4 Things to Look For on Netflix When You've Seen Everything Else

Now, I've had a lot of time on my hands this summer, and I've had a lot of post-exam stress to work through. I'm an expert at Netflix binges.

I've seen pretty much all the mainstream stuff. To All The Boys I've Loved Before was really, really sweet. I loved Suits before Meghan Markle was a royal. And if anyone tries to tell me Brooklyn 99 is anything but noice, I'm going to get really, really cross. But we all know the 'Popular' tab just isn't enough sometimes.

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately? who knows) I have a few favourites that either no-one knows about, or no-one knows are on Netflix. And I figured I'd be doing a public service if I told you guys about them and then sprinkled my explanations with copious GIFs.

What? That's what you said when I asked on Twitter.

#1 - MISS FISHER'S MURDER MYSTERIES

I probably only have to say about five words to get you hooked on this one.

1920s.
Lady detective.
With a gun that matches her outfit.

"Because I'm carrying a gun."

Okay, maybe that was slightly more than five words, but I'm genuinely fuming more people don't know about the phenomenon that is Miss Fisher. It has a unique setting, characters that are far too easy to get attached to, and lots of thrilling experiences with various murderers. It's also hilarious, which is a must for any series in my opinion.

And the SHIPS? Oh, man. There's a wild ride involving a very dashing police detective, as well as the cutest, awkwardest thing going on between Miss Fisher's maid, Dot, and a clumsy constable. There are three series, only two of which were on Netflix last time I checked, but there are twenty episodes in each. Binging potential = excellent.

#2 - </scorpion>

What I love about this show in particular is that, despite it being incredibly cheesy, it is cheesy in an amazing, terrible, addictive way. It's about a team of oddball geniuses who work with Homeland Security to save the world from various imminent disasters. There's a lot of hacking, some crawling around in abandoned buildings, and - my personal favourite - a gambling-addict behaviourist who spends a lot of time identifying the perp by the way they wear their hat or their answers to certain questions.

"Can you repeat that, please?"

This series has a real ensemble cast, and the characters make it, honestly. There's a healthy dose of romantic tension (the show is excellent at finding the flimsiest of excuses to place characters who are crushing on each other in various compromising situations), but also a lot of familial conflict and stuff about friendship. It makes me laugh, it (sometimes) makes me cry, and I just love it to pieces. Even when I have to suspend disbelief because it's got slightly sensational.

#3 - JONATHAN CREEK

Oh, did I not tell you that I was really into murdery stuff?

Don't worry, I've not done anything other than watch it so far. You don't have to call the police. But I am a huge detective nut. Stick on anything that vaguely resembles crime, or a thriller, or has vaguely high stakes due to some sort of dark villain, and I'm there on the sofa with a very large bowl of popcorn.

Jonathan Creek stares quizzically at the camera while holding a spoon

Jonathan Creek is an absolute British institution. Unfortunately, internationally / on the internet, it seems to be chronically unknown. It features Alan Davies (of QI fame) as a wonderfully quirky guy who invents tricks for magicians and lives in a windmill ... then meets an investigative journalist and accidentally ends up solving crimes with her.

I mean, DID YOU HEAR ME SAY WINDMILL? He makes models when he gets stuck on a puzzle! It's the most amazingly kooky show and you just can't miss it.

#4 - RENT

We're not gonna payyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ... Last year's rent! This year's RENT! NEXT YEAR'S REEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNT!

Ahem ... sorry. Got slightly carried away there, but I was ... singing. Not actually having a breakdown using repeated letters and caps lock. It'll all make slightly more sense if you listen to this video.

No? Okay.

Main character from Rent shrugging

Rent is possibly my favourite movie adaptation of any musical, ever. Chicago comes a very, very close second, but it doesn't have Idina Menzel (best known as Elphaba from Wicked or Elsa from Frozen) in what some say are the best years of her career, or the world's most amazing stupid high notes. Again, I'm a very character-driven person, so I love the cast to pieces, but it also contains some really clever cinematography - the main character is an aspiring filmmaker, so it's very meta and that requires creativity to come across on screen - and is both super emotional and super gritty. I spend at least half that film crying no matter how many times I watch it, and I love it. Plus, it's about a ragtag bunch of bohemians struggling to find a place to live, so that's pretty #relateable.

FYI, Chicago is also on Netflix, so if you want to hear the story of a morally corrupt murderess and her lawyer in song, you may as well make it a double feature.

FANCY A FREEBIE?

Well, it's a bit different today.

What? We've just finished launch week - did you not expect a special surprise? I'm giving away a £10 digital Netflix giftcard to one of you lucky people, which is enough for a month's HD subscription in the UK. (If you're international, then you can still enter, I'll just give you an equivalent amount in the currency you would pay a Netflix bill in so it's usable for you.)

It's a perfect way of trying the amazing service that is Netflix if you've never had an opportunity before (#notspon, FYI, but if you happen to work for them and want to work together sometime, consider this a shameless plug), or you can always use it to go towards next month's payment.

Just enter using the Rafflecopter below - the giveaway closes at midnight UK time on the 19th of December. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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In the comments: Have you got any Netflix recs I won’t have heard of? I just finished Scorpion and I honestly don’t know what I’m doing with my life now. I need help.