So far in 2018, there’s been a fair share of bad news, but great television. A ton of new shows and movies have arrived on Netflix this year, and these are my recommendations on what to watch.
1. Queer Eye
Every single episode of this show has made me laugh and cry. I finished the entire season in two days. This Netflix series is a reboot of the original show that used to air on Bravo, but with an all-new cast. The premise of the show is five gay men, known as the Fab Five, makeover someone who is typically a straight male and in need of a transformation. Each member of the Fab Five has their own specialty, and their results are life-changing. Self-care and dissolving toxic masculinity are major themes in this show.
2. My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman
I forgot how much I missed David Letterman after he retired as the host of Late Show, until I began watching his new Netflix special. There are currently only four parts, but a new episode comes out monthly. Each part is roughly one hour long, with one guest, and a very in-depth, yet casual style interview. So far, David Letterman has done episodes with Jay-Z, Barack Obama, George Clooney, and Malala Yousafzai.
3. Seth Rogen’s Hilarity for Charity
If your week 7 of spring term is going anything like mine, you could use a laugh. Seth Rogen hosts an annual comedy event to raise money to provide live-in nurses for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. This year, the event was filmed for Netflix to raise even more awareness. The special features comedians such as Sarah Silverman, Tiffany Haddish, John Mulaney, Michael Che, and Nick Kroll.
4. The End of the F***ing World
Technically this show came out last year, but I don’t hear enough people talking about it. It’s a British, offbeat, dark comedy about two outcast high schoolers. James thinks he must be a psychopath, and Alyssa is the girl he plans on murdering. The show is based on mini-comics by Charles S. Forsman and is only 8 twenty-minute long episodes.
5. Everything Sucks! & On My Block
If you liked Freaks and Geeks, you might like Everything Sucks!. Rather than being about a group of burnout high schoolers in the 80’s, Everything Sucks! is a more endearing coming of age story about freshmen in the 90’s. Personally, I think it’s a little predictable, but it’s nostalgic and would be great for those who like something feel-good to play in the background while having a meal or getting ready to go out.
On My Block shares this spot on my list because it has an incredibly similar premise, but is a bit more modern and original. Plus, it’s setting is just as important as the characters themselves: the inner city of South Central Los Angeles.
6. Wild Wild Country
This one is for those of you who love a good documentary. This docuseries tells the story of an Indian guru, Rajneesh (among other names), and his commune, who build a utopian city in the Oregon desert. They soon get into conflict with Oregon locals that erupts into a much bigger scandal involving illegal wiretapping and America’s first bioterror attack.
As if this isn’t enough, here‘s a list of what else is yet to come this year on Netflix. Happy watching!