One could spend more time on Netflix trying to find something rather than actually watching a movie or tv show. This is a daily routine for me. I'd estimate that I surf Netflix an hour a day not watching anything. I'm here to help highlight the best that Netflix has to offer.
Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000; 18 episodes)
This isn't your typical high school drama series with over-the-top themes. Although it is set in the 80's, you can relate to almost every situation. As a viewer, you fall in love with all of the characters because you can find something to relate to with all of them. The two main characters, Lindsay and Sam Weir, are siblings representing the freaks and the geeks respectively. We follow the two into their cliques and their conflicts that reminded me of the ones I experienced in high school.
Lindsay is especially important. We follow her on her journey of finding out who she is and how she is shaped by her friends. She does this while juggling family life and academics.
The soundtrack of the show might be the greatest thing to ever happen on television. Artists include: Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Van Halen. There are also entire episodes with soundtracks showcasing one artist such as Styx and Billy Joel.
Perhaps the biggest reason why this show is so fascinating is that it has so many well-known actors when they were young and before they were famous. When it aired, nobody had any idea that when they were watching Freaks and Geeks, they were witnessing a budding friendship in James Franco and Seth Rogen. The characters they played in Freaks and Geeks were "freaks" known for being stoner misfits. Little did we know that we were watching the future stoner duo of Pineapple Express. Franco and Rogen are comedy superstars today, but the friendship started on the set of Freaks and Geeks (Rogen's first role). Jason Segel plays another one of the "freaks." Segel (now seen in How I Met Your Mother and Forgetting Sarah Marshall) is another example of a highly successful actor who broke out through Freaks and Geeks.
The acting is just okay. The writing isn't complex, but it didn't need to be. I think the best part of the show is watching these actors grow into their characters. By the 18th episode, the show began to hit its stride. NBC canceled something special very prematurely. However, James Franco and Seth Rogen have been rumored to be thinking about making a Freaks and Geeks movie. I pray daily that this would happen.
Freaks and Geeks is a must watch. This is a show you can knock out in one week and be sobbing when it's over.
