Earlier this year, I wrote up some thoughts on Netflix original content, and having just finished up yet another fabulous Netflix series, thought I would post an update.

One Day at a Time (series 1)

I don’t know the original show that this was based on, and by all accounts it’s different enough to not matter, but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. The Cuban family dynamic is one quite alien to me, but actually it draws you in pretty quickly, and you start to really feel for the characters. Sometimes I wondered how Penelope kept on going, but it was reassuring and quite uplifting that she did. Can’t wait for series two.

Designated Survivor (series 1, part 2)

Not much more to add to this than last time – it’s an interesting drama that clearly wants to emulate the success of House of Cards without the script to do it. Clunky dialogue, and heightened moments to increase drama that don’t always pay off. This second half of the first season was a little more politically heavy than the first, so I must admit to getting distracted by other things when watching. But the underlying story continues to intrigue.

Orange is the New Black (series 5)

Loved this. Was looking forward to it after the unexpectedly tragic and moving end to the fourth series. There were two fabulous things about this series – seeing people acting out of character but with total reason to do so, and the total breakdown of a society that has no real reason to try and stay together. The coming apart and the coming back together of groups, and what they would end up doing to each other was fascinating. The only bit that seemed totally out of place was the weird talent show in the middle.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schimdt (series 3)

Kimmy Schmidt is a weird series for me. I like it, but I don’t laugh at it particularly, and I don’t always think it’s good. I love the optimistic but slightly damaged Kimmy, and when the focus was more on her, the relationships she formed, and finding her way in the world, I really enjoyed it. Each series that goes by spreads the focus to others like Jacqui and Lilian, and of course, Titus, and it makes me like it a little less.

Anne with an E (series 1)

I know this series caused some consternation amongst fans of an original Anne of Green Gables remake, but I haven’t seen that one. I have read the books and I was surprised by the dark nature of the series. I quite liked it, although there was one moment halfway through when I really just thought I’d have to stop watching. Things kept going wrong to Anne to the point I wasn’t sure I could take it. I could though, and she could, and so the first series ended – bleak but really well made drama.

Stranger Things (series 2)

I haven’t watched anything on Netflix for a while, other shows have dominated my viewing. But the return of Stranger Things got me curiously excited. I enjoyed the first, although it took a while to grow on me, and I can’t say I was particularly anticipating the second series. The Netflix hype machine worked well though, and I started watching as soon as I could.

It was absolutely epic. No words, really. I laughed, I cried, I binge watched it in one weekend, and I can’t wait for the third series already.