Lifestyles

iRate: 15 shows to watch on Netflix

By JASON GUYER
By Jason Guyer

Straight off, I urge you to please consider supporting our local movie theaters as, like most businesses, the industry has been heavily impacted by the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. Also, by the printing of this column the movie theaters have reopened for business.

Personally, I cannot wait to sit in the theater and watch a film again.

Now, there still is not much playing right now except films that have already been in theaters. I am looking forward to enjoying “Ghostbusters” in the theater as I was too young when it was first released. Just remember: wear a mask and follow the theater’s policies regarding public safety amid the pandemic.

For now, though, here is what will hopefully be one of my final lists for a while, as I hope we get into a groove and films start to come back to theaters.

This is a list of shows to check out on Netflix.

Some are popular and some may be under the radar to the majority of people. I also tried to leave off ones I would have already listed at a previous point.

You know, the shows everyone already knows are good. Shows like “Breaking Bad” or “13 Reasons Why,” but I like to give shout-outs to lesser-known shows whenever I have the chance.

Without further adieu, here are 15 of my favorite shows currently on Netflix.

1. Patriot Act — Hasan Minhaj, a former “The Daily Show” correspondent and Peabody Award-winning comic, explores the modern cultural and political landscape with depth and sincerity. In each weekly episode, he uses his unique comedic voice and storytelling skill to investigate the larger trends shaping the fragmented world. Minhaj covers ranging topics that every person should be aware of, especially voters. In the hyper politicized world that is 2020, “Patriot Act” is my favorite show on television.

2. Pose — A dance musical that explores the differences of several segments of life and society in New York in 1980. Blanca forms a ‘house’, and a ‘house’ is a self-selected family that provides support to LGBTQ youth who have been rejected by their birth families. Damon is a dancer who joins Blanca’s house and together, they compete in the balls. A ball is where house members challenge each other in various categories and are judged on their outfits, attitude, or dance skills. “Pose” is one of the most underrated shows around and as good a watch as Breaking Bad or Stranger Things.

3. Unbelievable — Starring Kaitlyn Dever as a teen who reports being raped and then recants her story out of judgement and fear. However, two female detectives follow evidence that starts to reveal the truth and that the teen was telling the truth and was roundly ignored or not taken seriously. “Unbelievable” is based on a true story and Dever gives one of the best performances that viewers could ask for.

4. Peaky Blinders — In 1919 after the Great War, returning soldiers, newly minted revolutions and criminal gangs are fighting for survival in a nation rocked by economic turmoil. One of the most powerful gangs of the time is the Peaky Blinders. Thomas Shelby and his family run the Peaky Blinders. However, Thomas has bigger ambitions than just running the streets. Cillian Murphy is just wonderful in “Peaky Blinders.”

5. Tales of the City — Mary Ann returns to San Francisco and is reunited with her daughter, Shawna. Along with her ex-husband Brian, 20 years after leaving both of them to pursue her career. Mary Ann is quickly drawn back in by Anna Madrigal and her chosen family, queer young residents of 28 Barbary Lane. A boardinghouse-turned-apartment complex that is owned by Anna. A sequel to the 1993 miniseries and is inspired by the “Tales of the City” book series by Armistead Maupin.

6. The End of the F***ing World — The show is based on the comic book series by Charles Forsman. When two 17-year-old outsiders, James and Alyssa, embark on a road trip to find her estranged father James, who is convinced he’s a psychopath, has decided it’s time to graduate from killing animals to something bigger.He already has a target in mind. Alyssa doesn’t fit in at her new school despite being quite popular or at least she feels that way. Together, they get caught up on a trail of violent events. “The End of the F***ing World” is simply one of the best shows on Netflix.

7. iZombie — Medical resident Liv Moore attends a party that turns into a zombie feeding frenzy. After which, she ends up joining the ranks of the living dead but she is determined to pass as human despite her pale appearance. Liv forms a plan to resist her drive to consume fresh human brains by taking a job at a coroner’s office, thinking this is where she can secretly snack on the brains of corpses. She soon discovers that she absorbs the memories of those she feeds on. Rose McIver is fantastic playing all the different roles the show provides through its story format.

8. The Flash — Barry Allen’s life changed completely when his mother died in a freak accident and his innocent father was convicted of her murder at 11 years old. Adult Barry becomes a crime-scene investigator and his dedication to learn the truth about his mother’s death drives him to follow up on every new scientific advancements. When a particle accelerator heralded causes an explosion, it creates a freak storm that causes Barryto be struck by lightning. When he awakes from a coma nine months he has the power of superspeed. Grant Gustin is delightfully charming as Barry Allen and that makes this superhero show one of the best around.

9. 13th — Ava DuVernay explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation’s prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans.

10. Bobby Kennedy for President — Robert “Bobby” Kennedy led a political career that included serving as attorney general during the presidential administration of his brother but he had greater ambitions. Those ambitions included running for president with a campaign that lasted only 83 days before he was assassinated in Los Angeles in June 1968. “Bobby Kennedy for President” is one of the best documentaries I have seen and it explores one of this nations biggest tragedies.

11. Spinning Out — Kat Baker, a figure skating Olympic hopeful struggles to balance family, love and her fragile mental health as her dream of winning takes a dizzying hold on her life. Kaya Scodelario shines in this role, even when the show can’t keep up with her.

12. Supergirl — Kara Zor-El escapes doom on planet Krypton to find protection on Earth with the Danver family. Kara grows up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex, and learns to hide the extraordinary powers she shares with her cousin, Superman. As an adult living in National City who works for media mogul Cat Grant, Kara finds her days of keeping her abilities a secret are over. “Supergirl” stars Melissa Benoist who is fantastic as Kara Zor-el and “Supergirl” also gives us one of the greatest television characters in recent memory, Nia Nal.

13. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina — This adaptation of the “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” tale is not at all like the 90’s version. This one is a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror and the occult.Sabrina Spellman wrestles to reconcile her dual nature of half-witch and half-mortal, all while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family. Kiernan Shipka makes the role of Sabrina her own and overshadows Melissa Joan-Hart.

14. The 4400 — When what appears to be a comet slows then hovers and stops but then bursts forth to reveal 4,400 people who were presumed dead or missing over the past 50 years. However, they look exactly the same as the moment they disappeared and yet now some of the returnees now have special powers. A special division of the Homeland Security Department is formed to monitor them. One of my favorite and underated shows that finally found a streaming home on Netflix.

15. Mindhunter — Oscar-nominated director David Fincher created this show about catching a criminal by getting inside the villain’s mind to figure out how he thinks. FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench attempt to understand and catch serial killers by doing just that, studying their damaged psyches and getting in their minds. The agents pioneer the development of modern serial-killer profiling. I am not sure there is much more to say about “Mindhunter” than it’s David Fincher.

Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the graphics department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected].

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