Staff picks: Netflix hidden gems

With the cooler autumn days approaching, many students transition from lounging by the pool to cozying up in a blanket and watching Netflix for hours. Teenagers know the popular shows that everyone watches like The Office, Parks and Recreation, Friends, and Sherlock, to name a few, but some have already watched all of the “popular” shows and are searching for what to watch next. In this week’s staff pick, the search is over because we’ve compiled a list of the most underrated Netflix shows to watch this fall when it’s time to cozy up and binge watch for days.

What do you get when you mix Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, and a rainy hipster city on the West Coast? The surprisingly funny Portlandia. Portlandia plays out in skits, with the majority of characters being played by Fred and Carrie themselves. It’s hard to express what exactly makes this show so funny, but it has something to do with its strangeness and hilarious portrayals of stereotypical Portlanders. [Allie Gruszkiewicz]

For anyone who enjoys scrunchies, Austin Butler, and hot pink, The Carrie Diaries is the perfect tribute to all of these things. While the show itself follows the launch of teen Carrie Bradshaw’s career as an employee for a fashion magazine in addition to her dramatic love life, the true star of the series is her punk-rock sister Dorrit whose blend of teenage angst and monochromatic wardrobe is strangely relatable. [Maggie Kimber]

Since I can remember, I have always loved the year 1999. Not only was I born that year, but it seems that most of my TV favorites either premiered, hit their stride, or ended beautifully that year. “Forever and always” is how to explain my love for the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show is brilliantly written thanks to Joss Whedon (director of several successful TV shows and movies). It is also one of the most female forward TV shows ever. The main character Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) radiates female strength and shows all the boys she can run with the best of them. I highly recommend this show to all future slayers. [Madison Tenney]

H2O: Just Add Water is a perfect fit for all mermaid and adventure lovers. Being a diehard mermaid fan, I can’t help but love this show. Three girls drop into a magical moon pool, and after that, their lives change forever. It’s so fun and cheesy, but totally worth giving a chance.   [Cassidy Bailey]

Browsing through Netflix’s suggestions for what to watch next led me to the amazing show that is Prison Break. I remembered watching the first season with my mom and I thought I should give it another chance. Turns out it’s more captivating and entertaining than I remembered with its dramatic and unpredictable storyline. I can’t help but feel like I’m in the prison with the other characters, and the whole time I’m on the edge of my seat.  [Katie Matthews]

Though The Office and Parks and Recreation are definitely two of my favorites, a show that is similar to those, but flies under the radar is Arrested Development. It is every bit as funny as The Office and Parks and Recreation and is available for streaming on Netflix. [Wyeth Wilson]

I don’t watch much Netflix, but I must say that they have some great World War II documentaries. Most people spent Snowmaggedon last year doing nothing, but I actually finished a few history documentaries. Am I a nerd? Yes. Do I care? Obviously not. [Tyler Hotz]