Thursday Movie Picks: Television Edition: 2019 Freshmen Series

A weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves

There's nothing I love more than binge-watching a new TV series. However, between work, films, life, rewatches — Breaking Bad and Orange Is the New Black —, and catch-ups — Barry and The Kominsky Method —, I didn't watch many freshman series last year. Only three as it turned out when I was trying to come up with something for this week. So without further ado nor much of a choice, here are my picks.

Living With Yourself (2019- )

Plot: Stuck in a job he's not good at and struggling to conceive with his wife (Aisling Bea), Miles Elliot (Paul Rudd) decides to undergo a mysterious treatment that promises a better life. And it works, he is a new person after it. Quite literally though as he's buried alive and replaced by a clone. 

This Netflix original doesn't simply have one Paul Rudd, it has two. Unfortunately, he is not enough to keep you engaged. It's an interesting concept and it starts off quite well as it's funny and engaging but it gets less interesting with each episode and every time it seems to take an interesting turn the following development ruins it. I can't believe this got renewed and Santa Clarita Diet got cancelled. 

Sex Education (2019- )

Plot: The nerdy and awkward son of a sex therapist (Gillian Anderson), Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) teams up with a rebellious classmate, Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey), to run an underground sex clinic at school. 

This Netflix original is hands down one of the best and most unique series ever made. It tackles aspects of sexuality that most people, especially teenagers, are not comfortable talking about. And at the same time it offers compelling storylines and characters. The acting is great and the inability to pinpoint the exact period the series takes place — the style and music is from the 80s but they have modern-day technology such as laptops and smartphones — makes it very unique and more interesting. 

Unbelievable (2019)

Plot: It follows Marie (Kaitlyn Dever), a teenager charged with lying about having been raped, and the two female detectives (Merritt Wever and Toni Collette) who, years later, start investigating similar rapes. 

Sadly based on a true story, this Netflix original is a terrific crime drama that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The writing is excellent and highlights how society keeps failing us women, but it's the performances that really stand out, especially Kaitlyn Dever's whose emotionally-charged performance truly elevates the series and makes it better than most crime dramas.