44 minutes of relaxation on Netflix #StreamTeam

We were compensated for this post. All thoughts are our own and these shows really do rock. Relaxation is a prime commodity. There are some weeks where my wife and I don’t get any down time. More often than not we have to schedule the relaxation period. “44 minutes of relaxation?” is our query. I have my shows, she has her shows and we have our shows that we’ll watch on Netflix. It depends on who is able to relax. If I’m solo then it’s Luther, Continuum or other. She’s down with Gilmore Girls (shocker!) and together we really enjoy Person of Interest. There are a couple other shows thought that might just fly below your radar that are worth checking out on Netflix.

Continuum

Continuum is a sci-fi time travel show for those that don’t like the genre. Granted it is a cop show about time travel, but the depth of the characters and whip smart writing make this series one of the best. Toss in some parallel story items about civil liberties and you’ve got a show that will keep you hooked throughout its entire run.

Alias

Before J.J. Abrams awakened the Force he lived large on the small screen with this show that broke molds and blazed trails. Alias showed audiences what J.J. could do (minus the sun flares!), made us say hello to Jennifer Garner, Bradley Cooper and many others. The quality in this show was a high point for network television when it came to script, action and twists.

Person of Interest

We call Person of Interest our 44 minutes of relaxation. It’s a cop/action show that has moments of disbelief with a cast that gives you just enough of a nudge and wink to make it all good. The ‘machine’ knows what’s going to happen to people, people are out to get it and the people who work with it. This is our night-in of television when the wife and I just want to have fun and enjoy some solid network caliber programming.

Luther

Luther, on the other hand was my go-to show for a week. I watched every episode and then immediately wished that I didn’t watch them so that I could watch them again for the first time.  It’s morally complex, where good cops sometimes do bad things, but for good reasons and superbly acted by everyone involved. This show was a bit too real for my wife, so I jumped in solo on this one. There is some violence and emotional trauma that might be too much for those wanting a hassle free ride.

Burn Notice

To wit, if you want a fun, hassle free ride then Burn Notice is your show. It’s loaded with action, has (Groovy) Bruce Campbell and a roulette wheel of fabulous character actors. You come for the action, stick around for the Prison Break-esque plot twists and smile the entire way through. Burn Notice also gets major points for having a satisfying series finale that delivered surprises and answers.

The X Files

OK, The X Files are kind of en vogue now, what with the couple new episodes on Fox now. We watched a couple of the original series and realized that, for the most part they still hold up really well. The most glaring difference is in the fashion and special effects, but that Molder and Scully magic is strong.

Quantum Leap

Quantum Leap originally aired from 1989-1993 and defied every stereotype on television. A scientist who gets stuck traveling through time whose only link is his friend who he can’t see, but can hear. The show had him leap into hot political climates, racist conflicts, the opposite sex and anything else that made great TV. This show is one that has been rumored to be rebooted, but so far no dice. Do yourself a favor and dig into this.

Gilmore Girls

This one is my wife’s comfort food. Sometimes I’ll get lulled into it when the couch magnet is on and I find myself marveling at the chemistry and dialogue. Gilmore Girls is a great show, don’t tell my wife though.

Psych

Real crimes, a fake psychic. Psych is less real than Burn Notice in the crime and action, but amps up the wit, quirk and fun to make this a really entertaining show.  In a way this is similar to Monk, but was always more fun to watch. Have we mentioned that this is a fun show?  Unplug the brain, turn off the phone and enjoy this guilt free option.

Portlandia

Portlandia is one of the funniest shows I’ve seen. Portlandia is a horrible waste of time. People either love this show or hate it. It gives us belly laughs. This is droll, dry, witty, observational sketch comedy that skews people and society. It’s not just about Portland or other hippie enclaves, suburbia, weirdoes, families and more are all targets of the jokes. The cast, Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein and the deep bench of voice over, character actors and legends (yes, legends, Liza Minelli!, Paul Reubens! Matt Groening! and many more)that they bring in are worth watching for, especially during the ‘court’ scenes.  Each episode is only 22 minutes, but we usually get sucked into watching two, so this makes the cut.