By Tanya Chen
Edited by Natalie Grace Sipula
[3 minute read]
Quarantine has been extremely difficult. The days seem to pass by slowly and they each feel like an endless, repetitive loop. During quarantine, I have picked up a few hobbies out of boredom. Some of these new ventures include making Dalgona coffee, baking banana bread, and learning Photoshop. As these hobbies have come and go, there is one hobby that has stayed consistent throughout the past six months: watching Netflix. In this article, I will recommend three shows that I think international students will enjoy watching and learning from. We can all watch TV shows to relax during this time, and with winter break fast approaching, I highly recommend all of these!
Criminal Minds (Genre: Mystery/Suspense; Seasons: 15; Episode Length: 40 minutes)
Criminal Minds is an extremely addictive crime show. The show follows a team of FBI agents who work in the Behavioral Analysis Unit as profilers. FBI profilers are law enforcement agents who use psychology to study and investigate who the suspects behind crimes are and what motivates them. It is interesting to watch the team travel across all over the US and study a criminal’s behavior. The 40-minute episodes are always filled with twists and turns that keep the audience on their feet. However, many of these episodes are very heavy and intense, so it is good for those who get scared easily to watch this show with a friend. Criminal Minds is a great show for international students because it introduces them to many different parts of the US and teaches them about the cultures, customs, and dialects that are popular in all the different states and cities. From tracking a killer in Miami, Florida to following robbers in rural Montana, Criminal Minds is a great introduction to varying social climates of the many states in the US.
Emily in Paris (Genre: Romantic Comedy; Seasons: 1; Episode Length: 20 minutes)
After watching too many scary episodes of Criminal Minds, I was lucky enough to discover a show that’s a bit more light-hearted and fun: Emily in Paris. This newly released show follows the adventures of Emily, a young marketing agent from Chicago, as she travels to Europe for a new job. The audience is able to watch her learn a new language, adjust to a new culture, and get acclimated to the people around her. The episodes are extremely funny and beautifully shot. I enjoyed being able to vicariously live through Emily as she explored the beautiful city of Paris. Since there are only 10 episodes, this show was extremely easy to binge and I was able to finish it in one sitting. I would recommend this show to any international student because the show does a great job of documenting how a young adult is adjusting to living in a new country, making friends, and learning a new language.
Schitt’s Creek (Genre: Comedy; Seasons: 6; Episode Length: 20 minutes)
If you finish Emily in Paris and are looking for another comedy to indulge in, then Schitt’s Creek is the perfect option. The show follows a once-wealthy family who ends having to relocate to a small town called Schitt’s Creek after going bankrupt. The audience follows the lives of the family as they adjust to their new reality. Beyond the humor, it is delightful watching the characters develop and transform from shallow individuals to mature, compassionate humans. My favorite thing about the show is watching the characters’ relationships with each other grow and blossom. With a good mix of humor and sentimentality, it is no wonder that Schitt’s Creek was able to sweep up a record amount of Emmy’s this year. I think international students will enjoy this show because it is a great way to pick up on American humor. With plenty of funny situations, the writers are able to make quirky jokes and one-liners that are relevant in today’s society.
Overall, all of these shows a great for international students to watch. They have made my quarantine a lot less boring and have taught me a lot about different cultures. If you have any recommendations, please leave a comment or make a list on our Continuing the Conversation page because I’m always on the hunt for a new show to binge!
Featured Image by Mollie Sivaram on Unsplash
Tanya is a sophomore studying Business Administration. She is from Southern California and enjoys taking advantage of the SoCal beaches. After teaching Mandarin to kids in underprivileged communities, she realized she had a strong passion for social work. On campus, she is involved with LA Community Impact and a Marshall Research Assistant. In her free time she enjoys watching film analysis videos, designing graphics, and playing with her dog, Mochi.