What is good procrastination without a good show to distract you? If you are looking for a new series that is not particularly in the mainstream media, then you have come searching in the right place. Without further ado, I give you my top ten list of shows that I think deserve a little more attention:
WARNING: Some (most) of these shows are for mature audiences.
1. Marco Polo
I’m going to kick off the list with this epic from Netflix. The show is based on the journeys of famous Italian explorer Marco Polo during his time in the Mongol kingdom. The show boasts one of the most diverse casts I have ever seen on screen, well-choreographed fight scenes and some engaging plot lines. The show is also sprinkled with some pretty accurate cultural representations of the Mongols and the Chinese Song Dynasty.
2. Penny Dreadful
This next show is a dark thriller that follows a group of people as they fight against supernatural entities in Victorian London. The show also features classic characters such as Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s Monster and Dorian Grey. This is one of the few horror shows out there and I am intrigued by its dark and gothic tone and its take on classic, supernatural creatures. I also appreciate the show’s amazing visuals, its engaging characters and the actors that play them. It’s some really top notch stuff.
3. The Man in the White Castle
What if the Nazis had won WWII and then gone on to conquer the USA? Well this show, which is based on a book, answers that question as it follows the lives of different characters living under an America ruled by the Nazis and the Japanese. Admittedly, I have only watched a few episodes of this show, but so far I am sold and find the plot quite compelling.
4. Jessica Jones
This is a superhero show is about a woman who doesn't want to be a superhero. In fact, this show is a psychological thriller about a woman who is haunted by the reappearance of a man who can control people's minds and at one point, controlled her own. Unlike many superhero films and series, this show isn't filled with cliché superhero tropes and fits into the Neo-noir genre. This means that even if you are not a comic book fan, you can still thoroughly enjoy this show. Another thing that sets this show apart from other superhero series is its dark tone and just how well it deals with very mature themes and subjects. Plus, David Tenant.
5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
On a less dark note, this is a comedy about Kimmy Schmidt, a woman who decides to start a new life in New York City after being rescued from a doomsday cult. The show is from the brilliant mind of Tina Fey and has a dynamic set of characters that regularly make me laugh. The ‘unbreakable’ spirit of Kimmy’s character especially makes this series a feel-good show.
6. Rick and Morty
This cartoon is severely underrated and under-appreciated. Who doesn't love a good ol' story about a grandfather and his grandson travelling through alternate dimensions and messing up the world order? This show is intelligent and witty and it does a lot of extraordinary things with its characters. I sometimes rewatch episodes from the show and I still find myself cracking up.
7. Cosmos
Science is cool. Neil deGrasse Tyson is also cool. Therefore, this show double the cool.
8. F is for family
This little gem from Netflix is about the dysfunctional Murphy family and is set in the 1970s (shout out to all the #70skids). I like this show's unique style of animation and if you're like me and don't mind aggressive humour, then you will find this show hilarious. The voice acting in this show is also excellent.
9. Earth
You know who has a great voice? Sir David Attenborough. You know what else is pretty great? nature. This documentary series is all of those things and more. Discover the diversity of nature from the animals in the deep and icy Arctic Ocean to the animals in the jungles of Africa.
10. iZombie
This is truly one of my favourite shows right now. The story is about Liv Moore, an aspiring medical student that gets turned into a zombie, but she soon realises that if she eats brains regularly, she is able to pass as a normal person. She also realises that when she eats brains, she gets the memories of the brain's owner and she uses this to help solve crimes. This show is smart and has a great balance of comedy and drama. The characters are all very well-written and truly bring the show to life and make it refreshing. This is another show that is too underrated.