A couple months ago I made a list of great shows on Netflix instant watch to sit down with a bag of cheesy poofs and waste a weekend with. It has been 8 months since I wrote that article and the landscape of Netflix has changed. Some shows have been removed and others have been added. So I thought it would be a good idea to fill the Modern Thrill readers in on some not-so-hidden gems that have graced my computer screen during the first half of 2013.
House of Cards
The first successful Netflix original series (Lilyhammer was good but failed to generate buzz) stars Kevin Spacey as manipulative congressman Francis Underwood. The series has garnered both critical acclaim and massive viewership with good reason. House of Cards even snagged nine Emmy nominations including Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and Lead Actress in a Drama Series. I honestly believe that the show has a good shot at picking up the Outstanding Drama Series award. The first couple episodes of the series are a little rocky and I’m not a huge fan of “breaking the fourth wall” but once the characters hit their stride the series really picks up. Corey Stoll, who was surprisingly snubbed at the Emmy’s, gives a brilliant performance as the drug addled Congressman Peter Russo. If you like The West Wing and The Sopranos then you will definitely be a fan of House of Cards.
Orange is the New Black
Netflix is on a roll with their original series (except for Hemlock Grove, we don’t talk about Hemlock Grove). Orange is The New Black premiered in early July and I was hooked following the first episode. Orange is based on a memoir of the same name written by Piper Kerman and tells the story of a woman imprisoned for transporting drug money ten years prior. Both hilarious and heartbreaking the show features a strong cast of nearly all female actors. Orange touches on divisive issues such as race, sexuality, love and abuse.
Downton Abbey
I had heard about this for years but never watched it because I assumed it would be stuffy and uninteresting. I was wrong. I actually posted on my Facebook page that I was hooked and I received 20 likes from my friends, all were female. That being said Downton has its fair share of drama and scandal if you can muscle through the pilot episode you’ll know what I’m talking about. The other great aspect of the show is the sheer scope. The first three seasons cover nearly 20 years of time including the first world war. Much like Mad Men, Downton’s plot relies heavily on class struggle, gender roles, and the importance of reputation. Its an incredible show that requires a little a patience.
Sherlock and Copper
Both produced by BBC Sherlock and Copper have both received rave reviews from my friends. I have yet to watch either as I just went on a three week long Sopranos binge but here are the footnotes. Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek: Into Darkness) and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) as modern day incarnations of the classic detective duo Sherlock and Watson. Copper follows the adventures of Tom Weston-Jones an Irish-Immigrant police officer in 1860’s New York City. Now that I have finished The Sopranos these are the next two on my list of time killing TV shows.
