There is no denying that the television landscape is changing. Gone are the days of scrolling through Channel Guides, setting up the TiVo or planning a night around a certain show. Now, it’s all about wi-fi, binge watching and the almighty stream. As in, on-demand digital streaming services from carriers like Amazon, Hulu and Netflix.
Original series like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black are taking the TV world by storm. And rightly so; as they’re smart, well-produced and instantly available at the click of a button. But it’s important to note that several Latino streams are making waves too and we’ve got a quick breakdown of our personal faves.
Narcos
A perfect selection for binge-watching in the man cave, Netflix’s Narcos blends elements of Scarface, Traffic and all of your favorite “bad guy drug dealer” movies. This one happens to focus on real-life kingpin Pablo Escobar and his rise to the top of the Medellin Cartel. As expected, Narcos has its share of violence, smuggling and hardcore suspense, making it a compelling watch from moment one to the cliffhanger season finale. Our big gripe is that we’ve only got 10 episodes to chew on. But according to the press, Seasons two and three should be queued up before the end of the year.
Mozart in the Jungle
One of the most talked-about originals in the Amazon queue, Mozart in the Jungle stars former Mexican heartthrob Gael Garcia Bernal as an unconventional music conductor in the heart of New York. Based, in part, on real-life Latino maestro Gustavo Dudamel, it’s definitely not for the PG crowd (which is another great perk of streaming shows). This one covers topics like sex, drugs and string quartets, balanced with a nice sense of whimsical comedy. Basically, it’s great for a binge watching date night.
Club de Cuervos
We’re giving Netflix some extra props for the groundbreaking Club de Cuervos. This drama has the distinction of being their first Spanish-language original series. But if you’re lacking in the bilingual department, don’t worry. There are plenty of subtitles to pull you in to the ongoing struggles of the fictional Cuervos soccer team. Club also has flashes of the telenovela formula we all know and love, but with a nice dose of machismo involving sports underdogs and futbol politics.
East Los High
Hulu’s major Latino contender is geared a little bit more for the high school crowd. That being said, East Los High is still a very engaging series (and a whole lot better than the tween shows The CW and ABC Family are churning out). This one has a standout cast (make sure to Google Vannessa Vasquez) and offers a nice snapshot of the high school experience from the Latino perspective. It’s also got the support of the California Family Health Council and Voto Latino, which means its sending positive multicultural messages to 18-and-under streamers.
Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy
Ok, so this isn’t necessarily a series; but it’s still a great piece of original comedy for the Netflix crowd. One major benefit of this platform, is its support of rising standup comics. Click the Netflix comedy category and you’ll see an abundance of great material from acts like Aziz Ansari, Russell Peters and Hannibal Buress. Anjelah is the only Latina in the mix and her Not Fancy special is a must-see. Featuring riffs on nail salons, Hollywood and Spanish-gone-wrong, it’s a great one-off if you’re in need of some extra LOL’s.
