Best TV Shows on Netflix Canada
Ten great TV shows on Netflix Canada
It can sometimes be difficult to figure out what to watch on Netflix - especially in Canada, where we have more limited options. While movies on Netflix can be hit or miss, it's still well worth the monthly fee - if only for the TV series!
What better way to spend the long Canadian winter than by curling up with back-to-back episodes of a great television series? If you're looking for something that you can watch - for hours and hours and hours - then take a look at some of these great shows available on Netflix Canada.
Break out the snacks and settle in for the long haul!
Dexter
I love Dexter. No, I mean, I really, really love him. In many ways, he's the ideal man - well, except for the whole sociopathic serial killer thing, of course. But no one's perfect, right? At least Dexter - a sociopathic blood spatter analyst with what might almost pass as a bit of a conscience - only kills bad guys.
This is a very stressful and suspenseful show, with every episode ending on a heart-stopping cliffhanger. The characters are brilliantly written and three-dimensional.
Be warned: this show is very violent, and full of swearing and blood and nudity. And blood. And did I mention the swearing?
The Walking Dead
Ah, zombies. You beautiful masses of rotting undead flesh.
The Walking Dead - a story about a small band of people trying to survive after the zombie apocalypse - is a masterful show. It's suspenseful, thought-provoking and above all unpredictable. Pretty much no one is safe, which makes it all the more exciting.
The Walking Dead is pretty gory. But in a good way. Honestly, would it even count as a zombie show without the gore?
Firefly
It's a space opera! No, it's a Western! No, it's a Western...set in space!
Firefly follows a rag-tag group of scavengers trying to make a living on the fringes. It's a laugh-out-loud funny show, with quirky three-dimensional character who you love, or hate, or love to hate. Sadly, it didn't last very long - it was cancelled after one short season. Still, it's well worth watching, as evidenced by its dedicated fan base!
And when you're done, you can watch Serenity, a movie finale that tied up some loose ends.
Misfits
Misfits is a British show about a group of trouble-making teenagers who get superpowers and then do...
well...
pretty much nothing.
This is by far the best "ordinary people get superpowers" TV show ever made! It's laugh-out-loud funny - although it's definitely a crude humour that some might appreciate less than others. Lots of swearing. The story's ongoing, but each episode is also standalone, so you can take your time watching it instead of getting caught up in episode after episode.
Prison Break
Big brother is sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit, so little brother gets himself thrown in jail - so that he can break him out.
Season one of Prison Break is some of the most compelling television I've ever watched. Absolutely addictive. Every episode ties in so perfectly with the one before, and the cliffhangers are insane. It's a really violent show, but it works. Season two and season three were pretty good - not as good as the first - but still pretty good. Season four, though, with its convoluted conspiracy theories and silly plot twists? If I could go back, I wouldn't bother watching it.
Still, Prison Break is a must-watch show.
Survivors
I loved this British drama about a group of people trying to rebuild their lives after a massive deadly flu epidemic. I'm a sucker for "last people on Earth" stories, and this one doesn't disappoint. There are only two seasons, and it ends on something of a cliffhanger, but it's still well worth watching.
I enjoyed the character and story arcs. I also appreciated that many of the characters showed real growth throughout the show.
This is a slightly quieter show than some of the others listed here, but there's still a lot going on!
Jericho
And, carrying on with the "small band of survivors" theme, here's another show that takes place after the breakdown of civilization as we know it. After a massive terrorist attack sets off mushroom clouds right across the States, the small town of Jericho tries to rebuild life and community as best it can.
Jericho is a bit silly at times, but I found the overall story really compelling. I was drawn into the characters' stories and problems and worries.
There are rumours that Netflix might be reviving this show as an original series and filming season 3. I would love to see that happen!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Really, what can I say about this show that hasn't already been said? Buffy is...well...a vampire slayer. And she kills things. And falls in love. And kills things.
This show is more than a show. It had massive cultural effects, including inventing new words and speech patterns that are now a part of common vocabulary. In a lot of ways Buffy is a feminist show. And in other ways it really, really isn't. But it's interesting, well-written, snarky and absolutely hilarious.
One of the best shows ever made, as far as I'm concerned!
Angel
This Buffy spin-off is just as good as the original! Angel - the broody melodramatic vampire-with-a-soul - leads a group of heroes who work together to help those in trouble.
The sharp, witty banter and great characters really make this show. It's funny and heartbreaking and exciting and sad and even sometimes a little bit scary.
And the last episode is the all-time best series finale. Ever. Of all time.
Dollhouse
This is the fourth Joss Whedon show on this list (along with Firefly, Buffy and Angel). What can I say? I guess I'm a fan-girl.
Dolls are people - beautiful people, for the most part - who've had their personalities wiped and are then programmed to meet their clients' specifications. Dollhouse wasn't very highly-rated, but I think it's a compelling show. I love its pre-dystopian sci-fi feel. Its mid-point and final episodes - set 10 years in the future - were especially fascinating.
Have I mentioned that I like end-of-the-world stories?
What do you think?
So tell me, Netflixites - what do you think of my list? Do you agree with my choices? Have I missed any that should be up here?
I'd love to hear what you think!