# Need a new TV series (available on Netflix) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705 "2013-09-01T02:48:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/41 "2013-09-03T14:01:46Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > One last thing. Shawn at one point improvised and grabbed a pineapple. From that point on there’s a pineapple in every episode. People make a point of trying to find it. Even if you look at the old threads on Psych here, you’ll find people trying to catch it. Thanks for the tip. I’ve caught a couple of them … but since I knit while I watch TV, I don’t have my eyes on the screen at all times. Definitely cool to have a “hey, that’s cut-up pineapple Shawn is eating there, isn’t it?” catch though! ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/42 "2013-09-03T19:34:03Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I’ve been told by many, many people that if I gave _Friday Night Lights_ a chance, that I’d love it even though I don’t care at all about football. Add my voice to the chorus. I cared not one whit for football when I started watching it. My crush on Kyle Chandler was held over from Early Edition - which would be a good candidate for this thread if only it were available on Netflix. > [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I would also recommend _Psych_ and _Royal Pains_. They are both fun. > I’ll also add another vote for _Friday Night Lights_. It’s definitely worth watching. There’s one really weak plot arc/season (fans of the show will know what I’m talking about) but overall the show is very good. Yeah, the wheels come off the wagon for a chunk of season two, but some of what happens in those episodes is important enough to bigger stories that it’s worth gutting it out. One of my favorite things about this show is that it’s about high school, and seniors graduate and go away. > [@NAF1138](#): > > _Orange is the New Black_ might actually fill what you are looking for. For a prison show it’s surprisingly light and fluffy. Here I’m going to disagree. There might be moments of fluff, but overall the series got darker as it progressed. It’s very good, and I plan to watch season 2, but it does not meet my criteria for light entertainment. I’ve just watched the first two episodes of a show about first year lawyers called **The Deep End** that might fit the bill. My son and I have been watching White Collar and I’d second that recommendation. **Quantum Leap** might also meet your needs. In the period drama (or “Ruffly Dress”) category I’d recommend **Wives & Daughters** , and also **North & South**. (Especially since you mentioned **Cranford** and these are both based on writing by Elizabeth Gaskell, also). North & South has a little more of a heavy message, but it’s a really lovely production. Also rewatched the series **Lillie** a few months ago. It’s worth watching just for the hair and dresses. If you’re feeling more sitcom-y I’ve recently gone through and enjoyed **The Vicar of Dibley** , and one called **Out of Practice**. The second one seems (to me) so much better than some sitcoms that managed to hang on for years and years. I was never aware of it when it was on broadcast TV ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/43 "2013-09-03T19:55:42Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Guys, pls. reread the OP – I’m looking for light entertainment, so _The Wire, Breaking Bad,_ all police procedurals and serial killers, are specifically **not** what I’m looking for. Instead, I’m looking for something along the lines of _Gilmore Girls_ or _Veronica Mars_. ooh, ooh, I got one. Did you ever watch **Pushing Daisies**? This was one of our favorites, until the writer’s strike ruined it (in Season 2?). J. p.s., on edit, I see I’m not the first one to recommend this… ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/44 "2013-09-03T19:58:42Z")
No, I never did _Pushing Daisies_, despite all the folks here who loved it. I’ll check it out. And **gwendee** , I’m with you on _Wives and Daughters_, which I did enjoy – though it didn’t have the killer cast of _Cranford_ (band name!). ---
**Author:** ![LMarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@LMarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LMarie)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/45 "2013-09-03T21:51:43Z")
For vegging days and knitting hours: Lie to Me Revenge Revolution Fringe The Event House Community (though I’ve yet to watch it, several people have recommended it) Weeds Not certain that all of these are available on Netflix, but I’ve watched most of them there in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/46 "2013-09-03T22:30:50Z")
> [@LMarie](#): > > For vegging days and knitting hours: > \ > Fringe > \ > Community (though I’ve yet to watch it, several people have recommended it) > \ Two comments - first, “Fringe” is pretty intense - I don’t know if it can be watched with half your attention successfully. But, what the heck - give it a try. Second, “Community” is the funniest show ever made, and everyone should watch it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/47 "2013-09-04T01:17:18Z")
I find **House** can get pretty intense, and also graphic. Well worth watching, but not light. However, I did just watch the first episode of a series called **Kingdom** , with Stephen Fry in the title role. I’m encouraged. I thought of this thread while I watched it. I’ve heard good things about **Community** from an assortment of friends. Alas, it is not available streaming on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/48 "2013-09-04T04:36:06Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Thanks for the tip. I’ve caught a couple of them … but since I knit while I watch TV, I don’t have my eyes on the screen at all times… Well, that changes everything. Of course you weren’t intrigued by _Freaks & Geeks_. You were knitting! None of the characters on that show would do that. ---
**Author:** ![tadtooornamental](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@tadtooornamental](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadtooornamental)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/49 "2013-09-07T02:25:09Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Did not realize that – I thought it was more angsty. Hm, maybe I’ll check that out. > > Another thing in my queue is _[Merlin](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1199099/reference)_ – I love love love the character of Merlin in most incarnations. (The Sam Neill miniseries of a dozen years ago is a fave.) Has anyone seen that? I’m with you on that- anything related to Arthurian legend in general I’m interested in. That said, Merlin is worth your time if you’re looking for something just to waste some time. Not that it’s not good- I quite like it- but it is a very light show, not much thinking required. It’s got funny bits and bad special effects Monster-of-the-Week bits, and (very few) serious bits, and I look forward to each season showing up on Netflix- it’ll be a weekend of fun if nothing else 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/50 "2013-09-07T12:31:48Z")
Thanks for the recommendation – that may be up next. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/51 "2013-09-09T12:08:18Z")
Watching _Psych_, and enjoying it, but I have a beef – Just started the third season, in the first episode of which we meet Shawn’s mom. Who is blond. As is his father. And yet Shawn has brown hair. Didn’t anyone stay awake long enough in eight-grade science to know that if both parents have a recessive trait, the child has to as well? I call shenanigans. Unless we find out that Shawn’s dad isn’t his dad. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/52 "2013-09-09T12:40:26Z")
My Dad had black hair, my Mum is blonde. My brother and younger sister each have brown hair. I don’t think genetics are quite as mathematically predictable as you may expect. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/53 "2013-09-09T13:32:52Z")
Blonde is recessive. Since your father had dark hair, it’s not impossible for his children to have dark hair. It’s not impossible for two brunets to have a blond child – they could each have a recessive gene. Vice versa isn’t possible. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/54 "2013-09-09T14:10:51Z")
Concerning hair color: During his speech at my very Irish family’s wedding, a cousin mentioned that all the men in the family get white hair rather young. The women’s hair? Every color in the rainbow… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/55 "2013-09-09T16:42:45Z")
I recently started watching “Quincy” from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/56 "2013-09-09T16:46:50Z")
Man, I loved that show back in the day – how does it hold up? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/57 "2013-09-09T17:04:54Z")
I’m only a couple episodes into the second season but it seems to do OK. Jack Klugman’s Quincy is very much like a well-adjusted Adrian Monk with a medical degree. ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/58 "2013-09-09T17:39:52Z")
I’m enjoying the British version of Shameless on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/59 "2013-09-18T04:39:48Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Man, I loved that show back in the day – how does it hold up? OK, the medical technology does get a bit dated on occasion. Just saw one case which hinged on a test that was relatively new at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705/60 "2013-09-18T05:02:28Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > I recently started watching “Quincy” from the beginning. I really liked “St. Elsewhere” when it aired. I don’t think I’ve seen it since then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-new-tv-series-available-on-netflix/667705.md?page=4)