13 Reasons Why

To say that I enjoy binge-watching painful shows would be an understatement. Just when I was in the mood for something new, Netflix did not fail to deliver with 13 Reasons Why. This emotional rollercoaster of a show focuses on high school student Hannah Baker who committed suicide and has left behind a series of tapes, talking about the individuals responsible for her choice. 

Sounds a little odd? But that is precisely why you might find it worth a watch. Not only does the show highlight the dangers and consequences of suicide, but it tackles other issues like  bullying, rape, slut-shaming and emotional angst that often plague the teenage mind. This adaptation of the novel additionally stresses on an often overlooked lesson: it is important to be kind to one and another and treat each other with respect. 

However, as much as I liked it, my primary concern is that it glorifies suicide to an extent. For people fighting the same battles as Hannah did, it may give them the impression that the only way to be heard is through a drastic measure such as suicide. There is also the possibility of her action being a trigger for those who are undergoing depression or other mental illnesses. 

Teenagers may be the intended target audience of 13 Reasons Why but it is an eye-opener for any individual who chooses to play the role of a viewer. The graphic scenes of rape and Hannah's suicide is something that might make you uncomfortable and want to flinch (I most certainly did) but as was pointed out by the show runners, that was their intention. They talked about how they wanted make viewers uneasy, as a way for people to see that suicide should never be a resort for any problem. 

With the ever-continuing rise of social media and the need to be accepted through 'likes' and 'comments', this show is most definitely relevant, even though the novel was written a decade ago. It portrays the need for loyal friends and decent human behaviour and how even the smallest of actions can have a long-lasting impact on someone's life. 

The entire 13 episode season is streaming on Netflix and as of yet, there is no news on a second season. 

Happy binge-watching! 

Riverdale

Just like many others, I was one that grew up reading the beloved Archie comics. The characterization, the humour and the sketches all stood out for me. Not to mention, it never failed to make me feel better on a bad day. So, you can imagine my sheer excitement on hearing that the comics were going to made as a TV series on CW network. But alas, the elation only lasted till I watched the trailer. 

To be honest, I had mixed feelings about it and even after watching the episodes till date, I still do. I am thoroughly disappointed that the series isn't an exact replication of the comics themselves, seeing as it was one of my all time favourites. Rather, it has been given a CW treatment of drama, scandal, and intrigue and I have yet to be a 100% on board with it. 

The changes in the characters are not subtle from the original. Not only is Archie a hunky football jock, but he and Jughead (who is rather intellectual on here, rather than being his comedic self) don't appear to be best friends and Veronica is new in town and to the Riverdale gang. As a hardcore fan of the comics, I couldn't find myself loving these alterations. 

At the same time, another part of me is quite interested with the shapings of these characters. Similar to how the Once Upon A Time series display traditional and happy fairytale characters in a darker light, the Riverdale gang are now part of a world taken over by a murder mystery and secrets. It is a usual CW formula and for now, my genuine curiousity makes me want to give it a shot. 

I would like to conclude by saying that, for those of you who are open to seeing your Riverdale friends in a different light, I would definitely recommend this. I only hope that it does not turn out to be another Pretty Little Liars flop, with the drama and plot twists getting too outrageous.   

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! 

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! 

Arrow

This show is about the DC Comics superhero, Green Arrow (Oliver Queen), who, after years of being stranded on an deserted island due to a ship wreckage, returns home to Starling City to fight crime as a secret vigilante. Unlike many other heroes, he does not possess any 'powers' and rather fights with trained physical strength, strategic mind and his main weapon, which is a bow and arrow. The fact that he has no out-of-this-world features and yet is able to bring down strong enemies, is what makes him one of my favourite heroes and also, one of my favourite shows. 

This is one of those serials that keeps getting better with each succeeding season. Starting off with Oliver's return and him spending his nights killing criminals on his 'list', it was sort of monotonous for a while and wasn't exactly gut-wrenching or raw as I thought it would be. But of course, the best part is getting to see him harness such a primitive weapon to such a high usage and that is something that makes the character very much stand out. The flashbacks of his moments during those five years away from his home, also helps to form a connection between the character and the audience. 

The action sequences are are very well shot and helps in giving the show that dark and gritty edge. The ongoing third season is the most brilliant so far, with it's enthralling major plot, bringing in a main villain into the folds and yet another superhero from the comics, The Atom. Overall, I would say that this is a show that everyone should check out.

Happy binge-watching!