Looking for a new series to binge on? We’ve reviewed some of the most recent shows out there for you! We rated each show out of 5 stars, and included the current IMDB ratings as well. Happy show hunting!
Brand New Series 2017
The Good Doctor (2017-)
Source: imdb.com
8.6 IMDB
Season 1 Premiered Sept 25 2017
A talented young surgeon with autism joins a prestigious surgical unit, and not everyone embraces his unique way of communicating and connecting with people. This show taps into the surgeon’s brilliant mind and reveals the hierarchy struggles within a medical business.
I’ve seen 4 episodes, and I am HOOKED. You never know what the surgeon, Shaun Murphy, will do or say next, or how he will be received by his patients and colleagues. You become very connected to his character as his personality traits and sad past are revealed little by little. It’s impossible to not want to root for him to prove the naysayers wrong.
The script and cast are so fantastic. You know that adorable kid from Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Freddie Highmore is all grown up and back in action, and I am again blown away by his performance. Yeah, this isn’t just another medical show. Right now I can’t say enough good about it.
I recommend this show as is (with the exception of the very first episode, when it implies a couple has had relations. No nudity is shown. I hope this doesn’t continue, because it added little to nothing to the plot). There is mild language sporadically, but rarely. Also, it shows some surgical procedures, so any squeamish people beware (Looking at you, Madison). I don’t recommend for children, because of the “medical gore” and heavy topics the show entails. But for adults, it’s a must-see.
The Good Doctor is currently running on Mondays 9 CT on ABC.
Reviewed by: Mariah
Extinct (2017-)
Source: imdb.com
6.5 IMDB
Season 1 Premiered October 1st, 2017
Orson Scott Card is one of the creators of this show, which focuses on three people “reborn” by an alien species. They begin navigating Earth 400 years after the extinction of humans, trying to piece together the details of their pasts and how to survive new dangers in the future.
The plot is really intriguing. The creators did a good job of keeping you in the dark enough just enough so you have to keep watching. This wasn’t the highest budget show, but I still think they did well. The sets are beautiful.
Now, the acting is a tough thing to score. Some of it is great, and some if it is really bad. Like laugh out loud bad. It seemed like all the actors settled into their roles as filming went along. Yeah. If you can just get through the first two episodes, you’re good after that.
The last two episodes of Season 1 will air in November.
This show is on BYU TV (you can watch here for free on their website), which pretty much guarantees that you don’t need a filter. Again, some of the content may be frightening for children.
Reviewed by: Mariah
Anne With an E (2017-)
Source: imdb.com
The Magic School Bus Rides Again (2017-)
Source: imdb.com
Shows With New Season in 2017
The Good Place (2016-)
Source: imdb.com
7.8 IMDb
Season 2 Released September 20th, 2017
This show was recommended to me by a friend, and I was drawn in immediately by their 20-minute episodes! Yay! Seriously, with such a packed schedule, that is a huge temptation for me! Plus, the voice of Anna in Frozen, Kristen Bell, is the lead star of this fun show.
As good ol’ Wikpedia describes, “Eleanor Shellstrop, a recently deceased young woman wakes up in the afterlife and is sent by Michael to “The Good Place”, a Heaven-like utopia he designed, in reward for her righteous life. However, she quickly realizes that she was sent there by mistake, and must hide her morally imperfect behavior (past and present).”
The Good: I think the whole story line is really fun! She was never supposed to be in heaven, but now must learn how to be good in order to stay there. Because they are in heaven, there is no immoral behavior, swear words, nor immodesty. For example, when she wants to curse, it comes out as a clean word: “What the fork?” You still get the idea, but it is nice to not have to hear it.
It is obviously well-funded, and has some great actors. There are a couple plot-twists to keep it interesting, and…did I mention 20-minute episodes??
The Bad: Unfortunately, Eleanor was a pretty awful person on earth, and she has frequent flashbacks of her former life. She curses, makes bad decisions, and takes advantage of her friends and others. She does regret a lot of what she did, and it is for her learning process, but I did find the language and actions of these flashbacks offensive. It provides a big contrast into what is happening in heaven, and shows her growth, but I would have felt more comfortable watching it edited. Also, there is one character in heaven that sometimes makes uncomfortable comments. She’s like an artificial intelligence, so it’s apparently okay.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a fun, short show, this is for you! If you’re looking for an intricate, exciting, INCREDIBLE show to get hooked on…this show is maybe not for you. It’s not so gripping that you are sucked in and can’t return to normal life while you get involved with this show. I liked to put it on for a quick break from studying, and then get right back to being an adult.
Reviewed by: Makayla
Switched at Birth (2011-2017)
Source: imdb.com
7.8 IMDb
Season 5 Released Jan 31st, 2017
Have you ever felt out of place in your family and wondered if you were secretly adopted? Or maybe even switched at birth? Imagine if that were true. What would you do if you found out that you were switched at birth?
Switched at Birth provides an interesting look into what life would be like for two girls who were switched at birth and did not find out until they were in high school. You will quickly fall in love with the two girls and their families and anxiously wait to watch each new episode. I am not ashamed to admit that I binge watched the first four seasons on Netflix and paid for the fifth season on Amazon as soon as it came out because I did not want to wait for them to be loaded onto Netflix. I NEVER do that. That’s how good this show is!
Along with the engaging family situations that come up, the show does an excellent job of semi-subtly educating you on social issues. Deafness, autism, and the black lives matter movement all take a front row stage at some point during the series. While I did not always agree with the stance they took, it was interesting to see how they presented each of the issues through their characters. I actually loved their education about “deaf culture” and have taken an interest in ASL since finishing the show.
I personally watched the show without any editing filters. However, others may want to note that there are several sexual encounters between characters throughout the seasons, though no nudity. There are discussions regarding rape, and some instances of cursing. There is little to no violence/gore or frightening scenes. I definitely recommend giving this show a try!
Here is a link to the imdb parental guide if you want more information on questionable content in the show.
Reviewed by: MaLee
Other Recent Shows
Person of Interest (2011-2016)
Source: imdb.com
8.5 IMDb
A social security number. That’s all these two men get. One number that tells them whether that particular person will either be murdered or be the murderer. Should they protect that person or stop them before they hurt someone else? That is the pressure put on the lovable but mysterious tech billionaire and the dangerous but intriguing ex-assassin.
I absolutely loved this show. My boyfriend and I watched these together and it was so hard not to “Netflix cheat” on him when we watched this show. I just couldn’t get enough of it! The characters are surprisingly relatable and you grow attached to them quickly. You gain several more main characters throughout the show and you will love them as well! I even loved the “villains” in Person of Interest. The cast was incredible all-around.
I have never seen a show introduce new problems and situations like this show did. Many crime-type shows fall into a predictable rut where every episode starts to feel the same. I never felt that way watching this series. New characters and twists and turns come up all the time and leave you on the edge of your seat till you watch the next episode. Definitely one of my top shows of all time!
I did not watch this show with any filters, but I did have to look away from the screen sometimes due to the violence. There is a lot of violence in this show, which may bother some viewers. It’s not typically graphic but there were a handful of scenes depicting torture that were too much for me personally to handle. Overall, there was not a lot of sexual content in the show, but there were some scenes with scantily clad women and a lesbian couple in the later seasons.
Here is a little more descriptive parental guide of content in the show from IMDb.
Reviewed by: MaLee
Doctor Thorne (2016)
Source: imdb.com
7.2 IMDb
The lovely Mary Thorne grows up in the care of her Uncle, Dr. Thorne. Her lower-class position in society and embarrassing birth circumstances cause a great rift with a wealthy aristocratic family, despite their previously friendly relationship. This love story encompasses politics, loyalty, forgiveness, and how excessive alcohol can destroy people.
My sisters and I are suckers for any show or movie that is like Pride and Prejudice and Downton Abbey, and you’ll see elements of both in this show. It’s a great one to quickly binge watch, as there are only four episodes in this short story. The first episode is a little slow, but quickly picks up once characters are introduced. The script is clever, and the acting superb. You feel very strongly for each character, whether it be in a good or bad way!
An interesting tidbit: Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey, gives a brief monologue before each episode. He explains some of the meaning behind Trollope’s (author of the book, Doctor Thorne) work and invites the viewer to reflect on different human emotion and circumstances.
I hope you read this review in an English accent. I certainly couldn’t prevent it happening to me.
There is no need for a filter on this one. I saw no real questionable content, except for a few scenes that may be frightening for children.
You can watch Doctor Thorne on Amazon Prime.
Reviewed by: Mariah
We hope you found something you like! Do you have any show recommendations? Let us know in the comments!