Sub-zero temperatures, break-ups, cold and flu season, spending time with family, blizzards, people talking about sports: these are all reasons to abandon society, lock yourself in your room, and binge on as many shows as you can find on Netflix. Luckily, I have done this already and painstakingly compiled a list of the ten best shows currently streaming on Netflix. I left out big ones like: Twin Peaks, 30 Rock, and Arrested Development, because duh, we’ve all seen them. Maybe you’ve seen the shows on my list, too, but whatever — I’m not some witch who can just conjure up amazing shows no one has ever seen and suddenly make them available to stream on Netflix. But if I were, Netflix would definitely startnasa streaming Daria.
1. Luther
Everyone loves Law and Order: SVU, despite the fact that it is the most formulaic show ever made. In fact, each episode follows the exact same arc. But for whatever reason, either the formula itself or our own voyeuristic love of weird deaths and perverts getting busted, the show is fantastic. I’ve binged on it for years. But what if there was another show like it, only better? What if every episode of Law and Order felt like a really good, dark film? Sort of like Se7en. A show that has great acting, a really cool lead, and incredible writing. Well, then you would have Luther, starring Idris Elba, A.K.A. the coolest person on the planet. Luther is a British crime show that follows DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) John Luther as he hunts down London’s most depraved criminals. It’s streaming on Netflix and you need to watch it, like yesterday.
2. Peaky Blinders
A friend of mine recently complained that Peaky Blinders‘ set design didn’t look realistic, nor did the accents sound authentic, and that he subsequently did not like the show. I quickly, and thoroughly, explained to him how he was wrong about all of his complaints. Peaky Blinders is a newish (two seasons in) BBC period show about an Irish gang in Birmingham, England, just after WWI. The show stars Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, The Wind That Shakes The Barley) as head of a gang called, “The Peaky Blinders.” So named as they keep razor blades in the brim of their paper boy caps and use them to slice the face and eyes of opponents during fights. This is another show that feels like a well-made film. It has that cinematic, HBO-quality that great shows have. I won’t give it away because it’s a nice surprise, but season two introduces a new character, who is currently one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. If you don’t like Downton Abbey, yet really want to see a period piece that is smart, well-written, well-acted, cool, uber violent, and rad, check out, Peaky Blinders.
3. Archer
Easily the best cartoon around, Archer, is a blend of James Bond, Gob from Arrested Development, and Coach McGuirk from Home Movies (which makes sense because Archer and McGuirk are both played by the same the voice actor, H. Jon Benjamin). Archer is the self proclaimed, “World’s Greatest Secret Agent.” While his proclamation may be true, he is also an alcoholic philanderer who’s been mentally handicapped by his boss and over-bearing mother Malory Archer (voiced by Jessica Walter, best known to me and my ilk as the Lucille Bluth from Arrested Development), who serves as the head of the spy organization ISIS (yeah, they had the name first). It is a brilliantly hilarious show.
4. Gilmore Girls
We were all absolutely devastated by the recent passing of Edward Herrmann (for real), who played Richard Gilmore, grandfather of the show’s principal character, Rory Gilmore. I always strove to match his character’s good-natured pomposity and will continue to do so, in his honor. I only ever watched Gilmore Girls after a girl I was dating forced me to watch it regularly. Of course I quickly found myself hooked, only to forget the show after we broke up. Luckily, it has been rediscovered now that it’s streaming on Netflix.
5. Black Mirror
Hailed by someone I cannot remember as “a modern Twilight Zone but really fucked up and totally cray,” Black Mirror is a depressing, hypnotizing train wreck, one you can’t turn away from. The show takes on the darker side of the future (one I hope we never see), where technology has gone all kinds of wrong. It’s engaging, terrifying, and wonderfully written — an instant classic.
6. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
The most underrated show ever made. I really don’t get why this show is not more popular. It’s buried on a channel called FXX , but it’s streaming on Netflix. It follows a group of self-diluted alcoholics who own a bar in Philadelphia. I don’t know how to explain it other than saying it is maybe the funniest show ever made.
7. An Idiot Abroad
This show is the reason reality television ever came about. Yes, An Idiot Abroad is why we had to suffer through America Idol and countless others. Otherwise, Ricky Gervais may have never taken his weird friend who hates people and leaving home and made him uncomfortably travel the world, as a camera crew follows. Just watch it, seriously.
8. Peep Show
The first time I saw Peep Show, I was at a friend’s place a few years back. We were sitting around and he asked if I felt like watching it. I replied, “What’s Peep Show?” To which he pompously retorted, “You’ve never seen Peep Show?” Don’t you hate when people do that? Anyway, Peep Show is brilliant. Another great show to thank the UK for.
9. The Killing
The Killing is a dark, rainy thriller that will steal a few of your days without you even noticing. It’s engaging and amazing, like Twin Peaks without the acid trip. Which is in no way saying that it is as good as Twin Peaks, because nothing is — nothing. But it has a similar story and creepy aesthetic. Definitely give it a shot.
10. The Venture Bros.
This was my favorite show ever when it was still running on Adult Swim. The Venture Bros. follows Dr. Venture, a Jonny Quest like kid (I always loved Jonny Quest reruns on Cartoon Network), now grown up, who doesn’t really give a shit anymore and has a weird life and does drugs. It’s superb!
Article by Timothy White. Find him on Twitter @TipToTheHip
