What to Binge on Netflix

Written by: Vanessa Leung, 1st Year Business Management & Organizational Studies

The time has finally arrived, and you’ve earned it! It’s Friday night, you’re about to jump into bed, cocoon yourself in a fort of blankets, and binge a psychological thriller, a sitcom, a riveting action movie, some trashy reality TV, or even have a good cry. I get it.

However, Netflix has an over-abundance of entertainment to offer and you’re having difficulty determining what to watch. No worries! Here, you’ll find a curated list of the must-sees on Netflix in every genre imaginable. Hopefully, you’ll find something that will reward your hustling this week!

Let’s begin with everyone’s favourite — psychological thrillers.

Circle (2015) is a must-see for anyone who’s interested in watching 50 people determine which one of them gets to survive. The film revolves around humanity and what humanity is reduced to in extreme circumstances when our lives are at risk. My only criticism of the film is its blatant use of clichéd tropes. It practically becomes an opinion piece on the power dynamics between individuals in society based on age, ethnicity, and occupation.

a still from the movie the circle of people standing in the dark around a red circle

Everyone's go to — dystopian dramas.

The 100. No explanation needed.

Next, let’s move on to my favourite kind of action movie — heist film.

The Italian Job (2003) is a classic heist film and one of the best in the genre. It follows a successful heist, the ultimate betrayal, and the vengeful return to find justice for a father and a friend. Look forward to Mini Cooper car chases, safecracking, gold bars, and Venice. If you’re not yet convinced, watch the film to see Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham bring their star power to an action-packed extravaganza.

actor jason satham driving in a car and looking in the side mirror of the car

Moving on, let’s talk about reality TV.

I’m not ashamed to admit that the reality TV selection on Netflix is at an A+ standard. If you want to watch singles fall in love without ever seeing each other face-to-face and a literal runaway bride, watch Love Is Blind (2020). With all that said, my favourite show by far is Selling Sunset. This show features female real estate brokers who make million dollar commissions and cause a bunch of unnecessary drama. To be honest, I would watch the show just to witness Christine Quinn and her iconic quotes.

How about anime?

A dreamy and escapist anime worth watching is Flavours of Youth (2018) which follows three separate stories of youth from different cities in China. This anime transports you into Chinese culture and delves into the unique experiences of three individuals in varied circumstances.

screen grab from the movie flavours of youth of the characters running down a street at night

Then comes bildungsroman (a.k.a. coming-of-age stories).

Despite the fact that most of us are adults or approaching adulthood, nothing’s more satisfying than watching a classic coming-of-age story. Although I was too embarrassed to tell anyone I watched the film and its sequel, you might as well watch it because it’s about to become a trilogy— the Kissing Booth series. The Kissing Booth is a feel-good, second-hand embarrassment, and cringe-worthy comedic film. The sequel is even better! While you're at it, you might as well watch the To All The Boys films if you haven’t already — they’re adorable.

Feeling in the mood for a docuseries?

Cheer (2020) will completely transform your perception of collegiate cheerleaders. Bruises, broken limbs, tears, weight struggles, and cheer politics is just the cusp of the emotional rollercoaster that is this docuseries. It also provides an insight into the lives of some of the cheerleaders and delves into how cheer brought them out of the darkness.

a screenshot from the series cheer, of cheerleaders practicing a routine

Last but not least, K-dramas and C-dramas. 

Love Alarm (2019) takes online dating to an entirely new dimension. In this world, you’ll be notified by an app when someone within a 10-meter radius has romantic feelings for you. Contrary to popular belief, not all K-dramas are cute stories and I like how this series praises and criticizes the advancement of technology for non-essential purposes.

The King’s Avatar (2019) brings to life a multiplayer online video game called Glory that looks like so much fun you wish it were real. The web series highlights the video gaming profession and a technology savvy lifestyle, making you wonder why you didn’t become a professional gamer.

I hope that you’ve found something that piques your interest. Have fun binge-watching!

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