Netflix is one of the best things I have bought in years.

I loved physical media, in ways I still do but I used to like it a lot more than I do now. For example last summer I got Burnout Paradise for free from being a member of Playstation +, after playing it for about 10 hours and realising how awesome that game is, I went and bought a copy of it from the shop. About 4 years ago I got my first iPhone, I didn't have too many CD's but I was very happy to get rid of them, now I had all my music in one place instead of on a wall. Last Fall I got myself a Kindle, before owning one I was unsure whether I would be able to enjoy having a Kindle and not having a wall full of books. Now even though I haven't used it as much as I should be I don't think I could go back to walking into a bookstore and buying one, the Kindle just makes everything so much easier in so many ways. In January this year, Netflix was launched into the UK, this was the one I was most worried about because I had such a huge collection of DVD box sets and Blu Rays, but the first month was free so I thought why not.

8 Months later, I can happily say Netflix is one of the best purchasing decisions I have made in quite a while. I have watched some top quality shows that I never would have watched before because of the price of admission, I have also been able to clear my shelves up and sell a bunch of my old DVD's because there on Netflix. I was amazed at how quick I was to just get rid of most of my collection, since I acquired it I haven't really bought any DVD's and Blu Rays, where as before I would get at least 1 a week. So what have I been watching, well here we go!

Breaking Bad - Breaking Bad was the main reason I got Netflix in the first place, it was at the time all the rage on the Tested Podcast and on the internet in general. It was not showing on UK TV and was not in shops in the UK in disc form either. So it was the first thing I watched, at the time the first two seasons were only available, a few months ago they added the third season and I happily gobbled up that. Breaking Bad is probably the best currently airing TV show, I didn't think I'd like it as it seemed quite adult. But I quickly got over that and really enjoyed the show, I loved the character relationship between Walt and Jesse. I pity Walt and all the situations he got himself into, I liked the comedic stylings of the first season and then loved the darker shit it got into later on. The way the third season ended has left me in suspense ever since, I'm waiting for Netflix to add that so I can go and find out what happens.

Skins - After watching BB I decided I should watch something British, so I looked around and found Skins, I never caught this as I spent my TV time watching Shameless instead of Skins. I watched the entire of Skins back to back for a few months, this show was quite long and it did drag for a bit. I really didn't like Effe, she seemed to drag everything down and at a point even made me feel quite depressed, but overall a great show. Very British and had some very emotional moments, the end of the second gen actually made me tear up a bit.

Queer as Folk - Now I know what your thinking, "Oh just because he is Gay he has to go and watch a gay show!" Well thats actually what I wanted, hot gay guys! I was surprised at how this wasn't just a TV Porno, but rather a time capsule at what gay dating used to be liked before the iPhone era. It was very interesting and had a nice couple at the centre of it all.

Super Size Me - Now this was the first non TV show I watched, I watched it in one sitting and found it very interesting. I tend to avoid Fast Food now and only let myself go there monthly, this was a big eye opener.

Inbetweeners - I was never a huge TV guy so I missed a whole mess of shows, this was one of them. I did really enjoy this show though, I couldn't watch to much of this show at once (As I found out when I watched the movie) and the story never really went anywhere. But it was a funny show that I may end up watching over again.

Outnumbered - A very funny family based comedy that sadly just has one Series on Netflix, waiting for the rest to be added.

The Wizard - I was babysitting, there was nothing to do, I stuck on Netflix and found myself watching The Wizard. It was such a cheesy and stupid movie, yet I loved every part of it, recommend.

Gavin and Stacey - Another missed UK hit, this one was actually very funny though, laugh out loud parts. I even found myself stealing a few catch phrases from some of the characters in the show, despite not being Welsh.

Heroes - I have just today watched the last episode of this, out of all of the shows I have watched this I think is my favourite. It may just be because I just finished it, but i found myself glued to the screen whenever I watched this, what this show does really well is juggling multiple story lines at the same time, then getting them to seamlessly intertwine with one and other. I found myself in love with the character of Hiro almost immediately, a comic book style hero in the real world. The main villain, Slyer, was fantastic, his treachery and delivery and outright evilness was outstanding to watch througout. I really really enjoyed this show.

What to watch now? I am unsure, I was thinking of either watching an old cartoon i used to watch or if not that, jumping into another missed hit, LOST.

I loved physical media, in ways I still do but I used to like it a lot more than I do now. For example last summer I got Burnout Paradise for free from being a member of Playstation +, after playing it for about 10 hours and realising how awesome that game is, I went and bought a copy of it from the shop. About 4 years ago I got my first iPhone, I didn't have too many CD's but I was very happy to get rid of them, now I had all my music in one place instead of on a wall. Last Fall I got myself a Kindle, before owning one I was unsure whether I would be able to enjoy having a Kindle and not having a wall full of books. Now even though I haven't used it as much as I should be I don't think I could go back to walking into a bookstore and buying one, the Kindle just makes everything so much easier in so many ways. In January this year, Netflix was launched into the UK, this was the one I was most worried about because I had such a huge collection of DVD box sets and Blu Rays, but the first month was free so I thought why not.

8 Months later, I can happily say Netflix is one of the best purchasing decisions I have made in quite a while. I have watched some top quality shows that I never would have watched before because of the price of admission, I have also been able to clear my shelves up and sell a bunch of my old DVD's because there on Netflix. I was amazed at how quick I was to just get rid of most of my collection, since I acquired it I haven't really bought any DVD's and Blu Rays, where as before I would get at least 1 a week. So what have I been watching, well here we go!

Breaking Bad - Breaking Bad was the main reason I got Netflix in the first place, it was at the time all the rage on the Tested Podcast and on the internet in general. It was not showing on UK TV and was not in shops in the UK in disc form either. So it was the first thing I watched, at the time the first two seasons were only available, a few months ago they added the third season and I happily gobbled up that. Breaking Bad is probably the best currently airing TV show, I didn't think I'd like it as it seemed quite adult. But I quickly got over that and really enjoyed the show, I loved the character relationship between Walt and Jesse. I pity Walt and all the situations he got himself into, I liked the comedic stylings of the first season and then loved the darker shit it got into later on. The way the third season ended has left me in suspense ever since, I'm waiting for Netflix to add that so I can go and find out what happens.

Skins - After watching BB I decided I should watch something British, so I looked around and found Skins, I never caught this as I spent my TV time watching Shameless instead of Skins. I watched the entire of Skins back to back for a few months, this show was quite long and it did drag for a bit. I really didn't like Effe, she seemed to drag everything down and at a point even made me feel quite depressed, but overall a great show. Very British and had some very emotional moments, the end of the second gen actually made me tear up a bit.

Queer as Folk - Now I know what your thinking, "Oh just because he is Gay he has to go and watch a gay show!" Well thats actually what I wanted, hot gay guys! I was surprised at how this wasn't just a TV Porno, but rather a time capsule at what gay dating used to be liked before the iPhone era. It was very interesting and had a nice couple at the centre of it all.

Super Size Me - Now this was the first non TV show I watched, I watched it in one sitting and found it very interesting. I tend to avoid Fast Food now and only let myself go there monthly, this was a big eye opener.

Inbetweeners - I was never a huge TV guy so I missed a whole mess of shows, this was one of them. I did really enjoy this show though, I couldn't watch to much of this show at once (As I found out when I watched the movie) and the story never really went anywhere. But it was a funny show that I may end up watching over again.

Outnumbered - A very funny family based comedy that sadly just has one Series on Netflix, waiting for the rest to be added.

The Wizard - I was babysitting, there was nothing to do, I stuck on Netflix and found myself watching The Wizard. It was such a cheesy and stupid movie, yet I loved every part of it, recommend.

Gavin and Stacey - Another missed UK hit, this one was actually very funny though, laugh out loud parts. I even found myself stealing a few catch phrases from some of the characters in the show, despite not being Welsh.

Heroes - I have just today watched the last episode of this, out of all of the shows I have watched this I think is my favourite. It may just be because I just finished it, but i found myself glued to the screen whenever I watched this, what this show does really well is juggling multiple story lines at the same time, then getting them to seamlessly intertwine with one and other. I found myself in love with the character of Hiro almost immediately, a comic book style hero in the real world. The main villain, Slyer, was fantastic, his treachery and delivery and outright evilness was outstanding to watch througout. I really really enjoyed this show.

What to watch now? I am unsure, I was thinking of either watching an old cartoon i used to watch or if not that, jumping into another missed hit, LOST.

Watch LOST immediately.

Congratulations. I'll never see the appeal in something like Netflix, but it's always nice to hear that your money is going toward something that's worth it in your eyes.

Fuck Lost, watch Six Feet Under instead if you haven't seen it. Michael C. hall from Dexter is fantastic as a gay guy if it makes any difference.

@Voxel said:

Watch LOST immediately.

That is a deep hole to far down, but so damn worth it! I approve.

Screw LOST; watch Battlestar Galactica. (And I love LOST.)

If you really want to geek out over something, then take the plunge and start watching the Doctor Who reboot. It's a good fun time.

You actually liked all of Heroes? I gave up very shortly into season 3, myself. I thought the show had some interesting characters but couldn't figure out what to do with them most of the time.

I love Netflix. It's fucking great. I just started Buffy the Vampire Slayer, myself. My first Joss Whedon show was Firefly, so I'd never seen Buffy before. Season 1? Not so good, really. But I understand it gets better quickly.

@Voxel said:

Watch LOST immediately.

Or do you get instant? Because Terriers is only on instant, and that was a great show. (Is instant US only?) It was canceled after only one season though.

Other shows I liked and maybe weren't so well known were Pushing Daises, Better Off Ted, Generation Kill, Party Down, Louie, Eureka, and Chuck.

And of course there's Battlestar Galactica, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, The Shield, Arrested Development, Deadwood, and, in my opinion the greatest piece of fiction ever filmed, The Wire.

Watch Baccano!

No, really - it's a cartoon but it's just so much damn fun to watch the characters and their interactions with each other. The whole show is fuckin' nuts.

i'm going through 24 for the first time and its pretty great.

@Hizang:

I became obsessed with Top Gear when I first got Netflix. Also Chan-wook Park's films. Specifically Oldboy, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, and Thirst.

i just got in a month ago. it's pretty cool. so far i only watched tv shows, like viva la bam, king of the hill, arrested development, and a few others that i can't think of. the only bad thing i don't like is that some of the shows don't have the entire seasons. they only have one season of viva la bam. iwould of enjoyed to watch more of it.

viva la bam is a show staring jackass star bam margera. he just screws with his family and friends.

@iam3green: There slowly increasing it, as I mentioned I'm waiting for the rest of Breaking Bad and Outnumbered.

You actually liked all of Heroes? I gave up very shortly into season 3, myself. I thought the show had some interesting characters but couldn't figure out what to do with them most of the time.

I love Netflix. It's fucking great. I just started Buffy the Vampire Slayer, myself. My first Joss Whedon show was Firefly, so I'd never seen Buffy before. Season 1? Not so good, really. But I understand it gets better quickly.

@Voxel said:

Watch LOST immediately.

Or do you get instant? Because Terriers is only on instant, and that was a great show. (Is instant US only?) It was canceled after only one season though.

Other shows I liked and maybe weren't so well known were Pushing Daises, Better Off Ted, Generation Kill, Party Down, Louie, Eureka, and Chuck.

And of course there's Battlestar Galactica, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, The Shield, Arrested Development, Deadwood, and, in my opinion the greatest piece of fiction ever filmed, The Wire.

@Hizang: Does Netflix in Europe get the same content as here in the states? Also, yes Netflix is totally awesome. I, however, switch between my Netflix and Hulu subscriptions based on what seasonal shows are running. I know it's not that expensive to have both, (like $16 total, I believe) but there's something about wasting a good indie game's worth of money that gets to me.

I would like to mention that I was referring to the On Demand service, not the physical delivery. I haven't used that in a long time, but maybe I should start.

@ck1nd: No, Netflix in the UK is really really far behind the US Netflix.

@Voxel: The discs are available on Netflix, though. Unless you know something I don't.

I fucking hated LOST. It kept using the same 'tricks' over and over and I couldn't watch the last few seasons. If you really wanna watch it, watch seasons 1 and 2 and then call it.

There is a way to get the US version of Netflix in the UK, and it works great and is such an improvement with the choice of shows. They have just added season 4 of Breaking Bad on the US site which I watched this week.

http://www.unblock-us.com/ Go here, and do the week free trial. It works for all devices.

It is amazing how much more stuff is on the US site and you can switch between the two any time. Pretty sure Netflix is ok with people doing this too.

Not sure if I am going to continue with the site though because it costs like £3 extra a month. Lots of people don't know about this.

I do love Netflix, but I also love physical media. I wish DVDs of TV seasons were not $65 new, though.

Netflix is great.

Conversely, one of the worst things I've ever bought in years: Hulu Plus. They never have the shows I want, and I'm paying 8 bucks a month to still have to sit through ads? Fuck you, Hulu.

@Hizang: That really blows. Netflix is honestly one of the best places to get some really awesome shows (mostly older) to fill in a lazy-Sunday or one of those drab rainy-days.

THE ONLY THING WORTH WATCHING ON INSTANT NETFLIX IS BREAKING BAD, WEEDS, and SUPERNATURAL.

That is all.

I'm not sure what exactly you guys have over in Europe, but some of the best TV on Netflix in the states: Mad Men, BSG, Sons of Anarchy, Terriers, Archer, Louie, Weeds

I'm leaving out things like Luther, Top Gear, or Doctor Who...I assume since you live in the UK you've either already seen or have no interest in them.