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Must Watch Netflix Shows with Only 1 Season

          Most viewers don’t want to invest in a series unless there are at least three to four seasons to binge. Here’s a few Netflix shows that are worth watching even though there’s only one season. Limitless, that originally aired on CBS as part of their 2015-2016 lineup is a spin-off of the film with the same name that is based on the book The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn, and stars Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. The TV series stars Jake McDorman who plays Brian Finch and Bradley Cooper as the same character from the film, Eddie Morra only five years later who is now a US Senator. Cooper was also one of the executive producers of the TV series. Finch is introduced to a miracle drug NZT-48 that enhances full brain capacity allowing him to see things no one else can see and figure out things no one else would or could know, being known as a “smart pill.” While on the drug, Finch is able to use his abilities to assist the FBI with their cases in particular, agent Rebecca Harris played by Jennifer Carpenter. NZT-48 has deadly side effect, but Morra has the shot that counteracts the effects and as long as Finch continues to help Morra with whatever he wants, he’ll continue to provide the drug. Harris becomes suspicious of Finch and he struggles to keep the truth from her. Finch also grows tired of working for Morra and is trying to get the antidote made by someone else to rid himself of Morra. The show is smart, fast-paced, offers great visual effects, and McDorman brings the same humor to the Limitless TV series that Cooper brought to the film. CBS didn’t renew the show however, there are 22 episodes to watch and both the TV series and film are available on Netflix. It’s recommended to watch the film first followed by the series that takes place five years later for maximum enjoyment. 
 
          No Tomorrow originally aired on the CW Network during their fall season in 2016 with 13 episodes. The show stars Tori Anderson as Evie Covington who meets Joshua Sasse as Xavier Holliday. Set in Seattle, Holliday believes that in 8 months an asteroid will hit earth causing an apocalypse. He tries to tell the experts but no one believes him. He shares his “apocalyst” with Covington that lists everything he wants to do before the world ends. He’s a risk taker and before he meets Covington, he doesn’t care about much of anything, while Covington is much more conservative and cares too much. She isn’t sure she believes his doomsday prophecy though she does buy into the “apocalyst” and begins creating a list of her own. Each episode, the duo check-off items from their lists like dune buggying, singing in public, jumping off a cliff, and sledding down Mount Rainier. The show also features real life husband and wife, Ted McGinley and Gigi Rice who play Covington’s parents on the show, and offer more comic relief. The theme of the show is about relationships and while some of the supporting characters and their storylines aren’t as interesting, the chemistry between Covington and Holliday is undeniable and full of passion. It’s a light-hearted look at the impending doom of the world while Covington and Holliday are still having to deal with work, life, and relationships. With a few story line changes and getting back to the apocalypse, and the “apocalyst,” No Tomorrow could have had a second season sadly, fans only have one season to watch, but it’s worth viewing.

          Daybreak is a Netflix original series that premiered in October 2019 and is based on the graphic novel with the same name by Brian Ralph. The teen comedy follows Josh Wheeler played by Colin Ford, who also played young Sam on Supernaturals, as he navigates the post-apocalyptic world in Glendale, California. Josh, and other characters, break the fourth wall and speak directly to the camera, think Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and speaking of Matthew Broderick, he plays Principal Burr in the past scenes, and doesn’t disappoint. While Josh searches for his girlfriend Sam Dean played by Sophie Simnet, he meets friends along the way, Alyvia Alyn Lind as Angelica Green and Austin Crute as Wesley Fists and they end up calling themselves the Daybreakers. They battle other gangs like the jocks, gamers, the 4-H Club, and others who are trying to lead the apocalypse. The show flashes back to pre-apocalyptic time then back to present day. Josh finally finds Sam who had been working with the jocks and she switches sides and works with Josh and the Daybreakers to beat them and take over the throne. The over-the-top post-apocalyptic outfits that are right out of Mad Max and some of the absurd scenes take you out of the show, but it provides enough humor, character development, and the need to route for Josh to find Sam to allow for easy enjoyment. The series ends with Sam betraying Josh though its unsure why she did it and if she was really evil, and all of that seemed to be a set up for Season 2. Unfortunately, no one will ever know because Daybreak wasn’t picked up by Netflix for a second season claiming low viewership. Since Netflix keeps their viewership numbers confidential it’s uncertain why it was cancelled, but there are still 10 fun episodes to watch, and if you really get hooked, then pick up Ralph’s graphic novel by the same name. 

Santa Clarita Diet – Still a Fan Favorite

          Santa Clarita Diet is a Netflix original series and premiered in 2017 and ran for three seasons. The show stars Drew Barrymore as Sheila Hammond and Timothy Olyphant as her husband, Joel Hammond. It received several nominations including Barrymore for Favorite Comedy Star in 2017 from the People’s Choice Awards. Those who think the show is only about zombies or an apocalyptic world is as confused as most before they watch it. The writing is impeccable with little nuances not often caught during the first viewing with creator Victor Fresco wrote several of the episodes, the directing is flawless, adding more suspense to they way the show moves out of one scene to the next, and the talented and seasoned actors Barrymore and Olyphant make this show a home-run. While it’s supposed to be a horror-comedy, besides the occasional eating of people by Barrymore, the show is more comedic than anything. The Hammond's, a husband and wife real estate team along with their daughter Abby Hammond played by Liv Hewson and her friend and neighbor Eric Bemis played by Skyler Gisondo, are trying to navigate their new reality. The show is about how when the worst possible things can happen, the Hammond's along with Bemis do whatever it takes to protect each other. 

          The first episode may be difficult for some to watch with Sheila’s vomiting, but it sets up Sheila’s transition to becoming undead. Season one takes you through the realization that Sheila is in fact undead and has to eat people to survive while Joel is trying come to grips with killing people and is on the hunt for a cure. There are sheriff neighbors poking around, Joel and Sheila are trying to keep their real estate business going, the relationship between Abby and Eric grows, and the cure that is finally found is not really a cure, only a way to stop Sheila from going feral. Season two opens with Joel in the mental hospital and Sheila chained up downstairs. Sheila gets the serum then they meet another undead person and discover they both ate clams that caused them to become undead. One of the greatest scenes is when Sheila and Joel have to dig up Sheila’s first kill, Gary West played by Nathan Fillion, and they find his head, still alive and talking. West’s head continues to live throughout the next two seasons and the banter between him and Joel is priceless (though in season 3, West, well at least his head, is played by Alan Tudyk). While Joel is trying to kill all the clams that caused the virus, Sheila is trying to keep Abby from getting too involved and to keep her killings, that now involve some Neo-Nazis, from being pinned on her. Season three takes a turn when it’s discovered that the bad clams came from Serbia, there’s Mr. Ball Legs, The Knights of Serbia, and some new characters that either get turned or want to help Sheila. The season ends with Sheila having to bite Joel to save him. Fans were in an uproar when Netflix didn’t renew for another season, but they’re hoping that Netflix will allow Santa Clarita Diet creator Fresco to make a movie like what was done for Sense8 with a finale or reunion film to wrap up loose ends. For now, there are 30 episodes to enjoy and whether there’s a movie or not, the quick pace, the banter and chemistry between Barrymore and Olyphant, and strong co-stars make this show a must watch on Netflix.


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