5 Shows You Should Be Watching On Instant Streaming

Though Netflix has received some backlash for the new price increase, it remains as one of the most (if not the most) popular movie services available today. If you’re shelling out $8 a month for instant streaming, Netflix offers an immensely large catalog of movies to choose from. However, if you’re anything like me, you love Netflix mainly for its variety of television series.

Before Netflix, you’d have to trout down to your local rental chain and pray against all odds that they carried more than just the latest season of the show you’re looking for. If they did carry earlier seasons, more than likely they were missing disc three of four in the season you want. But, then I signed up for Netflix and everything changed. I now had access to every season to shows I had been anxiously waiting to watch, and the discs were being mailed to my house! What more could I ask for?

Turns out my previous question was answered for me in the form of instant streaming. I didn’t think much of the service at first, but then as the library got better I realized that I could watch a show without have to wait those bittersweet days in between disc return and arrival. These days, the Netflix television library offers a plethora of fantastic shows to watch and after the jump I’d like to share five  excellent shows that you really need to watch.

Doctor Who

I guarantee most of you have  a friend that is obsessed with this show. They’ve told you countless times, “Dude, you need to checkout Doctor Who. It’s amazing!” You know what, your friend is right. Doctor Who is the most successful sci-fi series of all-time, in terms of its overall broadcast ratings, DVD and book sales, iTunes traffic and “illegal downloads”. While you have the option to view many adventures in the classic series (following the tales of Doctors 1-8), I started watching the new series that began in 2005 (beginning with the 9th Doctor).

The Doctor is a Time Lord, the last of his kind, and goes around the universe and travels in time to explore fascinating places and events. However, when he arrives to his destination, along side is faithful companion, trouble always seems to turn its ugly head his way. You may have noticed that I’ve referred to multiple Doctors, and this is because every so often the Doctor gets caught in a situation in which he almost dies. To stop that from happening, he “regenerates” into an entirely different person (a great way for a actor to exit the show, if I do say so myself). As it stands now, Matt Smith plays the 11th incarnation of the Doctor.

Who should watch this series: This a must watch for sci-fi fans or fans of British television. Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith all bring something different and wonderful to the role of The Doctor and show is brilliantly written.

Scrubs

I bet that most of you have seen at least a few episodes of Scrubs, especially since Comedy Central plays re-runs every weekday. The show follows John ‘ J.D.’ Dorian as he begins his career as a doctor at Sacred Heart, a learning hospital, along side his best friend Christopher Turk. Along the ways he meets a colorful cast of characters, including his crazed mentor (Perry Cox), his on-again/off-again girlfriend (Elliot Reed), Turk’s fiery vixen (Carla Espinosa) and his biggest nemesis (The Janitor).

The show is best known for it’s method of story telling, which it does through J.D.’s point of view. Almost every episode is narrated by J.D., as if he’s telling the story to a friend. Additionally, many times throughout an episode J.D. will have a comical daydream based on whatever topic is being discussed at that moment.

When I was still renting discs, I ended up watching the entire series (8 seasons) three discs at a time. However, when I discovered the show was on instant streaming I started watching some of my favorite episodes here and there, until I eventually watched every episode for a second time. I even watched the infamous ninth season, in which Sacred Heart is transformed into a school and medical students take over the show (a la Saved By the Bell: The New Class)

Who should watch this series: If you’re a sitcom fan, this show will be right up your alley. Additionally, if you love comedy shows, this is a must watch. Nearly everyone on the show is funny in one way or another (especially Perry Cox). Even if you can’t stand Zach Braff, I promise you’ll get over it after a few episodes.

Mad Men

AMC’s original series, Mad Men, is without a doubt one of the most popular shows on television right now. Set in the 1960’s, Mad Men follows the life of Don Draper, a creative director at Sterling Cooper (an advertising agency located on New York City’s Madison Avenue), both at work and in his personal life. To say that Don is a complicated man is like saying DC needs to make a good superhero movie besides the Dark Knight trilogy—it’s pretty obvious.

Along-side Don is a slew of immensely interesting characters, including Betty Draper (wife), Roger Sterling (boss), Peggy Olson (secretary), Joan Harris (office hottie) and Pete Campbell (office annoyance). One of the main reasons I love this show is due to its realism and truth to the era. Mad Men makes no apologies to the social climate of the 60’s and doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable topics. Additionally, John Hamm’s portrayal of Don Draper is by far one of the best acting performances I have ever had the pleasure of watching.

Who should watch this series: Everyone. Seriously, just watch it.

Parks & Recreation

I know that some of you may be thinking, “Parks & Recreation is just a rip off of The Office.” While it’s true that show is shot in same documentary style as The Office, there are vast differences between the two shows. Amy Poehler stars as Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the parks department of Pawnee, Indiana. Her life if devoted to making Pawnee the best small-town in America, regardless of political red tape or her co-workers lack of interest or enthusiasm.

As amazing as Poehler is in this role (perhaps better than Tina Fey as Liz Lemon), the supporting cast is what put this show over the top. Knopes co-workers, including slacker and  entrepreneur Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), ultra-libertarian and boss Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), and the striking, yet extremely cynical April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza), play a large part in the show’s humor.  Additionally, Rashida Jones plays Ann Perkins, a local nurse and best friend to Knope, who starts the series living with then goofball boyfriend Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt). The addition of  Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) and Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) in season two only added more humor and dynamic that made the show that much better.

Who should watch this series: Again, this is one for the comedy and sitcom fans. Though, the show is so dynamic that if offers a little something for everyone to enjoy.

The Kids in the Hall

Saturday Night Live may reign supreme as the most popular and successful sketch comedy show of all-time, Canadian sketch comedy group The Kids in the Hall consistently offered genius comedy writing back in its day. Their television series, which ran from 1988 to 1994, is very reminiscent of Monty Phython’s Flying Circus, in that if offered quirky and surreal sketches with little to no reference to celebrities or pop culture. The group consisted of many brilliant comedians, most of which are still working in one way or another today, including Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinny (SNL alum) and Scott Thompson.

The show is famous for it’s frequent use of cross dressing, as group members played both male and female roles (with a few exceptions), as well as its use of monologues (Scott Thompson’s Buddy Cole is the most well known). The comedy group didn’t shy away from “hot button” topics, such as homosexuality and religion, though most of the religious content was censored for American television.

Who should watch this series: Any fan of sketch comedy. These guys won’t be for everyone, but they’re well worth watching.

Is there a show in instant streaming that I missed? Let me know in the comments.