Three shows you need to watch in 2017

It’s a new year, and hopefully you’ve spent your (endless!) winter break wisely– and, no, I don’t mean applying for scholarships and working your part-time job (though, perhaps that is where your loyalties should lie).

Instead, I mean welcoming the glorious gifts Netflix has bestowed on us all this past month, plus one show released nearly a year ago that is still worth the view.

Fret not, if you actually spent your time adulting this winter break– I have done the legwork (eyework?) and come bearing recommendations.

Here are three TV shows on Netflix that you should spend the next month vigorously viewing:

1. “The OA,” a Netflix Original

You’ve probably heard of it since its release on Dec. 16, as its popularity has quickly risen in the weeks afterward. You’ve also probably heard of its comparison to “Stranger Things,” another Netflix original. I admit, there are a few parallels: Both are suspenseful mysteries that revolve around a female character who has access to another world; both have a ragtag group of individuals working together to complete a mission.

While both have strong elements of a real-world setting, The OA seems to surpass its peer in this respect. For one, the villain of the story is realistic and dark – I can’t give away exactly how, as it would spoil the intricate mystery weaving of the creators but, for now, just take my word.

Additionally, the main protagonist, Prairie, is constantly portrayed in a conflicting light. Even after finishing the series (it’s a one-and-done series, though the creators have alluded to a possibility of a second season), I still question whether what she believes is intended to be real, or if it’s all in her head. Though, I still want to believe.

I can’t say much more without spoiling the mystery, but I recommend you queue it up and watch it unfold yourself.

2. “The Magicians”

You might not have heard of this show before. That’s okay; I didn’t, either, before I saw it on the new releases list on Netflix. My first impression was, “what a corny name.”

Oh boy, was I wrong. Well, I still think the name is corny – the show, however, is far from it. Throwing aside the obvious parallels to “The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe,” the story and the characters presented in The Magicians is a breath of fresh air. Have you been waiting for the next big story that thrills your heart and fills you with unbridled, childhood-like imagination? That’s what this is, with the addition of graduate-level college students as the main characters, and with prolific curse words, awkward moments and sex scenes worked naturally into the storyline.

I won’t spend too much time trying to convince you, but I do recommend trying it out. The first season is available on Netflix and Season Two premieres on Syfy on Jan. 25.

3. “Love,” a Netflix Original

“Love” is a comedy brought to us in part by Judd Apatow, an acclaimed producer and writer who is known for his work on “Knocked Up.” And let me tell you, Love is awesome.

I was first turned onto this show by my best friend, and ended up ‘bingeing’ it within a few days. I’ll tell you why it’s great: the flawed, abrasive main character, Mickey, and the peculiar circumstances she finds herself in with her counterpart and love interest, Gus. And, I truly implore you to give her a chance, because it may not be easy to like her character.

In fact, there is a bit of an online following who dislike her, and I simply don’t understand. Perhaps people don’t like the reality in what she is – that is, a complete mess. She’s self-sabotaging, brusque, and, when she’s cornered, she seems to make things worse on reflex rather than think logically.

Mickey is all of our worst selves, which is why I love her for it, and relate immensely.

Throw in a hilariously quirky Australian roommate, Bertie, the comedic trials of her relationship with Gus, and the beautiful backdrop of Los Angeles and you have a great show. I highly recommend it, even as Season Two is rumored to be released coming in February or March.