As the semester is getting busier and midterms are approaching, it can be hard to find time to de-stress, which is why TV shows with 45-minute episodes are the perfect length for relaxation. Here are some Netflix Original TV shows that are great for watching during study breaks or between classes.
“Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”
When Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo published her best-selling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” her organizational tips and strategies rocketed her to fame and changed people’s lives all over the world with her groundbreaking “KonMari method.” Now, in her 2019 Netflix Original TV show, Marie’s inspiring methods can be shared with anyone with a Netflix account. Each episode chronicles the journey of a family whose house is overrun by stuff as Marie helps them to tidy it up based on whether or not the personal items “spark joy.” Unlike most reality shows, Marie focuses on helping people fix up their habits, not just their houses. This is such an important mindset because while Marie’s strategies can be applied to organizing a physical space, they can also be used to declutter other messes in one’s life – from thinking patterns to emotional baggage. With simple, step-by-step tips, Marie Kondo shows that anyone can take control of tidying up not only their living space, but the disorganization in their lives as well. If you’re looking for something uplifting, motivational, and relaxing, then “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” is the show for you.
“Sex Education”
This British comedy-drama stars Asa Butterfield (“Hugo,” “Ender’s Game”) as the socially awkward Otis, who struggles to evade his renowned sex-therapist mother’s (Gillian Anderson) invasive questions and interference in his personal life. Otis’s school year starts off perfectly normal as he supports his best friend Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) through being gay in an extremely religious family. However, after accidentally helping the class bully with a sex-related problem, Otis is enlisted by the beautiful and edgy outcast Maeve (Emma Mackey) to start up a sex advice business for their classmates. While the business starts off as a way for Otis and Maeve to make money off of Otis’s sex knowledge from his mother and Maeve’s persuasive, appealing personality, drama explodes between their classmates and their lives turn wildly unpredictable. With epically cringe-worthy moments and a stellar cast, “Sex Education” perfectly captures the highs and lows of high school and everything that comes after puberty.
“One Day At A Time”
This coming-of-age sitcom follows the story of a multi-generational Cuban-American family as they navigate the complexities of living in 21st century America. The show tackles several different modern issues as each member of the family finds their own path. The mother Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado), makes the switch from being a U.S. Army Nurse Corps veteran to a civilian working as a nurse proves to be a tumultuous and stressful ordeal. This is as she raises her two children Alex (Marcel Ruiz) and Elena (Isabella Gómez). Luckily, Penelope has support from her eccentric landlord Schneider (Todd Grinnell) and her fiery, strong-willed mother Lydia (Rita Moreno). As the family faces everything from sexism to mental health to sexuality to religion, it’s clear to see that the Alvarez family deals with life as many families do – with an open mind, lots of support and a big dose of humor. For fans of popular family sitcoms like “Full House” and “Modern Family,” “One Day at a Time” will be an instant favorite.