Tag: netflix

Favorite TV Shows – Part II: Cancelled Shows

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And with this post we say goodbye to TV week which, admittedly, turned into TV weeks. For my favorite cancelled TV shows, I’m sticking to shows that are currently available to stream on Netflix and/or Hulu, because I’m always annoyed when websites/magazines/Lianna (jk) are like, “You should totally watch this amazing show. But good luck finding it.” Anyway…

1. Parks and Recreation (Netflix and Hulu Plus)

As I mentioned when I wrote about The Good Place, Parks and Rec is my favorite, favorite, favorite show. I’ve seen every episode an embarrassing number of times, I can practically quote entire episodes by heart, and I never get sick of watching it. Parks and Rec is like a warm blanket for my soul. It’s predicated on the idea that when good people who care get together, they can accomplish anything. That’s a message that is always important, but it’s especially important right now. Parks and Rec is funny. It’s heartwarming. It’s optimistic. The characters are lovable and they’re people who want to do good in the lives of their friends and the world around them. Watch Parks and Rec and then channel your inner Leslie Knope and go change the world.

2. The West Wing (Netflix)

It’s probably not a shock to you that my two favorite shows are shows about politics. The West Wing is a political drama about what government can be when it works. It’s wish fulfillment, sure, but it’s always given me hope that maybe someday we’ll have a government that works and that works for the people. This is going to sound weird because it’s not a sad show, but The West Wing is where I always turn when I need a good cry. There are so many episodes where I’m just moved by the unflinching desire of the characters to do what they think is best for the country, even when there may be political costs. They’re not perfect, but they try, and that feels like more than we can say about a lot of our government officials out here in the real world.

3. Gilmore Girls (Netflix)

Gilmore Girls is another one I’ve seen multiple times. It’s clever and dense and no matter how many times you watch it, there’s always something new you’ll pick up on the next time. It’ll make you laugh. It might make you cry. It’s a great blend of comedy and drama and it’s a go-to of mine when I just want to be comforted but I’ve watched Parks and Rec too recently.

4. Friends (Netflix)

Odds are you know Friends, so there’s not much I can tell you about it that you don’t already know. Many have tried to imitate this formula to varying degrees of success, but Friends did it first and it did it best. Watch it when you just want a good, easy laugh.

Honorable Mention (Show that isn’t available on Netflix or Hulu but would otherwise be on this list): Veronica Mars

Honorable Mentions (Shows I really, really liked the one time I watched them through, but don’t have enough to say to include them): Friday Night Lights, Firefly

-Carley

Lianna’s Favorite TV Shows

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Part II: Cancelled TV Shows

Favorite cancelled TV shows is a much harder list to come up with, but Carley put me up to the challenge. See, it’s harder because you have to actually remember what shows you watched in the past. The shows I included on this list are shows that I don’t even have to think about or remembered watching, because they are that good. I’m sure there are many amazing shows that I’ve forgotten about, alas.

1. Friends (Available on Netflix)

Friends is my go to show. If I’m bored and need something to watch: Friends. If I just watched a scary movie and need to watch something happy and light before bed: Friends. If I’m in a bad mood and need something to cheer me up: Friends. Friends has the perfect mix of hilarity and sincerity. There are over-arching storylines and relationships to keep you invested over the long haul, but you could also jump into any episode and not be confused. I believe that Friends is the best TV show of all time and if you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for?

2. Veronica Mars (Admittedly, hard to find)

Veronica Mars is another reliable and diverse show, though not always light. Veronica Mars is described as a noir mystery drama. The title character, Veronica Mars, is a hilariously snarky and lovable P.I. The show starts when she is a junior in high school and progresses into her freshman year of college. The show tends to be set up with one big season-long or half-season-long mystery (murder, rape, etc.) and smaller episode mysteries. The fun in the way the show was set up is that the season long mystery is usually a real world mystery whereas the episode mysteries are more high school/college related. The show has a lot of lovable characters and is a pleasure to watch. Veronica Mars was unjustly cancelled too early.

3. Boy Meets World (Available on Netflix DVD)

Boy Meets World is a wonderful show from the 90s. It is a highschool/life drama that follows a handful of characters as they come of age. Boy Meets World has a lot of heartwarming storylines with an appropriate amount of comedy mixed in. Boy Meets World pre-dates the heavy handed PSA era of television, so sometimes they do PSAs, but they do them in a really nice subtle way.  I loved Boy Meets World as a child and I loved it just as much when I re-watched it as an adult. It’s one of those shows that you can appreciate at any age because you view it differently at different ages.

4. Full House (Hard to find… sorry, guys)

Full House is another great 90s era show. I love Full House for many of the same reasons that I love Boy Meets World. It has a lovable cast, it’s funny, but it is also sincere and emotional. Full House and Boy Meets World can both be real tear jerkers. The big different between them (other than the whole style of the shows) is that Boy Meets World follows friends and incorporates their families, where as Full House follows a family and incorporates their friends.

~ Lianna