What to watch on Netflix

Isabella Long
The Foundational
Published in
4 min readOct 30, 2020

If you are like me, you have turned to movies or tv shows to cleanse your boredom, especially during these very boring times. I have spent much more time on Netflix these days than ever before so I thought I would share some new releases on Netflix that you can watch to pass some time.

Natalia Dyer in Yes, God, Yes

Yes, God, Yes

If you are looking for a comedic movie to waste some time on, this is the one for you. Natalia Dyer, better known for her role as Nancy Wheeler in Stranger Things, shines in this weirdly hilarious story of a Catholic high school student and her struggles as she becomes sexually awakened. Though she was previously devoutly religious, the main character Alice, has started to experiment with her body and give in to her tempting thoughts that are sinful in her faith. The movie captures many common feelings young people may feel as they go through puberty and begin learning about their bodies but exhibits them with a laughable twist. Karen Maine also shows talent in her debut as the sole writer and director of this movie. Maine, Dyer, and other cast members such as Alisha Boe, known for her role as Jessica Davis in 13 Reasons Why, do a splendid job highlighting the weird feelings associated with growing up.

Watch if you liked: Lady Bird, The Edge of Seventeen, Love, Simon

The Grand Army

This new Netflix original series takes a very serious and realistic look at life as an American high school student in 2020. It follows the story of 5 students at one of the most crowded schools in New York. The different hardships each of them face range from relatable small joys and happiness of high school such as having a crush, young people today but the show also addresses the hard topics such as racism, sexual assault, hate towards the LGBTQ+ community, as well as other minorities, and especially and how their stories are connected. Not only is the strong acting portrayed by the young stars in this show stunning, but it is also critical to the show’s plot.

Watch if you liked: Euphoria, Sex Education, 13 Reasons Why

The Queen’s Gambit

Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen’s Gambit

This new Netflix original miniseries takes place in the 1950s and tells the story of an orphan girl who takes on chess as a hobby and is found to have real talent for it. As she begins her journey to stardom in the chess world, she also begins to grow dependent on drugs and births a battle of addiction that she has to fight the whole length of the series. Though you may believe chess is boring, the cinematography of the show, as well as the strong acting, highlights the liveliness of the game and will transform your thoughts towards the game. Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays antisocial Beth, brilliantly portrays the characters fierce personality on the board even with very limited dialogue. Also part of the cast include Harry Melling, from the Harry Potter series, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster, best known for his roles in the Maze Runner trilogy and Phineas and Ferb.

Watch if you liked: The Queen of Katwe

Rebecca

Armie Hammer and Lily James star as young newlyweds in this chilling film. Set in the late 1930s, it follows Hammer’s character, Maxim de Winter, and his remarriage to the new Mrs. de Winter after his wife passed. It is an adaptation of the original 1940 film of the same name where the dead wife of Maxim de Winter, Rebecca, haunts the manor where de Winter and his new wife return to live in. Many critics argue that this movie falls short of the expected standards, but the acting is consistent with what you would expect of large Hollywood A-listers like Hammer and James. I would recommend this movie if you enjoy thrillers and mysterious films.

Watch if you liked: Crimson Peak, My Cousin Rachel, The Talented Mr. Ripley

My Next Guest Needs No Introduction

with David Letterman

One of the most well known talk show hosts, David Letterman, returns to delve deeper into the lives’ of large A-listers such as George Clooney, Barack Obama, and Tina Fey. Each episode includes a long conversation with a singular person and Letterman addresses the regular topics talk shows focus on while also including many more controversial topics with deeper implications on the guest. If you enjoy talk shows but also are interested in more background information fun late night tv doesn’t include, this show is for you. The 3rd season just came out on October 21st and includes an episode with Kim Kardashian West, Lizzo, and Robert Downey Jr.

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