15 best shows on Netflix

With the nearly infinite number of television shows and movies featured on the best invention known to the modern world, also known as Netflix, it’s hard to decide what to watch. One of the most enjoyable, but also time consuming things on Netflix are TV shows. With so many wonderful series it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s a list of my personal favorite shows from all across the Netflix stratosphere.

1)   “Orange is the New Black:” This is a great new Netflix original drama created by Jenji Kohan, the writer for “Weeds.” It takes place in a women’s penitentiary and follows a one time drug pusher, Piper, played by Taylor Schilling. The plot is intriguing as Piper has to adapt to the scary and strange ways of fellow inmates and even prison guards. Even though it is graphic at times it’s different from any television show and deserves a try.

2)   “Bates Motel:” This is another new show that has been put on Netflix that originated on A&E. It is a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” but takes place in modern Oregon. It follows Norman Bates, played by Freddie Highmore, as a teenager and how, with the help of his equally damaged mother played by the stellar Vera Farmiga, he slips into his killer ways. There is only one season available but it feels longer because of the ever-twisting plot and complex characters.

3)   “New Girl:” First appearing on Fox, this quirky comedy is about a group of late 20 year-olds navigating through all of the trials and tribulations of adulthood. It features the eccentric actress Zooey Deschanel as the main character, Jess, whose humor surprisingly doesn’t match up to the male character’s one-liners. It’s a refreshing little show that not only brings laughs but also heartfelt insight about life.

4) “United States of Tara:” This wonderful family drama had only three seasons and aired on Showtime in 2009. It centers on Tara, played by Toni Collette, who has a multiple personalities disorder and is also a wife and mother. It follows not only her struggles but also follows her two teenage kids as they step into adulthood. Her pain and struggles with mental illness only makes you root for her more.

5) “How I Met Your Mother:” This is a well known sitcom with a total of nine seasons (eight of which are on Netflix). It’s about several best friends living in New York who are trying to find their soulmates. Not only do you feel like the character’s best friends but you know them better than they know themselves.

6) “Dexter:” This long series is not for the faint of heart. The main character Dexter, played by Michael C. Hall, is a blood splatter analyst for the Miami PD with a secret — secretly a murderer that only kills if it is “justified.” It is a wild turn of events but the most shocking thing after watching it isn’t it the blood and murder but how much you like Dexter.

7) “Parks and Recreation:” This NBC show may seem to be a droll office comedy, but it deserves credits. It follows a group of extremely different people working for an Indiana parks department. The main character and go-getter in the series is Leslie Knope played by Amy Poehler, who in my book can never fail. Anyone who enjoyed “The Office” will most definitely enjoy this wonderfully casted series.

8) “Supernatural:” This long-running show has been around for a while but it’s only over the last few years that it has picked up and created a huge fandom. It follows two brothers who are destined to hunt demons, monsters, etc. I will say the most recent seasons have been pretty lame but the first five make the show worthwhile. It will make you scream, cry and even laugh. Hint: this is a great show to binge watch.

9) “Undeclared:” Made by the genius film and TV writer, Judd Apatow, “Undeclared” is one of his lesser known works but is none-the-less great. It is a small show that is only one season but it’s cute and entertaining. The story follows a shy college freshman played by Jay Baruchel, trying to make friends and snag a girlfriend. The setting isn’t all that exciting but the snarky cast makes up for it. It features young comedians like Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Charlie Hunnam.

10) “Law and Order: SVU:” Although Law and Order has stayed pretty similar over the years you can’t go wrong watching Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni (who left the show a couple years ago) solve crimes. A great show to binge watch, SVU is the go to series when you’re in the mood for a crime show, and besides the interesting cases, it features great actors, my favorite being Ice-T.

11) “The Following:” Another great crime show that started on Fox in 2012 that has the best character actor—Kevin Bacon. It follows him as an alcoholic detective back on a case about a cult leader murderer that is obsessed with Edgar Allen Poe. It can be disturbing at times but that it adds to its intriguing creep factor. The first season is on Netflix while the second season is airing on Fox.

12) “Weeds:” One of the best shows ever on Showtime is this eight season series about an affluent woman who starts a marijuana business. Not only is she a little bit messed up but so is her step-brother and her two sons. One way or another, they all end up making it a family business. It’s a dark comedy that focuses as much on her work as on family dynamics.

13) “Psych:” This is one of the funniest crime shows featured on Netflix. It centers on observant man who proclaims himself a psychic and ends up working for the Santa Barbara PD with his best friend Gus. It is a great buddy cop show that also features really interesting cases around California.

14) “Buffy The Vampire Slayer:” This is an amazing fantasy show that plays on the vampire boyfriends infatuation. You can’t go wrong with eight seasons of drama, comedy and most importantly, slaying. It started in the late 90s and has a huge cult following. The series does weaken as it progresses, unfortunately, but even with the last episode you feel like you’re part of the Scooby gang.

15) “Freaks and Geeks:” This list isn’t supposed to be in order but this is by far the best series on Netflix. It takes place in a high school in 1980. There isn’t a plot but it doesn’t need one. It follows a groups of “cool” burnouts played by James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Busy Phillips and Linda Cardellini, as well as the best high school nerds in TV history — Martin Starr, John Francis Daley and Samm Levine. It is only 17 episodes but it will be the best 17 episodes of your life.

Even though you might contract TV brain from watching all these shows it’s well worth it. Netflix features nearly an infinite amount of shows and movies to watch but there are several wonderful TV shows to binge watch this summer. There is nothing nearly as fun as watching six seasons of a show within a week and falling in love with all the wonderful characters.