Netflix Show Reviews | Bella Hirst

Since March, we’ve all watched more Netflix shows than we want to admit. But with the overwhelming number of shows on the platform, it can be hard to decide which ones are worth our time. Here is my review of some of the shows I’ve watched in the past few months!

The Circle: 8/10

Though this one came out at the very beginning of 2020, it’s remained one of my favorite shows on Netflix. This reality competition show features 8 players who each have their online profiles. The catch: none of them ever meet in person. Players can choose to play as themselves, or use someone else’s photos to create an entirely new persona. Every episode, the players rate everyone in the game, and the top two players have to kick someone out. The players also participate in different games to help get to know each other better, and along the way, friendships, and yes, even romances form (at least until you realize that pretty girl you’ve been talking to is actually a man). They’ve made different versions for different countries, and the American one is good, but if you’re willing to read subtitles and looking for some scheming and underhanded play that makes the show much more interesting, the French version is the way to go.

Love is Blind: 5/10

Like The Circle, Love is Blind is a reality game series, but in this show, they’re looking to find love. Men and women talk to each other without ever seeing what the other one looks like, and before you can find out, you have to propose. Only once you’re engaged can you see what the

other person looks like, then the couples go on a trip and live together before the big wedding day. I’ll be honest – I couldn’t finish this series. I stuck it out for that one amazing couple (I won’t spoil who it is, but as soon as you watch the show you’ll know), but almost every other person on the show is just a little bit unbearable to watch.

Dawson’s Creek: 7/10

This show follows the lives of four teenagers in a small Massachusetts town in the late 90s/early 2000s. It’s refreshingly realistic compared to a lot of other shows on this list and portrays a lot of issues that we still see as teenagers today, including social isolation, coming out, and teen pregnancy. Since the show is 20 years old, some of its handling of these issues is a bit dated, but it still remains a relevant show with relatable characters.

Glee: 6/10

Let’s be honest, the only reason this show got above a 5 is because of the songs. Glee follows a high school glee club made up of every different type of student, including a kid in a wheelchair, the absolute worst kind of theater kid, and the school quarterback. Like Dawson’s Creek, it addresses a lot of teen issues, but most of the storylines are so completely unrealistic that I have to laugh. If you want to stop watching after season 3, I don’t blame you. Its only redeeming qualities are the cast’s truly unmatched vocal abilities and Sue Sylvester – the cheerleading coach and antagonist, whose hilarious one-liners never fail to carry the show.

The Umbrella Academy: 3/10

I tried to get into this show, I really did. But the storyline is all over the place, the characters’ relationships make no sense, and the show is overall just not good. I had to push myself to even finish season 1. I know that a lot of people love this show, but I just don’t see it.

New Girl: 10/10

My absolute favorite show. New Girl is kind of like a more modern Friends – it centers around Jessica Day, a quirky teacher, her model friend Cece, and her three roommates – all guys. The show follows them for six years through careers, relationships, and breakups, all while being hilarious. It isn’t the deepest or complex show, but it’s always going to make you laugh, and is one of the few shows that doesn’t get worse in the final seasons.

Community: 8/10

This show focuses on a study group at a community college, consisting of students of all different ages and situations. If you watch this show looking for a heartfelt and low-key show with a few funny moments, you’ve come to the wrong place. After you get over the initial shock of some of these plotlines (an annual life-or-death paintball game, the school being taken over by a crazy Spanish teacher with tyrannical tendencies, and a very serious blanket vs. pillow fort war, to name a few), you may come to appreciate this wacky show where nothing (and I mean NOTHING) is impossible.