Netflix – WOW I binge a LOT! I’m coming clean about what I watched this past year!

Have you ever taken a look at your Netflix viewing to see exactly how much time you spend bingeing and what shows you’ve been watching?

Netflix did a little math and in 2017, members worldwide streamed 140 million hours per day (or more than one billion hours per week). In Canada, we rank 2nd globally for the most members to binge Netflix every single day and one person in Canada watched Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King, THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE times!!!

Me…I’m a bingeing machine (although I’ve yet to watch Lord of the Rings once let alone 361 times and I don’t watch any other TV…well, except for Greys and This is Us!) The thing is, when I work, I often have Netflix running in the corner of my computer and I end up raking in quite a few hours on Netflix each month. Often, it’s “background noise” but from time to time, the show intrigues me enough to full-size the screen and settle in for some entertainment.

So, what did I watch in 2017?

Downton Abbey – Over the holidays, I watched from beginning to end the entire series for the second time and loved it every bit as much as I did the first time I watched! If you haven’t had a chance, add it to your list!

Outlander – Ahhhh Jamie Fraser. I read the books when they first came out and can’t believe how amazingly well they’ve been able to turn what I visualized in my head onto the screen! I’m a fan…and can’t wait until the next season arrives on Netflix.

Shameless – I cringed. I laughed. I was appalled. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. In the end, I was judging my parenting against William H. Macy’s, Frank Gallagher, and was feeling pretty darn good about myself. This show is completely twisted…and it somehow met my standards for entertainment. Not sure what that says about me!

The Ranch – Two brothers and their Dad running a ranch in Colorado…it has a few sweet moments and quite a bit of comedy that kept me coming back. It reminded me of sitcoms I’d watch in the 80s with a few extra F words dropped in. It’s enjoyable…I’m sure I’ll watch the next season when it comes out in 2018.

Scandal – I watch this American political thriller as each weekly episode arrives on Netflix and I don’t miss a single one! It stars Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, who runs a crisis management firm protecting their clients (and the Whitehouse) from various indiscretions. It kind of makes you wonder what goes on over there!

Jane the Virgin – I’ve been watching ever since Jane really was a virgin, though admittedly, I liked the first few seasons more than the latter ones but the problem is, I’m so deep in that I’m rather invested in seeing how it all plays out and want to make sure the characters sort out their relationships. So I watch!

The Crown – This was a total DEVOUR for me as I couldn’t stop watching when Season 1 came out and counted the days until Season 2 arrived. I enjoy the Royal Family and the history surrounding them and I think Netflix has done a fabulous job with The Crown. If you haven’t watched…I’d put it on the list of shows to watch for sure.

Dynasty – This was a sheer guilty pleasure as it reminded me so much of the Soap Opera days in the 80s when I’d watch Dynasty, Dallas and Knot’s Landing with friends. Mostly, I saved these episodes for when I was in the bath…I’d grab a glass of wine and relax in the tub while watching the foolishness on the screen. It’s not great…but the nostalgia from the 80s completely pulled me in and I rather enjoyed the reminiscing.

The Good Place – I watched it. It was odd. Kind of hokey and cheesie…but, I watched through to the end. I’m not exactly waiting for the next season to arrive on Netflix but who am I kidding…I’ll probably watch that too.

Stranger Things – Yeah, so…I’m not into scary shows AT ALL and therefore, really held back for a long time before watching Stranger Things. HOWEVER, it’s way more suspenseful and sci-fi than it is scary (except for a couple of gruesome moments). Overall, I wouldn’t call it scary…I love the characters and binged through Season 2 the second it came out! If you haven’t watched it, I’d put it on the “must see” list for sure. (I wrote a little more about the show here.)

Nashville – I was OBSESSED with this series and couldn’t believe how many seasons there were to devour. I watched all 5 seasons and the radio station in my car has been permanently set on country music. I don’t know what pulled me in…the story, the characters, the music…all of it. I enjoyed each episode and look forward to the next season.

Ozark – This was Dark…like, super dark. I’ve been pulled into dark stories before and I’m always left feeling a little uneasy…looking over my shoulder. Ozark was exactly that in a very intriguing and twisted way. I’d definitely recommend it…and will watch Season 2 when it arrives.

Offspring – Quirky, fun, adorable, heart-warming…the story of obstetrician Nina Proudman and her quirky group of family and friends…this show had everything I enjoy about a family drama complete with Australian accents! I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Lovesick – A British comedy, this series is about a fellow who finds out he has an STD and has to go back through a long list of women he’s had intimate relations with. I got a kick out of this series and the characters and while writing this blog post, discovered there’s a new season that I’ve not yet watched. SO…just as soon as I hit the publish button on this post…you know what I’ll be doing!

Suits – I’ve been watching Suits long before Meghan Markle fell in love with Harry. (Harry the prince…not the Harry character on Suits…though I have to say, that would make things on the show pretty interesting.) Anyway, this series never disappoints from one season to the next. A definite “must see.”

Atypical – This was FANTASTIC. Atypical is the story of Sam, an autistic boy on his quest to find love. I greatly enjoyed it and look forward to the next season. Definitely add it to your “must see” list.

Homeland – This was another series I absolutely devoured. I loved the suspense…in fact…I’ve watched this series TWICE. Homeland is the story of a marine who’s returned home after 8 years in captivity. He’s not who he seems…and the folks in the CIA are bound and determined to figure out his story.

Orange is the New Black – This past summer, Season 5 of OITNB came out on Netflix and I have to say, I was a little less excited about it than I had been about previous seasons. However, by the end of Season 5, I was pretty involved and look forward to what happens when Season 6 arrives. If you haven’t seen it…add it to the list!

Doctor Foster – If I were being completely honest, I think I watched this one because of my divorce. So often people tell me all of the horrific things they would do to their partner if they’d ever caught them cheating and this show kind of plays a few of them out. It’s interesting…and makes me wish I could do my divorce over!

Dear White People – I finally clued into what “White Privilege” was thanks to this show…and I have to say, I’m pretty pleased to finally be educated and have rather changed how I am because of it. So…a big thanks to Dear White People for opening my eyes on a number of topics.

13 Reasons Why – This show came with a lot of controversy about whether or not we’re glorifying suicide. For me, it offered an opportunity to chat with my kids about a number of topics I’d not yet chatted with them about. You can find my full review of the show here.

Call the Midwife – A BBC period drama about midwifery…yup, this was right up my alley. I adored the characters and enjoyed looking at some history…plus, well…babies!

One Day at a Time – OK…I thought this show was ADORABLE and truly look forward to the next season. It was sweet and heartfelt and just the perfect family show with the right amount of comedy and equal amount of lessons. I wrote a bit more about the show here.

Riverdale – This show somewhat confuses me. I read ALL of the Archie and Jughead comic books when I was a kid and NONE OF THESE THINGS HAPPENED! Basically, the show uses the character names, places and relationships…but the show is completely its own identity. It confuses me a little, but it’s filled with intrigue and drama and I rather like how they’ve created some of the characters from my youth. So, I’m in.

Grace and Frankie – Seasons one and two I greatly enjoyed, Season three a little less so and yet…I still really liked it. I started Season 4 just this past weekend and so far, I’m still liking it. To be honest, I quite enjoy seeing a show with a few older characters and watching their relationships and adventures. It’s light. It’s fun. I’m hooked.

The OA – I watched this…and it was weird. And I kept watching. And it was still weird. And I was hooked on the weirdness and look forward to the next season. I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like it as it was a mixture of sci-fi and fantasy plus a blind girl who went missing and returns years later with her sight restored. You know…I don’t even know how to explain this show. But definitely…watch it.

Grey’s Anatomy – This year I started back from the very beginning and watched right to the end. I’ve been a devout Greys fan since the show first hit the air so it was a bit of fun to go back to the beginning and re-watch the entire thing!

Santa Clarita Diet – She ate the…and there was all this blood…and there was a blender…you know, I’m not sure I liked this show. I watched it…sometimes through my fingers. But, I can’t say that I really enjoyed it as it mostly made me a little squeamish. Will I watch the next season that’s already out…ummmm…maybe. But I’m not 100% sure. Most people I know LOVE it…so it might be just me.

So…that’s what I watched in 2017 as far as bingeing. I also watched a number of documentaries and movies…and somehow got caught up with watching every holiday RomCom you could find on Netflix during December…making me realize my children have ruined my love life! (Read about how I came to that conclusion here.)

I’m a Netflix fan for sure…it’s usually playing on my computer at some point during the day while I work and often, on evenings or weekends, I hit full-screen and settle in to watch a show I actually want to focus on and spend a little time with.

What have you binged on in 2017…and what do you recommend I check out?

 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. I’m a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam and receive special perks, however, all opinions are my own.