Girls Night? Relationship just ended? Dinner with the Family…. Grab a glass of wine and lets find a show…

Laughing Through My Tears

Grace and Frankie 

Need a mood enhancer that doesn’t come in a shiny pink pill? Looking for a show that packs a punch on the emotional level while characters also find their way through the turmoil by using hilarious comparisons and witty banter? Then this is your show. Where the main characters are two completely different women in their 70’s but seem to jibe with the times. One goes on frequent vision quests, while the other is often seen with a martini and a bottle of vodka.  It’s a favorite of my girlfriends and I; even my grandma loves it. Most guys won’t be crazy about it though, which is why I encourage it to be a “girls night” or “trying to be single again” show. Caution: It’s binge worthy so don’t go making commitments to friends to only watch it together. Currently there are 4 seasons on Netflix while a 5th is coming soon.

Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Proud of the #MeToo movement, but also enjoy stand up comedy? Then Mrs. Maisel is here to contribute. She’s a struggling artist from the upper west side in the 1950’s facing many problems that 2018 women are, and voicing concerns that most have us have. However her feminist empowerment is dripping in comedic gold.  This show has few downs and lots of ups. It’s the perfect show for right after your man walks away, but still worthy of family night too. My brother and I binged it together. Right now there is one season with 8 episodes on amazon Prime, while the second season is promised to make an appearance in 2019. 

New Girl

Paying for student loans? Living with 4 other people sharing one bathroom because rent’s too high everywhere else? Sitting at your desk everyday wondering what other jobs you could or should be at? But you want to laugh about it? Then New Girl is for you. Boy or Girl, everyone in this show has their own struggle that they hide until it blows up in the living room of their apartment (which is is also doubling as a bedroom for another roomate that the landlord doesn’t know of so they can all make rent). Or they hash it out in their car that breaks down every other episode. Regardless, its a show that identifies with every person who is trying to get their life together after school. You can find all seven seasons on Hulu, and 6 of them on Netflix.

Family Night

The Santa Clarita Diet

Having doubts about marriage? Wondering what would happen in a zombie apocalypse? Surrounded by family wishing there was a show that encapsulates this? Well here is the Santa Clarita Diet. I lied about the zombie apocalypse though. This show takes a different approach on the pop culture phenomenon, while also packing a laugh. It’s perfect for those nights that you find yourself in the living room of your childhood home with a glass of wine and wanting some entertainment other then the gossip being passed around. The episodes are also short and sweet which is perfect when you don’t want family night to take up the whole night. There are two seasons on Netflix, and the third being filmed now.

VEEP

Is your Thanksgiving dinner served with a side of political arguments? Do you think its rubbish? Then watch VEEP. It’s a political satire that has very little to do about politics and more about what other adjectives can POTUS stand for. If your mother hates swear words, I wouldn’t suggest it, but if your house is a little more progressive it’s a must see. Currently there are six seasons on HBO.

Malcolm in the Middle

Have middle schoolers and teenagers? Are they constantly arguing over the remote before dinner? Are you completely confused on what should and shouldn’t be ok for your kids now-a-days? Well try Malcolm in the Middle.  An oldie but goldie, and perfect for the families that don’t want too much cussing or reference to reproductive organs. It’s adult moments are subtle enough for children not to comprehend, while the children moments are relatable and funny to all. Again it’s one of those shows that has only 30-minute episodes, which fall perfectly into the slots allotted to children before bedtime and the parents before they turn on Mad Men. All 7 seasons are currently on Hulu.

I like Bad Asses

West World

I watched this show as a result of a break-up, and I have to tell you, it definitely took my mind off things. This show is thrilling, encapsulating, and really makes you ponder the lengths we, as humans, will go to have fun. It’s also very female dominated, which is a twist for a virtual reality future. Unfortunately I can’t give too much away with this one, but sit down and get ready for a show full of character development as well as occasionally predictable plot twists (in a good way).

Sons of Anarchy 

Do you hate biker gangs but also love good looking guys walking around dripping authority? Then Sons of Anarchy is the show where you can let that issue wrestle itself to the ground. Spoiler Alert: the hot guys with authority win. This show encapsulates it all for boy and girl alike. You have the intelligent girl thrown into the world of bad boys. You have the bad girl ruling this world from the side lines. There’s the heir to the throne who has to morally wrestle his own demons, and his loyal crew who hangs on his every move. It’s a world you would only want to live in vicariously, and now there are 7 seasons available on Netflix to do so ( I also couldn’t finish this one… on account of the fact I was too emotionally invested).

Vikings 

Intersted in Norse mythology? Also want to watch someone who looks and acts like Conor McGregor become a viking legend in the year 1000? Well the irishman has a few shortcomings compared to this viking, who not only takes what he wants but also has a wife whose a complete bad ass. The show is completely devoted to its characters and their life struggles but I warn audiences to be ready for a little mix of magical involvement… I mean it was the year 1000. There is currently 5 seasons on Hulu with a promise of a 6th.

Why Am I Interested in Serial Killers?

It has to be said, because we are all weirdly interested in these psychopaths getting away with murder and have no idea why.

Don’t believe me? Check out the slowly building array of serial killer shows on multiple streaming outlets… Actually, let’s talk about the best ones…

 

Dexter 

Personally I couldn’t finish this show because it kept me on the edge of my seat too much and I felt like I had to take a Prozac before I started binging… But that’s my experience and as a precursor, I LOVE this show. It’s a unique spin on the term “serial killer” where you are actually rooting for the person who has no emotions and gets a thrill out of stalking homosapains and killing them. Granted that the people he’s killing are bad guys who slipped through our justice system on technicalities and weak prosecutors. There are 8 seasons on Netflix with the main character (featured above) actually flirting with a reboot… but like everything about else about this show, theres no promising anything.

Mindhunter 

Ever wonder how the BAU became an actual component of the FBI? Who came up with the term “Serial Killer”, and who braved the stigma of it in order to raise federal, judiciary, and public awareness of the fact that these people were out there and they needed to be addressed and studied before they were ever going to be caught. Well Mindhunter is your show. It goes through the complete beginnings of BAU and what these agents had to deal with in order to establish a unit that actually embraced serial killers and their abilities, as well as their shortcomings. Don’t expect any laughs from this one, but plenty of questions answered on the still shadowy subjects of  psychopaths. Currently there is just one season on Netflix.

Unabomber 

Though Ted Kaczynski isn’t the traditional serial killer, he’s definitely mentioned in the same sentence of BTK and Zodiak. For us 90’s babies, he’s someone to acknowledge because of the fact that our parents had to live with the ever present threat of a package being delivered to them full of home-made explosives. Something that today would make us all sick with anxiety when we looked at our amazon prime orders. Though this show really explores the in and outs of the Unabomber’s life, as well as the 17-year manhunt that resulted in his capture, it’s distinguishable on its ability to emotionalize both Theodore Kaczynski as well as his over zealous BAU agent, and demonstrate just how close the justice system was to failing at his imprisonment. Again not a show for laughs, but rather one for contemplation on American society then, and today. There is one season available on Netflix.

 

Because they are just good… 

These few underrated TV shows are just good, and if anything they need to have an honorable mention because they don’t fit into any of the above categories.

Norsemen 

Under the previously mentioned Vikings, I’d like to bring up the satire version of “Norsemen”. It’s one of those dry humor shows, that will really appeal to a particular group of people; but I love it. Its has millennial humor with a side of intellectual vibrations. For most people I’d say it’s a nice show for a Sunday night binge. Currently there are two seasons on Netflix

Extras

I dont know if this show got a shine in the limelight at one point during the 90’s and everyone just forgot, or if it was only whispered between a few people, but it’s amazing. I’ve never seen a show that rotates celebrities like a kitchen cabinet rotates spices; while still bringing the main characters ploys our level. Not to mention it has the comedy of Ricky Gervais, so it’s dry with very little morality, but somehow reaches into your heart and makes it grow 3X the normal size. There are two seasons on Netflix, and I’m personally writing him to have a reboot of this lovable classic.

Brooklyn 99 

This is actually one of my brother’s favorite shows that he made me watch the other day and I thought it was worth mentioning. While only watching a few episodes myself, I’d say it’s an “Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “New Girl” mash up. Difference being its about maintaining the law in a goofy way; which always feels like the loosening of a leash to me.

 

Thats it for today. There will probably be an extension of this post in the coming weeks/ months. Honestly there are too many good shows to post at once. As always if you have any suggestions/ comments/ questions feel free to contact me. As for right now, I’m just leaving this here.

Cheers.