With the cold winter days and an increasing pile of homework since the semester started, it is easy to feel a little gloomy or down. Luckily, there are many sources of laughter that we can find to cheer ourselves up, even in the middle of January weather! This includes Netflix, which currently has a number of great, binge-worthy comedies. So, without further ado, here are some shows that you can turn to whenever you need some lightening up!
The Good Place
The Good Place was one of my favorite shows that I watched last year. The premise focuses on a young woman named Eleanor Shellstrop, who dies and goes to “The Good Place,” or where the most virtuous people go to in the afterlife as a reward for their good deeds. However, we eventually find out that there has been a mistake. Eleanor quickly realizes that she was sent to The Good Place by accident, and actually used to be a pretty sketchy person in her past life. Not wanting to get caught, she resolves to stay in The Good Place by trying to learn how to become a good person so that she can blend in with the rest of the residents. Managing to be hilarious, philosophical, and heartwarming, The Good Place ticks all the boxes of what a great comedy should be.
GLOW
Loosely based on a true story, this TV show focuses on a women’s wrestling television show in the 80’s known as GLOW, or the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. The protagonist, Ruth Wilder, is a struggling actress in LA who auditions for the show as a last resort. She finds herself working with a cast of twelve eccentric women, a flamboyant producer, and an irritable director. GLOW shines with its realistic, complex portrayal of female friendships. With great writing and acting, this show deserves all of the accolades that it has received in the past years.
Schitt’s Creek
This Canadian sitcom centers on the Roses, an extremely wealthy family who suddenly lose all of their money. With nowhere to turn, the previous one-percenters settle in a motel in a small, rural town known as Schitt’s Creek, which they bought years ago as a joke. Forced to deal with the realities of their situation, the Roses have to learn how to work for a living, and how to depend on each other to stay afloat. This comedy has rightfully received much praise for its clever writing and talented cast.
Sex Education
Otis is a shy teenager who only wants to blend into the background of his high school. However, Otis is forced into the spotlight when his peers find out that his mother is a sex therapist and start coming to him for sex advice. He teams up with the bad girl of the school to start a secret sex clinic, where his classmates come to him for for guidance in exchange for money. This quircky show honestly portrays many issues that teenagers face during adolescence, including relationships, identity, mental illness, and, of course, sex.
Grace and Frankie
Two women with a competitive relationship find out that their husbands have been having a secret love affair with each other for years. When the two husbands want to get married to each other, Grace and Frankie are forced to turn to each other for comfort. A great friendship between the two springs from the chaotic events that occur. Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda shine in their starring roles, and have a great rapport with each other.
While this article certainly isn’t an exhaustive list of all the great comedies that Netflix has, hopefully these shows can give you some laughter and fun during these busy times!
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