Females Are Strong as Hell (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - 2015 - TV-14)

Today, I present to you the shortest and giggliest guilty pleasure binge of your life. Just 13 episodes. A Netflix original of comedy to the core. Created by humor junkies Robert Carlock and Tina Fey (both known for their work on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock). Starring KCMO native Ellie Kemper (The Office, Bridesmaids). Put your hands together for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - ooooo dammit!

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The show begins just as four girls are pulled by SWAT members from an underground bunker where they've spent the last 15 years of their lives held captive by a doomsday cult preacher. When the 'Indiana Mole Women' share their story on a TV talk show, Kimmy realizes that she doesn't want to return to her old life in Durnsville. She stays behind in New York City to start a fresh life and somehow catch up on all the adulthood learning she missed. 

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First thing's first, Kimmy needs a job. She starts working as a nanny for local crazie Jacqueline Voorhes (Jane Krakowski - Ally McBeal, 30 Rock) after Kimmy finds her son wandering about the streets of NYC stealing candy. Next she scores an apartment with roommate Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess - 30 Rock), a flamboyant struggling actor.

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Kimmy starts feeling out her new-found freedom, navigating NYC, boys, friendship, and responsibility. Just when things are going great - she's needed to testify against the crazy cult leader who kidnapped her, Rev. Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm - Mad Men). Can Kimmy save the day?

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I love Ellie Kemper's portrayal of Kimmy - her one-liners often come in hilarious comebacks with some childhood flare (remember, Kimmy hasn't seen the outside world since 1995). Plus this chick deserves your respect for keeping herself and her friends safe and sane...ish...for 15 years underground. Never once did she fall for Wayne Gary Wayne's end of the world bullcrap. And when she finally got out, she thrived. 

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Ultimately this show is straight up entertainment - I giggled from start to finish. Be warned, it's some pretty silly, shallow humor. You won't laugh if you're looking for some intriguing satire. It's an adorable show and intentionally made to be. Not a lot of character development or deep plot, but plenty of goofiness. Rating: 3/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's. 

I've Become An Obsessive Fangirl (Marvel's Agents of SHIELD - TV-PG)

Hello lovelies! Holy cannoli, do I have a recommendation for you... Last week, I didn't blog a thing because I was too in love with this show to watch anything else. I just had to power through it and after a weekend of reflection, I'm ready to share my thoughts. This show blew my mind wide open and I have been obsessively fangirling over it for days.

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If you're expecting a Disney Channel-esque show depicting teenagers going on daring missions for the Avengers - you'll be quite surprised. No mouthy teenagers, no Disney Channel feels in this show. Agents of SHIELD is straight up adult and takes itself just as seriously as the Marvel movies do. The show, created by Joss Whedon (The Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, & Firefly) and a bajillion other brilliant minds, tells SHIELD's side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe story.

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SHIELD, or the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, is the acting government agency that takes responsibility for all things alien, paranormal, and superhuman here on Earth as directed by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). The show follows a particular team of agents led by Philip Coulson (Clark Gregg) who are on a mission to track an organization that is trying to create a superhuman solider with abilities similar to Captain America. The team includes Skye the hacker, Fitz and Simmons the brilliant scientists, Melinda May the total badass extraordinaire, and Grant Ward who is basically just there to make 'smolder' faces in the background. They are all fabulous and will win your heart in an instant. I honestly can't pick a favorite character from either season... though I couldn't tell you how many times I called Coulson some variation of "you precious butterfly" throughout my crazy binge-watch of the show.

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Beware, further description gets a little spoilery. (It's super hard to avoid with this show and I am so sorry!)

Did you know that all of the recent Marvel movies are meant to correspond to the same timeline? Agents of SHIELD falls on that very same timeline and if you watch the show, you'll notice all of these crazy intersections where giant things that happen in the films are referenced in the show and expanded on. The show even sets up certain elements for future movies that I am super excited about.

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Both Seasons 1 and 2 are currently on Netflix to stream and Season 3 is set to premiere in September. Season 1 primarily focuses on Skye's introduction to the SHIELD agency, Coulson's Tahiti mystery, and the establishment of the team's dynamic. But you better hold on to your seats as you get to about episode 15, because the end of the season starts clear back there - and it is a wild wild ride. Trust will be broken. Season 2 centers around the rebuilding of SHIELD, Skye's new abilities, and a sketchy secret safe-haven for gifted people.

Seriously the show blew my freaking mind with how everything lined up perfectly. It was like reading comic books - except watching them on television! Ah, the intersection! So in terms of the shows put-together, so much love. And the characters are fascinating! They each have their own subplot and character development that occurs alongside the main plot. They are weighted and complex and it feels just as if you were connecting with one of the Avengers characters. It's beautiful, trust me.

Video credit: Marvel Entertainment, YouTube

One major critique of the show that I have is a lack of leading diversity - which I suppose is not so much a critique of the show as it is a critique of Marvel's mainstream content in general. The show does feature several fantastic POC characters that are dynamic and influential of the plot and I would love to see more of that in the coming seasons. I truly think a strength of this show is it's ability to allocate time to all of the characters' developments and subplots pretty equally, especially in Season 2.

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So that was a hefty binge! But OH MY GOSH SO WORTH IT. I adored this show so much as a Marvel fan. While those who may not be so into the superhero world will likely not have the same appreciation for it as those of us in the particular fandom, the show gets a great review from me. I even got my mother into it! Rating: 4.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

I don't f*** dudes for Big Macs... (Orange is the New Black - TV-MA)

Talk about crazy popular cult TV. What started as a simple Netflix original show has blown up in the mainstream world. When Season 3 of Orange is the New Black was added just two weeks ago, all I saw on social media for days were people freaking out about the latest drama at Litchfield Penitentiary...and by golly, they were right.

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Orange is the New Black takes place in upstate New York where Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling - The Lucky One) self-surrenders and is sentenced to fifteen months in prison for a crime she committed almost ten years earlier while she was involved with an international drug smuggler. Her boyfriend drops her off at Litchfield Penitentiary and her journey of penance goes from there. In prison, she quickly finds that her fifteen months are going to go by very slowly. She begins as a scared and privileged girl, but as the seasons progress, Piper finds her feet in prison...watch the show, no spoilers here.

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But don't make the mistake of thinking this whole show is about her. The show features many fantastic female characters that often steal the spotlight with the many subplots running at the same time as Piper's story. There's Sofia (Laverne Cox), a transgender woman sentenced for using stolen credit cards to pay for her transition. I adore Sister Jane (Beth Fowler), a Catholic nun who became an activist during the Vietnam war and was imprisoned for handcuffing herself to a flagpole at a nuclear testing facility in protest - so much love. There's also Dayanara (Dascha Polanco), the artist, who may or may not find herself close to one of the guards... And who could possibly forget the queen of the kitchen, Red Reznikov (Kate Mulgrew - Star Trek: Voyager), badass extraordinaire.

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I rave about this show to people. If you're looking for a show with strong female characters who are depicted honestly and dynamically - this is your show. The inmates' backstories are my favorite part of Orange is the New Black and some of them will play with your moral compass, making you wonder...was she really in the wrong? The show doesn't shy away from discussions of race, gender, and sexuality as well as social injustices, poverty, and obviously prison life. And for that and beyond, I love it.

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Warning time. Since the show is produced by Netflix, it is able to take some major liberties with the creation of the show. Expect HBO level graphic content when it comes to sex, violence, and drugs. But if you're not the kind of Netflix binger to let that stop you, give Orange is the New Black a shot. It's a wild ride. Rating: 3.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's. 

Burger of the Day: Katie's Back-to-Back-to-Bacon Cheeseburger (Bob's Burgers - TV-14)

I spent all day Tuesday under the firm assumption that it was Monday. Fellow Netflix-bingers, I know you feel my feels. After a certain while, the hours bleed together and the transition from day to night blurs until you find yourself thinking, "How is it one in the morning? What season am I on? Just five episodes left? I can finish that before bed, easy!" Basically, I've started re-watching the entire X-Files series and it's going to be the death of me.

But never fear! Today is Friday and a new review is here!

I've got a funny one served up for you today. You have likely already heard of Bob's Burgers due to its popularity akin to shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy. Those comparisons may have either encouraged your interest in taste-testing the show or steered you away if you're not so into the flavor of adult cartoons, but when I started watching the show a year ago, it quickly became a favorite of mine. Seasons 1-4 are currently available for instant streaming.

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Bob's Burgers centers on Bob Belcher, his wife Linda, and their three kids Tina, Gene, and Louise. The family owns a burger joint through which the show explores workplace comedy, marriage and family dynamics, and awkward tales of childhood and growing up. The show does great work taking an average American family and making them relatable and funny - without dumbing any of them down.

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If you're looking for a "D'oh!" kind of father, Bob is not your guy. The thing I love most about Bob's Burgers is how far it strays from the typical tropes of TV families. In fact, Bob's depicts a family where members lift each other up and support each other instead of tearing each other down for a joke. The show's humor is based in antics and relatable awkwardness, rather than the expense of a character's confidence and dignity. For example, any time Gene goes through a slight identity crisis his family is pretty supportive, encouraging him to be himself.

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Each of the characters separately is dynamic as they deal with their own issues - which is a credit to the writers as well as the voice actors developing the characters' personalities. The kids especially crack me up, while still being beautiful souls that I adore for their total quirkiness. Gene walks around the house in his underwear and still demands to be taken seriously. He's always pushing the socially constructed boundaries of gender and expression and he's a cheerleader for his sisters - LOVE. Louise, my personal favorite voiced by Kristen Schaal, believes she could easily conquer the world and she does not take crap from anyone. And of course, there's Tina - the voice of a generation. While Tina experiences the true-life teenage struggles of boys, friends, and fitting in, she's crazy confident with a passion for coffee, butts, and erotic friend-fiction. She's a total feminist and unapologetically unique and people love her for it.

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Rating: 5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's - easy. Coming up next week, I have reviews for Orange is the New Black and Nightcrawler on the menu. I'll see you here next Tuesday and Friday for those new reviews...as long as I can continue to keep my days straight from here on out.

Also, please tell me you thought this post's title was funny...like back-to-back-to-back episodes, get it...?

Also, also! If you're interested in what I mentioned earlier about Bob's Burgers as a cutting edge show breaking away from typical TV tropes and introducing more progressive ideas about family dynamics and supportiveness... YouTuber Laci Green discusses these aspects of the show as well as an added element of feminism in her MTV spot that you can watch below!

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A Vampire, a Werewolf, and a Ghost Walk into a Bar... (Being Human - TV-14)

It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, which is probably why Syfy's "Being Human" doesn't take itself too seriously. The show follows three not-so-human roommates and their desperate cling to whatever shreds of humanity they have left.

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Aidan (Sam Witwer - "Star Wars: The Clone Wars") has been a vampire since the redcoats invaded New England. Josh (Sam Huntington - "Fanboys") is a werewolf, frustrated and ashamed for what he is. The two meet through their day jobs as nurses at a local hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Aidan suggests an experiment - monster cohabitation. Aidan thinks that if he and Josh live together as roommates, they can help each other keep their monstrous selves in check and finally find a sense of normalcy.

The two decide to rent a house together, but unknowingly choose a house with a dark past. Here they find Sally Malik (Meaghan Rath - "Three Night Stand"), the ghost who haunts the house and has no memory of how she died. When she is finally able to reveal herself to Aidan and Josh, the boys vow to help her find her door to the afterlife. 

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The three battle all manner of the supernatural including a thriving underground vampiric empire - all while trying to make rent by the end of the month. That is what I loved most about the show: it made excellent use of the opportunity to make a bit of fun of itself. The heavier drama of the show would escalate and suddenly the garbage disposal would break. Josh, Aiden and Sally are dealing with real world problems of being single adults in their 20s, all while they have vampires and werewolves knocking on their front door.

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I also must say that I like the type of conflict that "Being Human" uses in its plot. I'm certainly not one for the vampire love triangles that are popular right now, but I do love watching monsters deal with the inner struggle of being, well, monsters. Josh and Aiden are constantly having to come to terms with what they are and how that defines the way they interact with their world. It sets up for some really thought-provoking scenes. Plus, the show really had a way of drawing me into the story; I always wanted to jump right into the next episode.

"Being Human" is especially popular among the cult TV crowd and it's worth noting that the show's own Sam Witwer will be making an appearance at Planet Comicon in Kansas City this March 13, 14 and 15. Rating: 3/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

Come on, Jerry... (Parks and Recreation - TV-14)

Parks and Recreation's farewell season premiered last Tuesday, Jan. 13. Queue the Andrea Bocelli - it's time to say goodbye. If you are a newbie to the show or just feel like reminiscing about the good ole days (Ron Swanson pre-Doc McStuffins), Netflix has your back. Seasons 1-6 are currently available for instant streaming.

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Commonly known as Parks and Rec by its dedicated viewers, the show follows the sometimes unfortunate, but almost always hilarious shenanigans of the parks and recreation department in small-town, Pawnee, Indiana.

It includes a most excellent performance from Nick Offerman (21 Jump Street, The Kings of Summer) as Ron Swanson, head of the department and general hater of all things government. Ron's determined to fit every stereotype of the "manliest" of men by being a hardy woodsman, professional chairmaker, and the guy who orders a slab of meat with every meal. Don't let him fool you, though... Ron puts up a rigid front, but he's a wise one with a soft spot for those select few in which he sees potential.

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The show also stars Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, The LEGO Movie) as Andy Dwyer. Andy's character acts as the slapstick comedy component of the show. He's a half-witted almost-musician with little to no direction in life who starts off the show by falling into a giant pit. It should also be noted that Pratt often adds his own flavor to the show by throwing in impromptu lines from time to time. For example, his line in the scene below was totally unscripted, and I'd venture to say that it is one of the best one-liners in the entire show.

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And how could one continue without mentioning the spectacular portrayal of Leslie Knope by Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls). Leslie's character is convinced that Pawnee is the greatest city in the world and enthusiastic doesn't even begin to describe how passionate she is about upholding that standard of hope in her hopeless community. Poehler has done amazing work with this character by fleshing her out into a full-fledged, dynamic woman in politics.

These are just a few among many fantastic performances by Aubrey Plaza (my personal fav), Aziz Ansari, and others who join in as the seasons progress. Parks and Recreation was easily my favorite binge of winter break. It's humor is clever, often satirizing current events, politics, and the atmosphere of the midwestern small-town. It won my heart forever and I will be sad to say goodbye to its current run on television. Rating: 4.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

Forget Your Troubles (House M.D. - TV-14)

Dr. Gregory House (played by the infamous Hugh Laurie) is an insanely tough doctor with a problematic God/guilt complex. He's one of the best doctors in the United States and... he's addicted to vicodin. While I'd seen an episode of House M.D. here or there on television, it was never a show I kept up with weekly. My friend recommended that I give it a go on Netflix (all seasons, 1-8 are available to stream instantly).

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The show starts out simple and entertaining. Dr. House has a dry sense of humor, but he's so brilliant that his pranks (purely for his own amusement) are complicated and captivating.

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The characters quickly convince you to hate the rules of the medical system as much as they do, and you will find yourself cheering them on as they cheat the system to save a life. Of course, it doesn't always work out, because the reality is that not every life can be saved. If we wanted to choose one theme to encompass the entire eight seasons of House M.D., it would simply be ethics. What does it mean to be ethical? Are ethics flexible? When is it okay to violate ethics?

It's the root of every struggle the characters face in House M.D. Patients lie. Doctors lie. Each doctor has to face a battle with loneliness. But perhaps the greatest struggle in this show is Dr. House's struggle with happiness. He believes that being happy makes him a worse doctor.

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The show quickly takes on some darker themes of morality and mortality.

The coolest thing about this show is that I have experienced love and hate for each character. This show will force you to see the dynamic good and bad in every person - and that sometimes it is necessary to break the rules of morality for the sake of mortality. Rating: 4.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

P.S. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD HUGH LAURIE SING? YOU'RE WELCOME.

Cue the Musical Montage. (Glee - TV-PG)

I used to watch Glee religiously. It actually fostered my interest in joining theater in high school. I was looking for community. Glee depicted a family of cutthroat drama lovers...exactly what I found in high school...and I loved it.

First of all, Glee is downright funny. The wit and the sass make me smile non-stop.

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Glee also tackles some of the serious social issues definitive of high school. These topics include sexuality, school violence, insecurity, college fears, bullying, parent pressure, peer pressure, anxiety disorders and mental illness, and physical disabilities, just to name a few...

Video Credit: Major Gleeks, YouTube

Plus the Christmas music is my absolute favorite.

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I always found Glee to be thoroughly entertaining. Who could guess that this show is produced by the same man who makes American Horror Story? And while the most recent seasons took a bit of a plummet, mainly due to the cast additions not being incorporated well, the show still cranks out some awesome covers that will make you want to turn on the subtitles and sing along. Seasons 1 - 4 are available to stream instantly on Netflix. Rating: 4/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

Well... I'm terrified. (American Horror Story: Asylum - TV-MA)

I first tried to watch American Horror Story when the Season 1, AHS: House, was added to Netflix. I just couldn't get into it. There was too much violence and not enough story. My friend encouraged me to give it another shot when Season 3, AHS: Coven, was showing on FX. I hated it, too. But my brother had seen a few episodes from Season 2, AHS: Asylum, and said he found it quite interesting. I found it on Netflix and gave it a shot.

After just the first few episodes, I was hooked. The show tackles the bizarre and unexplainable head on in gory detail. While I'm usually more of a fan of shows like NBC's Hannibal that handle dark topics with provocative grace, there is something enticing about the raunchy, raw quality of American Horror Story. What can I say? I like weird. I'm also enjoying the current season, AHS: Freak Show, on FX so far.

Warning: do not make the decision to binge AHS lightly!! This show gets dark. Seriously. Rape, murder, and torture are common happenings in American Horror Story. It does get scary and it does get uncomfortable. I do not recommend bingeing this show simply because it will wreck you. Don't watch so much so fast that it gets stuck in your head. Space it out to enjoy it - because the suspense of not knowing is half the fun.

Despite the horrific occurrences that fill most of the show's time, there are some darn good moments in AHS: Asylum that make the whole thing worthwhile. I had two favorites. The Name Game and Lana's escape.

The Name Game was a moment of comic relief during a very intense episode. And I'll admit the song was stuck in my head the whole afternoon.

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You cannot help but get attached to Lana Winters. She's a journalist who enters the asylum with one purpose - to expose it. Things take a turn for the evil when she gets committed and is subjected to cruel manners of torture, making her all the more determined to take Briarcliff down. When she managed to escape the asylum with a tape holding key evidence, I applauded, thinking, This is it, she is going to take them down! (However...her trouble with Briarcliff doesn't end with her escape. Turns out evil is a pretty good stalker.)

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As I said, this show contains some extremely dark content. It drains you of your emotional energy and it could give you nightmares. But I found AHS: Asylum to be a very satisfying watch. Seasons 1-3 available to stream on Netflix. Rating 3.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

Everything I Know about Fashion, I Learned from Betty Suarez. (Ugly Betty - TV-PG)

Let me tell you about this little show my brother and I binged about a year and a half ago. It was the bright colors and aura of sass that caught our attention. When we found Ugly Betty on Netflix, we were hooked.

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This show was actually a big part of my decision to get involved in mass media. I find Betty super inspiring. She's honest about her fears and her insecurities. But she takes major risks on a daily basis despite them because she knows that there is the potential for great payoff. Her coworkers at the fashion magazine try to tear her down, and sometimes it gets to her. She doesn't lie about not caring what others think...she does...but she makes an effort to be herself anyway. This is who she is. Unapologetically. 

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The show, being about a fashion magazine, also brings about some interesting social commentary. From Season 1, Betty and Daniel Meade try to take the magazine in a different direction. They're tired of working with plastic looking models and publishing editorials about eating disorders. 

We get an inside look on a cutthroat industry...these people can be downright evil to each other just to move up in rank. But Betty doesn't play their game. She tries to come by success honestly and...in the end, that pays off immensely. 

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So if you're looking for a quirky, but heart-felt comedy to binge. Ugly Betty would likely suit your fancy. Rating: 4.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

Who's that girl? Sadly, not me. (New Girl - TV-14)

As a huge fan of Zooey Deschanel [The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, (500) Days of Summer] and Jake Johnson (Safety Not Guaranteed, Drinking Buddies), I had high hopes for this show from the get-go. And I have not been disappointed. Yes, the show is sitcom-y and some episodes are better than others. But I have squirmed and giggled and squealed like the ultimate girl the whole way through.

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It's a-typical, it's imbalanced, and it's slightly controversial. Basically this show is just the best case scenario of a girl living with three (later four) guy roommates. This dynamic permits some really awkward moments of hilarity. The writing is just so witty! I find the jokes genuinely funny and I laugh or roll my eyes at each one.

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Lemme let you in on a little secret... 

I like to imagine myself in New Girl....basically just as Jessica Day...because she's my spirit animal. She's full of inner feist and still believes in the good of humanity. She just wants to be herself and make people happy. And that's admirable. She's straight up weird but she has awesome people in her life that love her anyway.

I just really wish I could get into mini-misadventures with this troupe. And I most definitely want their apartment. I dream of toasting english muffins and brewing tea in their kitchen. 

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If you're looking for a cutsie show that's also funny enough to make your significant other laugh, New Girl is your jam. Seasons 1-3 are available on Netflix. Who's that girl? It's JESS. Rating: 3/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

Monster Hunter = My New Dream Job (Supernatural - TV-14)

Prepare yourself for a bit of personal backstory.

I heard of this show several years ago and, honestly, was never quite interested. That is...until I joined Tumblr. GIFs of Supernatural popped up on my dashboard often, mainly due to a friend of mine who also loves the show. It began to feel like an inside joke that I didn't get because I wasn't in the group! Obviously, I had to check it out. When I noticed it was on TV, I watched a couple of episodes. My first episodes ever were 8.2 and 8.20. Then, I got busy and forgot about it until this July. I started from the beginning and was in love by Season 3. I just finished Season 8 this week. (Seasons 1-8 are currently available on Netflix.) It's now my personal goal to get through Season 9 on Hulu by the television premiere of Season 10 on Oct. 7. 

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This show means a lot to me, personally, because some of the main themes in the story arc mirror themes I'm dealing with in my own life and seeing those presented as real and valid in a television series is...special. You don't see television get deep very often.

First of all, I am always shocked that this show doesn't have a larger fanbase in my hometown area. The very first episode opens in Lawrence, KS, of all places, and is Sam and Dean's hometown. Lawrence is about 20 minutes from my own hometown! The apocalypse, in the show, takes place just outside of Lawrence's city limits. Much later in the series (Season 8), Sam and Dean take refuge in a hunter group's abandoned lair in the rural area of Topeka, KS. Seriously, my friends, I feel like we need a memorial here for these brave souls who have been keeping us safe from the supernatural since 2005.

The basics of the show are simple enough. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester are brothers who pride themselves in being the best monster hunters in the Midwest. They are always on the road taking on cases and battling angels, demons, ghosts, and all other manner of hellish creatures. The only recompense for their job is the knowledge that another individual, another family, is safe.

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As I said before, this show deals with some pretty intense themes - not necessarily what you'd expect from a show about 24/7 Halloween. God, guilt, and trust come up OFTEN and it's really cool to see how they deal with these as regular human beings...who just happen to hunt demons on the side.

Granted, Supernatural is NOT for the average television junkie. It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea content wise, especially if you're not one to make room for religious coexistences and bending.

But I love that it breaks all of the rules of television - sending the characters to the 'real world', various sitcom humor...and the king of Hell watches far more Disney than you would think. And oh my gosh...Felicia Day's appearances are the greatest.

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There are times that the plot gets lost or tiresome and the emotions get hazy or seem exaggerated - which is to be expected from a show of this nature. But, personally, I LOVE THIS SERIES. It's created a place for itself very close to my heart and I am officially a fan. Rating: 3.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.

My Brain Hurts...In the Best Possible Way (Sherlock - TV-14)

I've been Sherlock-ed! This freaking show. Let me tell you. Sherlock is a BBC made television series based on the infamous legend of Sherlock Holmes. Each episode is a modernized tale taken almost directly from the original novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Complexity and completed tales are allowed because each episode is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long... So be quite aware of this before you try to watch an entire season in an afternoon.

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The show features Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek: Into Darkness - Khan, The Hobbit - Necromancer) as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Arthur Dent, The Hobbit - Bilbo Baggins) as his partner Dr. John Watson. Seasons 1-3 are currently available on Netflix with three episodes per season. If you watch this show - ye be warned - you will get attached and you will want more. However, Sherlock is not expected to return to British television until 2016... and who knows when it will become available in the US.

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I was immediately attached to Sherlock because of its movie-like detail. It has developed theme music and pretty incredible special effects. Each episode takes you on the twisted journey of solving a case and wraps it up completely by the end of the episode - no loose strings. At the same time, the central plot involving the main characters continues and develops from episode to episode.

Sherlock, himself, is instantly lovable. I'm not kidding you. Male or female, you will either fall in love with this man or you will wish you were just like him. Benedict Cumberbatch is fantastic at portraying a man who is honest about his social-ineptness as well as being insanely brilliant. And that, of course, makes him quirky, ridiculously sassy, and utterly hilarious.

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There's also an obvious theme of brotherhood throughout the series. Sherlock and John grow close quickly and maintain a strong bond that carries through the story. Of course, that leads to plot development when life takes interesting turns...

I definitely recommend Sherlock to anyone looking for a show that includes genuinely British men, a show for the not-so-average-crime-series lovers, or a show that takes A LOT of investment. Rating: 4.5/5 pints of Ben & Jerry's.