It’s been a really cold winter. The past few weeks have been absolutely brutal. I’m about ready to throw in the towel and give up.
Ok, so I’m not really going to give up. But I am going to spend as much time as possible on the couch or curled up in bed watching Netflix.
One of my favorite ways to relax is to kick back and watch a few (or a few hundred) episodes of a great TV show. Thanks to the wonderful goodness of Netflix streaming service, I have access to literally hundreds of TV shows and thousands of movies all available at moment’s notice.
I can’t believe I used to have to drive to Center Home Video to rent this stuff!
Since we are all in the same boat this winter, let’s take a look at some great TV shows that are available for all of us to binge watch on Netflix. I’ll cover some of my favorite shows, some popular shows I haven’t gotten to yet, and some of the goofy stuff my wife loves.
Let’s start with my favorites:
House of Cards
I’ve been a big Kevin Spacey fan since American Beauty. House of Cards is an unbelievable Netflix original series where Spacey plays the brilliant political mastermind Frank Underwood. This is one of the first Netflix original series, and it alone is worth the price of a yearly subscription.
Lost
I thought I was going to hate Lost. I wasn’t a big fan of Cast Away, and the idea of being stranded on a desert island doesn’t really excite me. Much to my surprise, I was hooked right from the first episode. The way the entire series developes the characters’ stories through flashbacks is really smart and interesting.
Breaking Bad
If you haven’t seen Breaking Bad yet, what are you waiting for? I’m starting to think that I’m one of the few people left who has only watched the series once. This is the dark story of a chemistry teacher turned meth cooker and all of the chaos that comes with that transformation.
The Office
One of my favorite comedies of all time. It’s hard not to appreciate the humor of The Office, because most of us experience the same situations in some form at our own jobs. Fans of The Office generally fall into one of two camps. I’m on the side that thinks Jim and Pam are adorable.
The West Wing
This is an older show that I just watched recently. It is extremely well written and the way the characters develop over the seven years, you can’t help but fall in love with all of them. Probably one of the most well-written shows I have ever seen.
Dexter
Speaking of well-written shows, Dexter.
I know, I know. The ending wasn’t great. But every other aspect of this show was awesome. Well worth taking the time to watch. Some of the season-ending cliff hangers will blow your mind.
The Killing
The Killing is the series that I most recently finished. This dark crime drama takes place in Seattle and follows two detectives as they investigate a total of three major cases over four seasons.
Then there are the shows I haven’t gotten around to starting or finishing yet:
Mad Men
I made it through the first season and a half before getting bored with Mad Men. I must be missing something though, because just about everyone else thinks this show is fantastic.
I’ve been told that I’m just not smart enough to grasp the character development….that might be true.
Sons of Anarchy
Sons is another one of those shows that I will probably like once I cross the hurdle of actually sitting down to watch it. The idea of a biker gang just doesn’t do anything for me, but there is a reason everyone is raving about this one.
The Walking Dead
Similar to Sons of Anarchy, I don’t doubt that this is a great show. I just don’t get zombies. Of course, I didn’t get vampires either and I ripped through all of the True Blood seasons, so I will probably get to this one eventually.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
This show is suppsoed to be hysterical. I just can’t seem to find the time to sit down and watch it.
Friday Night Lights
I’ve also heard great things about Friday Night Lights. One of my friends will argue that it is the best show on Netflix. I’m definitely going to get to it….sooner or later.
American Horror Story
I really dig the concept of the same actors playing different characters in a different story each season. The problem is that I’m also really afraid of anything scary. I would love to watch this, but I’m afraid I might not sleep after.
Then there are the shows my wife loved:
Gilmore Girls
What can I say….we are a family that loves Lorelai and Rory. With tons of seasons available, you can spend a long time catching up or rewatching all of the Gilmore Girls episodes.
Orange is the New Black
Another Netflix original series, Orange is the New Black is definitely worth watching!
Grey’s Anatomy
I can’t tell you how many times I have come home from work to find another tragedy in progress at Seattle Grace. This is one of Susan’s all-time favorites
Scandal
This is one of her more recent additions. Lots of interesting twists and turns in this unique story.
Alright, so what did I miss?
What are some of your favorite shows to watch on Netflix?
