Seasons: 4 seasons, 44 episodes. Starring: Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz, Julia Garner, Jordana Spiro, and Skylar Gaertner. Description: Jason Bateman plays a financial advisor who gets caught up in some bad business. As a result, he is forced to move his family from Chicago, where they were in imminent danger, to the Ozarks in Missouri, where he is required to launder $500 million over the course of five years to appease a dealer whom he has fallen out of favor with.
Why it’s a keeper: Ozark is well-written and full of plot twists, which makes it incredibly easy to binge-watch. It’s a thrilling drama that is not only well written but well-acted. It may be a stressful watch, but viewers won’t be able to resist playing the next episode to see what happens and who makes it out alive for one more season.
The Crown (BEST)
Seasons: 4 seasons, 40 episodes. Starring: Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Jared Harris, Vanessa Kirby, John Lithgow, and Greg Wise. Description: The Crown tracks the life and reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II, alongside some of the events that have shaped the 20th century. While many of the “behind the scenes” elements are fictional and the producers have taken many creative licenses to make the show more artistic, they are based on events of her reign. The period piece is full of beautiful costumes and plenty of drama. The characters portray the exquisite privilege enjoyed by the Royal Family, but also do an excellent job in not only highlighting the challenges of a life of duty, but also the human elements of their relationships, struggles, and successes.
Why it’s a keeper: Aside from beautiful costumes and excellent performances, The Crown lets you step into the world of the Royals and gives you a glimpse of what life is like for them. With all of the glitz and glamour, there are the same issues that appear in your everyday relationships. You come to terms with the fact that they are people too. It tracks the late Queen’s ascension to the throne and takes you on a journey through history that viewers can look back on with a different perspective.
American Vandal (BEST)
Seasons: 2 seasons, 16 episodes Starring: Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck, Camille Hyde, Eduardo Franco, Lukas Gage, and Calum Worthy. Description: This is a light-hearted take on a true-crime thriller and tells the story of a high school student expelled for allegedly spray-painting penises on 27 cars parked outside his school. His friends jump to his defense and launch their own investigation to try and discover who is responsible for this prank. The students conduct a number of interviews with hilarious results and develop some conspiracy theories along the way. Viewers can follow along as his friends try and discover “whodunit.”
Why it’s a keeper: Totally binge-worthy, American Vandal is one of the best parody shows on Netflix. By not taking itself too seriously, it keeps you totally captivated through the witty and cleverly written dialogue and storyline. This show is a gem, and definitely, a must-watch if you haven’t seen it already.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (BEST)
Seasons: 2 seasons, 36 episodes. Starring: Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Mirando Otto, Chance Perdomo, Michelle Gomez, Jaz Sinclair, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, and Richard Coyle Description: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a remake of the children's series, Sabrina the teenage witch, which was released in the late 1990s and told the story of Sabrina Spellman. The series is co-written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who was the creator of Riverdale, and is set in the fictional town of Greendale. At the age of 16, Sabrina is forced to choose between her family and their world of witchery or her friends, who live in the human world. As the story unfolds, she finds herself dealing with all sorts of crazy adventures.
Why it’s a keeper: While at first, it may appear to be a simplistic teen drama, viewers should not be fooled that this is, in fact, a complicated narrative that deals with some of the most significant issues of our time, including feminism and power dynamics in our society. There are themes of prejudice, faith, and gender identity, all wrapped up in a dark and sometimes twisted storyline that brings the viewer into a world that constantly switches between the normal and the paranormal.
Bodyguard (BEST)
Seasons: 1 season, 6 episodes. Starring: Richard Madden, Keeley Hawes, Gina McKee, Sophie Rundle, and Paul Ready Description: The central character, David Budd, is a veteran of the British Army who returns to work for the Metropolitan Police. His personal life is falling to pieces, and his whole world is turned upside down when he keeps a passenger from going through with a suicide bomb mission on a train. Following this incident, he is promoted as a special protection officer for the Home Secretary, Julia Montague, who is a divisive character that people believe is plotting a leadership take-over. When passions ignite between David and Julia, David is stuck in a difficult position, protecting a woman whose beliefs and policies he is against, but whom he has developed romantic feelings for. The tense plot builds up to a dramatic ending with a surprising twist.
Why it’s a keeper: Bodyguard is a highly intense thriller, which will not only have you on the edge of your seat but also make you question every noise in your house. It is not only thrilling but thoroughly enticing, with weaving plot lines that pull you in and leave you thinking about your own life and those around you. It picks up on current affairs and is said to be based on Theresa May, who was once Home Secretary and former Prime Minister.