1. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a situational comedy revolving around the lives of police officers from a fictional 99th precinct in Brooklyn. The first season begins with the precinct getting a new, no-nonsense police captain (Andre Braugher), much to the disappointment of the immature Detective Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg). This sitcom has just started its fifth season and has remarkably maintained its high quality over the years. It touches on serious issues that affect many around the world, as evidenced in episodes like “Moo Moo,” which considers racial profiling in law enforcement. However, it still manages to be light-hearted and humorous, making it both thought-provoking and entertaining to watch.
2. Daredevil
Even if you’re not a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Netflix’s show Daredevil is still a must-watch. Daredevil is an artfully made superhero show that follows a blind man named Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a defense lawyer by day and vigilante by night in Hell’s Kitchen of New York. In season one, he is pitted against the rising crime lord Wilson Fisk, or the Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio). The performances of the actors are remarkable, in particular D’Onofrio, whose portrayal of the Kingpin is a highlight of the season. In its two seasons so far, the show manages to find just the right balance of darkness and gloominess without it being overbearing. Also, the cinematography is beautiful, the fight sequences get progressively better and more action-packed, and the storyline is riveting and full of twists and turns.
3. A Series of Unfortunate Events
Based on the book series of the same name, A Series of Unfortunate Events is a Netflix comedy and drama about three orphans, Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes), and the baby, Sunny Baudelaire (Presley Smith). Following their parents’ deaths in a mysterious fire, the three are sent to live with Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris), an evil man who will stop at nothing to get the Baudelaires’ fortune. The show, like the book series, is narrated by Lemony Snicket (Patrick Warburton), the pseudonym used by the author of the books. Only one season is out so far, so it won’t take long to catch up on it. Weissman and Hynes are brilliant child actors, and Harris’ Count Olaf is iconic. While the show does get repetitive at times, it is still amusing, and certainly worth watching.
4. Malcolm in the Middle
The seven-season Fox series Malcolm in the Middle is a clever situational comedy that delves into the lives of a dysfunctional family. The first season begins with the child prodigy and protagonist, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz), being moved into the “Krelboynes,” a class for the gifted. Malcolm frequently breaks the fourth wall to speak to the audience as he and his brothers constantly get into trouble. Malcolm in the Middle is a gift to the world in terms of its comedic value. Throughout its seven seasons, it never ceases to draw out laughs.
5. Sherlock
BBC’s Sherlock is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books; however, the story takes place in the modern UK. The show has had four seasons so far, and a special episode that came out in between seasons three and four. Each season has three one and a half hour long episodes, following the private detective and self-proclaimed sociopath Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his flat-mate John Watson (Martin Freeman) as they solve crimes and face off against Sherlock’s nemesis, Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott), and other criminals. The plot is intricately thought out. While seasons three and four were not as well-made as the first two, the show is overall a fun way to spend nineteen and a half hours.
