Netflix - To Binge or Not to Binge - that is the question...

As I am eagerly awaiting November 25th, 2016, for the only reason that it brings with it The Gilmore Girls Netflix installment 8+ long years after the show ended, I thought I should blog about Binge-Worthy shows that I thoroughly enjoyed. In no particular order then,

1. Gilmore Girls - A lovely show about a mother-daughter relationship that is more of a friendship than a traditional parent-child one. Be warned though, that at 7 seasons, it is a longggg CW show (approx. 21-22 episodes per season). Amy Sherman-Palladino created this perfect TV series that just works. Lauren Graham plays Lorelai Gilmore who lives with 16 year old daughter Rory Gilmore in a wonderful little town called Stars Hollow with a whole slew of quirky but endearing characters. Lorelai owns an inn and Rory is everyone's dream teenager with her nose always in a book and a halo around her head. As the story progresses and the layers peeled, we get to see Lorelai's complicated relationship with her own mother, Rory's relationship with her grandparents, Lorelai's friendship with Luke of Luke's Diner and the boys who court Rory throughout the show. Did both pivotal characters frustrate me with their choices at different times? Hell yeah (especially Lorelai)! But the fact that the audience is so drawn into and so consumed with their decisions and stories tells us just how successful Gilmore Girls was. It is truly audience loyalty that has brought this Netflix project into being - so it is with great trepidation and excitement that I await the 25th of November… may it not disappoint!

2. Parenthood - Another gem by Jason Katims… a heart-warming series about the Braverman family and the trials and tribulations of the 4 Braverman siblings and their families. I wrote a blog post about it way back when - see here. My recommendation still stands. At 4 seasons it is a great watch. Lauren Graham's character in this show reminded me a little of Lorelai Gilmore… All the actors, including the youngsters did a fabulous job on this show. A must watch! This brings me to...

3. Friday Night Lights - I was introduced to show runner Jason Katims with this show. This series set in Dillon, TX, is a show around and about a high-school football team and anyone who knows me knows that I don't even really fully understand the rules of football. I watched it not knowing that I would be completely sucked into the lives of Coach and Tami Taylor (one of the best marriages on TV), the football players and the residents of this small little town. "Clear eyes Full hearts can't lose". It's 5 seasons long and ran on NBC. A gem of a show.

4. The Killing - If you like murder mysteries and suspenseful shows this is the show for you. It follows 2 detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder as they work on solving the disappearance of a young girl. This is not your average Law and Order SVU (which I happen to like by the way) show which works at the breakneck speed of one mystery per episode. This show stays true to the slow plodding nature of detective work (which I can only presume since I am not a detective myself) and the first 2 shows are dedicated to solving this one mystery. I thought it wise to reveal that here so those of you who do end up watching this don't want to kill me when the mystery is not solved at the end of Season 1. You will not be disappointed by the show - some history: It was cancelled after season 3 and Netflix rescued the show and created a season 4 with only 6 episodes to give it the ending it deserved and provided much-needed closure to the fans.

5. The Mysteries of Laura - Debra Messing leads this NBC show's ensemble cast as Police Detective Laura Diamond who solves murder cases while also juggling single parenthood to 2 young boys. Her life gets complicated when her ex-husband Jake, played by the dishy Josh Lucas, is assigned as her boss. It's a fun watch. Initially I watched it for Debra Messing but soon was immersed in binge-watching this show. It's 2 seasons old and I just found out that it will not be returning for Season 3. I need to take a moment to rant about television networks not really giving new shows a chance in general… given the garbage we have on TV, why cancel a well made show? What I liked was that with each murder mystery, the show also gradually threw light on the detectives' personal lives and gave us some interesting background stories. A light breezy watch.

Some other shows I enjoyed binging on are Emily Owens (MD) (only 1 season long but a cute little nugget of a show starring Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer), White Collar (Matt Bomer is so beautiful to look at and I enjoyed the chemistry and bromance between our 2 male leads), The Glades (loved the show but hated the ending - really really really hated it but the show itself overall was good), Making a Murderer (it will shake your faith in the legal system but is a compelling watch), Stranger Things (loved this show - ode to the 80s and it brought back Winona Ryder - it's truly the kids who steal the show though). There are other shows like Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock that I did not binge watch since I watched them on TV as they were airing real time but I think those would be binge-watch worthy. Sadly, Friends did not stand the test of time. When I re-watched season 1 I was not really amused and wondered what I saw in it - but make no mistake, I was devoted the first time around :) since this was pre-DVR days, I would decline Thursday evening invites from friends because I had this show to watch!

Hope this list helps the next time you are wondering what show to binge on.

Parenthood - the new kid on the block

And I just love it - NBC's new drama Parenthood airs on Tuesday nights at 10/9 C. The show tracks the life of The Braverman family and is set in the Bay area. The show follows the trials and tribulations of the 4 Braverman siblings - Sarah (Lauren Graham), Adam (played by the delectable Peter Krause), Crosby (Dax Shepard) and Julia (Erika Christensen).

Sarah is a single mother of 2 who has moved back with her parents bringing her 2 children (Mae Whitman plays the daughter - I remember her from One Fine Day) in tow. She basically has to restart her life and build a stable home for her teens who are dealing with a lot themselves. What I love about her character is that she is not afraid to fight for her kids - she goes head to head with her brother when he fails to be there for her son. It's a little hard to see her as anything other than Lorelai Gilmore but I am glad to see her on the small screen again.

Adam and his wife (played by Monica Potter) have 2 kids - one of whom has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. As they slowly get over the shock of Max's diagnosis and learn to deal with his needs, their 15-year old daughter Haddie is discovering first love and all the tumultuous feelings that go with it much to the horror of her father. Peter Krause is as handsome as ever - I really really like him :) (no offense hubby). The casting director did a good job casting this family - for example the daughter Haddie actually does look like a mix of Peter Krause and Monica Potter.

Crosby, the happy go lucky sibling, has to grow up quickly when he discovers his long lost 5 year old son Jabar. As Crosby gets over his initial misgivings related to his son, it's fun to see him embrace fatherhood with somewhat comical (at times heartwarming) results.

Julia (probably my least fave of the cast) is the complete opposite of Sarah - there is some sisterly rivalry there. Her husband is a stay at home dad to their daughter - the main thorn in Julia's life is another stay at home mom who she suspects is interested in more than just friendship with her husband - this would not normally be a big problem except for the fact that their daughters are best friends and constantly thrown together.

The Braverman grandparents (played by Craig T Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia) provide loving support to their family while at the same time dealing with their marital troubles...

What I love about this show, aside from the fabulous cast, is the warmth and strong family ties this series portrays. The family is there for each other come what may - they are the best of friends but at the same time sibling rivalry exists in the relationships especially between the 2 sisters. There's something about large close-knit families that is universally appealing (especially perhaps because I am so far away from my immediate family) and I love being an onlooker as the Braverman family ploughs through challenges and enjoys good times together. So if you find yourself with an opening for a TV show on Tuesday nights this is it. Set your DVR or watch it live and enjoy!! It's only a few episodes old, so if you want to catch up you can watch full episodes at www.nbc.com