I was going through middle school and high school; with its theme of focusing on the lives of The Upper East Side in New York, I can definitely see why it appealed to my peers. And if it wasn't the allure of the young and wealthy, it was the appearance of the characters--Chuck Bass, I'm still waiting. "Gossip Girl" has the makings of the perfect rom com drama and it gets more interesting as you go because you see the scandals unfold, try to figure out who's behind "Gossip Girl," the relationships, the celebrity cameos, Blair's spot-on and sometimes surprising wisdom, the fashion, ...the list goes on and on. Seriously, watch this now--this is one of those series I binged watched till 2-3 a.m. in the morning, craving for more.
If you like this check out:
" Gilmore Girls"
"One Tree Hill"
"90210"
2. "Bates Motel"
Drama - Mystery - Thriller
"Bates Motel" is inspired by classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller film, "Psycho." It's a look into the early beginnings of Norman Bates. "Bates Motel" is like "Gossip Girl" in that it's easy to get hooked on and you're just constantly dying to dive further into the story and see what happens next. The lead, Freddie Highmore who plays Norman, does an outstanding job of playing this guarded yet timid character. At first, you slowly see his dark side and it's interesting to see the relationship he has with his mother, his brother, his best friend and all the others who cross his path.
3. "Criminal Minds"
Drama - Mystery - Crime Thriller
Honestly, I don't know how I didn't get into this show sooner... it reminds me a lot of "CSI" and follows the characters' lives, not just the crime investigations. Plus, who doesn't love watching completely different personalities work together to analyze, well, criminal minds? If it's not the investigations you'll enjoy trying to figure out, it'll be the banter between FBI agents Dr. Spencer Reid, Derek Morgan, & Garcia.
4. "New Girl"
Girly - Comedy
...Hey girl, whatcha doing?
"New Girl" is the bessssst! Jess (Zooey Deschanel) is a single elementary school teacher and moves into a loft with 3 male roommates--Nick, Schmidt occasionally "Coach", and Winston. It's fun watching how Jess just commands her new living arrangement and bonds with the boys and you get to see all the crazy adventures she goes on, her unique and colorful sense of style and an overall modern-day Disney Princess who occasionally drinks-style. Jess is your ultimate girl's girl but can easily be one of the boys too. (The cast is featured in the cover photo!)
5. "Parks and Recreation"
Sitcom
Parks and Rec is one of the funniest series I've seen by far! Star-studded with actors/actresses such as Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Aziz Ansari and more, it's truly a feel-good show. Not to mention, Ron Swanson's (Nick Offerman) facial expressions are enough to keep you rolling for hours!
If you like this, check out:
"Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
"Shameless"
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"
6. "The Fall" (a Netflix original series)
Mystery - Thriller
"The Fall" is an Irish crime drama that features "X-Files" cast member, Gillian Anderson alongside Jamie Dornan who is known from his "50 Shades of Grey" role. It follows Dornan's character (Paul) who seems to take pleasure committing sexual crimesm resulting in death, similar to a rape, essentially.(Stay with me). He's a serial killer, we learn, and Anderson's character (Stella) is the agent assigned to his case to help catch and stop him. All I'm gonna say is there're unexpected twists. If you're into crime shows and mystery thrillers, "The Fall" is for you.
If you like this, check out: "The Following"
As far as noteworthy shows to catch or ones that might've floated under your radar, I consulted my Netflix Guru/dear friend, Callie Arnold for some other can't-miss titles:
7. "Jessica Jones"/"Dare Devil"/"Luke Cage" (they all connect)
Action/Adventure
If you're into bad ass super hero thrills and maybe some romance but with lots of excellent fight scenes, watch as these heroes and heroines stories unfold.
8. "Stranger Things"
Thriller - Romance - Mystery - Sci-Fi
If I had to assume, this was probably Netflix's top most talked about original series of the past year. Set in the 80's, "Stranger Things" features actors/actresses, old and new, and has a Goonies meets Stephen King vibe. It kinda starts slow at first but once you get to the 4th or 5th episode it picks up and you're on the edge of your seat awaiting the fate of "11" and her friends and everyone else around her.
9. "Skins"
Drama - Comedy
Not to be mistaken with the American version that was on MTV from years ago. What I've heard about it reminds me of a more PG-13 version of the original "Degrassi." Set in Bristol, England, it's centered around the lives of a group of teenagers.
10. "Peaky Blinders"
Adventure - Thriller
Another British television series about gangsters located in the streets of post-war Birmingham during the early 1900s. From what I've been told it features some pretty FINNNNNE gentleman (i.e. Tom Hardy).
If you're looking for something different and interesting to watch on Netflix, get cozy in bed/on the couch, or do like I do on most of my work lunch hours and go find a hiding spot to watch these and other AWESOME TV series--one of the best ways to bond with friends, new and old, your family, or co-workers is with your entertainment interests! And with a new year dawning, that means even more series premieres and season renewals!
Hopefully, I've given you a few reasons to stay in and keep warm! :)
