Netflix recommendations: From Tiger King to After Life – what’s your essential lockdown viewing?

Apparently, American wrestler Hulk Hogan was the original first choice for the Lean Mean Grilling Machine but turned it down.

The makers moved on to George Foreman, who has made more money from the cooking aid then he ever did from his boxing career.

And, also apparently, high-street video chain Blockbuster had the chance to buy, way back when, the then-fledgling streaming service Netflix for what would now look like a song, but the deal was passed on.

I’m sure many grilling machines have had extra use during lockdown and I know from personal experience that Netflix is probably now almost as watched across the nation as the five terrestrial TV channels.

There is a raft of content, from the addictive Tiger King to binge-watchable boxed sets to an array of documentaries and feature films to suit everyone’s tastes.

It’s also become a communication tool throughout lockdown, with an FAQ (frequently asked question) over the last six or so weeks right across social media and verbal communication: “Anyone got any Netflix recommendations?”

From my own perspective I will offer an answer.

The aforementioned Tiger King is crazy but well worth a watch; Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman; Streep and Hanks in The Post, a true story about the Washington Post’s coverage of The Vietnam War and US State cover ups; for football fans of all teams, Sunderland Til I Die; and the genius that is Ricky Gervais’s second season of After Life.

In fact, the only person probably not currently asking for recommendations might be whoever at Blockbuster decided against the purchase, if it was ever on the cards.

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