5 shows to watch on Netflix this summer (2019)

For the past few months I've been spending a lot of time snuggled up in bed or on the sofa watching Netflix (if you read my Hodgkin's Lymphoma diagnosis story you'll probably understand why). I've binged my way through countless TV shows, so I thought I'd round up the best and put together a list of my recommendations on what to watch on Netflix this summer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bVik34nWws

Black Mirror

Charlie Brooker's award-winning series is back, with three new episodes which were released on 5th June. As with previous series, each episode is a standalone story which will change the way you look at technology, the future and the world.

• Striking Vipers is set in a not-so distant future, and explores the effect VR video games may have on friendships
• Smithereens is set in the present day. A London taxi driver kidnaps an employee of a social media company and uses him as a pawn to get closer to the CEO
• Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too stars Miley Cyrus as a pop singer whose life isn't as perfect as it seems

I was surprised to see Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too has the lowest rating on IMDB, because this is the one I enjoyed the most. It's the closest to what you'd expect from a Black Mirror episode (including a big 'twist'). Striking Vipers and Smithereens are thought-provoking in their own rights and definitely worth a watch. However they didn't have the same feel in my opinion.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Watch if you liked... Black Mirror is one of those shows that's fairly unique, but if you liked series like Altered Carbon, The Man in the High Castle or The Handmaid’s Tale then you'll probably like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQcPqm3EqY8

What/If

“What happens when acceptable people start doing unacceptable things?”

This thriller stars Renée Zelwegger as venture capitalist Anne Montgomery, who propositions married couple Lisa and Sean, tempting them with the promise of investing $80 million into Lisa's start-up company. In return all she asks for is one night alone with Sean.

The plot summary describes this show as a gender-flipped version of the film Indecent Proposal, however I feel like this a little misleading. It starts off that way, however it veers off down a different path. It's a little over-the-top in places, however I did enjoy it overall, and it's definitely not predictable.

Apparently this is going to be an anthology where the characters change each series, so it'll be interesting to see what they come up with for season 2.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐ | Watch if you liked... You, Dead to Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEG3bmU_WaI

Stranger Things

"One summer can change everything"

The third series of Stranger Things is due to be released on 4th July 2019. If you haven't seen series 1 and 2 of this sci-fi horror then now is the time to catch up!

Set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, series one focuses on the disappearance of 12-year-old Will Byers. At the same time, a young girl with psychokinetic abilities escapes from a nearby laboratory which is researching the alternative dimension known as the "Upside Down."

I put off watching this for ages before finally giving in. It took me a couple of episodes to get into it, but I'm glad I persisted as it definitely lives up to the hype. All the child actors are so good, especially Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven. It's nail-bitingly scary in places, but if you love sci-fi horrors then you need to add this to your watch list.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Watch if you liked... Lost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doctor Who

Dead to Me

"Misery just found company"

Jen is a widow obsessively searching for the hit-and-run driver who killed her husband. Judy is a free spirit who also recently suffered a tragic loss of her own. When the two women meet at a support group, they strike up an unlikely friendship. But how much does Jen really know about Judy? And what is she hiding?

What I enjoyed most about this is how complex the characters are. In places it's laugh-out-loud funny, but also so tense it had me on the edge of my seat. I love a show with lots of twists!

Each episode is only 30-minutes long, so it's easy to binge-watch or squeeze in at the end of a long day. Season 2 has also already been confirmed.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Watch if you liked... Desperate Housewives, Big Little Lies

Dynasty

This reboot of the 80s soap opera is trash TV at its finest. When energy tycoon Blake Carrington summons his two children home for a 'big announcement,' his daughter Fallon (who works at his company) presumed she's about to get a big promotion. Instead he introduces them to his fiancé and their future stepmother Cristal. When Fallon's plot to split them up backfires, she strikes out on her own by teaming up with her father's rival Jeff Colby.

I never watched the original 80s show, so have nothing to compare it to, but this is a classic example of a show that's so bad it's good. It's over-the-top and unbelievable in places, but I love the drama. It's the kind of show you can watch when you're tired or hungover and don't fancy using any brain cells. Perfect escapism.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Watch if you liked... Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl

What have you been watching on Netflix recently?

Image credit: Netflix photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash