The Ten Best Things to Watch on Netflix Right now
Rhiju Chakraborty (he/they)
In an era of few new movies and shows being canceled, it can be hard to find something that's good to watch when curled up in a blanket on your sofa. It can be hard to find something new to watch in the communal echo chamber of movies and shows that's the product of the Netflix algorithm. That's why The Violet has created a diverse list of things for you to watch, ranging from thrillers, to love stories- so that you can beat the algorithm, and immerse yourself in the world of something new.
'Outer Banks' (2020-Now)
From creator Josh Pate, comes the global phenomenon “Outer Banks”, which has captured audiences worldwide with its stunning cinematography and heartwarming depictions of teenage friendship. The show focuses on four teens born on the wrong side of town, called "pogues"— (a self-identifier for the island's working-class residents), and their journey to figuring out the disappearance of one of their friend's father. Along the way, they occasionally get into tussles with the town's "kooks" (rich kids) and police officers, but despite their vigilante-like behavior, you'll always find yourself, much to your surprise, rooting for the four of them. Through the humorous one-liners, and the myriad of difficult issues that the show tackles- from domestic abuse to socioeconomic inequity- the show shines because of its incredible cast and gripping storyline that is sure to keep viewers hooked on to their screen, always wanting more.
Watch now on Netflix
'Derry Girls' (2018-2022)
Come for the infamous Irish humor, and stay for the wonderful history lessons of Northern Ireland. The show is set during “The Troubles", the period (1960-1998) when the two major religious groups, Protestants and Catholics, were conflicted about whether Northern Ireland should stay in or leave the UK. It follows a group of high schoolers and their lives under this daily threat of violence. But despite the everyday bomb threats, the five teens of this show somehow, through the darkness of the Troubles, manage to find humor in their lives— determined to not let the failures of the previous generations rob them of their coming-of-age story. The show especially strikes a chord with the youth of today, growing up in an age of a multitude of crises, and is a lesson on how to find joy and humor in the darkest of situations.
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'The Package' (2018)
This hidden gem, directed by Jake Szymanski, was released in 2018, and received a subdued critical response, getting a measly 42% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Here's why you shouldn't listen to the critics. The Package, a buddy comedy, is about a group of friends going on a camping trip during their break to engage in the typical illicit behavior expected of high school characters in the media: drugs, alcohol, and a lot of dancing. But their festivities come to a sudden halt when Jeremy, one of the teens, under the influence simultaneously peeing and playing with his pocket knife, accidentally cuts off his penis. What follows next is 90 minutes of holding-onto-you- belly, rolling-on-the-floor-laughing kind of comedy. Their journey to reattach the severed phallus, sometimes icky, is downright hilarious, and despite the concerning storyline, you won't be able to press the off button on your remote.
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'Queen' (2013)
Bollywood lovers, please stand up, because this one's for you. If you're an avid consumer of Hindi films you'll already know this one, but if you're new to the genre and don't know where to start, here's your starting point. The movie opens with a young Rani (Kangana Ranaut), on her wedding day enthralled in the festivities. But when her fiance, at the last minute, pulls her aside to break off their engagement, it leads to the overnight crumbling of her entire world. Still, Rani decides to go on her honeymoon alone, visiting the places that had only previously existed in her head, from Paris to Amsterdam. What follows next is the evolution of her very own value system and a widening of her worldview as she engages, often in hilarity with characters from lives that are very different from her own. Queen is a movie that anyone can relate to, and everyone should watch. It's a testament to the human spirit and is guaranteed to have the viewer in happy tears by the time the credits start rolling.
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'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' (2021)
From creator Kim Je-Hyeon comes this slow-burn Korean Drama, "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha". The show follows Yoon Hye-jin, a dentist in Seoul, and her relocation to the seaside village of Gongjin. It is there that she meets the village chief, Hong Doo-sik, and her life forever changes for the better. The show is a vessel for a mountain of tropes, from found family to city girl meets country boy. But through it all, it manages to create a unique storyline that spans sixteen hours, peeling back on each of the characters one episode at a time, because, like onions, this show has layers. "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" is charming and funny, but most importantly, it's a love story. A story of two unlikely love interests, whose flirtatious banter will have you screaming at the TV, telling them to "get together already."
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'Do Revenge' (2022)
It's been 20 years since the mecca of cult classic high school movies like, "Clueless", "Ten Things I Hate About You", and "Mean Girls", which created an image to the world of what being an American teenager is really like. Since then there's been a steady downward trend of movies that resonate with today's youth, with notable failures like "Senior Year", and the remake of "She's All That", "He's All That." Combining today's progressive ideals, with the influence of social media apps like Tiktok and Instagram has proven to be challenging for many filmmakers trying to create a relatable high school setting. But “Do Revenge” marks one of the first major successes in fashioning a plot and a complex set of characters that do somewhat justice to the era we live in today. Morally Gray characters. Check. Incredible outfits and makeup. Check. A twist ending you won't ever see coming. Check. “Do Revenge”, with its diverse cast and visual imagery is a continuation of the 90's flicks we grew up watching, but with a 21st-century twist.
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'Someone Great' (2019)
From director Jennifer Robinson comes this charming film about female friendship. Set in New York City, the movie follows three women in their mid-twenties and their converging love lives. The movie starts with the breakup of the lead protagonist Jenny Young, played by Gina Rodriguez, and her beau Nate (LaKeith Stanfield). (The breakup, exacerbated by the fact of Jenny's sudden move to San Francisco for a job with Rolling Stone Magazine.) From there we're taken on a whirlwind of a weekend, where Jenny, alongside her friends, helps her forget the breakup and the fact that this is her last weekend in NYC, through drinking, dancing, and lots of partying. But all the alcohol in the world doesn't give Jenny the closure that she needs, as the film shows her and her friends' eventual journey to processing the end of their lives together as they know it. “Someone Great” with its incredible storytelling, is a love letter to platonic friendship, and the bittersweet endings we all must face to move on in our lives.
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'Barfi' (2012)
If you liked “Queen”, you'll like the next Bollywood movie on the list, "Barfi." Set in 1970's Darjeeling, the film is narrated from the perspective of Shruti and her experience of falling in love with the wild character, "Barfi", who's also hard of hearing. But the social stigma in 1970's India of marrying a deaf man prevents Shruti from marrying him and leads her to the trappings of every Indian woman of that era: an arranged marriage. But the story doesn't end there. Because then enters Jhilmil, a young woman on the spectrum, who falls head over heels for Barfi. The movie is a spectacle of colors, dance numbers, and incredible music that will have you swaying your head alongside the beat of the drums. The movie is tone-deaf at times, evidenced by the casting of actors without disabilities. paired with some problematic stereotypes of what it's like to be autistic. But while it's important to be aware of the film's shortcomings, the movie's incredible social impact on how people perceive disabilities in India, in addition to its masterful narrative, has made the movie a must-see, for any Hindi movie lover.
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Notting Hill (1999)
This nineties rom-com, from legendary screenwriter Richard Curtis, became an instant classic upon its release. Starring two industry stalwarts, Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, the movie focuses on the accidental encounter between a lonely American actress, and an ordinary British bookkeeper. It's a sweet, slow-burn love story that will make you feel all the feels, while also hacking away at the one-liners from Grant, a dry humor master. It's a favorite of romantic comedy lovers, and you're guaranteed to be rooting for this pair of star-crossed lovers within the first thirty minutes.
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Wednesday (2022)
The TV spinoff of the 60's "Addams Family" focusing solely on Wednesday, the broody daughter of Morticia & Gomez Addams, broke record after record upon its release. It became one of Netflix's most-watched shows of 2022, edging out competitors like Stranger Things. While the Netflix drama is a Tim Burton project, it seems more polished than some of his previous works, which has helped cater it to a more mainstream audience worldwide. It lacks some of the spooky and unexplainable elements that are expected from the director, Tim Burton. Wednesday is full of complex characters, twist endings, and sarcastic retorts, which makes it an utter delight to anyone watching it. “Addams Family” lovers, don't expect the show to be akin to the series from the '60s, or even the two movies from the '90s, because Wednesday has a distinct voice that's separate from anything that's come before it, and is sure to charm you- however resistant you might be before pressing play.
Watch now on Netflix
