“IT Crowd” | Netflix
I didn’t realize until recently how much I love British sitcoms, and “IT Crowd” was the beginning of it all. 3 socially awkward technicians (one of them lying on her CV and actually having no IT experience) wreak havoc and deal with frustrating clients in the basement of London’s Reynholm Industries. There isn’t much else to say about this situational show aside from a vampiric technician who is banished to the server room, an eccentric founder, and his egomaniac son who, every time there is a rumor spread about him, openly assumes it’s a rumor that he killed his wife. This is never confirmed.
As with most really great sitcoms, it was over too soon. It has 4 seasons with 6 episodes each and is so incredibly fun to rewatch.
“iZombie” | Netflix/CW
“iZombie” is a modern-day twist on a traditional zombie story. When a promising medical resident, Liv Moore, becomes a zombie after a boat party goes awry, she must navigate leaving her old life, career, and loved ones behind as she tries to pass as human. She begins working at a police morgue for easy and ethical access to brains, where she discovers that she can receive fragments of a person’s memories and last moments. With this ability, Liv partners with Detective Babineux and Dr. Chakrabarti to solve murders, while also uncovering some of the city’s sinister secrets relating to an irritating yet lovable villain.
This show is a must-watch for anyone who loves crime and mystery, while also wanting a pinch of dark humor and angst. All of the characters are so interesting and likable, and you find yourself rooting for Liv to find a sense of normalcy in her life.
“United States of Tara” | Hulu/Amazon Prime Video
Toni Collette (one of my favorite actresses of all time) will capture your heart as Tara Gregson — a suburban housewife with dissociative identity disorder. “United States of Tara” successfully tackles difficult topics in a light-hearted, humorous manner. However, it does not shy away from gut-wrenching moments as Tara’s husband and 2 children learn to adapt and live in uncontrollable life circumstances. The growing pains that Tara’s teenage daughter goes through in her own life are also easy to relate to for watchers of my age, reflecting upon the ups and downs of youth and young adulthood.
Although the show is relatively short and doesn’t fully provide closure, it will have you both in tears and laughing fits. You will also get attached to more characters, like Tara’s self-absorbed sister and her long-term fling, Neil.
Toni Collette’s award-winning performance beautifully portrays Tara as who she really is — just human.
“The Killing” | Hulu
This is another great bone-chilling mystery for the aspiring crime solver. As with most shows, the first season is definitely superior. “By-the-book” detective Sarah Linden is partnered with free-spirited Stephen Holder, their personalities and methods often clashing. However, they have a humorous dynamic that helps lighten the dark mood of the show. With each episode happening almost in real-time, the pair tries to solve what first appears to be a simple missing child case. Slowly but surely, as you learn more about the family members and quiet town, you’ll see that that may not be the case, and oftentimes, the answer is right under your nose.