# Seeking Netflix TV Series Recommendation **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** netflix\ **Created:** [August 29, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316 "2020-08-29T16:13:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/1 "2020-08-29T16:13:18Z")
My mom is a senior from Britain asking me what Netflix series I’d currently recommend. I don’t watch a lot of TV myself. She dislikes science fiction and animation - so is unlikely to watch Bojack Horseman as per my advice. She likes British humour, The Sopranos, classics like I, Claudius. She was indifferent about Game of Thrones and Ozark. Nothing important or earth shattering here. But what are the best shows on Netflix now? Why did you like them? What might you suggest she watch the first episode of? ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/2 "2020-08-29T16:59:49Z")
First, I think it is a tough sell to evaluate a series based on the first episode alone. A lot of the times shows start out a bit weak, and then gain their stride a few shows in. Some that I would suggest: “Better Call Saul”. I don’t know that I would suggest “Breaking Bad” as it is a bit dark. But the pre-quel, “Saul” stands on its own. Great characters, intricate storylines, lots of twists. Not as dark or violent as “Breaking Bad”, but it does have some intense moments as well. It may be a bit confusing as “Saul” gives the backstory on a number of characters who are featured in “Breaking Bad”. For humor “Schitt’s Creek”. This is an example of a show that took about 4 episodes to hit its stride. That is, the humor is more heavy-handed as it starts out, but then they develop the characters as the show goes along. If she likes “Schitt’s Creek”, then I’d also recommend the first 3 seasons of “Arrested Development” as well. My new favorite is “Norsemen”, but I can see that this may not be for everyone. It reminds me a lot of British humor, though (with some graphic gore and violence also thrown in). It is somewhat sitcom like and the “main” stories are a bit predictable at times. But what kill me are just the little from-left-field stuff thrown in. These are the first that come to mind. I’ll add more as they come to me. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/3 "2020-08-29T19:59:39Z")
If she likes Sopranos and didn’t mind GoT and Ozark, maybe Six Feet Under. A lot less violent than the others, but the dark comedy is good, it has an amazing story and if she’s good with Sopranos, I don’t think the main subject matter or all the surrounding plots will offend her (I’m assuming she’s okay with LGBT stuff, one of the main male characters is gay and has a boyfriend during most of the run and their relationship is just as intimate as a hetero couple you’d see on any other HBO show). ETA: Just realized (duh) that Six Feet Under isn’t on Netflix, it’s on HBO, but if you have that, you can stream it. However, Netflix does currently have Dexter, which is also very good, and very worth watching. Also, Twin Peaks. ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/4 "2020-08-30T06:19:03Z")
Derry Girls? Set in Northern Ireland which should count as British, and is humorous. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/5 "2020-08-30T07:20:19Z")
A miscellaneous selection of British stuff Sherlock Broadchurch - crime drama The End of the Fucking World - dark comedy Sex Education - comedy/drama The Inbetweeners - comedy Peaky Blinders - period crime drama - I have not seen this yet, but it’s very highly rated A US series that hasn’t been mentioned - House of Cards She may well have seen the original British version, the U.S. one is also excellent ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/6 "2020-08-30T07:26:45Z")
Peaky Blinders is RAELLY good. I just finished The Order - think of Twilight (the teem vampire and werewolves) if the writers had a sense of humor and said “OK, we know this is stupid, let’s have some fun with it” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/7 "2020-08-30T09:50:56Z")
_Corner Gas_ is a sitcom set in Saskatchewan, Canada. She might want to check it out for humor and light fare. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/8 "2020-08-30T12:37:34Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Peaky Blinders is RAELLY good. In the same way that Sons of Anarchy was RAELLY good. Ie: if you liked the utterly nonsense lunacy then fair enough, but it’s no top 10 for anything. I live local to Birmingham, and know a lot of Brummies, let’s put it this way the accents are not correct in any way. Still, it has reinvigorated the local area, and brought a lot of tourism, despite it being filmed elsewhere, so I suppose it’s a good thing overall. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/9 "2020-08-30T12:42:27Z")
The OA, it is relatively short and utterly lunactic. A woman in New York jumps off a bridge and survives and is put into a mental hospital. When she comes to, it turns out she’s been missing for seven years since she was a teen. She is also not blind anymore. It goes from there. Mindhunter is also excellent. Tracking serial killers through Behavioural Analysis and interviewing them in the late 70s, and the formation of the BAU. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/10 "2020-08-30T13:41:00Z")
If she likes British humor, it looks like “The IT Crowd” is still available on Netflix. It’s a comedy about the IT staff in a large office building, but there’s more to it than just tech humor. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/11 "2020-08-30T17:45:36Z")
_The Last Kingdom_, about the Dane-Saxon Wars featuring Alfred The Great, is pretty good. The POV main character is Uhtred of Bebbenburg, the son of a Briton (with no love of either Dane or Saxon) who is captured as a boy and raised as a Dane, so he’s a “child of both worlds, belonging to neither.” But the show also has a very good supporting ensemble cast. Typical episodes range somewhere between Game of Thrones and Braveheart and Rob Roy. David Dawson damned near steals the show as King Alfred (he does pretty much steal every scene he’s in, and that’s saying a lot with such a strong ensemble cast!) with an understated yet nuanced performance. ---
**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 1, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/12 "2020-09-01T04:02:23Z")
Your mom sounds like mine… She’d love having Brit Box, but only has Netflix. But she’s found shows like _The Crown_ (she’s addicted to it). Wife and I prefer _Call the Midwife_, another excellent series, with historic depth as well. Finally watched the new-ish (2005) _Pride and Prejudice_ with Keira Knightley. It was so well done! Donald Sutherland and Judi Dench are wonderful in it too. Oh, almost forgot our favorite: _The Great British Baking Show._ I loathe “reality shows” (and baking shows), but this is charming and exciting, too. Oh, and my mom is obsessed with _Anne With An E,_ a re-telling of Anne of Green Gables. The old bat won’t shut up about the characters and the sets and the landscapes (no, mom, I still haven’t watched it… no, not yet…well, see, I have a life…). Another vote for _Peaky Blinders._ And _The IT Crowd_. _The Kominsky Method_ is well-written old farts ( Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin). And even though you might not think mum would like these, the old bird might surprise you: _Arrested Development, Designated Survivor, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Being John Malkovich_, and as of tomorrow, the _Back to the Future_ trilogy is on Netflix… ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-netflix-tv-series-recommendation/919316/13 "2020-09-01T05:18:29Z")
We’ve been we-watching _Community_ and it holds up well. It may or may not be a bit manic for her tastes, but it might be worth a try if she hasn’t seen it yet.