With the outbreak of global coronavirus pandemic, the whole world has come to a standstill. Nations after nations are extending their lockdowns just to ensure a safe way out of this health disaster, and thus comes a huge question in front of everyone, with these extended lockdowns – What to do now?
And those who are providing a fitting, perfect answer to this question, are becoming the favorites. Amidst all this, online streaming platforms like Netflix have stepped forward to provide us with a never-ending source of entertainment which will help us to survive through this tough time.
With more and more people preferring to watch movies and web series online during coronavirus outbreak, the users’ traffic on these platforms is increasing in huge numbers, especially in the last 3 months. When theatrical releases on one side, are getting postponed indefinitely, the digital releases are being preponed to make them available for the audiences as early as possible.
In March 2020 itself, the online streaming rose by more than 40% all over the world, which shows the popularity of this platform. This increase was so much so that the leading parties like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar took an unusual and unexpected decision to cease the HD streaming of movies, and only provide SD (Standard Definition) to its viewers, just to reduce the LOAD!
The ‘lockdown boredom’ and the negative vibes around us are affecting our decision-making ability, especially when it comes to finding some good content for binge-watching. On one side, we want to chill and do nothing because we know that we’ll not be getting SO MUCH time for us afterward, and on the other side, we want to ‘Netflix and Chill’ too – the reason being the same.
Also, the HUGE catalog of Netflix web series is making things more complicated, thanks to our boredom again! If you are also going through this ‘Thakeli’ feeling, we bring to you a list of ‘Top 10 Netflix Series to Watch’ from all types of genres – sabko milega!
10. Stranger Things
Sci-Fi and Horror is such a cool combination, and Stranger Things is probably the coolest web series in this genre! A ‘Duffer Brothers’ creation, the story of ‘Stranger Things’ takes place in a fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 80s – to give you the 80s feel combined with thrilling Sci-Fi chills. The Hawkins National Laboratory, while secretly conducting supernatural and paranormal researches including those that involve experiments on humans, have created a portal called ‘the Upside Down’ which opens to an alternate dimension.
Slowly, the opening of this portal starts affecting the residents of Hawkins. The three seasons of this series focus on three different events, all being interrelated outcomes of the same action – the opening of the portal and its impact. If you want a Sci-Fi touch to your life during the lockdown period, then go for some ‘Stranger Things’.
9. Narcos: Mexico
Drugs, illegal trade, and murders – if these words excite you, then ‘Narcos: Mexico’ is your type of binge-watching material. Originally planned as a fourth installment in the Netflix Series ‘Narcos’, this crime thriller was ultimately released as a companion series in two seasons, that focused on the illegal drug trade in Mexico.
It will surely give you that typical 80s feel while taking you on a fictionalized journey of the rise of Mexican Drug Trade, and the Illegally Famous ‘Guadalajara Drug Cartel’. The series focuses on the challenges lying in front of DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent Kiki Camarena (Michael Pena) in Guadalajara, and events that led to transform a poorly organized drug trafficking activity into a large empire of complex drug trade networks.
8. Better call Saul
Created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, this series is a prequel-cum-spin-off to Gilligan’s earlier creation ‘Breaking Bad’ which had also received widespread acclaim. Focusing on the events that took place 6 years before the events of ‘Breaking Bad’, it shows how a con-man turned lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) becomes a lawyer to a former policeman called Mike Ehrmantraut, and transforms himself into a criminal called Saul Goodman.
The series shows how his skills help him to enter the drug trafficking underworld of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This series, again, is an interesting piece of creation for those who are attracted to the stories of drug trafficking and the underworld.
7. The End of F***ing World
Nominated for Best Drama Series at the 2018 British Academy Television Award, ‘The End of F***ing World’ is one of the most neglected/underrated Netflix series for sure. Based on a novel by Charles Forseman, it tells the story of two odd teenagers – A boy (Alex Lawther) who considers himself a psychopath and wants to try something new – to kill humans instead of his hobby of killing animals, and a girl (Jessica Barden) who is an angry young girl of rebellious nature and wants to break away from her home life.
The series revolves around the unexpected incidents that happen to them after they decide to run away together. Comedy and thrilling at the same time, this series is a must-watch for those who like the Teenage Stories.
6. Money Heist
‘Money Heist’ is an International Emmy Award-winning Spanish Heist crime drama by Alex Pina. It went on to receive several awards, critical acclaim, and became one of the most-watched non-English series on Netflix. The series depicts the events leading to the 2 long-prepared heists on the Royal Mint of Spain, and the Bank of Spain. It shows the interesting clashes between the mysterious man called the ‘Professor’ and his group of recruits made for implementing the heist, and the police forces trying to deal with them and prevent the heist.
This series will surely bring you to the edge of your seat and will give you the feeling of having watched something worth it.
5. BoJack Horseman
If you are too bored to watch human faces over and over again, Netflix has some interesting animated content as well! ‘BoJack Horseman’ is an animated web series for adults, something which we never get to see otherwise. Featuring the voice of Will Arnett for the titular character, it also includes Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins, and Aaron Paul lending their voices to the other characters.
The story revolves around the life of BoJack Horseman, a Horse who is a forgotten sitcom star of the 1990s and is trying to make his comeback through an autobiography written by a ghostwriter named Diane Nguyen. The story mostly takes place in ‘Hollywoo’ (with a stolen ‘D’), and shows various aspects of BoJack’s life and how he deals with each of them.
4. Sex Education
‘Sex Education’ is a critically and commercially well-received web series starring Asa Butterfield as a shy teenager, and Gillian Anderson as his mother who is a sex therapist. The story revolves around the life of Otis Milburn, who is quite awkward in his social behavior, but has frank conversations on sexuality with his sex therapist mother. Using this experience, he becomes a sex therapist of his high school, to advice his school mates just as his mother does for the adults. This coming of age story shows the psychological development of a shy teenager into a confident sex therapist, at the same time, dealing with the ups and downs in his own life.
It also portrays a very interesting relationship between a mother and a son, while covering such a delicate, sensitive issue in an easy, free, and cool manner.
3. Little Things
If you are the type of person who loves to find happiness in little things, then Netflix’s ‘Little Things’ is a perfect web series for you. It released on Netflix in 2018, the same year when the first Indian web television series ‘Sacred Games’ was dominating the online streaming platform. It features the ‘Cup-song girl’ Mithila Palkar and Dhruv Sehgal in the lead roles of a live-in relationship couple in Mumbai. The story progresses through their day-to-day conversations and life events that show their efforts to maintain a balance between professional life, personal life, and love life.
This modern-day love story shows the struggles in the daily life of young couples, and how they try to find happiness in little things while dealing with these struggles. This light-hearted web series is a must-watch for youngsters, which will give you a new perspective and positive vibes during quarantine days.
2. The Crown
Don’t call yourself a web-series lover if you haven’t watched or talked about ‘The Crown’. A historical drama written by Peter Morgan, ‘The Crown’ is just so perfect in every sense – the story, script, acting, direction, cinematography everything. The various seasons of ‘The Crown’ chronologically cover the life events of Queen Elizabeth II, starting from her marriage to Prince Phillip, up to the modern times (which will be covered in the upcoming seasons). Claire Foy’s portrayal of young Queen Elizabeth has been hugely praised by all, and the series as a whole has bagged numerous awards and nominations including a Golden Globe Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series.
The series covers several events in detail, from the professional and personal life of the Queen, and how she stood above all. This series is a huge treat for Historical drama lovers who are searching for some good sources to make their lockdown life worth.
1. Sacred Games
Last, but not the least, the chart-topper of our list is an easy guess for you all – the first Netflix original series from India, the ‘Sacred Games’. Based on a novel by Vikram Chandra, ‘Sacred Games’ released in 2018 and received a huge welcome by web-series lovers. Along with the online streaming platforms, ‘Sacred Games’ also dominated the meme culture, as ‘Sacred Games’ memes have now become a crucial part of our lives. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, (what else do you need??!) it features an ensemble star-cast including Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Jeetendra Joshi, and Pankaj Tripathi.
The story of ‘Sacred Games’ focuses parallelly on the lives of a Police officer in Mumbai, Sartaj Singh (played by our ‘Lays’ boy Saif Ali Khan) who is fed up of his life, and a gangster Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), whose life is screwed up! After receiving an anonymous phone call, Sartaj Singh sets out to save his city within 25 days and finds out some of the darkest secrets of the underworld of Mumbai city and India, and his father’s link with Ganesh Gaitonde, the anonymous caller who was once a ‘Don’ of Mumbai.
While the first season shows the developments in those 25 days, the second season takes us on the journey of Ganesh Gaitonde’s life, and the dangerous connections between the criminals who dream of wiping out India. A story full of action, drama, adventure, crime, and underworld, it’s worth giving a re-watch during the lockdown period to screw up your mind once again! “Aham Brahmasmi!”
That’s it! Some of you may have already watched many of these, but let’s give it another watch, who knows what new things you’ll notice & realize from the same old content? So, without wasting your time, go for it! And find your top picks! Have a happy, positive, safe, and ‘Netflix’ed quarantine folks!