Netflix Originals Reign Supreme

Unless you live under a rock or have an unreal level of self control that allows you to refrain from binge watching television show after television show, you are probably familiar with the amazing new world of online streaming services. The big hitters include Netflix, AmazonPrime, Hulu, and HBO Go. Each has its own merits, but Netflix is probably my favorite (partially because I’m still mooching off my parents’ subscription so #freetv). I also would argue that Netflix Original series are some of the best television series around right now, and possibly ever. Why?

They tell diverse stories.

Netflix currently offers 18 original series, not including shows they’ve bought the licenses for or children’s shows. These shows range from lighthearted and fun – The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Wet Hot American Summer, Master of None – to dark and broody – House of Cards, Jessica Jones, Bloodline – to everything in between. There’s something for everyone. 

They give people of color the spotlight — for more than one episode.

Orange is the New Black and Master of None are the big winners here. OITNB features a hugely diverse cast (of women no less!) with unique and developed storylines. While race inarguably plays a key role in the show’s plot, it doesn’t do so at the expense of the characters; in other words, race isn’t the only story OITNB tells. And when it does tell stories about race, it does so in a highly authentic and categorically un-stereotypical way.

In Master of None, a person of color is the central focus of the show. Aziz Ansari is Indian-American, an unfortunately rare sight to see on American television. As his character says in one episode, “Yeah, there are more Indians popping up every now and then, but we’re like set decoration.” The only other South Asian actor that is the focus of their show I can call to mind that is Mindi Kaling…note that her show also airs on an alternative network — Hulu.

While Netflix Originals aren’t perfect when it comes to telling the stories of people of color (Narco’s has gotten some heat lately for their portrayal of the drug wars), they offer a wider range of stories than white-washed network television does.

They give women a strong, varied voice.

Wow could I go on and on about the women of Netflix Originals. You’ve got Claire Underwood, of House of Cards: cold, calculating, powerful. Kimmy Schmidt, of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: bubbly, naive, gentle, peppy. Piper Chapman, of Orange is the New Black: cunning, smart, but also naive and sheltered. Jessica Jones, of Jessica Jones: not a victim but a survivor, pure badass cloaked in beautiful sarcasm and punchy one-liners. Nomi Marks, of Sense8: unafraid, strong, brave, fiercely loving. And that’s just to name a few. Netflix Originals feature a vast variety of female characters with unique and individual voices. The writers, directors, and producers of these shows create authentic and believable female characters from every walk of life. They give girls and young women (and even older women!) a myriad of role models to look to. The women they create are strong without being emotionless, emotional without being stereotypical, powerful without being stone cold bitches. Although, some might argue Claire Underwood is a stone cold bitch but I will fight them to the death.

They show sexuality as it truly is — fluid and diverse.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better platform for authentic depictions of sexuality. We could talk about so many of Netflix’s shows here, but I’m going to pick two of my favorite examples: Sense8 and House of Cards.

Sense8 features a transgender woman (played by a transgendered actress no less!!!!!!), a lesbian relationship, and a gay relationship, all in one short season. Nomi and Amanita’s relationship is nothing short of perfectly beautiful. It is full of acceptance, fierce passion, and love stronger than anything I’ve ever seen. Lito and Hernando’s relationship is full of love but also complications. It highlights so heartbreakingly the struggles hypermasculine Latin culture places on men, especially gay men. Lito and Hernando aren’t perfect but they’re something better — they’re honest. They are pure and truthful and believable. Sense8 refuses to pigeonhole any of their characters relationships, especially those that break our narrowly traditional heterosexual ideals.

House of Cards tackles sexuality much more ambiguously than Sense8. (Spoiler alert for House of Cards) Frank’s sexuality is never clearly defined. Sure, he’s married to Claire, but we VERY rarely see them in any intimate situations. We do see him sexually involved with Zoe Barnes, until she meets her untimely end. But that relationship seems void of any true feelings — I firmly believe their relationship was about power, not about sex or sexual gratification. To complicate matters more, we get a glimpse of Frank’s college years mid-season 1, where he spends a night reminiscing with the good ol’ boys of college, one of whom we can assume was a former lover. Was that relationship all about power too? Or is Frank’s sexual orientation more fluid than he lets on? There are no clear answers even though we’re poised for season 4. The vague mentions and hints about Frank’s sexuality remind us that sexuality is just one small component of someone’s identity; there are bigger things to focus on when it comes to diving into Frank Underwood’s psyche.

They’re stupidly addicting.

It’s one thing for shows to be break the norm. It’s another thing for them to also be stupidly good. And Netflix Originalsare stupidly good. I binged through the first season of House of Cards in about two days. I could not stop watching. Same thing with pretty much all the other Netflix Originals I’ve watched. Not only are these shows bringing a whole new kind of better to television, they’re doing a damn good job.

 

 

Featured By Netflix [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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