Netflix
I am truly addicted. Yes. Not a day goes by without Netflix. But I cannot write about Netflix without addressing one issue first. Netflix cannot and will not change the immersive cinema-viewing experience. That cannot be duplicated at home. But yes, it has changed the way we consume movies and shows.
I refuse to watch Netflix on my phone. That is not how these shows are meant to be consumed. At least that is how I feel about it. That tiny screen in our hands is not the ideal way to watch Pablo Escobar take on the Colombian government singlehandedly or Queen Elizabeth II take on a world ruled almost exclusively by men. Almost every opportunity we get, Ridhima and I plant ourselves on the sofa and binge on these wonderful shows and many more.
Here are some Netflix shows I would strongly recommend.
NARCOS
Plot: A look at the life and times of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and others that came after him.
Why I like it: Wagner Moura. Oh, what an actor! This Portuguese-speaking Brazilian actor, who plays Escobar, learnt to speak Spanish for his role. His performance takes this landmark show to quite another level. The story is told from two perspectives. The first is that of the American DEA who are waging a war on drug dealers in Colombia. And the second is of Pablo Escobar. Even though you know how it all ends, you are kept on the edge of your seat at all times. And the attention to detail and recreation of recorded events is astonishingly well done.
PEAKY BLINDERS
Plot: 1919. Birmingham, England. The story of fierce and ambitious Tommy Shelby and his family of gangsters. A crime drama set in the aftermath of World War I.
Why I like it: It’s cooler than the coolest gangster flicks you’ve ever seen. This show is outstanding in every way. Acting, making, music, costumes, production design, you name it! Slow-motion shots of the brilliant Cillian Murphy walking through the streets of Birmingham set against the gloomy theme song Red Right Hand will captivate you and transport you through time. I watched the first four seasons in one go.
HOUSE OF CARDS
Plot: Frank Underwood, a Democrat who is passed over for appointment as Secretary of State, conspires with his wife Claire to exact revenge on those who betrayed him.
Why I like it: The show that started it all in 2013. One of the primary reasons people started subscribing to Netflix at the time was this show. There were various articles in various international newspapers about whether we are `ready to binge’ yet! Netflix gambled big on the House of Cards and it paid off. David Fincher along with Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright and Kate Mara compel you to bingewatch this political drama set in the corridors of Capitol Hill.
STRANGER THINGS
Plot: 1983. When a 12-year-old boy from Hawkins, Indiana, goes missing, his friends and family launch an investigation which leads them to supernatural forces, secret government experiments and a very unusual young girl.
Why I like: it From the title music to the way it is made, Stranger Things is the Duffer Brothers’ ode to the 1980s science-fiction movies. If you watched and liked Close Encounters of the Third Kind by Steven Spielberg, you MUST watch this. Hype usually dissuades me from watching some shows but this one actually lives up to the hype. A word of advice — sit through the first two or three episodes. You will not regret it.
THE CROWN
Plot: A look at the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times, chronicling her reign and the events that shaped most of the 20th century.
Why I like it: The British monarchy has always intrigued me. Old-fashioned royalty with a generous sprinkling of scandal and romance. The first question that came to my mind after watching the first season of The Crown was — how did they make this show without any sort of interference or restrictions from the British royal family? They take names, talk about the various scandals with a certain brazenness, and are particularly harsh on Prince Charles (I’ve never been a fan of the guy though). But what this show does is humanise the royals. The performances are brilliant, the details are carefully researched and the show keeps you hooked. Watch it for the brilliance of Claire Foy and Matt Smith, the actors who play Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.
