This is an editorial written by our student editor-in-chief, Bryan Santiago. If you are interested in writing an opinion piece for The Journal, please contact us through email: thejournalmvsa@gmail.com.
From Netflix to Prime Video, Carmen Sandiego to Costume Quest, there have been many great things about cutting the cord (mostly). Going from the weirdest and craziest plots to classic books/comics/games/franchises, this is the best of 2019's streaming shows.
I looked at three different streaming services (Disney+, Prime Video, and Netflix) and found 9 worthy series that deserve the title of "The Best in Binging". Just remember, though, THIS IS NOT A RANKING! All of these shows are great in their own funny and heartfelt way, so I thought to let them shine in this almost-a-review type of opinion.
Disney+ (3 of 9)
Since its launch on November 12th, Disney+ is on a roll. With everyone's favorite shows, short films, and movies from Disney (including their cable networks Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior), Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic, they are starting to get a big following. As the new kid on the block, they stuck it up to Netflix and Prime Video by getting 10 million subscribers within their first day.
"The World According to Jeff Goldblum" (Disney+)
From a dinosaur-doomed mathematician in "Jurassic Park" to a satellite-technician-turned-alien-fighter in "Independence Day", Jeff Goldblum is no stranger to adventure. Now, that adventure becomes a true life one. He takes on barbecue, RVs, sneakers, ice cream, and more by interviewing the people at the center of the action and explaining the background info of these topics.
"Encore!" (Disney+)
Before Kristen Bell became Princess Anna from "Frozen" and "Frozen 2", she was a musical theatre performer. Like her co-stars from Arendelle, most of them got their careers started on Broadway. She returns to her roots to lead casts from the 1980's, 1990's, and 2000's recreate their own "High School Musical" (pun intended — more on that next). From Flint, Michigan to Hackensack, New Jersey, she brings these former classmates together for one more spotlight performance.
Like its Disney+ non-fictional theatre cousin, "Encore!", this show also stars a bunch of high schoolers who come together to put on a musical. However, it goes a step further in terms of character development and backstory (complete with original tracks). It takes place at the actual East High, in Salt Lake City, Utah. There are relatable stories in these characters — from new drama teacher Ms. Jenn to heartbroken but headstrong Nini — and it's truly "the start of something new" for the now decade-old franchise. If you never liked the movies (me included), in this new setting, you'll be sure to belt out a tune.
Prime Video ("The Nonchalant Type"; 2 of 9)
Now, if anyone goes to think that I hate Prime Video, just try to keep up with me. They've been excelling with rights deals to live programming across the globe and even have the out-of-the-box documentary film that deserves an hour or two of your time. For me, however, most of this year's scripted series were either not new to 2019, just weirdly-conceptualized, or both. For all their ups and downs, though, I thought these shows were their best of the best.
"Costume Quest" (Prime Video)
From the people who bring you Cartoon Hangover and 107 Facts on YouTube as well as co-created Cartoon Network's "Adventure Time" (Frederator) and the people who made "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Amazon Studios), comes a new story about the power of friendship and imagination in a way no one has ever looked at it before: fighting evil monsters on Halloween night. Adapted from Double Fine Productions' bestselling video games "Costume Quest" (2010) and "Costume Quest 2" (2014), this show brings its A-game to the table while also being quirky in homage to its namesake. With an intense backstory and awesome music that's easy enough to hook someone with whichever episode you start from, it could be a spiritual successor to Disney and Alex Hirsch's "Gravity Falls".
"Good Omens" (Prime Video)
Originally a book of the same name by English authors Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett, this mini-series from the BBC and Amazon is really a joy to watch. With a stellar cast that includes David Tennant, John Hamm, Nick Offerman, and Frances McDormand, just following the story of the end of the world is no easy task. You see, the child of the Devil himself, the Anti-Christ, grows up and summons the Four Horsemen. Two unlikely friends, angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley, have come to like Earth and its ways. When they learn from their divine bosses (in both Heaven and Hell) it's going to end (because they'd like it to), the odd couple gets help to stop the Apocalypse from happening. By the way, I already wrote about this show earlier in the year in The Journal's first entertainment review. (It's also spoiler-free!)
Netflix ("The Juggernaut"; 4 of 9)
Finally, to the big company that started it all. Before they got into turning educational video games and classic books into dramatic series, they were just a website that loaned you a DVD copy of a movie. It's so real, "The Juggernaut" even sounds more like a Netflix movie title than a nickname. So without further ado, my list rounds-out with these last (but certainly not least) entries.
"Carmen Sandiego" (Netflix)
Everyone's favorite smart globetrotting thief is back! Though she's not in a game show, she's still very much animated (literally and figuratively). With the awesome voice talents of Gina Rodriguez and Finn Wolfhard (as well as the backing by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, one of the world's largest education companies), Carmen travels the world while navigating her life as an esteemed super-thief.
"Daybreak" (Netflix)
NOTE: This show contains strong language and violence.
Imagine Glendale, California. Part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, it's really an urban city. Now imagine that piece of West Coast sunshine after an nuclear bomb explodes. Kids under 18 survive, but adults end up as zombies mumbling to themselves the last thing they thought of. Follow Josh, a teenager who's just moved from Toronto, as he tries to figure out what has happened to the world and what has happened to Glendale High School.
"The Umbrella Academy" (Netflix)
NOTE: This show contains strong language and violence.
On one day in 1989, 43 babies are born to mothers who have shown no signs of being pregnant the day before. Seven of them are adopted by Sir Reginald Hargreeves, a billionaire, who trains these children as superheroes with their inexplicable powers. Based on the comic books of the same name by Gabriel Bá and Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance's lead singer) and published by Dark Horse Comics, the stellar cast includes Mary J. Blige, Ellen Page, and Aidan Gallagher.
"Green Eggs and Ham" (Netflix)
The classic Dr. Seuss book is now reimagined with celebrity star power! Adam Devine, Michael Douglas, Eddie Izzard, and Keegan Michael Key are just some of the voices you'll hear as the adventure for Sam-I-Am and Guy-Am-I gets into high gear. Another type of "odd couple", Sam is the ever optimist while Guy's a failed inventor with nothing good going for him. Executive produced by Ellen Degeneres, this show takes the concept of trying new things and makes it a lot funnier, dramatic, and crazy. It's weirder than your usual "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles", if you ask me.
What do you think of our picks for 2019? Were we on the spot or missed the mark entirely? Let us know on Twitter or with an email thejournalmvsa@gmail.com.
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