5 Great T.V. Series’ to Stream on Netflix

Lately episodic shows on Netflix have sucked me into a binge watching vortex. I get involved with characters that I grow attached to over time. These are five shows I highly recommend:

Scandal

Is Scandal a realistic portrayal of political life? I certainly hope not. Watching Olivia Pope and Fitz is like watching a car crash, it’s so hard to look away even though you know you should. If you like dark politics and love scenes that involve a lot of yelling, this is the show for you. Every episode is a cliff hanger and leaves you wanting more. Luckily, streaming a t.v. series on Netflix allows you to view back to back episodes.

Orange is the New Black

Based on a true story by Piper Kerman, Orange is the New Black is titillating. Piper is in prison because she got caught up in a love affair with a female drug trafficker and made some bad choices. Piper’s ex-lover is played skillfully by That 70’s Show actress, Laura Prepon. Manipulation and mind games pack each episode. It’s inspiring to see such a ruthless ensemble of female actresses in strong supporting roles.

Malcolm in the Middle

Now that I have a young boy, I love watching this uncensored comedy about a family with four boys. The mother played by Jane Kaczmarek is my favorite character. She’s brash, smart, loud and imperfect. After a hard day of parenting, this show always lifts my spirits.

Sliders

In this sci-fi show from the 90’s, friends slide into other dimensions using a worm hole. A young Jerry O’ Connell plays the lead geek who created a way to slide. It requires some suspension of disbelief, but it’s a fun concept. Each character encounters their other self in a parallel universe and are surprised by each new incarnation.

Rosemary & Thyme

This show is like a British Cagney and Lacey. Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme are professional gardeners or landscape artists, who have the unfortunate luck of encountering a murder on every job they go to. The show has the pace of Murder She Wrote. It’s a nice choice when you want to feel good about solving a mystery before the characters do.

There are so many choices on Netflix. Hopefully these t.v. series’ will be a good jumping off point as you begin your own binge watching. Enjoy some popcorn, put up your feet and let these stories sweep you away.