The internet is filled with ways to navigate 2020. When you aren't exercising (yes, I've seen your IG story), soaking up the sun (while wearing sunscreen, of course), attempting to cook gourmet meals, exploring new Uber Eats take-out options when you burn that "gourmet meal"and joining another (oh god, not another) Zoom "Happy Hour", you are probably watching T.V. If you are like us, escaping to another world for a moment or learning something new fills you with just a little bit more happy #findinghappyfull Grab your favorite facial (or foot) mask, cuddle on the couch and get hooked on one or more of these fantastic Netflix shows. Let the endless scrolling through Netflix shows be a thing of a pre-pandemic past!
Comedy/Drama/Romance:
Sex Education: Season 1 & 2 (British) - The teenage years can be rough, especially when it comes to love and sex...and when your mom is a sex therapist. So why not start an unofficial sex therapy clinic at school?! Smart. Witty. Hilarious. Awkward. Sweet. Can't say enough good things about this show. Just watch it :)
Atypical: Season 1, 2 & 3 - Just a lovely mix of everything...seeing the world through the eyes of a teenager on the autism spectrum including love, sex, friends, school, family and more. All the characters are just great. The drama includes the usual scenarios with the addition of unexpected plot twists. Feel-good show with teenage nostalgia.
Dead to Me*: Season 1 & 2 - Perfect balance of drama/mystery and best-friends comedy. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are fantastic. You'll want to binge it but try to enjoy every episode. Thank goodness Netflix has renewed it for a 3rd and, sadly, last season.
Workin’ Moms: Season 1-4 (Canadian) - Funny. A little awkward. Risque at times. I am not a parent, so I can't speak to how new mom's will feel about it... but I thought it was hilarious.
You*: Season 1 & 2 - Penn Badgley from Gossip Girls is back as Joe, but this time he's "Lonely Boy" with a romantic thriller twist. Binge-worthy!
Wanderlust: Limited Series (British) - Marriage trouble for a sex therapist...and let the drama unfold. Witty, romantic, uncomfortable at times and bittersweet.
The Hookup Plan: Season 1 & 2 (French with subtitles) Cute best-friends comedy with a perfect amount of drama and romance. When a plan to setup a friend with a male escort goes too far...
Girl from Impanema (aka Most Beautiful Thing): Season 1 & 2 (Brazilian with subtitles) Get transported back to the 1950s in Brazil. Enjoy the Bossa Nova music (now an essential part of my weekly playlists). Experience the drama, comedy and romance that comes with a women creating a new life in Rio de Janeiro.
Hollywood: Limited Series Romance. Drama. Hollywood. What's not to love?! See this post-WWII LA from a different perspective and a twist.
Comedy
Parks & Recreation: Season 1-7: If you haven't seen this show, just watch it. Binge the first season and know that it only gets SO much better. They were still figuring out...how to be like The Office but NOT be the Office. After season 1, just savor the rest of the seasons. The characters are so lovable and funny. Leslie Knope for president!
Community: Season 1-6: If you didn't get a chance to watch it on NBC, Yahoo! Screen (yes, that was a real thing) or Hulu, now you have your chance on Netflix. It has a cult following for a reason: so underrated -- smart, self-aware and easy to watch. Bonus: the hilarious Donald Glover before Childish Gambino and Atlanta is amazing on this show.
Great News: Season 1 & 2: Underrated workplace comedy. Tina Fey is one of the executive producers (need I say more?).
Big Mouth: Season 1-3: Animated and funny. Puberty is awkward. Hormones make middle school boys and girls crazy. Voice actors are amazing, including John Mulaney, Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph and Jordan Peele.
Space Force: Season 1: Did you miss Michael Scott? It will give you the nostalgia of the Office seeing Steve Carrell in every episode but the show's tone and plot are totally it's own. John Malkovich is hilarious and just perfect for the role of the scientist Dr. Adrian Mallory.
Drama/Suspense/Thriller*
The Sinner: Season 1 & 2 If you like the mystery of True Detective and no-cliff hangers at the end of a season (because each season is like a separate miniseries), this is a must-watch. To avoid spoilers, I'm going to leave it there.
Unorthodox: Limited Series Based loosely on a true story following the life of a young orthodox jewish woman from NYC. Feels like a documentary at times because the acting is so real.
Ozark: Season 1- 3 Jason Bateman in a drama initially just seems wrong but after just a few episodes you'll completely change your mind. Laura Linney is wonderful as well. The characters, plot and cinematography are great. If you liked Breaking Bad, this is right up your alley.
Learn Something New: Docuseries, Cooking & More
When They See Us: Limited Series Be prepared for an emotional, gut-wrenching depiction of the true story about the "Central Park Jogger"case and the falsely-accused and imprisoned teenagers. Another powerful piece by the filmmaker Ava DuVernay.
Explained: Season 1 & 2 Learn something new...from cults to billionaires to the future of meat. There is something for everyone.
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 1- 6 Dives deep into a variety of subjects including culture, politics and the environment but with a little sprinkle of humor.
Connected: Season 1 Definitely the most underrated on this list. Science journalist Latif Nasser explores so many ways in which the world is connected, from clouds in the sky to the cloud that holds all our data. Well-done educational and very entertaining show.
Salt Acid Fat Heat by Samin Nosrat: Limited Series Cooking time! Samin Nosrat seems like a long-lost friend with her warm and genuine personality. Beautiful places, delicious food and great tips for cooking with these 4 categories in mind: Salt, Acid, Fat and Heat.
Down to Earth with Zac Efron: Season 1 Wondering what happened to Zac Efron after his most recent movies? Now you know! He's been exploring the world and discovering the ways in which other countries approach environmental topics such as energy and water as well as health and longevity. Easy to watch and pretty entertaining.
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