Jessica Jones

The show is based on the Marvel Comics character, Jessica Jones, and is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Having opened up her own detective agency, she is former superhero who has switched careers for the occupation of a private investigator. It falls mainly under the category of action and psychological thriller and is most certainly one of the most darkest on-screen adaptations created by the comic book publisher. 

Unlike the most common theme of lightheartedness that Marvel is associated to, in comparison to it's counterpart DC, this particular series is nothing like that. Not only does it portray a realistic view of the world, but cleverly covers the topic of harassment, sexism, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even rape. Rather than being dodgy about these subjects, the series has incorporated them in a way that's representative of the characters, one of which is Jessica herself (played by Krysten Ritter), who is shown to be coping with the effects of PTSD. 

Another commendable performance is that of David Tennant's, who takes on the role of one of MCU's best villains; Kilgrave. One of the interesting things worth noting is the complexity of his character. Yes, he may be viewed as 'evil' or 'bad' in an overall sense, but somewhere along the way, his morality and thoughts were brought into question and suddenly he was not all black & white. There was even a point he committed a heroic act of sorts and saved lives, as per Jessica's instructions. Although, some might even feel that the show fixated too much on Kilgrave as everything ties back to him at the end, especially since he kept sending clients to Jessica right from the start. 

The cinematography was highly enjoyable too, as was the noir setting of the show. A few certain episodes stood out but I think one of the brilliant ones was 'Sin Bin'. The introduction and incorporation of Luke Cage and his association with the female superhero was also pretty neat. Not to mention, the action scenes too. 

The entire season consisting of 13 episodes was premiered on Netflix on 20th November 2015. 

Happy binge-watching! 

How To Get Away With Murder

One of the most twisted things that makes you question your deduction skills, is sometimes a good murder mystery and that is precisely what this show provides in it's episodes. It's just another normal day at a Philadelphia law university, but all that changes when the Criminology professor and four of her students become intertwined with a murder plot, that sets off a chain of events. Just like that, four strangers who just want to make it to the top, suddenly find themselves trusting each other for the sake of not losing everything and going to jail. 

The series may be on going with just the second season so far, but it is one of the most gripping and captivating crime shows, thanks to the casts and the twists. Granted, the whole murder conception isn't anything out of the box and similar murders have been shown before but the one thing that really stands out is the way the whole after-process is played out. Rather than just putting primary focus on only the victim, the creators have executed in a different way as to how the lives of each of those students and the Professor has been affected, giving the show that in depth element that isn't usually seen in many shows. 

Not only is the suspense evident in each episode, but the endings of each end with a cliffhanger that leaves you with wanting to see the next episode right away. However, being under the scrutiny of the police has not stopped Professor Keating from taking on other cases side by side, with the help of her students. I find that to be a nice touch for it points out that they haven't let the murder take over their daily routines completely and focus their mind onto something else. My only concern is how long with the plot be able to go on before it gets dragging but so far, it has been thrilling and I highly suggest it. 

Happy binge-watching! 

Supergirl

For all you comic book and superhero fans, especially those fond of Superman, this is the show for you. Based on the DC Comics character 'Supergirl', the show debuted on October 26th 2015, with two episodes released so far. The series focuses on Kara Zor-El, who is one of the last surviving Kryptonians and not to mention, biological cousin to the one and only Superman. 

Let me begin with the pilot. Whilst the episode itself may not have been all that mind-blowing, it was Melissa Benoist's interesting take to the character that made it a fun watch. The pilot also did a good job of delving into the character and showcasing that even when Kara puts on her costume, she still lives in the shadow of her cousin and has to earn her place as a respected hero. This not only serves as a challenge, but also a chance for Benoist to make the character grow. 

The second episode was an improvement to the first, having given viewers a further look into the other characters and the role they play in Kara's life. The visual effects were brilliant as well, which can always be expected from a show of this particular genre. There was a good blend of comedic and emotional moments and provided a kind of balance. 

One of the letdowns of both episodes were the villains. Unlike the evil guys that may be seen on shows like Arrow or Flash, these do not seem to be playing a relevant presence and the focus isn't on them much either. I found that a little strange, considering the fact that it's the villains as well that tend to make an episode all the more enthralling to watch. Another letdown would be that there have been no surprising twists and the episodes have been following the typical procedural format.  

But at the end of the day, the fact that the second episode was better than the pilot, is an indicator that the show has a lot of potential to reach higher. 

Happy binge-watching! 

The Newsroom

If there was a way to promote this show, I would start by saying that it is certainly something that every media aspired person, especially journalists should see. Showcasing a behind-the-scenes set of a fictional news channel, the anchor and his newsroom staff, attempt to expose hardcore news happenings, putting the flow of proper information first rather than meeting corporate demands. 

As someone who wants to work in the field of journalism, this show gripped me with attention right from the first episode. Though the news station was just a fictional one, the creator had in fact been to real-world cable channels and used that knowledge in the show. It was quite amazing to get an insight as to how news is sorted and revealed to the audience and also to see the workings of a newsroom. The characters were as different as could be and each one had their own moral code and levels of integrity, as to what kind of news should be covered. While it was entertaining to see a lot of media professionals work together under one roof, I could also see just how challenging and argumentative it can get when trying to convince one an another of the importance of a story. 

The first season wasn't all as great as the second and third, but the overall concept of the show was both dramatic and informative at the same time. There was a coverage of various news items, including few from the past like the 9/11 memorial, killing of Osama Bin Laden and so on, perhaps in order to get the audience familiarised with the context of the whole show. The shooting format of the serial was pretty good too, not exactly a documentary but at the same time, stayed very true to the aspect of reality regarding what happens in a real newsroom. Having consisted of three seasons, the show concluded on December 14, 2014. 

Happy binge-watching! 

Rick and Morty

For those people who might have it in their heads that animated series are just for kids and the youngsters, this show is one of the many that will prove you wrong. 'Rick and Morty' may just be on the second season so far, but it has already grown to be one of my favourites. Revolving around the daily adventures of an alcoholic mad scientist Rick and his grandson Morty, the humour element of this series is off the charts. 

The whole concept is not only entertaining, but quite interesting as well since it can be looked at from different angles. On the one hand, what you have here is an ordinary family with regular issues much like the next person on the block, but on the other side, you also get to witness a form of escapism from this so called 'regular' life. I suppose I can't speak for everyone when I say that I dream of a method wherein I can get away from my normal existence and go for a spin in another dimension. Really, their dilemmas are just as messed up as ours, if only to be made quite amusing. 

Whilst the episodes may seem completely crazy at first glance, at a deeper level, you begin to realize just how twisted some things are and that is definitely a uniqueness about the show. The ideas are not only creative but the execution is brilliant too, and the principle of some of those ideas could be effective in real life, if you actually analyse the hidden psychology of the episodes. In a nutshell, the whole series is weird as hell and I think that is exactly why the success rate is going high. 

My only negative point would be that some of the episodes aren't all that humourous as the rest, with only a few scenes being funny. Nonetheless, 'Rick and Morty' has potential to become of the best animated series and I have a feeling it's already getting there. If you want a bit of wackiness on your viewing list, this is the show for you. 

The second season began on July 26, 2015 and on August 2015, it was renewed for a third season. 

Happy binge-watching! 

The Office

Adapted from the British series of the same name, The Office was an American comedy show that portrayed the everyday lives of employees of a fictional paper company, Dunder Mifflin. To be honest, this was a show that I had heard so much about but hadn't gotten around to watching it until recently. My main motivation to finally give it a shot was the amazing cast and the style of filming, which was like a documentary. 

Though the first season consisted of just six episodes, the humour was brilliant from the start. And the characters, even better. Their different personalities helped bring in varying styles of humour and each was set apart from the other. But hands down, two of the most funniest characters were Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute, portrayed by Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson respectively. Scott was the kind of boss that a worker might both want and hate at the same time, whilst Dwight was basically the whack job, yet highly intuitive and smart in terms of his professional work. 

While the show kept getting better with each season, the major drawback was the absence of Steve Carell in the last two seasons. Sure, the episodes were fine for the most part, but it felt like a huge chunk of the humour was gone. I agree with many critics in their views that the the series should have ended after Carell's departure, because the quality just wasn't the same. Having said that, there were several episodes in the later seasons that were creative and funny. 

For those who are in dire need of an awesome sitcom, look no further; The Office is it. 

Happy binge-watching! 

Orphan Black

I will not deny the fact that sci-fi shows have always been of interest to me, which is one of the main reasons why I had decided to give this show a try. And of course, the brilliant trailer helped too. This particular series' main focus is on human cloning and the experimentation that led to the success of this often called 'immoral and unethical' act. The intriguing part that caught my attention was the fact that the actress, Tatiana Maslany, portrays multiple identical people (clones) at the same time. 

The show begins with Sarah Manning, having witnessed the suicide of one the women who appears to have been her doppelgänger and so, Manning takes on her identity. It is this sole act that leads to a chain of events and she finds out that she is a clone and there are several others out there, who are being assassinated one by one. The concept of this show is simply fascinating and it certainly is quite an angle on the personal identity issues that tend to be faced by people. 

But hands down, my favourite thing about the series is the way Maslany plays the roles of all the clones, with such talent. Each clone is characteristically so unique and different from each other and it is quite a delight to watch one actress pull that off with such brilliance. Even if you are a not a fan of sci-fi thrillers, I would recommend this series nonetheless, just to be exposed to this kind of talent. 

I suppose a turn-off about Orphan Black would be the complications that keep arising, some of which are clearly just for the sake of having the plot running. There is good buildup however, and the suspense is thrown in there in generous amounts. 

The series consists of three seasons, ten episodes each and has been renewed for a fourth season to be aired in 2016. 

Happy binge-watching!