TOP 10 SHOWS ON NETFLIX

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With the quarantine going on and the abundance of people stuck at home watching TV, I decided to make a list of the best Netflix shows to watch and binge on. Some of these shows are popular and others are diamonds in the ruff. The only qualifications I had for the shows are that they are currently on Netflix, and have more than 1 season. I learned at a very young age, you can’t judge a show off of 1 season (13 reasons why???)

1. Ozark

This show will go down as one of the greatest shows in Netflix history. From the first episode to the last it’s compelling, suspenseful, nail-biting and entertaining. The story line is about a dysfunctional suburban family who launders money for a drug cartel, and has to move to a small country town (Ozark) to do it. Well known actor Jason Bateman (Marty Byrde) delivers an Emmy deserving performance, but the one who surprisingly stole the show was Ruth Langmore, who was played by Julia Garner. Ozark is extremely well-written and each season has different complex themes. It gives me feels of Shameless (#2) mixed with Narcos (Not ranked). Hats off to Jason Bateman who also directs the series.

2. Shameless

Just like Ozark… Shameless is also a show about a dysfunctional family, but this family does not commit high scale crimes… they commit petty crime and master side hustles. Shameless is hilarious, deep and everything you would want in a TV show. It centers around a white family who lives in a white neighborhood in the south-side of Chicago. I think the beauty of shameless is that it gives its viewers a whole different perspective and story about the south-side. Not one where the biggest problem is gang violence, but one where the biggest problems are poverty and drug use/addiction. Each character does a great job portraying their story in a funny and elegant way. One constant theme in the show is the moral standards and social norms that come with being a “Gallagher” (Drinking, Drugs, coming up with side hustles) and being from the “South-Side” (Never snitch, look after each other). This show is truly great and would be my vote for being number one if it wasn’t for the fact that it starts off kind of slow. It does pick up fast though… This show will make you laugh, cry, and laugh so hard you end up crying.

3. Breaking Bad

This one goes without needing an explanation. If you haven’t heard of this show or know how great it is, you have probably been living with Patrick under a rock. This will not only go down as one of the greatest Netflix shows of all time, but according to many “experts” it will go down as one of the greatest TV shows in the history of television.

4. All American

All american is a relatively new show on Netflix loosely based on the life of an American professional football player, Spencer Paysinger. The show takes you through the challenges that the main character, Spencer, faces day-to-day as a high school student aiming for the NFL. He experiences a huge change when he moves form Crenshaw to Beverly Hills. It is a super entertaining and inspiring show, and it explores some real-life issues. This show is a “tug at your heart-strings” type of drama. It kind of reminds me of “Friday Night Lights” ( The TV show) but the Black version. Highly recommended!

5. That 70’s Show

If you can’t tell by the name, That 70’s Show is the oldest show on the list. The first season premiered in 1998 and the last season was in 2006. It is the definition of an “OG” comedy show. The show portrays what life was like in the 70’s, from fashion, the lingo, and of course indulging in cannabis. It follows a friend group of young adults, who spend most of their time hanging out in the basement. The most iconic scenes in this show happen when the crew is participating in a smoke circle and engage in hilarious takes. What makes this show good is the feel of an authentic friend group, and watching them go through highs (no pun intended) and lows, and how all the characters develop throughout the seasons.

6. Master of None

I Love this show! It follows Dev, (Aziz Ansari) a young actor in new York city, who throughout the seasons is trying to find himself. It does a great job at being a comedy, but also touching on some important topics and issues. It shows and brings awareness to many of the stereotypes and judgments that people have about Indian-Americans. Other than that, I think the main theme of this show is relationships. It seems like each episode focuses on Dev’s relationships, whether it’s with his family, friends or romantic relationships. This show has a “real-life” feel to it.

7. Weeds

Dysfunctional family, committing crime, sound familiar?? This show is a worse version of Ozark, and still on the top of the list. (That is a testament to how good Ozark is). Weeds walked, so Ozark can run! This show is about a suburban mother who decides to become a drug dealer. A lot of suspense and dark humor, filled with twists and turns. The only bad thing about this show is that it does start to become repetitive in the later seasons.

8. Love

Love is a romantic comedy series about two people in their late 20’s meeting and, you guessed it, falling in love. This show has a very real feel to it, it portrays how being in a relationship is actually like and not some made-up “Hollywood” crap that most TV shows seem to portray. The chemistry between the two main characters, Gus and  Mickey, is immaculate. You can tell that the director tried a different approach to this show to make it unique. There are many scenes with awkward silence and even the cadence is not typical. While it’s not necessarily a comedy, it does have many funny moments. (Not rolling on the floor laughing scenes but scenes that make you chuckle).

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9. The End of the F***ing World

The End of the F***ING World is unlike any show I have ever watched. I watched each season of this show in less than 2 days. It is soo suspenseful and is filled with tons of cliff hangers and jaw dropping scenes. I am not even going to attempt to explain the plot because it is so complex, but I will definitely recommend watching it. It is a quick watch.

10. American Vandal

One of the most underrated shows in Netflix history! It is a parody of crime docuseries (which are popular right now) and they do a good job at poking fun at them while also being suspenseful. This show is laugh out loud funny and can get too goofy at times, but if you can get past that it gets deep and thought provoking. If this list was based on season finales, American Vandal would be number 1. The last episode of each season is amazing and leaves you in awe. Without giving too much away, the last episode of each season makes you think and raises awareness to complex issues especially within the young generation.

Book Review “DEEP WORK” By Cal Newport

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Rating: 3.5 sticks of butter (out of 5)

The good: In the Realm of self-help and business books, this one is a gem. Cal Newport illustrates the importance and rareness of “deep work” in a clear way and gives plenty of examples (maybe too much). Basically, his definition of deep work is to be able to focus without distractions on a challenging task. Judging a book by its cover, it looks like a book that talks about how to limit distractions and be more productive, which it does talk about those things, but it is soo much “Deeper” ( no pun intended). It talks about the Economy, Job market, business, organizations and so much more. It’s not too long of a read with 263 pages, and it is relatively easy to follow. 

The bad: The only real criticism that I have for this book is that in the beginning, the author spends way too much time trying to persuade you that “deep work” is Beneficial instead of telling people ways to do “deep work” and how to incorporate it into your life. He gives example after example of people who use “deep work” and are successful, in a tone as if he was writing a persuasive essay.  

The Butter: All in all this book was very knowledgeable and definitely worth the read. It has many nuggets of information that are very useful.  In my opinion, the greatest takeaway from this book is when it talks about how to become a winner in this new economy. Cal states that one of the core abilities to thrive in the new economy will be “ the ability to quickly master hard things”. Which is very true because, with this new age of technology, there are always new programs, software, and machines. So if you have the ability to learn how to use these things, and not only learn but to master them in a short amount of time, you will be successful monetary wise. The way to get that ability according to the book is to use “deep work” and lock in and limit your distractions. The other big takeaway from this book is the fact that if you are someone who uses “deep work” then you separate yourself from the mass because we now have a culture of people who work while being constantly distracted. 

Buy or Sell: Definitely Buy!! May not be entertaining read but it contains tons of wisdom. It is a good book for college students to help them be more productive in their studies and in life in general.

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