There are so many choices when it comes to television watching these days. Since we don’t have cable, we use Netflix and Hulu for our TV binge sessions and they have some amazing original series. Here’s what I’ve been watching, both new and old favorites – now with GIFs!
The Handmaid’s Tale
Amazing book, even better television – this story was begging to be told visually. I know there was a movie (mid-90’s) which I never saw, but have heard mixed reviews. If you’ve seen the movie, let me know what you think. I’m enjoying this series so much, although enjoying is a hard word to use considering the subject matter. The thing I think I like best about this Hulu original is the way they use music to help set the mood. I couldn’t find a YouTube clip of the protest scene, but it uses Blondie’s Heart of Glass and it was chilling!
Harlots
Another new show on Hulu, this bawdy tale of rival whore houses in 1760’s London seems like an odd concept, but it has been written and produced by women and has almost an all-woman cast that uses the English language with such vigor, it’s almost like watching Shakespeare. The costumes are beautiful, the scenery is luscious, and the storyline is binge-worthy times 10.
Jane The Virgin
I just started this one, an older show on Netflix, but already I can tell it’s going to be good. A young very Catholic virgin accidentally inseminated (would that really happen?) has to deal with the consequences. I love the Spanish novella feel to this show, and the main character, Jane, is spunky and although very different from me, she feels like someone I can empathize with and feel for and what more do you want from your title character?
Bones
This show snuck up on me, my parents were watching it while I was there over my son’s Spring Break and I just fell in love with the characters. Bones, Booth, Angela, Hodgins, Sweets (sad), Cam, and all of the interns. My son even likes this show, so much that my Mom bought him his own Skeleton puzzle so he can pretend he works at the Bone Factory (what he calls the lab) – I’m either raising a future Forensic Anthropologist or a serial killer. Yikes. I’ve seen all but the last season because Hulu took the episodes off before I could watch them, so I’ll need to wait until Netflix has them to see how it all turns out. I know there will be tears though.
Supernatural
Ah, the good old Winchester boys! This show has been on the air for…what…14 seasons? But we started a while ago on Netflix so we (and by we, I mean me and my husband) are only on season 11 – Dean just came back from Purgatory, Sam wants to leave the family business, and there are ghouls, ghosts, and demons abound. I love it so much – it also doesn’t hurt that the brothers are extremely good looking and funny.
Marvel on Netflix
We just finished Iron Fist – which was boring, I’ll be honest, but I adored the first season of Daredevil (the 2nd season not so much), LOVED Jessica Jones, and really liked Luke Cage. I also can’t wait for the Defenders series – I’m hoping I’ll like the Iron Fist guy better in an ensemble-type show because I really did not like his character on his own show – whiny, bitter, guilt-ridden – not my type of superhero. I’m also really looking forward to Jessica Jones’ season 2, although it won’t have David Tennent as the Purple Man, I’m going to assume all of her villains will be fun to watch. Thank you Netflix for your partnership with Marvel, may it be long and fruitful.
How I Met Your Mother
I just rewatched this entire series on Netflix and thought I’d mention it. I still don’t like the overall concept that Ted is telling these stories to his teenage kids in the future, but I do like the back and forward storytelling, the use of themes and concepts that last throughout the whole series, and the characters are fun and relatable (for the most part).
Gilmore Girls
My girls. When the 4 new episodes came out on Netflix, I binged on the original series twice. I wasn’t a huge fan of the new shows (although I enjoyed parts – SPOILERS – like Luke and Lorelei’s wedding, and seeing everyone in Stars Hollow again – like Kurt!) but I really love the original show. I didn’t watch this when it was on the first time, I started with DVDs and reruns and then when it appeared on Netflix I binged it way back then. It has some very teary moments, some great laugh out loud moments, and I really love Lauren Graham (who is stunning in real life BTW).
Okay…so I apparently have a TV problem, but oh well! So what have you been binge watching lately? Tell me what’s good and what I should look out for when I’m done with Jane the Virgin, Harlots, and Handmaid’s Tale. And, as you can tell, I watch a lot of different genres, styles, and subject matters so throw all your ideas at me!
Category: Television
You forgot to mention Amazon Prime. They have good programming too. Like Orphan Black. I would have thought you'd include Orange is the New Black. You've binged the crap out of that show.
I've enjoyed binging with you. We had fun watching The West Wing.
I did forget Orphan Black and Orange is the New Black…probably because I binged those so long ago. Also, the new season of OINTB hasn't come out yet. Binge watching is really the best thing ever!