So in case you missed it, we’ve become a part of the Netflix stream team and I was thinking how we could share with you what we all like over a set of posts that won’t be the same old posts over and over again. I mean “we recommend XYZ” is going to get a bit dull and I get bored to tears by reading movie or tv series reviews – recommendations, sure, but reviews… well I don’t need to bother watching it now do I?
Anyway, I figured out how I could do it and make it fun without sharing spoilers or boring you all to tears: Shearsmith’s do Netflix!
Each month or so (c’mon, you know by now this is code for “sporadically and when I remember”) I am going to share one of our family members Netflix picks and tell you a tiny synopsis of why I’ve picked it and how relevant Netflix is to that family member. I won’t bullshit you and if I have anything I’ve watched that I thought was naff, I will say. If I’ve watched it and loved it, I will say and if I WANT to watch it, but haven’t yet, I will say.
So, who is first? Probably the person Netflix had been the most useful for in the last month: my Mum, or as we call her Maw Maw.
You will know if you follow us that my mum lives with us and has just had a hip replacement so I cannot begin to express how AMAZING Netflix has been for her. In hospital you are expected to pay £20 per week for the use of TV and phone, not to mention that you are then super limited to what you can watch and there is no wifi. I would combust. What I did for mum was downloaded the Netflix app onto her kindle, hooked her kindle up to her phone’s 3G using a personal hotspot and she could download and watch series, movies and whatever.
So, what did she watch and what did she love?
The recommendation: The Crown.
This drama follows Queen Elizabeth II from when she meets Prince Philip and all the jazz about her younger years. Mum LOVES anything about history – anything political drama or royal based. It’s not my cup of tea at all, but mum said that the series was amazing, so well done and the actors and actresses were fab. If you like the Royals, period dramas, historical romances or dramas then it is for you. She’s chomping at the bit for the next series which starts on Dec 8th.
The current: Reign
Another historical/royal one that she has started watching since being laid up. This one follows Mary, Queen of Scots. It’s 4 series long at the moment and she’s only watched the first few episodes – listening to the music whilst I work this seems like it’s perhaps less nitty gritty/intelligent and more fluffy and Hollywood if that makes sense? More centred around court dramas, bit like Pretty Little Liars for History geeks. So far, she’s not sure she likes it as much, too much fluffy romance, but with a decent dose of violence and betrayal, it’s still being watched!
The Future: The Tudors
This comes up as a recommendation for people who enjoyed The Crown and as the Tudors are possibly one of the most fascinating families every to exist so she’s really looking forward to trying out this one that takes a look at the splendour and scandal (oh so many scandals – how the hell they have fitted them all into the 4 series I will never know) of the Tudors, especially Henry VIII.
The Binge: Stranger Things
There is a reason Stranger Things is one of the most streamed shows in history. Honestly, she watched the series in the first day and had to wait a day to catch the last two episodes. It’s amazing – it’s also one of those series that you can’t comment on too much without giving it away but it’s set in the 80’s, filmed on 80’s camera equipment and centred around the disappearance of a little boy. IT’S amazing.
The movie: The Full Monty
Geez, you can’t beat a classic can you? Possibly the most distraction I’ve had from my work whilst this was on! It’s a comedy about a group of unemployed steel workers who devise a plan to get off the dole (benefits) by becoming strippers. It’s HILARIOUS and has Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy and William Snape who are all brilliant so it’s on the forever must watch list.
So there is the first instalment of Shearsmith’s do Netflix!
H 🙂
