Imagine it’s a Friday night and you’re done working for the day. Now you’re sitting at home wondering what there is to do since Ontario is in its second lockdown. Why not take this chance to binge some new TV shows that you’ve heard everyone talk about? My boyfriend and I are guilty of binging a lot of different shows, so I have made a list of six shows that I highly recommend you binge during this second lockdown. I have even put them in order from the smallest number of seasons to the largest number of seasons, in case you don’t have as much time on your hands at the moment.
1. The Queen’s Gambit
In the show, Anya Taylor-Joy plays the role of Beth Harmon, an orphan chess prodigy and eventual champion. Taylor-Joy’s performance as Beth in the slim seven episodes we are given is phenomenal and will have your eyes glued to the screen from her first move to checkmate. The series is based on the novel by Walter Tevis which has the same name and could be of interest to anyone who prefers books over TV. This show is so much more than just chess though, it exhibits Beth as a 60s style icon and plays with the real-life problems that substance abuse can cause. Given the fact that the show happens in a different era than today, where women’s roles and rights were different than they are now, it is simply mesmerizing how Beth can turn her hobby into a career that financially supports her. This show has girl power written all over it and is more than worth the watch.
Rating: 8/10
2. The Umbrella Academy
Created just for Netflix, this show, which has two seasons as of now, follows the lives of seven adopted siblings from a very dysfunctional family. Oh, and did I mention that they all possess superpowers? Each sibling has a different power, some of which include super strength, the ability to speak to the dead and the ability to travel through space and time. My personal favourite superpower is Vanya’s, but I’ll leave that as a surprise for you to find out for yourself. After a hard childhood, the group splits up and lives their separate lives until one day they all reunite to figure out how their father died, as well as how to try and stop the threat of an impending apocalypse. The show has so many twists, turns and surprises that it would be hard not to binge this in a week or two.
Rating 8/10
3. Dark
This is a show that may not be for everyone. There is a lot that goes on in it and it can sometimes be difficult to follow and keep track of all the events in the storyline. It’s for this reason that I gave it a slightly lower rating, however, it is a great show. If you can stick with it through a little bit of confusion here and there, then it has an amazing storyline. This storyline will pull you in and leave you questioning what could possibly be happening next. The show, in a nutshell, follows the disappearance of a young boy from a fictional town in Germany named Winden. The show follows the main characters on their journey to pursue the truth of what is happening in their town, but while trying to do so they uncover much more than they bargained for. This show deals with some crazy time travel conspiracies and shows events taking place over the span of four generations so it can be confusing as I had mentioned. It is an excellent show that gets your mind working, but you will have to be patient at times and allow yourself to be confused.
Rating: 7.5/10
4. Money Heist
This show is great, with and without dubbing. The show was originally produced in Spanish, but there is an option for dubbing in English with English subtitles if you prefer that. However, the mouths of the characters will not always seem to match what is being said through the speakers. Dubbing for some is a deal-breaker. I personally didn’t notice it very much once I got more involved in the show and what would happen next, but it can be an issue for some. The story of the show revolves around many elaborate heists that are orchestrated by a character called The Professor. The series follows two long-prepared heists of major banks in Spain that he has organized, both of which are carried out by the crew he has put together. In the four-season long series, you will find yourself completely captured by the events of The Professor and his team, as well as be amazed by his elaborate plans. There are few times when you root for the “bad guys,” but this might just be one of them.
Rating: 9/10
5. Lucifer
I truly love this show. Lucifer is a five season-long TV series that follows the life of the literal devil and is written as if a Rom-Com were to meet a crime show. The series is focused on Lucifer Morningstar, a very good looking and very powerful angel who was cast out of Heaven for his betrayal. After being cast out of Heaven, he takes up residence in sunny Los Angeles where he meets Chloe, a detective with the LAPD. The relationship between the two of them gets a little complicated at times but they do make a great pair and they work together to solve multiple crime-scene cases. The only catch is that no one knows who he truly is. He tells people on multiple occasions that he is the devil, but no one really believes him when he says this. I mean, realistically, would you believe him? This show has it all: love, crime and comedy. This will keep you on your toes and pull you in deeper with each episode to the underlying romance in the show.
Rating: 10/10 (I wasn’t kidding, I LOVE this show)
6. Breaking Bad
I think many people have probably already watched this show or at least parts of it, but I will still give a brief summary for anyone who hasn’t. The show ran for five seasons and followed the life of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher, as well as those that are close to him. Early in the show, it is discovered that he has inoperable Stage III lung cancer and only has a couple of years to live. With this diagnosis, he decides he has nothing to lose and finds a new and very illegal way of providing for his family and paying off his medical bills. Walter turns to manufacturing and selling meth to a high-profile client in order to ensure that his family’s future will be a stable one. However, this comes with its own set of problems of course and the show makes sure to follow each and every bump in the road that Walter faces and usually overcomes or outsmarts. Though he is brilliant, he still faces plenty of difficulties in the show. Overall, it is a highly engaging and gripping show and if you have not already watched it, I recommend giving it a chance.
Rating: 10/10
I know a lot of these shows aren’t necessarily new but hopefully, something sparked your interest. Happy binge-watching and stay safe everyone!