Five Must-See Shows for Students to Stream

Student browsing through shows on laptop
Dillon Korte, an ENMU student, shares his streaming suggestions.

Five Must-See Shows for Students to Stream

We've all been there: sitting in bed, flicking through channels, trying to find something to watch. When streaming programs like Netflix or Hulu became popular, it changed the game. No more would you be looking desperately for a time filler on Saturday morning on cable; you would now be able to do it on a website, too.

It's agonizing trying to find a show to watch. I'm here to streamline the process for you with a list of my personal recommendations of shows you can find on Netflix, Hulu or both.

The Office—Available on Netflix (TV-PG)

Chances are, you've heard at least one person in your life turn to you and chant, "bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica" in a dull, monotone voice. The reference is a quote from this show, and it's become iconic with its fans. "The Office" is a show filmed in a mockumentary style; the premise is a documentary team records the exploits of a paper supply company's workers through their everyday lives. Adapted from the BBC series of the same name, it stars Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer and many more, with a large number of guest stars, like Will Ferrell or Idris Elba. The first season is a little hard to get through, but once season two starts, you'll be hooked. If it piques your interest, check out other shows like it, including "Parks and Rec" (Netflix, Hulu) and "Brooklyn 99" (Hulu). Also to be on the lookout for is the upcoming similar Netflix show, "Space Force," created by Greg Schur and Steve Carell.

"The Office" rating: 3.5/5 stars.

Altered Carbon—Netflix Original (TV-MA)

Based on the book by Richard K. Morgan and starring Joel Kinnaman as Takeshi Kovacs, the show takes place in the twenty-fifth century, where humanity has spread throughout the galaxy and people have discovered the secret to immortality: "re-sleeving" themselves into new bodies through the use of consciousness-holding disks located at the base of the brain that can be easily re-downloaded into a new body. A science fiction/mystery thriller, "Altered Carbon" focuses on former super soldier and military convict Takeshi Kovacs (tuk-esh-ee koh-vach) as he struggles to gain his freedom by solving the mysterious murder of a wealthy man. Packed with enough action to make any Star Wars geek squeal with joy (trust me), "Altered Carbon" is a great show to dive into. Although the show can sometimes be confusing due to its flashbacks and prior context initially needed, its re-watch factor will make the second time even better than the first.

"Altered Carbon" rating: 4/5 stars.

Sherlock—Available on Netflix (TV-14)

Everyone has heard of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. The main characters of the detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first published in 1887, this BBC crime series occurs in the present day and closely follows the original timeline of stories. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular role and Martin Freeman as his medical partner, "Sherlock" puts a modern spin on the classic tales in hour-and-a-half long increments, expanding on the original stories' tales for a touch of added suspense. If you read the originals and liked them, chances are you'll like these.

"Sherlock" rating: 4.5/5 stars.

Castlevania—Netflix Original (TV-MA)

Taken straight from the 1986 Konami game, Castlevania focuses on the efforts of an outcast mage, disgraced vampire hunter and a pure-hearted half-vampire as they attempt to prevent Vlad Dracula Tepes, more commonly referred to as Dracula, from destroying the entirety of humanity as an act of revenge. Starring Richard Armitage, James Callis, Graham McTavish and Alejandra Reynoso in its primary roles and inspired by the games "Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse" (1989) and "Castlevania: Curse of Darkness" (2005), the Netflix original creates a compelling and bloody anime spectacle that Nintendo fans from all over will adore. With two seasons completed and a possible third in development, Netflix's "Castlevania" will suck you in and stake you down with anticipation—the season two finale was filled with incredibly emotional scenes.

"Castlevania" rating: 5/5 stars.

Steven Universe—Available on Hulu (TV-PG)

On its surface, the Cartoon Network original created by Rebecca Sugar may seem like a kid's show, but if you give it enough patience, you'll find it's a dialogue on the importance and fragility of family, friendship, trust and relationships. The show centers around The Crystal Gems, composed of humanoid aliens Pearl, Garnett and Amethyst, training Steven Universe in protecting the Earth against their home world—called, simply enough, Homeworld. The animation is pleasant to watch, with original catchy songs and surprisingly heavy moments that can be difficult to watch through if you catch on to certain themes and subtexts.

"Steven Universe" rating: 5/5 stars.