Watching TV is my favorite way to relax and unwind at the end of the day. We cycle through streaming services depending on what shows are out or the time of year. I don’t like paying for a bunch of streaming services if we aren’t using all of them. I typically watch a lot of Netflix in the summer when most shows have wrapped up and there’s nothing “live”. Though I’ve kept it around much longer this year! I’ve caught up on most I’ve wanted to watch on Netflix and these shows are my recommended Netflix shows!
My Top Recommended Netflix Shows
The Crown (Netflix Original)- The Crown isn’t my typical choice in show, but I love the historical aspects of the show mixed with all the drama. I was a fan of Downton Abbey, which is a slower paced British drama, similar to The Crown. The show follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II and her journey and the history involving her becoming queen and leading her country. I’m not much of an Anglophile, but this show sucked me in anyway. I often find myself researching events that unfold on the show to see how factual they are and to read more about them. I feel like I’ve learned so much and it definitely makes me more curious when I see news about the British Royal Family now.
Queer Eye (Netflix Original) – I LOVE Queer Eye. It is such an inspiring and uplifting show! I always need tissues nearby when I watch because the stories of their heroes are so emotional. I feel like this show has taught me so much about the struggles and pain of people that are different than me. It’s eye opening. The cast is fabulous! I love Antoni, Bobby, Karamo, Tan and Jonathan! This is definitely my utmost favorite, and highest recommended Netflix show.
Outer Banks (Netflix Original) – Outer Banks is like The OC meets The Goonies. It’s a teen drama based in the Outer Banks of North Carolina where their town is divided by the haves and the have nots. In addition to the teen and class drama, there is a treasure hunt and a series of homicides. This is one of those shows that Jesse and I watched together, it’s got a little something for everyone.
Sweet Magnolias (Netflix Original) – Sweet Magnolias was so cute! It reminds me a little of Hart of Dixie (listed below) with its Southern charm, and a little girlfriend trio drama thrown in. It’s a little cheesy but overall I really enjoyed this show. It was also renewed for a second season, so YAY!
Bridgerton (Netflix Original) – Think Gossip Girl meets Pride and Prejudice and you’ve got Bridgerton. It is one of the shows to come out of Shonda Rhimes’ (creator of Grey’s Anatomy) deal with Netflix. Since I LOVE Shonda, I had to give this a try. Overall, I really liked the show. The story was familiar with the anonymous gossip writer, but the perspective was fresh. They were true to the time period vernacular, which was pretty fun. The soundtrack consisted of modern songs performed by a string quartet to make them more time period appropriate, which I thought was VERY clever and well done. The only thing I didn’t like was that the episodes were a tad too long and slow at points. And there were a little too many HBO-esque sex scenes for me. (I prefer things to be more PG-13. I can piece together what’s happening without seeing it).
Emily in Paris (Netflix Original) – I binged this show WAY too fast. It’s kind of cringey, and definitely has an “Americans know best” kinda vibe, but I loved it anyway. Emily is a girl that takes a new job opportunity in France on a total whim. She doesn’t speak French or know anything about the culture (the cringe part) but she has total Sex in the City vibes while she figures it out.
Grey’s Anatomy – Duh. If you know anything about me, then you know that Grey’s Anatomy is my all time favorite show ever. I’ve watched it all the way through at least 10 times. This show is the reason why I have Netflix. If you don’t know what Grey’s Anatomy is, it’s a medical drama series following the career, and personal life, of Dr. Meredith Grey. The show has been on for 17 years, so naturally some seasons are better than others, but overall it’s the best show ever.
Jane the Virgin – Jane the Virgin is a hilarious telenovela style show about Jane Villanueva, who is a virgin that is accidentally inseminated and becomes pregnant with a stranger’s baby. This show is full of totally outlandish telenovela-style drama and plot twists and love triangles. It’s so dramatic and fun! I started binging it when I was pregnant with Mara (the show came out in 2014). It was fun watching while pregnant, but I think it would be a fun watch for anyone.
Reign – I’ve always been a huge fan of historical fiction and Reign is the very fictitious story of Mary Queen of Scots and her relationship with Francis, the heir to the throne in France. The show was originally on FreeForm and is full of teenish drama, plus lots of false history. I thought the show was highly entertaining and, as a history nerd, I had just as much fun researching the true history of Mary Queen of Scots as I watched.
The 100 – The 100 is a YA post-apocolyptic show about a group of 100 kids that are sent from space to see if Earth is inhabitable again. This show is an excellent binge and is one of Jesse and I’s favorites. We hardly ever agree on shows, but we’ve been watching this one together for years. We started it when Mara was a baby and Jesse was home on paternity. We watched it so much that it actually influenced our decision when naming Bellamy.
The Vampire Diaries – One word: Damon Salvatore. OK, he’s not the only reason why I watched and enjoyed The Vampire Diaries, but it’s a huge bonus! 😉 This show is like PG-13 Twilight, mixed with some love triangles and a lot of drama. Elena Gilbert is a high school student who becomes wrapped up in the supernatural when she meets the Salvatore brothers, who are vampires. This show has every supernatural element imaginable. Witches, werewolves, doppelgangers, sirens, spirits, vampire hunters and, of course, vampires, all wrapped up in a dramatic CW package.
Private Practice – Naturally, since I’m the biggest Grey’s fan ever, I had to watch Addison’s spin off series. While I don’t like Private Practice anywhere near as much as Grey’s, it is highly entertaining. The show follows Addison Montgomery (Derek’s ex) as she moves to LA and establishes a new life after leaving Seattle. The new private practice firm she joins offers her OB services, as well as pediatric care, family medicine, fertility, psychiatric and holistic wellness. The patient stories center more on their mental health than big groundbreaking surgeries like on Grey’s Anatomy. Watching Private Practice did introduce me to Amelia Shepard, which has been beneficial in watching her on Grey’s since she’s a key part of the show now.
