Quarantine Queue: Netflix Edition

With the COVID-19 virus putting a halt in the world, many people will turn to Netflix for new binging shows.  These top five shows will leave you on the edge of your seat after every episode. From sports to mystery, they will surely not disappoint.   

1. All American  

If you are a sports fanatic, this show is a must-watch.  This is a true story about Spencer Paysinger, or Spencer James as his All American character suggests, a former NFL linebacker out of the University of Oregon.   

Paysinger grew up in South Los Angeles, California and was a star wide receiver at South Crenshaw High.  But, when coach Billy Baker recruits him to play for Beverly Hills High School, his whole life starts to change, as it is an opportunity for him to get more noticed by college coaches.   

On top of football, Paysinger dealt with many struggles of violence and racial discrimination throughout his early life.   

Joey Best is an active viewer of the show and was referred to it by a friend.   

“I honestly don’t know how I would balance it all,” said Best.  “I’d probably just do my best to focus on my school and sports and try my best to ignore the other stuff until I have to get involved.”   

Netflix has a variety of sports shows ranging from documentaries to true stories.  All American is definitely one of the better shows in the sports category.   

“It’s hard to compare, but this is probably a little better just because it has an actual story,” Best said.   

All American has become a top ranked show in the sports category on Netflix, especially because it has an intriguing storyline and we follow both the struggles and successes of the life of Spencer Paysinger.   

“I’d rank it first just because it has a story whereas the other show I’ve watched really doesn’t,” Best said.  “It’s like somewhat real.”   

All American is a show everyone will love, even if you are not a sports fan.  The first episode will leave you dumbstruck, and once you start watching you will not want to stop.   

2. YOU

Perhaps one of the most trending shows on Netflix is YOU.  The series stars Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg.  He plays a librarian searching for love and once he finds that girl, he will do whatever it takes to win her over.   

What would you do for love?  Matthew Tan is an avid Netflix viewer and binged the first two seasons in three days.     

“I would do anything for love,” said Matthew Tan.   

The way Goldberg picks up women is quite uncanny and not what you would expect of a normal person.    

“I think Joe Goldberg does have good intentions because he does want what is best for all the characters,” said Haley Castellari, also a fan of the show.   

You also see a few different sides of Joe Goldberg and his actions throughout the show will leave you speechless.    

“His actions never angered me,” said Castellari.  “He was already seen as a bad guy and a creep in a way, so I expected his actions.”

YOU left both Tan and Castellari on the edge of their seats.  This show is a must-watch and will hit you on all sides of emotions. 

3. Dexter

This next show is both gut wrenching and captivating.  Michael C. Hall stars as Dexter Morgan, a blood analyst in Miami who not only solves murder cases but also commits them.   

What he does is sickening, but somehow still lures people into watching the show.   

“I kept watching because I thought it was a unique show idea,” said Sydney Ewert, an avid fan of the show.  “You don’t really see a show from the stance of a villain.”

It is always interesting to hear how fans actually got into this show, whether it be from peer pressure or just out of pure interest.   

“I heard it was good, so I wanted to see for myself and I ended up liking it,” Ewert said.   

Dexter Morgan is not only crafty in what he does, but he also somehow manages to get away with so much of it.   

“I think he’s just a smart human being that uses his resources and can manipulate people the right way,” said Ewert.   

His actions throughout the series leave people angry or sometimes indifferent.    

“He has a sense of what is right and wrong,” said Ewert.  He uses that to get rid of bad people, so his actions don’t upset me too much.”   

If you like mystery shows, then Dexter will have you hooked, as his character is so intriguing you will want to watch more.  

4. Breaking Bad

This show has become one of the most popular shows on Netflix.  Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher that struggles financially while also battling terminal cancer.   

As his struggles progress with the short time he has left to live, White looks to earn as much money as possible by selling meth in an old RV with his partner Jesse Pinkman.   

His character is fascinating and some viewers like Troy Matenaer see him as a likeable person, no matter what his actions are.   

“In the beginning you sympathize with his illness and his intentions to help his family,” said Matenaer.   

White puts his family through a lot, but he does it all to save them.   

“He takes on a much darker role later in the show, but it’s fun to follow his personal journey and he always seems to have pretty good intentions,” Matenaer said.   

Walter White is the type of character that will leave many people indifferent.  But whether you like him or not, his actions always seem to play with your emotions and make you want to watch more.  

5. Sherlock

This BBC original is quite interesting, and Benedict Cumberbatch does a terrific job portraying his character as Sherlock Holmes.   

He works alongside his colleague Dr. John Watson, played by Martin Freeman, a war vet who had just returned home from Afghanistan.   

Sherlock Holmes has an IQ higher than your normal human being and his intelligence is amongst the top 0.1% of the world population.   

Sherlock even has a fellow fan from Gelnhausen, Germany in Timo Lehmann.

“Yes, I saw Sherlock,” said Lehmann enthusiastically.  “I liked it.”   

Sherlock is certainly an underrated mystery show on Netflix and is one with both brilliant acting and extraordinary plotlines.   

“It’s a modern take on the classic suspense thriller,” said Tim Dehring, another fan of Sherlock.  “Its fast pace and nod to modern culture make it a must-watch.”   

The mysteries of Sherlock Holmes are not even the best part.  The show adds on humor and drama, which make it that much better.   

“The show’s wit holds your interest,” said Dehring.  “It is entertaining and is a nice addition to the normal mystery format.”

Sherlock is a show that will not disappoint and once you start watching, you will be surprised by how much you like it.   

These top five Netflix shows will definitely keep you busy during these tough times of beating the Coronavirus.  Although you may be quarantined and trapped safely in your own home without any sports to watch, these shows will keep on the edge of your seat, as they are both intriguing and bingeworthy.