With the beginning of a new semester comes all sorts of anxieties: What will my classes be like? Will my professors be easy or hard? How much homework will I have? Even through all of the questions, problems, and uncertainties that arise through the new semester's journey, there's one thing that will always be there for us: Netflix. Though we often spend too much time binging on Netflix shows, sometimes it's all we can do to relax. After a long week of papers and tests, there's absolutely nothing better than binge-watching some of the best nerdy shows that Netflix has to offer, especially if your inner nerd is crying out to be let free for a few hours.
1. "Merlin"
In a land where all magic is forbidden, what is the young wizard, Merlin, supposed to do? Especially after being promoted suddenly from apprentice to Arthur's personal servant. Even worse, not only is Merlin servant to the self-absorbed, entitled crown prince, but he's also been told that their destinies are closely intertwined. This 5 season show creates an interesting twist on the well-known Arthurian legend as Merlin struggles to protect Arthur from all the evils that hope to overthrow Camelot, all the while keeping his magic a secret and pretending that, yes, Arthur really was lucky that the tree branch fell on his enemy right as the prince was about to lose.
2. "Supernatural"
Take a road trip across the country with brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, hunting supernatural beings that threaten the way a majority of people perceive the world. Even as the brothers struggle to discover themselves and come to terms with their destinies, they still work to protect normal people from the things that go bump in the night. This show, which currently has 10 seasons on Netflix, will truly make you rethink every supernatural creature you thought you knew, and even some you've never heard of before. And don't worry when you find yourself saying things like "Man, Lucifer is really cool" because, to be honest, all of us "Supernatural" fans agree.
3. "Arrow"
Thank you, DC, for this darkly humorous addition to the franchise. This story, loosely based off of the Green Arrow comics, tells the story of the spoiled playboy billionaire that goes missing for 5 years when his yacht sinks at sea. Even though everyone in Starling City believes him to be dead, Oliver Queen struggles to survive, learning to fight and kill with the hope that, one day, he can carry out his father's dying wish to rid the city of those people that ruined it. Upon his return to Starling City, Oliver takes up his bow and arrow, dons a green hood, and begins his mission to make those that failed it pay. With 3 seasons on Netflix, you have plenty of time to learn about Oliver's tortured 5 years, his present problems as a vigilante, and his struggle to allow himself to be loved.
4. "Alphas"
Spend time crying along with everyone else who believes that this genius show was cancelled too soon. After all, there's only 2 seasons available on Netflix, so you should be able to binge this fairly quickly once you meet Dr. Lee Rosen's team of "Alphas" and fall in love with their all-too-human problems. After all, even a human with enhanced abilities is still a human, especially when every enhanced ability comes with a price. Gary Bell, for example, is an autistic young adult with the ability to see all electromagnetic wavelengths and process information just as fast as any computer. Rachel Pirzad has permanently heightened senses and can further heighten any one, making social interactions difficult. And then there's Kat, a young loner who can pick up any skill at a glance with the cost of previous long-term memories.
5. "Being Human"
Lucky for you, "Being Human" is 2 completely different series: the American version and the British version. Though they start with the same characters (a ghost, a werewolf, and a vampire) and the same premise (supernatural beings attempting to live normal lives), they take different paths with different fallouts from their individual actions. The characters even have different names (In the American version, there's vampire Aidan, ghost Sally, and werewolf Josh. In the British version, look forward to vampire John, werewolf George, and the ghostly Annie). No matter how much they differ, you can be sure that between the 5 seasons of British "Being Human" and 4 seasons of American "Being Human," there's plenty of binging time to decide which you prefer.