Bingeworthy TV: Master of None

I enjoyed Aziz Ansari's performance on Parks and Rec, but his next project, Master of None, was only available on Netflix so I've only recently been able to watch. Ansari plays Dev Shah, a struggling actor in New York City. Dev isn't really struggling with his career -- it's going okay, if not spectacularly, but it's unfulfilling. His love life is likewise lackluster.

This is a comedy series about being young and trying to find your path through the world, which means the humor is often bittersweet and occasionally crude. They don't shy away from difficult topics, but consistently demonstrate that it's possible for all of us to work towards being better versions of ourselves. This is a clever show that embraces opportunities to play with style and storytelling methods, while still developing interesting characters.

Dev is unquestionably our main character though so most of the stories are told from his perspective, though any episodes that feature Dev's parents are among my favorites. Interestingly, Ansari's actual parents play his character's parents in this show.

~Sarah, Adult Services

Bingeworthy TV: Veronica Mars

Take one plucky teenage sleuth, add the murder of a wealthy, high-profile teenage girl, and you have the makings of a fantastic show called Veronica Mars.

Kristen Bell stars as the eponymous character, progressing from high school to college moonlighting as a private investigator under the tutelage of her detective father. Her best friend, Lily, was murdered and season one is all about Veronica trying to prove that the wrong man was convicted for that murder. The show ran for three seasons and each season has an overarching mystery arc. However, Veronica works many cases and each episode has a smaller mystery to solve.

 
Kristin Bell and Enrico Colantoni (who plays her father, Keith) are so believable as father and daughter. Bell brings such emotion and vulnerability to Veronica, you believe she is a teenager just trying to survive high school. Sadly the show did not get a 4th season, but through an amazing Kickstarter campaign, Bell and Veronica Mars creator, Rob Thomas, raised enough money to film a movie in 2014. Rob Thomas has also written a couple of books to keep the story going. 

~Amy, Adult Services

Bingeworthy TV: Bob's Burgers

Even if you've never seen Bob's Burgers, you probably recognize Louise's pink bunny hat. In fact, the entire Belcher family has been one of the more popular group-costume options in recent years. This is a cartoon with a wider appeal than most due in large part to the great family dynamic at its heart. Though the humor ranges from silly to adult, Bob's Burgers is an overall bright and optimistic show.

I haven't seen every episode of this series, and the episodes that I have watched were almost entirely out of order. This isn't a long-running plot show, but rather a traditional sitcom where no matter how crazy things get, everything returns to almost normal by the end of the episode. So if the Belchers's restaurant is horribly damaged in one episode, everything will be fine by the next. While new viewers aren't punished for jumping in wherever, there are rewards for loyal viewers. You'll discover running jokes and recurring characters who gradually build depth and personality beyond a single gag, .

While I enjoy the visual humor and quick wit, the use of music and original songs are probably my favorite element. In fact, I started watching after a co-worker played a song about Thomas Edison electrocuting an elephant. Not only is it a catchy song, it's hilarious in context. (The song below is an official cover animated in the style of the show.)


~Sarah, Adult Services