ONLINE IS WHERE IT’S AT
It’s no surprise that many people nowadays watch most of their tv shows in “binge” sessions via services like Netflix. As a result, more and more companies are starting to support made-for-web series…and, let’s face it, we all love it.
Here’s some of our favorite web-based series so far:
Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
OitNB was first released summer of 2013 on Netflix and skyrocketed into success. The show, based on Piper Kerman’s book of the same name, follows Piper Chapman while she serves her 15 month sentence in a women’s federal prison.
What has most viewers so enraptured is the sheer amount of diverse women who make up the hilarious, heartwarming cast and the fleshed-out backstories that come with them.
Orange is the New Black currently has 2 seasons on Netflix and the third is in production.
Drunk History (Funny or Die, Comedy Central)
Drunk History is exactly what it sounds like: a drunk narrator trying to explain important events from American history. Meanwhile the show will switch to clips of guest stars acting out the narrator’s drunken rambles. The show, which often features big name stars of all sorts, started out as a web series and has since been picked up by Comedy Central.
All of season 1 and 2 can be found on ComedyCentral.com, which additional clips on Funny or Die’s website. Season 3 is currently in production.
The Hotwives of Orlando (Hulu)
A fantastic parody of the “Real Housewives” franchise, The Hotwives of Orlando focuses on six “hot housewives” from Florida as they fight over nearly everything except spending their husbands money.
All of Hotwives’ season 1 is available on Hulu, but no word on a second season.
BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
This Netflix original show (produced by Will Arnett and Aaron Paul) had a surprisingly quiet release in mid-August, but has been gaining traction quickly. BoJack (the main character) lives in a world where anthropomorphic animals and humans exist together without question in a satirical version of Los Angeles.
More so than previous Netflix-produced shows, BoJack is most successful when “binge-watched”. Small jokes and gags set up episodes beforehand present themselves left and right. Zach Scarf over on IndieWire, explains how BoJack Horseman is changing the online television game.
Arrested Development, season 4 (Netflix)
7 years after its run on FOX ended, Netflix gifted the show’s fans a 4th season in 2013. “Arrested Development” was one of the first Netflix shows to take advantage of releasing an entire season at once when it comes to the writing. Like BoJack, much of season 4 is intertwined in a way that would lose effectiveness (and viewers) if released weekly.
All four seasons are currently available on Netflix.
Community, season 6 (Yahoo)
Another series to be revived by moving online, Community returns for its 6th season on Yahoo. After hitting a series of roadblocks (including being cancelled, brought back, firing the showrunner, hiring him back, losing main characters, and being scrapped again), many fans are holding their breath anxiously as they wait for what the next season might hold for the students of Greendale.
Check out this post on Tom’s Guide to see even more must-watch online TV series.
