Netflix and Netflix
Kate Frydman ’16 / Emertainment Monthly TV Staff Writer
A fallen giant amongst the proponents of transparent sexual proposition, the once worthy “Netflix and Chill,” has been dropped by its former profiteers who have finally figured this s*** out: truly great sex isn’t about the promise of high quality programming. It’s about clenched, concentrated swiping during your afternoon bathroom liaison.
Netflix and the entire online-streaming cohort — Hulu, HBO Go, Amazon Prime, Xfinity — provide such a wide range of valuable content, that the option to chill out and watch television is quickly becoming more seductive than a late night walk in the cold for an evening of, most likely, slobbery doing-it. The increasingly comforting option has left many operators of N&C frustrated and alone, wondering ‘what went wrong?’ while carefully dismantling their D’angelo infused ambiance.
On its way out of the casual dating scene, “Netflix and Chill” is in the midst of a successful re-appropriation. Now able to stand alone without any accompanying, overthought emojis, the multifaceted invitation is instead being used to: 1. Initiate platonic hangs, and 2. Legitimize not leaving the house. Either way, the only intention is full blown literalness.
In acknowledgement of our generation’s move to watch even more television — and perhaps have a little less sex — here is some great “Netflix and Chill” material from 2015, collected from across the online streaming platforms.
Master of None (Netflix)
With a slow but satisfying build, Master of None proves its worth by the end of the first season by giving an overdue update to how the young people do this thing we call dating. Aziz Ansari adapts some of his stronger material from his stand up, and creates an even more effective message about the way we treat our loved ones, our liked ones, and ourselves. You’ll find yourself thinking in so many words, “Yeah, he gets it.”
If you’ve managed to dodge the coverage of Robert Durst in more traditional news, do a quick Google search and ignore your parents’ lecture about our generation’s lacking appreciation in the medium. Once you’ve gotten the idea — the guy is a real life super villain — grasp onto the sleeve of someone you trust and watch The Jinx with every high-expectation of intense, on-the-edge-of-your-seat storytelling. You’ll be confused about exactly what your feelings are towards humanity, but you’ll never feel anything so deeply again.
Fans of the comic books recognize Daredevil as one of the darkest takes on the superhero. With the increasing interest in these vague ideas of good and evil, Daredevil’s aggression makes him the perfect hero, and antihero to focus on season after season. Unlike the more traditional Batman character who struggles with the inner conflict of killing for the sake of goodness, Daredevil actually enjoys the violence which his powers allow him to inflict on the people he deems evil. Able to really go for it in terms of television violence, the show has produced some of the most high quality fight scenes seen on television, and feels more honest than some of his hero friends.
Since the golden age of television hit us all, everyone’s been asking the same thing: Where is the Christian Slater factor in all this? Ask no more, everyone. The man is back in this hacker drama, which challenges its viewer to determine the real from the sleep deprived illusion. It’s confusing, but one thing is for sure: drugs are bad, especially when they make you look like Rami Malek.
If 2015 wasn’t your year, slip off your ill-fitting overalls and drown your sorrows in Kimmy Schmidt and her smiley outlook on her new, scary life. Tina Fey’s latest contribution to light hearted comedy includes another theme tune that you won’t be able to stop singing, and one which you probably don’t know the words to. But c’est la vie! Get on board with Kimmy and her friends and say “Dammit!”
