For the past year, it seems that every time you log into Netflix there are a dozen new original series to watch, and in all reality, that might be because that’s exactly what’s happening. According to Variety, the company’s chief financial officer, David Wells, announced in February that Netflix was aiming to host around 700 original shows worldwide by the end of 2018. In the United States, some of these are shows produced by Netflix, and some are foreign shows for which Netflix has purchased the rights. Either way, it’s more television than any one person can consume. Here’s a list of my top 5 binge-worthy Netflix originals:
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Orange is the New Black
Jenji Kohan’s knack for social commentary mixed with humor is perfect for a prison story. The diverse, engaging ensemble cast is full of fan favorites, and while Orange is the New Black traffics in stereotypes, it also challenges and complicates them. The acting is phenomenal, the writing is brilliant, and the storylines are addictive. More importantly, it forces us to root for people who make poor decisions and appreciate the fact that we all make poor decisions because we’re human.
Seven Seconds
In this crime drama, a black teenager is struck by a car while riding his bike and is left for dead. But “Seven Seconds” isn’t a who did it series. We know from the beginning that the hit-and-run collision was cause by a white police officer named Peter Jablonski (Beau Knapp) is the culprit and that his colleagues help him cover it up. The question is: Will the alcoholic prosecutor assigned to the case (Clare-Hope Ashitey) and her detective partner (Michael Mosley) figure out what happened? And if they do, will a jury punish four cops for what they did to a black teen?
13 Reasons Why
13 Reasons Why has an intriguing hook: A teenage girl named Hannah takes her own life and leaves behind a suicide note in the form of 13 tapes, each one directed at a particular individual at least partially responsible for the decision to kill herself. The tapes are then passed around to the 13 people, who have to deal with the guilt they feel for the role they played in her suicide, as well as keep their secrets hidden as the contents of the tape threaten to destroy relationships and cost the school millions in an ongoing lawsuit. The drama has come under fire for its heavy subject material, and the reason it’s stirred so much controversy is that it is an honest and unflinching look at teen suicide.
Stranger Things
Stranger Things feels both familiar and new. The first season is about a boy named Will who is captured by a The Thing-like creature and trapped in a Poltergeist-like world. His mother (Winona Ryder) recruits the local sheriff to investigate Will’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Will’s dorky, Goonies-like best friends take to their bikes to do some sleuthing of their own and eventually befriend an alien-like girl with telepathic powers (the E.T. of the series). The investigation into Will’s disappearance and the arrival of the telepathic girl. It’s great PG horror/sci-fi, like the blockbusters of the early ’80s.
House of Cards
The highly bingeable political series is the grandfather of Netflix original programming, and now with five seasons under its belt, it’s had a lot of highs and plenty of lows. The series is never short on twists, turns, and the occasional huge surprise, and it’s always a pleasure to watch Spacey — nominated for three Emmys for his work on the series — chew scenery with delight and disdain in equal measure. The supporting cast is always excellent, even if their storylines often run into dead ends.