Summer is often a pretty rubbish time of year for TV, all the great shows take a break and return in the Autumn.
Supposedly leaving more free time for the outdoors and enjoying the sunshine, unless you live in Britain where sunshine is optional and on days when it rains you just really wish you had a TV show to binge.
Enter, Netflix! They have saved the day with not one but two great new seasons; Strangers Things and The Get Down.
Here’s a little overview but I promise no spoilers – I hate it when people do that!
Stranger Things: Rated 9.1 on IMDB
Set in small town America in the late 80’s it follows the disappearance of a young boy and the desperate search to find him.
As the days go by, things get stranger and stranger as the people of the town realise that things are not as they seem and the little boy’s disappearance is just the beginning of what’s to come.
Set over 8 episodes it’s a little like Spielberg met up with Stephen King and they made a TV show. Now I am NOT a fan of horror and don’t even really like things that make me jump. It’s a little creepy and tense at times but definitely watchable by those with a soft disposition like me.
Stand out performance – for me it was Millie Bobby Brown, a 12 year actress who plays Eleven ‘Elle’. Her character is shifty, closed, suspicious and for someone who has very few lines she makes a huge impact on the story. A very talented young actress, I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of her after this.
My husband enjoyed this series so much he stayed up way past bed time and watched the entire thing in one night.
The Get Down: Rated 8.6 on IBDM
Set in the gritty streets of the New York Bronx in 1977 it follows the lives of a group of teenagers running wild in the run down gang infested streets of 1970’s New York.
With a focus on the emergence of the Disco and Hip Hop scene in America it’s a jam packed ride through burning streets, graffiti riddled buildings, underground rap battles and disco clubs.
Dotted with real life footage of the Bronx in the 70’s it can be a little hard hitting at times when you see just how desperate parts of New York really were.
There are 6 episodes available now with a further 6 due next year. It does feel like this first installment is a complete mini series in it’s own right so i’m really looking forward to seeing where they take it next year.
Stand out performance – Most definitely giving this one to Herizen Guardiola who plays Disco loving soul singer Mylene. Desperate to break into the up and coming music scene but held back by her surroundings and God fearing father. Her voice is beautiful, enough to make you want to listen to the soundtrack over and over again.
We watched this over the course of a weekend, 3 episodes on Saturday, 3 more on Sunday; perfect!
So there we have it, if you’re in need of a TV-binge, I would very much recommend these shows.
Happy watching!
Rachel xx
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