NETFLIX NUGGETS

July delights

REVIEWED BY Ashwini Vethakan

It’s July… and while we may be allowed out of our homes for work and a little more, there is still one factor in our ‘new normal’ that one must consider: our basic form of entertainment.

Yes, certain malls are open for those who enjoy a loaf; but for those late night movie dates or the chance to unwind in a cinema with its ‘lazy boy’ seats… well, that may take a while to come back.

With many movies either having been suspended mid-production or postponed till possibly the end of the year, cinemas will take some time getting back into the groove of things.

I for one have found comfort in Netflix and its abundance of TV shows. If ever there was a good time to binge watch a favourite series and play catch up with pop culture’s favourite names, this would be it.

To help you find something good, here are some of Netflix’s most popular shows.

STRANGER THINGS Though the series was stop­ped midway through the production of its fourth season due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Stranger Things is one show with a global following unlike any other.

It pays homage to a 1980s Steven Spielberg world filled with walkie-talkies and chopper bikes, and is entertaining for both kids and adults!

The Duffer Brothers do their best to create a supernatural adventure filled with intrigue and horror while telling the story of a group of four friends in Hawkins, Indiana. They befriend a tele­kinetic super-girl, and try to unpick a compli­cated and strange series of phenomena that plague their cushiony cul-de-sac.

BODYGUARD The cult TV show first came out on BBC One before gaining an international following and shifting gears to the world of Netflix.

And the talented Richard Madden and his equally talented jaw muscles are on display here – and we dare you to count the number of times he keeps his jaw clenched! Heads up, your own mouth will begin to hurt!

The story revolves around an ex-soldier who suffers a severe case of PTSD and is placed as the PPO (Personal Protection Officer) to the UK’s Home Secretary, thereby becoming the fall guy for everything that is about to go wrong.

With each intense hourlong episode, the show’s energy is palpable… and you will feel the worry, tension and fear that the characters experience. Be warned however, the content is mature so you may want to ensure that the kiddos are not in the room when you watch this.

PEAKY BLINDERS Another BBC One hit, this has some of the world’s biggest names like Tom Cruise, David Beckham and even the late David Bowie singing its praises.

Peaky Blinders is set in the early ’20s with Irish actor Cillian Murphy taking front and centre. Get ready for Brummie based gangs, sharp suits, shar­­per razor blades and performances that cut thro­ugh all the usual period draff.

Fixing horse races, double crossing the police, and dealing with angry fellow mob leaders such as Tom Hardy and Adrien Brody, Peak Blinders is a Living favourite for sure. 

NEVER HAVE I EVER This coming of age series is based on Indian born American actor Mindy Kaling’s autobiography. It tells the story of a typical brown girl growing up in suburbia with a very weird obsession to lose her ‘V Card.’

Hilariously written, it stars Canadian born Mai­treyi Ramakrishnan who has Sri Lankan roots. It is perfect for a girls’ night in. So top up those wine glasses and get ready to laugh ladies, Never Have I Ever will leave you nostalgic about your own high school days!