We were delighted to become part of the Netflix Stream Team this month. I’d heard a lot about Netflix, but having had a Sky package for some years now, I wasn’t sure what difference it could offer. Well, it’s a lot. It’s great. We’re a little bit in Netflixalove.
First off, you can set up profiles for each member of the household so every time you go to watch something, you feel like it’s your own personal viewing time, with recommendations made just for you. In our house we watch together but also apart. And that apart time is lovely. The box moves round the house, depending on who and when it’s being watched. So I don’t feel guilty when I gorge on my 19th century period dramas.
This week I watched a super movie called The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt. It follows the early life of Queen Victoria and her marriage to her beloved husband Albert. There was something very familiar about the movie, something that made me come over all warm. As the credits rolled, up came the name: Julian Fellowes. Anyone who’s a fan of Downton Abbey will know it’s his writing and vision that makes the series what it is. So The Young Victoria is a bit like Downton Abbey in a movie. Heaven.
Next I watched the remake of TV series Upstairs, Downstairs, which picks up from where the old BBC series left off, and takes us through mid 1930s. I wasn’t in love with the show; it’s nowhere near the standard of Downton Abbey; it didn’t have the grandeur of the ‘Yorkshire’ countryside, nor the depth of characters or the script; but it’s watchable and I’m only one programme in.
Himself has been watching Arrested Development, Daredevil and Band of Brothers. He’s in his element and unlike me, who has to have time, a glass of wine and a large packet of crisps, he puts Netflix on at all times of the day, dipping in and out of whatever he’s in the mood for.
Together we’ve been watching House of Cards. I don’t think Himself is in love with it as much as I am; I love the dialogue, the strong characters and the ‘inside track’ we get into Kevin Spacey’s psyche as he directs his comments of expression towards the camera. But, he loved the West Wing, and there are so many similar elements, that we’re enjoying.
Apart from Himself, Herself has even been getting involved. At nine months, the telly is just something that’s on in the background. She’d far rather chew on my slipper, find a dog nut to eat or move scarily from couch to coffee table; but, that was until we discovered Peppa Pig. Good God. I don’t know who’s behind the programme or what they were taking when they came up with the idea, but it’s like they crawled inside a baby’s mind, regressed and came back out with this programme. She LOVES it. She squeals when Peppa comes up on screen and uses her new found skill; the Queen’s wave to indicate her pleasure.
So, it’s been a good week. I think our Netflixalove has helped calm some of the stress we’ve been under. And now we know what to do when herself kicks off. Oh hello Peppa Pig. I have a feeling we’re going to get to know each other intimately over the next three and a half years
As part of joining the Netflix Stream Team, I have free access to Netflix until the end of 2015.
December Girl is now available on Audio. Visit Amazon or Audible or click on the cover below to download.
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