I tend to accidentally binge watch things on the regular, but staying at home all the time has made this much easier to fall into. Here’s a list of things I have enjoyed watching that are not Tiger King.
Unorthodox | Netflix
Unorthodox is a moving adaptation or reimagining of Deborah Feldman’s memoir of the same title. While the limited series focuses on a fictional character, the story mirrors Deborah’s own journey of leaving her strict Hasidic roots and learning about life outside of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. My own great grandmother came from an Orthodox Jewish family who sat shiva for her when she married my Protestant great grandfather, so I found this story personally very compelling.
The Stranger | Netflix
My mom raised me on Masterpiece Mystery with Agatha Christie and Inspector Lewis. This is a suspenseful thriller about the lies we tell each other. My mom and I have a lot of opinions about the ending of this (don’t worry, no spoilers), but we definitely agree it was much more interesting that the other Netflix adaptation of another Harlan Coben book – The Five. It’s no Broadchurch but it definitely fulfills my need for mystery escapism.
How to Fix a Drug Scandal | Netflix
I am a big fan of documentaries, memoirs, and the like, especially when crime is involved. How to Fix a Drug Scandal is about how two different drug chemists in Massachusetts commit crimes that compromise the integrity of hundreds of convictions, and how differently their cases were handled. I found it fascinating and was even able to get my husband interested in watching it.
Schitt’s Creek| Netflix + Hulu
If you haven’t been watching this all along then you have been doing quarantine wrong. This is definitely a very specific type of humor, but if you like dramatic irony or enjoyed the movie Best In Show then you will hopefully also find Schitt’s Creek as uncomfortably funny as I do. That’s it, that’s all I have to say.
Tell Me Who I Am | Netflix
The human brain is fascinating and has such an interesting way of healing itself after trauma with neuroplasticity. This is a true story of twin brothers – Alex who lost his memory after a motorcycle accident and Marcus who teaches Alex to rebuild his memories of their childhood. Alex’s brain is able to reconstruct fond memories of family vacations and good times as children -except they are all false memories, which Alex only realizes in his later adult years. Believe it or not, I still have not this is just the premise. While watching the film you learn with Alex what Marcus never told him. It’s so moving and upsetting but worth every minute.
Love Is Blind | Netflix
I honestly watched this before quarantine and boy was it a wild ride. If you like The Bachelor (which I only recently got into) then you will find this equally as fascinating to watch. When my husband asks me why I watch reality tv, I tell him it’s because I get to escape into someone else’s drama and not worry about my own momentarily. Aside from all of the crime related TV I apparently watch, I also love trashy wedding related shows (hello Four Weddings and Bridezillas). Without the Bachelorette to keep me going this spring, this can definitely fill that void.
McMillions | Hulu
So I just learned this weekend that Hulu subscriptions now get some free HBO content and it has truly depended my love for Hulu. I know this is another crime centered docu-series, but I won’t apologize for loving what I love. This series discusses the McDonald’s Monopoly scandal from the early 2000’s which I previously did not know much about. It was a very elaborate scheme and the filmmakers interview the FBI agents who cracked the case as well as the people who perpetrated the crimes. This series is really compelling and really well done.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Hulu + Starz
I would not, by any means, call myself a Quentin Tarantino fan. I am not a huge fan of the gratuitous violence he’s known for. However, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie. It was an interesting take about “what ifs”, especially in the case of Sharon Tate and the Manson Family. Also, Brad Pitt and Leonardo Dicaprio are just such talented actors who make the story compelling to watch.
The Case Against Adnan Syed | Hulu
Another great HBO limited series I now have access to through Hulu. If you are a fan of Serial, this is a documentary series about Adnan Syed and the murder Hae Min Lee. I learned some new information and have further questions about the case. I think this documentary series was done well because it remembers that Hae Min Lee was a person who lived, and puts her at the forefront. Many true crime series put the victim to the wayside and showcase the suspected or known perpetrator. Having listened to Undisclosed, Rabia Chaudry’s podcast about this case and other cases with suspected wrongful convictions, there are less details than what I learned in the podcast, however it was very compelling and interesting.
