Caroline Jennings, Campus Carrier asst. photo editor

Netflix and other streaming services provide a wide variety of TV shows, movies, and mini-series that appeal to a wide range of viewers. There are a multitude of genres with unique content for audiences with wide and varied taste. From comedy and sitcoms, to superhero action and mystery series, there is a veritable universe of shows and movies to explore. There are many different types of shows and movies that I enjoy, and they are a wild mix of various programs, including nature documentaries, action films, classic TV shows and more. When scrolling through my saved shows, however, there is one genre that is notably predominant, crime shows. The fascination with the misdeeds of individuals and how their actions affect the world around them is very popular with audiences, simply judging from the number of different crime shows available . My favorite shows of the crime genre includeprograms like “NCIS,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Bodyguard,” “Gotham,” “Criminal Minds,” “Sherlock” and “Blacklist”. All of these shows have their own special twist on how crime is portrayed and the way that the antagonists and protagonists interact with each other. 

The first crime show I ever watched was “Sherlock,” a BBC series is based upon the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes was a character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his popular string of short stories and novels published in the late 1800s. The writers of the show, Mark Gatniss and Steven Moffat, delve into the essence of the stories and create whimsical yet modern versions of the misadventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. My favorite episode is “The Sign of Three” an adaptation of “The Sign of the Four’,” the title of the original story. Each hour and a half episode is incredibly fast paced and exciting. When I first watched the show, I had to pause it a few times just to absorb the many miniscule details that pepper each episode of the series. Overall, I would highly recommend “Sherlock” if you are looking for a twist on a classic that is both contemporary and incredibly well written. 

“Blacklist” is my current show of choice. This series revolves around a team of FBI agents and their interactions with a criminal who becomes a valuable asset to the operations of the team. The element that makes this show unique is the comic book qualities of the ‘heroes’ and ‘villains’, as the characters are each dramatic and have little flourishes that color them as more superhero-like One small detail I particularly enjoy is how the villains of each episode all have small quirks or weaknesses that become part of their respective downfalls. The way in which the FBI is portrayed is also a bit whimsical and each agent has pressure points that they repeatedly exploit to their own advantage. As the stories build upon each other, the viewer is able to see a larger narrative building around the main characters. I would highly recommend this series, as it is not only original in its character writing, but the music choices and fast paced story are very engaging.