Streaming is becoming an expensive ordeal. In the past year, it feels like almost every streaming service has raised its prices. In March, Netflix increased its subscription costs for the second time in less than two years. Unfortunately, I don’t see those prices coming down anytime soon.
Viewers certainly have to make tough decisions when determining which streaming services to pay for and which ones to cancel. If you have to cancel Netflix, I won’t stop you. What I will do is suggest some short shows that you can binge before canceling your subscription. These shows only ran for one season, so there isn’t a huge time commitment. Since we’re about to enter spooky season, our top selection is a horror series from one of the best genre filmmakers working today.
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Griselda
Female crime lord rises to power in Miami
Most American audiences know Sofía Vergara from her role as Gloria from Modern Family or as a judge on America’s Got Talent. Vergara is a beautiful actress with an infectious personality known for her comedic roles. Frankly, I didn’t know she had a role like Griselda in her repertoire. Buried under impressive prosthetics and makeup, Vergara underwent a physical transformation to star in Griselda, a crime drama from several of the creatives behind Narcos and Narcos: Mexico.
Colombian immigrant Griselda Blanco (Vergara) sets out to build a new life for her family in Miami. The ambitious Griselda becomes a prominent drug lord during the 1970s and 1980s and earns the nickname “The Godmother.” However, Griselda is not a story of hope and inspiration. It’s a Shakespearean tragedy, and Griselda is a ruthless monster.
Griselda consists of six episodes with runtimes between 48 and 59 minutes.
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Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
A Bridgerton spin-off for the queen
I would say that Stranger Things is Netflix’s most important franchise. Right behind the sci-fi drama is Bridgerton, the Shonda Rhimes-produced romance series set during an alternate version of London’s Regency era. Bridgerton is a lively, sexy show with terrific costumes, innovative music, and passionate relationships. One of the signature characters is Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel). The outspoken queen became the subject of the show’s first spin-off, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
Queen Charlotte follows the titular character in two timelines. In the Regency-era timeline, Queen Charlotte pressures her children to produce an heir after the death of her granddaughter. The storyline in the past, which is more interesting and exciting, follows the relationship between a young Queen Charlotte and young King George III (Corey Mylchreest). The spin-off is as visually beautiful as the flagship show, but it offers a more devastating and complicated look at love. It’s a worthy addition to Bridgerton lore.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story consists of six episodes with runtimes between 53 and 86 minutes.
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One Day
A romantic book gets a terrific TV adaptation
In 2011, David Nicholls’ novel One Day received a film adaptation starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. The movie garnered poor reviews, with many critics calling it a disappointment. Sometimes, movies aren’t the right medium for adapting a story. In thiscase, it needed more time with the characters and a larger runway to tell the story, which is why Netflix’s One Day worked much better.
On July 15, 1988, college graduates Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) and Dexter Mayhew (Leo Woodall) meet and form a friendly connection. Each episode picks up on the same day one year later, with Emma and Dex continuing to stay in touch with each other. It’s a classic will-they-won’t-they relationship, and you’ll come to appreciate yearning. Grab some tissues because you might find yourself crying throughout your binge-watch.
One Day consists of 14 episodes with runtimes between 20 and 40 minutes.
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The Haunting of Bly Manor
Mike Flanagan knows his horror
Mike Flanagan is one of the leading creators in developing horror TV shows. Before he left for Prime Video, Flanagan created five shows for Netflix. His second show, 2020’s The Haunting of Bly Manor, became Flanagan’s second entry in The Haunting anthology series behind The Haunting of Hill House. Bly Manor is inspired by the work of Henry James, especially the 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw.
In the 1980s, Henry Wingrave (Henry Thomas) hires American Dani Clayton (Victoria Pedretti) as an au pair for his niece, Flora (Amelie Bea Smith), and Miles (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) at London’s Bly Manor. Despite being told to spend the night inside her room, Dani explores the manor and witnesses talismans and apparitions that haunt the estate. Flanagan is excellent when it comes to atmospheric horror, and Bly Manor gets incredibly spooky. With October approaching, The Haunting of Bly Manor is an ideal horror show to watch before Halloween.
More shows to check out
If you’re canceling Netflix, make sure to explore the other streaming services for more shows. Apple TV is home to several Emmy-nominated shows, including Widow’s Bay and Pluribus. On HBO Max, stream shows like Friends and Nathan for You if you’re pressed for time.
