The Best Netflix TV Comedies You Haven’t Watched

• August 11, 2016
• Emilie
• no comments

We all tend to get stuck re-watching the same TV shows over and over. It seems better to re-watch episodes of Parks and Recreation for the 8th time instead of trying some new show that you probably won’t even like. So we’re here to tell you about some of Netflix’s secret gems: the diamonds in the rough that few people have ever seen, but are sure to have you in stitches. Next time you’re relaxing with Netflix and wine, try one of these shows in between your clips of Aziz Ansari.

Dreamland

Dreamland is an Australian based version of your U.S. office comedies like Parks and Rec and The Office. It goes by the name Utopia in Australia, and it has won tons of awards including The Logie Awards Most Outstanding Comedy Program and Best Television Comedy Series from The Australian Film Institute. Celia Pacquola, who plays one of the main characters, also won The Australian Film Institute‘s award for Best Performance in a TV Comedy. The show looks at the workings of a new governmental agency called the “National Building Authority,” highlighting the ridiculous balance between out-of-touch high level executives, constant bureaucratic changes and incompetencies, and employees struggling to maintain sanity while actually completing their job. Dreamland does a better job at realistically and accurately highlighting bureaucratic frustrations than any U.S. office comedy that I have seen (despite my love for Parks and Rec and The Office). The show boasts a huge number of incredibly talented actors, and you will find yourself empathizing with their characters as they struggle with the pains, frustrations, and resigned exhaustion of office work. In fact, the only downside of Dreamland is that it is perhaps too accurate, and you may find yourself getting caught up in the frustrations felt by the show’s characters. Enough positives can’t be said about the talent within this show. It lasts 2 seasons (16 total episodes) all of which are located on Netflix.

Don’t Trust the B*** in Apartment 23

Don’t Trust the B*** in Apartment 23 features the incredibly talented Krysten Ritter, as well as Dreama Walker, and James Van Der Beek (who plays himself, as an actor struggling to regain fame since Dawson’s Creek). Ritter, who now stars in the Netflix original Jessica Jones is actually an impressively skilled comedy actress as well. The show focuses on Ritter’s character, Chloe, who makes money by taking the first and last month’s rent of potential housemates, and then acting as such a poor housemate that roommates leave despite the massive amount of funds they have left with party-girl Chloe. Walker plays an innocent country sweetheart named June, who moves to the city to find success in banking. June is startled upon learning Chloe’s true nature, but soon manages to enjoy living with such a fun and adventurous roommate. The show revolves around Chloe and June’s adventures: the jokes are quick, frequent, and often unexpected due to Chloe’s unpredictable nature and lack of a moral compass. If you’re looking for a comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously, with fast paced jokes, frequent laughs, and blunt, odd humor, this is definitely the show for you. The show lasts 2 seasons, with 26 total episodes, all of which can be found on Netflix.

Better Off Ted

Better Off Ted is an offbeat comedy which was aired for 2 seasons (with a total of 26 episodes). It is honestly shocking that the show lasted as long as it did due to the incredibly odd nature of the show. However, if you enjoy such offbeat comedy, this show really hits the nail on the head. It follows the workings of an innovative science company which produces everything from explosive pumpkins to beef without cows to freezing their employees. The easy-going main character, Ted (played by Jay Harrington), is loved by all of his employees, including his secretary Linda (played be Andrea Anders). In fact, Ted and Linda act as love interests throughout the show, but Ted decides not to pursue Linda because he has used up his “one office affair” on his shrewd and callous boss, Veronica (Portia de Rossi). de Rossi plays a phenomenal boss: who pairs an uncaring demeanor with an extreme love and joy for bureaucratic manipulation. The show is absolutely ridiculous and not at all afraid to embrace the weird.

Grace and Frankie

Grace and Frankie is a Netflix original series that stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as their characters struggle with single life, after discovering that their husbands are in love with one another. They find out that their husbands have been hiding their homosexuality, along with their relationship with one another, for 20 years. I cannot say enough about the performances of Fonda and Tomlin in this Netflix series. Fonda plays an uptight socialite, and Tomlin plays a peace-loving, drug-using, vegetarian hippie. The two actresses have a beautiful back and forth- communicating facial expressions and exchanging lines with perfection and ease. Additionally, Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen give spectacular performances as Grace and Frankie’s husbands- Sol and Robert. The most impressive thing about this show is that it would be easy for the writers to maintain it solely as a comedy. However, while the show operates primarily as a comedy, it addresses the difficulties that these couples go through as they leave their life partners of 40 years, learn a new relationship late in life, and struggle to bring the children of two families together. The show is filled with intimate, sincere, and heart wrenching moments. Its astounding how one episode can bring you close to tears, but also have you laughing out loud over and over.

Psych

It still shocks me how few people have watched Psych. It bears a lot of similarities to common popular sitcoms, and is 8 seasons long, all of which can be found on Netflix. With quick wit, out of the box jokes, and clever main characters, Psych is the most underrated binge-able comedy on Netflix. The show focuses on main character Shawn Spencer (James Roday), who’s only talent is his hyper-observancy and ability to manipulate nearly anyone. Unable to ever hold down a job of interest, he partners up with his long-time buddy from childhood, Gus Guster (Dule Hill) and convinces the Santa Barbara Police Department that he is a psychic. He proceeds to act as a psychic detective consultant for the SBPD, solving the weirdest cases that one could imagine. Don’t be confused, this is certainly not your usual police detective show. It is first and foremost a comedy, and is incredibly offbeat. The psychic pair proceed to solve cases with fake werewolves, a serial killer who steals ideas from Hitchcock movies, shark attacks that are actually murders, rollerblading robberies, sorority ghost stories, and much more. Give the show a few episodes to hit its groove, and you won’t be sorry. Psych is filled with tons of actors and actresses that can deliver comedy with the perfect mannerisms, and there’s no way you can sit through an episode without laughing.

Main article photo courtesy of Series Mania at http://series-mania.fr/dev/en/series/dreamland-2/

Psych photo taken courtesy of usanetwork.com at http://www.usanetwork.com/psych

Better of Ted photo taken courtesy of crazyhdsource.com at http://crazyhdsource.com/better-off-ted-s01-720p-hdtv-dd51-h264.html

Don't Trust the B*** in Apartment 23 photo courtesy of buzzfeed.com at https://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/reasons-to-save-dont-trust-the-b-in-apartment-23?utm_term=.kqNgpvwQ5#.hogWPKlaM

Dreamland photo courtesy of decidertv.com at http://decidertv.com/page/2016/5/4/and-the-winners-of-the-decidertv-awards-are

Grace and Frankie photo courtesy of youtube.com at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDv6PRi1SgQ