What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do

In my hurry to write an article worth reading on this lazy Sunday, I received a text from my co-worker, on one of the few shows I recommended she watch: WB’s 1999 hit Roswell. Who hasn’t seen Roswell? Well, apparently, tons of people under 25.

When there isn’t a new episode of Doctor Who, Sherlock (hang in there!), Supernatural, Game of Thrones, Merlin (I’m so, so sorry), what are we to do? Sure, we can browse Tumblr until the sun comes up, literally, but let’s be real, we all want something new to obsess over.  Where can we find completed/ended shows that will instill those feelings of angst, those heart aching moments of pure sadness? IN THE PAST, OF COURSE. Without further ado, here are three shows you can find to fill in your void (all puns intended).

3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – I am almost pained to find out there are people who have not seen this. I keep in mind they are but young people, so it wasn’t part of their after school experience like it was for me. BTVS revolves around Buffy Summers, the latest in a line of young women known as “Vampire Slayers” or simply “Slayers.” Slayers are “called” to battle against vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. Like earlier Slayers, Buffy is aided by a Watcher, who guides, teaches, and trains her. She encounters love (of a particularly forbidden nature) and loss throughout the show, and it’s one that will hopefully grow on you. Buffy has seven seasons and can be found in its entirety on Netflix. Its spin-off, Angel, is also available in its entirety for further viewing. If you’re a fan of Supernatural, this might be the best one for you to try.

2. Firefly – After Han Solo, yet before Captain Jack Harkness, there was another charming man with a gun/blaster who captained the Firefly-class ship, Serenity. While Malcom Reynolds and his crew of eight only get one season in which to invade our hearts, it’s a ride filled with every feeling imaginable. I can’t really talk much about it because I’ll start to feel my eyes tear up and yet again, shake my fist as I swear at invisible Fox Network executives. This show is also the only one on this list which has a nickname for its fans: Browncoats.

1. Roswell – Roswell is one of those shows that was far lesser known than big names like Buffy or Firefly, but for those of us who like the stomach churning agony of Doctor Who, you need not look further. Roswell is told from Liz’s point of view, a regular human girl who happens to live in Roswell, NM, where virtually nothing interesting happens until an argument between customers in her parents’ cafe gets ugly and Liz is shot. A classmate runs to her side and curiously heals her with his alien powers…I won’t say more than that, but I will warn you that there are only three seasons, so it’s a short watch, but will leave you yearning for more which will never come. This is where Colin Hanks and Katherine Heigl got their start, and main stars, Shiri Appleby and Jason Behr WILL become your OTP.

Hopefully, if you’re in a rut and browsing Netflix instant one night, you’ll try out one of these series and find something new to obsess and love! Maybe you’ll try all three and be like me. Or more likely, you’re rolling your eyes at my inherent fangirl and will try none.

Leia Calderon
@ladyvader99
Editor
ladyvader99@gmail.com