Let the Binge-Watching Begin!

Ahh the glorious red and black (which by now is no longer asking me, “are you still watching?”), is an amazing service that I am sure all of us will be eternally grateful for. After a long day of school, Netflix has given us a place to unwind. Somewhere where we can embrace our true self (the couch potato inside all of us) and binge-watch an entire season of our favorite show. 

While Netflix brings us tons of joy, there is that dreaded moment when you finally finish the last episode of a series. You know, where you then search through the deep sea of TV series continually asking the question, “What should I watch next”? If you are in this situation and trust me, it’s not a fun place to be, don’t worry, I’ve got you. 

Here are my top five Netflix series for your next TV marathon: 

#5: Scream (the TV series)

I’m sure most of you have heard of or seen the “Scream” movies. It’s pretty obvious from the title that this show is a spin-off series of that movie. As a fanatic for all things mystery, I was immediately drawn to this show. I would have to say that murder mysteries are hands-down something everyone should get into. 

One of the best aspects of a murder mystery is the fact that you get to play along. I would say the best part of these shows is guessing who the killer is. Although my guess tends to change throughout the show, it’s fun to see if you are right in the end. 

In short, “Scream” is a series that follows the lives of a few teenagers who are being stalked by a masked serial killer, Ghost Face. The show follows the life of a teenager, Emma Duval who lives in Lakewood and is tied to the town’s dark past. A string of murders occur in the present and when Emma’s friends and family are put at risk, she sets out to reveal the identity of the Lakewood Slasher.

With plot twists and cliff hangers around every corner, “Scream” is a must-see for anyone who loves a good murder mystery. At the end of each episode, you will want nothing more than to watch another episode (even though you should probably get back to your homework). 

Disclaimer: the murders in this show are a bit morbid and grotesque, so if this kind of thing makes you queasy it might be best to skip this recommendation. 

#4: Pretty Little Liars

Similar to “Scream”, “Pretty Little Liars” is also a mystery oriented series (catching a trend here). This show is most definitely a drama, and I am all for it. Sorry boys, this one for sure leans more towards a girl’s interests. 

It has been one year since Alison, the queen bee of a group of friends goes missing. The remaining main characters; Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily begin to drift apart after the disappearance of their friend. They reunite after they start to receive mysterious messages from a person referred to as “A”. The person threatens to expose all of their secrets (and trust me their list of secrets could go on for miles), both past and present.

Who is “A”, and how do they know the girls’ twisted secrets? Find out in the thrilling tale of “Pretty Little Liars”. This show will always keep you on your toes as there is never-ending mystery throughout. So if you are someone who loves suspense and being an active detective, (trying to figure out who “A” is) then this show is perfect for you!

#3: Jane the Virgin

For a show that received a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, it must be pretty amazing right? Yes! Just to put this into perspective, “Friends” has a 78% rating on the same site. “Jane the Virgin” is a soap opera/telenovela depicting the life of Jane Villanueva. Before I start, let me preface this by saying, “Jane the Virgin” is extremely dramatic, but that’s what makes the show so enticing.  

To start off the show, Jane gets artificially inseminated by a drunk doctor, and hence gets pregnant. And that’s not all, she later finds out that the procedure was meant for the patient in the next room, which happened to be her boss’s wife! One more thing, the doctor happened to be Rafael’s (Jane’s boss) sister. I know, dramatic and pretty out there, right? 

Jane is most definitely a Type-A personality but this event throws her life into shambles. Her life begins to unfold like the telenovelas she has grown to love, and she must face a ton of complicated decisions throughout the rest of her life. If you love dramatic TV, “Jane the Virgin” is a perfect show for you! With tons of plot twists and a thrilling chain of events, “Jane the Virgin” is a great show for you to watch next! 

By watching “Jane the Virgin” it will leave you with endless feelings of love as you see how close-knit the Villanueva family is. It also teaches you a ton about relationships and how to show love and appreciation for each other while also being quite exciting for the viewers, this show will not let you down. 

#2: Glee

If you are looking for a more uplifting show, why not try out “Glee”? I’m sure the majority of you have heard of “Glee” and for good reason. While it is focused on a group of high schoolers in a singing group, it is filled with so much more! It is full of complicated relationships, heartwarming teachers, and blossoming new friendships! 

The show focuses on the life of the New Directions, a singing group at William McKinley High School directed by the beloved Will Schuester. Mr. Schuester is one of those teachers that everyone adores, he is kind, caring and always has the kid’s best interest at heart. He is someone who is always there for his students and will help them through just about every problem they encounter. 

The New Directions dream of making it to the Nationals competition and they work tirelessly every day to pursue that goal. Yet this is difficult for them since they have cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester attempting to derail them at every corner. 

Besides the content, “Glee” will leave you feeling inspired as you see every character in the show working to achieve their dreams, and absolutely nothing will stop them. It also teaches you about self-confidence because it shows you how labels don’t matter, as a member of the glee club the kids weren’t exactly in the “popular” group. For example, some members are cheerleaders, another is the school’s quarterback and they often got picked on for being a member of the glee club. However they don’t let this get in their way, you should never stop doing something you love because you are scared of what others may think of you!

#1: The Flash

And my number one TV series on Netflix, with a rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes is, “The Flash”! If you are someone who loves anything with superheroes then this show is a must-see for you. 

The show focuses on the main character, Barry Allen. At only 11 years old his life is flipped upside down when his mother is involved in an accident and his father is wrongfully convicted of his mother’s murder. 

He is now a crime-scene investigator working for the CCPD (Central City Police Department) and is dedicated to learning the truth about his mother’s death. Barry is heavily involved in the sciences and one night, the particle accelerator (meant to be a world-changing invention) explodes and Barry gets struck by lightning. 

Waking up nine months later, Barry now has super speed, and hence becomes the superhero we know to love, the Flash. Knowing that other people have gained powers from the explosion yet use them for evil, he dedicates his life to protecting the city and the innocent people living in it. 

“The Flash” is packed full of cliffhangers that will leave you wanting more, it is by far one of the best shows I have watched in a while and I strongly suggest you do too!

“The Flash” is so much more than just a show about a guy who runs super fast. One of the most important things it teaches you is that family is everything. A recurring theme throughout the show is that they put family over everything, each character always has the other’s back. Other than family, it also teaches us about persistence. In the show, Barry is constantly saying that there is always another way to fix the problem at hand. He always perseveres through every obstacle and it will inspire you to do the same.

Now that you have seen my top five Netflix series, I hope you try them out for yourself! Got any other suggestions, leave them in the comments and I’ll be sure to check them out! Happy binge-watching!