I typically watch very little television. Aside from my weekly episode of The Bachelor when it’s on air for our podcast and the associated live tweeting fun, my TV “diet” consists mostly of various food shows on the Food Network. However while I’ve been out on maternity leave, I’ve turned on a lot more TV in the background as I’ve been snuggled up with L. Here’s the scoop on what I’ve been watching on Netflix.
Dead to Me
I didn’t know if I could do this one. to be honest. A series focused on the death of a loved one felt a bit too close to home. However, this one is so good. Dead to Me tells the story of Jen, whose husband recently died in a hit-and-run accident while he was out running. She’s determined to find out who did this to her husband, even if the local law enforcement officers in her eyes seem incapable of solving the crime. While adjusting to life without him, Jen turns to a grief support group where she meets Judy, a character who has gone through loss of her own. Throughout the show, we learn just who Judy is, what brought her into Jen’s life and join Jen through the roller coaster of ups and downs following her loss.
This is definitely a dark comedy, but is so smartly done. I made my way through this entire series in just over a day. Episodes are short but are packed with layers (at least for me) that are unexpected. I didn’t see the end of this one coming, which is always a bit of a treat. Fans of this one are waiting but it’s looking like season two might be a possibility. Fingers crossed.
Good Girls
I just finally finished Parenthood (all the tears) so I decided to continue my Mae Whitman trend and check out Good Girls. It centers on three moms, two of which are sisters and the third is their long-time close friend. They all hit some financial or personal hardships and decide to rob a grocery store. What was intended to be a one-time thing sets them all on an unexpected path that continues to cause new drama. The show focuses on their dynamic and how their choices impact not only their lives but also that of their families, and the extremes to which they’ll go to provide for their families. It’s that last part that really got me. This show is both funny and stressful, as I can’t help but think what all of this would feel like! Worth watching. Season one is on Netflix and season two is currently airing.
Yummy Mummies
This was my first watch. This is a super fluffy reality show that’s sort of like if the Real Housewives all had babies at the same time. Oh and if they were Australian. This focuses on three post Melbourne moms and one in Adelaide who becomes obsessed with what the other moms are doing and strikes up a relationship of sorts with the trio. They all have their babies and maneuver the transition to motherhood — in a way that mirror just about none of our experiences (I mean, who has a baby that has all designer clothes?) yet is somehow entertaining to watch. At least to me. My husband was so not a fan.
Schitts Creek
This show is so random. It tells the tale of a wealthy family who suddenly loses everything. They discover they own a town in the middle of nowhere and are forced to go live there in the town’s only motel. The cast realty makes this, including Eugene Levy and his son Daniel and Cathleen O’Hara (who will forever be Kate McCallister to me). Perfect for sleep deprived days when you need a funny watch that doesn’t require your eyes to always be completely open — cause you’ll totally need a show like this in your watch list.
You
I was watching the TODAY Show when this interview with Penn Badgley aired. I immediately turned on YOU to see what I thought. The show originally aired on Lifetime before it made its way to Netflix, where it’s already been renewed for a second season. It based on a series of four books by author Caroline Kepnes, with books three and four yet to be written.
The books center on NYC bookstore worker Joe who becomes obsessed with a local writer, Beck, when he meets her in the store. We know from the beginning there’s something a bit different about Joe, but we learn just how far he’s willing to go to make his obsession with Beck become a real-life relationship. It’s creepy, sometimes disturbing yet somehow addicting watch.
Workin’ Moms
This Canadian show is so appropriate for working moms, whether they’re on maternity leave or not. Only season one is currently available on Netflix although there are three seasons in total. It’s so smartly done, covering topics ranging from promotional opportunities for moms to postpartum depression. It’s not perfect, for sure. All of the moms are relatively privileged and the way postpartum depression is approached could have been a bit more sensitive (this article shares more on these issues with the show here). I agree with some of the way this is positioned as not really aligning with this condition that impacts around 15% of new moms. Episodes are brief (30 minutes) but touches on a number of things familiar to so many new moms having to return to work with an important dash of humor that mostly lands. I love it at times and I hated it at times.
Friends from College
I loved this one admittedly for the soundtrack. It’s so good. If you’re going to skip watching this one, Spotify has you covered with this excellent playlist. Memories… I found this one humorous at times but also hard with so much of the plot focused around two friends who have been having an affair for a long time. I found it hard to root for these guys, which made watching this show a bit distracting. Kevin Arnold — errr, I mean Fred Savage — is excellent in this but entirely underutilized. All of the above is perhaps why this one ran for two seasons on Netflix and wasn’t renewed. I’d put this one lower on the “to watch” list.
Wine Country
I was really looking forward to watching this one. It’s focused on a group of girlfriends who go to Napa on a girl’s weekend to celebrate one of them turning 50. Directed by and starring Amy Poehler and featuring so many of the funny former femmes of SNL (Tina Fry, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer), this one had to be fabulous — right? I learned no, it actually does not. I have to admit I turned this off halfway through. I wasn’t amused and I didn’t really care where the story ended because I was honestly just bored. I wanted to finish for the sake of this review but I finally admitted to myself I wanted to turn on something else more. Oh well.
What have you watched lately on Netflix? Share in the comments!
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