At a time where escapism has been a solace, binge-watching reigns supreme. I know we have spent a lot of our time re-watching episodes of The Crown or Schitt’s Creek. Whether you’re a sitcom fan or an avid consumer of period dramas, there’s something streaming for you.
However, the sheer number of streaming services and shows available may be overwhelming. Rather than scrolling aimlessly, check out these highly binge-worthy series available on your favorite OTT platforms.
1) Unorthodox (2020)
Based on Deborah Feldman’s 2012 book The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots, the Netflix series Unorthodox follows the difficulties of a young Jewish Hasidic woman who tries to break free from a culture that isn’t fit for her and strives to create a new life in Germany, of all places.
It’s a four-episode mini-series and it encapsulates an intimate story of a woman trapped between two cities: Williamsburg, where she is unable to break away from patriarchal restrictions, and Berlin, the city where her ancestors were slaughtered in the horrific holocaust.
Unorthodox is a work of searing strength and elegance. Its emphasis has the best result of portraying sex in the regressive society and it highlights the feared recurring nights of a woman’s misery.
Shira Haas as Esty Shapiro is extremely brilliant as she goes to great measures to portray the character, even allowing the production team to shave her head entirely in one scene and that’s how brilliant her acting is in this series.
Nonetheless, there is deep anguish beneath this narrative, which periodically explodes in the form of tears and even the brave-hearted cannot resist feeling the anguish. As It mirrors the life of women who have been hollowed out and repressed by patriarchal traditions.
Unorthodox is the first Yiddish-language production to come out of Germany, and it deserves all your attention and if you haven’t watched it, binge-watch it right away.
2) The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy who flourishes in a structure meant to keep her down, and she looks absolutely gorgeous while doing it.
The Queen’s Gambit became one of the most popular shows of 2020 and anyone who has even a rudimentary understanding of our patriarchal culture understands that chess is a very male-dominated game.
The humane element of Beth makes this show brilliant, Beth is talented yet so flawed. Her inherent potential to win each game is undeniable, but her obsessions, frustrations, and self-doubt makes it interesting. When she sits down to play the game, it’s not how she wins that drives the story forward, but how she reacts to each game.
Apart from chess, the show depicts Beth’s awkward yet affectionate relationship with the people she cares about, with toxic undertones.
Do you know what is the best part about this mini-series? You might fall in love with several people and love does not always mean romance; it can also be platonic, aesthetic, unrequited, sensual, and territorial. Even in these partnerships, the show depicts how empty one might feel. The series conveys a powerful message of personal freedom, demonstrating that you don’t have to rely on others to succeed. If you haven’t watched this gem, you don’t know what you’re missing.
3) Anne With An E (2017)
We don’t have enough words to describe this series, so we’ll just call it a masterpiece. Remember reading the novel Anne of Green Gables? The series Anne With An E is an adaptation of the same novel.
Anne’s enchanting unique journey continues with the ways she develops her precocious intellect and ultimately finds a home in the isolated town of Avonlea.
It gets darker when we learn about Anne’s abuse through her panic attacks. These digressions darken the narrative, but they largely help viewers rationalize Anne’s unpredictable, dreamy aberrations, which otherwise perplex her caretakers and her acquaintances.
Anne with an E is filled with imagination and the contrast between her past and present is so well written, her discomforts, her trauma, her brilliance, her freckles, her red hair will make you fall in love with her character. Don’t miss out on this wonderful series.
4) The Spy (2019)
In the sketch comedies, we have often seen actor Sacha Baron Cohen, but what if I told you, in this Netflix mini-series he plays the role of Eli Cohen an Israeli spy? Yes, you read it right and it is not your typical espionage thriller.
Cohen plays a fictitious version of a real Israeli spy Eli Cohen who, in the 1960s, mimicked the persona of Kamel Amin Thaabet, a mustachioed businessman and financier, in order to obtain information on Syria’s plan against Israel.
The Spy won’t necessarily convince you if you have watched performances of Robin Williams or Jim Carrey, but you have to acknowledge Baron Cohen’s efforts, as this series depict him as a diverse actor. This series showed that he can play both serious roles as well as he can make everybody laugh.
It is a relatively quick binge, the drama may not introduce the next Clint Eastwood, but it is certainly worth a watch.
5) Mare of Easttown (2021)
Is there anything Kate Winslet cannot do? In this series, Kate Winslet elevates grief into an art form. How often do you get to see that?
Her performance is captivating, bold, but not dominating. Making someone desire to see you suffer is a challenging endeavor and Winslet does it with such finesse.
Mare of Easttown follows the story of Mare Sheehan detective who grew up in a close-knit neighborhood. Mare must confront past expectations as her own life is affected when she encounters a murder.
This is a role that Winslet has never played before. We witness her smoke, drink, engage in casual sex, cuss like a sailor, and disobey the law she swore to defend. No one’s heart will go on for Mare Sheehan, who is easily offended with a pricky attitude.
Despite being the most unlikable character, this is Winslet’s finest role. Apart from mastering an almost difficult to imitate regional dialect, she fascinates us with her ability to portray the character of someone who pushes away and isolates herself from people around her. Watch Mare of Easttown for Kate Winslet.
6) Crashing (2016)
If you’ve watched “Fleabag,” you’ll understand what a treasure Phoebe-Waller-Bridge is and her acting is nothing short of phenomenal.
Crashing is a British comedy series that follows the lives of six dysfunctional twenty-something-year-olds as they attempt to hold their life together. The series follows a mishmash of characters who become the property guardians of a decommissioned hospital.
The series is driven by a fascinating and complex ensemble of actors, each of whom is attempting to thrive in living situations that are miserable yet hilarious. As a consequence, the series is a strange mix of absurd events and hilarious moments.
Crashing is streaming on Netflix, it isn’t perfect – but it’s fun to watch Waller-Bridge working with a larger ensemble of characters, each of the characters can express unique insights about relationships and modern life.
Crashing has its own unique raw humor that leaves you craving for more. Crashing is a show that demonstrates how a cheerful group of people can be depressed in the same environment.
Let us know which one of these shows you would prefer to binge-watch today and let us know your favorites among these shows.
Image Credits:
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Anshal
June 27, 2021 at 10:04 pm
Interesting picks..have watched a few of these series. Will surely watch the rest.
Nice descriptions.
Sreehari Priya G
June 27, 2021 at 10:26 pm
Will definitely watch all these series.👌
Jaya
June 27, 2021 at 11:11 pm
Very well written. EXCELLENT.I want to watch all the series. .Firstly l would like to watch The Queens Gambit. 👍👍
Ekta
June 27, 2021 at 11:19 pm
I’m definitely gonna wwatch all of them! Just in love with way you portray!💖
Kumar Aayush
June 27, 2021 at 11:24 pm
Superb one!!!
Aiman
June 27, 2021 at 11:23 pm
I’m gonna watch all of them ❤️
Sana Shamoil
June 27, 2021 at 11:29 pm
Definitely gonna watch all of ’em 😊💕
Shrushti
June 28, 2021 at 9:45 am
Quite good picks for a web series collection….after reading the description of each…..guess it’s worth watching these web series…. especially Queen’s gambit, Spy and Mare of Easttown (one way due to Kate Winslet).
Charvi
June 28, 2021 at 5:52 pm
I have watched only 1 of these, thankyou soo much sometimes I simply keeping searching wats interesting to watch, but now u have given a list, the best part is u have briefed so well, just loved it. Now I can watch them.. Thankyou so much.. Again a great work. Keep writing😊😁
Kaumodi
June 27, 2021 at 11:31 pm
will definetly watch
Abhay
June 27, 2021 at 11:34 pm
Loved it !
Aditya Kiran Srivastava
June 27, 2021 at 11:35 pm
Will watch them for sure!!!
Shreeja
June 29, 2021 at 4:37 pm
Just love your contents
Sindhu
June 28, 2021 at 12:13 am
Superb article.. For this pandemic this is the perfect article for many people to get the list to watch and escape from boredom.. I will definitely will watch all of them.
Mehak
June 28, 2021 at 12:42 am
OH MY GOD! you have no idea how much I love ‘Queen’s Gambit.’ Anya- Taylor Joy is the best.
Your articles are the best, my dad asks me about your articles everyday. You are the little writer that we root to. Unorthodox seems interesting, I am definitely gonna binge-watch.
Sadana Zafer
June 28, 2021 at 12:54 am
Gonna watch dem fa sure👍👍
Kousthuba
June 28, 2021 at 1:21 am
Excellent article loved it
Priyansha
June 28, 2021 at 2:53 am
Freedom is everything. And these lovely characters assert it
Rithwik
June 28, 2021 at 8:24 am
Can’t take my eyes off from the list, as I love all of them. I see a similar sense of theme in all these. How liberating freedom is and how they struggle trying to fit in the world. Unorthodox’s ending gave me goosebumps.
Kirty sharma
June 28, 2021 at 8:46 am
It is a great and helpful article
Abhi
June 28, 2021 at 10:42 am
Wonderful article, Queen’s Gambit and Spy are my favourites. Even I thought Sacha Boran Cohen outdid himself in the series ❤️
Prachi
June 28, 2021 at 10:52 am
Your choice is great makes me wanna re-watch all of them., ever since I have read ‘Anne of Green Gables’ I have admired Anne Shirley Cuthbert. It is chock full of intelligent writing, breathtaking cinematography, and brilliant casting and acting. The series is like breath of fresh air, it tackles so many issues. Yes binge-watching is sort off escapism for me and reading your article is one of my favorite things.
Reddy
June 28, 2021 at 11:02 am
Amazing article..
DURGA PRASAD
June 28, 2021 at 11:18 am
Very nice article 👌👌👌
Rakshith H.S
June 28, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Intriguing. Will definitely check them out.
Vashisht
June 28, 2021 at 5:47 pm
Crashing is such a messy show and it made me laugh so much. Anything Waller-Bridges is in stands out. The Unpredictability of every next line is what this show is about. Queen’s Gambit is exceptional. I was unsure of watching Mare of Easttown, after reading your article I am gonna binge watch it. Great list, thank god you did not include friends or how I met your mother. This is a good list of series.
Harini
June 29, 2021 at 8:41 pm
So I have been battling Covid and in such difficult time, only thing that brings me joy is your articles Pratzy. You are a beautiful writer. Out of all the negative news, reading your articles makes me feel good. You have described that love doesn’t mean romance, how are you this good? I can connect to both Etsy and Beth, liberation is everything. I love your articles. You are a gem of a person . My whole family loves your article, dad had shared this article in our cousins group, later we discussed on the shows, it made us feel good to discuss as a family, you are truly a treasure , Keep writing!
Kriti
June 30, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Amazing article, loved the descriptions. Could you do a separate review of Mare of Easttown would love to read it.