Photo by Erica Parise for ‘Atypical’ via Netflix
Shows to watch on our favourite streaming service
By Michele Provenzano, Staff Writer
As the semester begins to ramp up in intensity, every college student needs a series to binge. It may be the treat you reward yourself with to wind down at the end of a hard day’s work. It may be the very thing that, combined with your lack of self-discipline and inclination to instant gratification, prevents a hard day’s work. Either way, Netflix has you covered! If you start streaming these Netflix originals now, you won’t have to wait long for new episodes—these series are returning this fall with new seasons.
The Kominsky Method
Genre: Comedy
Episode length: 22 to 33 minutes
Current number of episodes: 8
Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%
The Kominsky Method follows former Hollywood actor Sandy Kominsky (Michael Douglas) whose success has dwindled and now works as a coach for young actors. He and his longtime agent, Norman Newlander (Alan Arkin), navigate aging and all the tricky challenges it brings. The show bills itself as a comedy, and delivers such with the witty repartee between the two main characters. The chemistry between Douglas and Arkin is palpable. But the show also delivers truly poignant moments of connection between its characters. The show tackles themes of friendship, mortality, love, loss—and still sprinkles a few good laughs in between. Through its flawed and likeable characters, The Kominsky Method produces an enjoyable portrayal of the Hollywood experience.
Season 2 of The Kominsky Method premieres on October 25.
Atypical
Genre: Dramedy
Episode length: 26 to 38 minutes
Current number of episodes: 18
Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%
Atypical follows Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist), an 18-year-old on the autism spectrum. Sam decides he’s ready to delve into the world of dating. This throws his close-knit family for a loop. His father Doug (Michael Rapaport), mother Elsa (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and sister Casey (Brigette Lundy-Paine) find themselves needing to adapt to his newfound independence. With Sam’s attempts to break out of his habits and the tumult that follows, the show portrays a realistic portrait of a family that is equally loving as it is dysfunctional. Each character goes through life-changing experiences that prompt them to reconsider who they really are, and in this way, each character feels endearing and raw. Atypical is surprising, heartwarming, and heartbreaking.
Season 3 of Atypical premieres on November 1.
Queer Eye
Genre: Reality
Episode length: 43 to 54 minutes
Current number of episodes: 33
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
Queer Eye is the make-over style reality show. But the show’s team of lifestyle experts, the Fab Five, prefer to call it a make-better. Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski, and Karamo Brown meet a new individual each episode, who they refer to as the “hero,” whose life they intend to transform. The group connects with the hero, guiding them towards making improvements in their life within the realms of fashion, grooming, design, food, wine, and culture. The Fab Five meets participants that tend to have beliefs that are different from their own; heroes often have never interacted with openly queer men. Queer Eye is the ultimate feel-good show, bringing touching moments each episode. Whether the team is tackling relevant social issues, delving into a hero’s psyche and lifting their self-esteem, or breathing new life into the communities they visit, the series is bound to bring a tear to your eye.
Season 5 of Queer Eye premieres on November 1.
