Entertainment has become much more fragmented and decentralized; and the success of a new TV series is no longer dependent on being placed in a “prime time” spot. When you can stream content online, who cares about when it airs as long as you can stream it at your convenience?
Because of this new reality, thousands of people are cutting the cord in search of a new cable TV alternative; and that alternative has come in the form of streaming services. One company that’s leading the charge in the cord-cutting revolution is Netflix.
Not only has Netflix revolutionized entertainment by introducing us to streaming as we know it, but they are also changing the face of television production by releasing their own original content. So if you’re bored of the same old same old cable television programming, take a look at some of these Netflix originals to break up the monotony.
Interested in Amazon Original Series as well? Read Can’t Miss Amazon Original Series: Part I
Some of the Best Shows on TV
We all know about House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, but there are also dozens of other Netflix shows available to stream. Some of them may have slipped through the cracks of your proverbial field of observation.
So what we’re going to do for you today is introduce you to some Netflix originals you may have missed the first time. Let’s take a look!
Lilyhammer
If Chicago is your kind of town, then Lilyhammer just might be too. Lilyhammer is comedy/drama that centers on Frank “The Fixer” Tagliano, a mobster turned state’s evidence who flees to Norway to escape retribution. Although out of his element, Frank’s able to make his little piece of Norway look like home; but his past can only stay hidden for so long.
If you liked movies like Analyze This and The Whole 9 Yards, then you’ll love this Norwegian take on the New York Mafioso.
Trailer Park Boys
Have you ever wondered what it would look like if the film crew from COPS followed around criminals instead of police officers? Trailer Park Boys answers that question as we follow the adventures of Ricky, Bubbles, and Julian; three career petty criminals with a penchant for liquor, dope, and greasy schemes to get rich quick.
Originally produced in Nova Scotia, Netflix picked up Trailer Park Boys and gave the cult classic a new lease on life.
Hemlock Grove
Based on the hit novel with the same name, Hemlock Grove is about sleepy Pennsylvania town that gets turned upside down by string of grisly murders that point to something sinister and supernatural. Released in 2013, Hemlock Grove picked up two Emmy nominations in its first season. It has been highly praised for having one of the most realistic looking werewolf transformations on television (whatever that means).
Bottom line: Hemlock Grove is one of the best shows that you haven’t watched.
Daredevil
When Matt Murdock was a child, a terrible accident took away his sight, but in its place it left him with super human senses. Now a lawyer in Hell’s Kitchen, Murdock fights for justice in the courts during the day and at night he fights for justice in the streets as the superhero Daredevil. Shake off the memory of that terrible Ben Affleck movie, because this Netflix adaptation of the Marvel comic book hero is nothing short of brilliant.
Oh yeah, and you can watch it in 4k; what’s better than that?
Grace and Frankie
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star as two bitter rivals that are forced to come to terms with reality–and each other–as both their husbands leave them–for each other. If this hilarious trailer isn’t enough to whet your appetite, then maybe the fact that it’s available in 4k will get you excited.
Either way, be sure to add Grace and Frankie on your list, because it’s one that you don’t want to miss.
Wet Hot American Summer
The 2001 cult classic Wet Hot American Summer gets a breath of life in the form of this prequel series. Breaking the trend with most movie-based TV shows, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, and much of the original cast returned to star. They may be the oldest teenagers ever, but with a cast like that, who cares?
Lady Dynamite
Starring comedian Maria Bamford as a fictional version of herself and created by Arrested Development‘s Mitch Hurwitz, Lady Dynamite is a jarringly bizarre comedy that hits all the right notes. Flirting with a surreal and disjointed timeline, Bamford struggles to find a balance between her career, her personal life, and mental illness.
As unfunny as a show about living with mental illness sounds, Lady Dynamite finds a way to tickle your funny bone while somehow still conveying the struggles of staying on an even keel. If you want something different, then, by all means, check this show out.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Adapted from the phenomenally successful “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” book series, the show centers around a trio of precocious orphans named Violet, Klaus, and Sunny.
Placed in the care of the evil count Olaf (played by Neil Patrick Harris), who only wants their inheritance, the children do their best to escape him as he orchestrates *ahem* a series of unfortunate events to keep them within his clutches. It’s a little dark, but will still be a lot of fun for the whole family (no seriously!)
Longmire
Having been given the kiss of life from Netflix, the once-dead crime drama Longmire is based on a series of mystery novels written by Craig Johnson. The eponymous lead character, Walt Longmire patrols the streets as the sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Still silently grieving over the death of his wife, Longmire’s life has hit a rough patch.
But with the support of his friends and family, Longmire resolves to get his life back on track; which of course means solving crimes and running for re-election against a former deputy.
All Hail King Julien
Do you like to “move it, move it”? Do your children like to “move it, move it”? If so, then this spin-off series of the Madagascar films, All Hail King Julien, will be right up your alley. Taking place before the movie franchise, we get to follow the adventures of everyone’s favorite lemur monarch, King Julien.
He isn’t voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen, but you stop minding almost instantly. All Hail King Julien may not be dark, it may not be gritty, but it’s something you can watch with your kids, which is even more important.
Wrapping Up
If you haven’t taken the time to explore some of Netflix’s original series’, then I wholeheartedly recommend that you go back and give it a second look. Most networks only produce a handful of original shows, but Netflix already has dozens either in production or ready to stream; and you can’t get that anywhere else–especially for $9.99 a month.
Got any others we should have mentioned? What is your favorite Netflix Original show?
Ditch “Big Cable” Now – 3 Simple Steps to Cut the Cord
- Pick the right streaming service
- Get the content you deserve with the best VPN.
- Supercharge your internet provider
That’s it — you’ll save money, take back control, and enjoy TV more!
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