If you feel like you've seen it all on Netflix, know that we're nodding our heads and thinking, "Same here." Especially this year, when we've been cooped up at home and socially distanced, we've watched a lot - often an embarrassing amount - of Netflix shows and movies. But Netflix's library is so vast, with dozens of new releases added each month, that even those of us who stream for a living can't watch them all.
Of course, not all of those titles are good (or even bad good). And it takes time and energy to scroll through and find the hidden gems, the worthwhile shows and movies that didn't get much social media buzz. So if you're too exhausted by 2020 to unearth them, don't worry, we'll do it for you.
Here's our list of the seven best Netflix shows and movies you (probably) didn't watch in 2020.
With eight Emmy nominations (and one win in the directing category), it's odd to call a limited series a "hidden gem," but "Unorthodox" still didn't get much attention this year. This powerful story of rebirth follows Esty (the luminous Sheila Haas), a young Hasidic Jewish woman who yearns for more than a cramped, controlled life in a claustrophobic Brooklyn community. She flees to Europe to reunite with her rebellious and estranged mother and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. - Kelley Wu
Watch "Unorthodox" on Netflix
Gentrification is one of the most terrifying horrors to strike your city. That's because young Miguel Martinez feels a strong sense of ownership over his neighborhood, and as the film begins, he has already raised money to save the local bodega. But when Miguel and his friends realize the truth about the threat facing their community, they must fight them off with a local weapon: the bodega bat. More Reasons to Watch. Method Man and The Kid Melo in supporting roles. - Henry T. Casey
Watch "Vampires vs. the Bronx" on Netflix
Netflix's foray into dating shows has produced blockbusters like "Love is Blind" and "Too Hot to Handle," but these are nuanced portrayals of romance But these are not nuanced depictions of romance. Love on the Spectrum, however, debuted more quietly. The documentary follows about a dozen autistic singles navigating the world of dating, including wonderfully charming characters like Michael, a 25-year-old hopeless romantic. They date awkwardly, funny, and nice, just like everyone else. Giving marginalized people a chance to shine, the show is refreshing in its empathy and authenticity. Not only is it romantic, but it is filled with love from the families and friends of its subjects. - Kelley Wu
Watch "Love on the Spectrum" on Netflix
Improv is a show for different tastes, but those who like live, on-the-spot comedy should check out the April Netflix releases of Thomas Middleditch ("Silicon Valley") and Ben Schwartz ( Parks and Recreation) will love the three-part special "Middleditch & Schwartz," starring Middleditch ("Parks and Recreation"). The specials, which are video versions of the stage shows, reveal the two to be exquisitely coordinated acts that can go in any direction with just a simple prompt. In this year of no live shows, the zoom-based comedy comes close, but doesn't hit the same notes. - Henry T. Casey
Watch Middleditch & Schwartz on Netflix
Yes, the title is pretty silly, as is the premise of this teen drama. But it also has witty dialogue and a satirical eye for the hypocrisy of wealthy, religiously committed suburbanites. Maddie Phillips and Angelica Bette Fellini play twin sisters who attend a Christian high school. Their ordinary lives are turned upside down when a car accident forces them to work for a veteran bounty hunter (Kadeem Harrison). The show's greatest asset is the chemistry between the cast members, who perform snappy one-liners. Unfortunately, "Teenage Bounty Hunters" was not renewed for Season 2. - Kellie Wu
Watch "Teenage Bounty Hunters" on Netflix
Who doesn't love a good haunted house movie? Except for those who are traumatized by the specters between the floorboards. Ex-con Don Koch, played by former WWE Champion CM Punk, is dealing with a repairman who literally oozes through every crack and crevice. Eventually, Don learns about the horrors that haunt his home as he is preyed upon by a spirit that seeks to seduce him to an early death. - Henry T. Casey
Watch "The Girl on the Third Floor" on Netflix
In his feature film directorial debut, Alan Yang, co-creator of "Master of None," draws on his own family's immigrant experience as a Taiwanese boy growing up poor factory worker The film tells the story of Ping Jui (Hong Chi-Lee). He abandons his homeland and the woman he loves to seek better opportunities in America. Decades later, an aging Ping Jui (Zhi Ma) struggles to connect with his estranged daughter (Christine). The film is a thoughtful and poignant meditation on the path not taken and the ways in which our choices shape not only our future, but the future of future generations. - Kelley Wu
Watch "Tigertail" on Netflix
.
Comments