18 Netflix Original Series to Stream in 2018 (#Ad) #Streamteam Netflix_CA

18 for 2018 

You'll want to add these Netflix Original Series to your 2018 What to Watch List. 

Disclosure: As a member of the Netflix Canada Streamteam I receive

special perks for my participation, posts and sharing. All opinions are my own. 

Limiting myself to just 18 Netflix Original series for this list was a tough task. Both the quality and quantity of the content Netflix is creating is outstanding. These 18 are sure to get you started, but don't feel you need to limit yourself when there are so many binge-worthy options. 

So much drama ...
There is literally so much great TV drama for you to watch this year! These are just a few examples of the many Netflix Original drama series currently available to stream. 
1) Atypical (2017, TV-MA, 1 season) 
Sam, a teenager on the autism spectrum has decided he's ready to date. The problem is his family doesn't seem quite there yet, about his dating or his demands for more independence.  
2) Girlboss (2017, TV-MA, 1 season)
She's quirky, creative and her own boss. Now if only she can just resist being her own worst enemy and sabotaging what she has created. 
3) Gypsy (2017, TV-MA, 1 season)
I found this psychological thriller to be disturbing on so many levels, yet I couldn't seem to look away. I think therapist Jean Holloway could use some therapy of her own. 
4) Grace and Frankie (2018, TV-MA, season 4 recently added) New Episodes
News Flash: Age Is Only A Number! And Grace and Frankie are proof. Unfortunately those around them, and sometimes their bodies, have yet to hear news.

Out of this world ... 
If you are a sci-fi or fantasy fan then Netflix has you covered in 2018. Whether you're into zombies, vampires, aliens or some other supernatural occurrences Netflix has something for everyone.   
5) Black Lightning (2018, TV-14, 1 season with new episodes added weekly) New Series
School principal and retired superhero Jefferson Piece is faced with some tough decisions about his family, school, community and his retirement status. 
6) Glitch (2015, TV-MA, 2 seasons)
People aren't suppose to return from the dead, and definitely not six of them! I think we can agree that is sure to throw anyone for a loop. 
7) The Mist (2017, TV-MA, 1 season)
It's not the fog that's the problem, so much as the terrifying visions and creatures it hides. (This series is based on a Stephen King novella.)
8) Colony (2017, TV-14, 2 seasons) New Episodes
Just how far would you go to protect the ones you love? In this near-future series former FBI Agent Will Bowman will have to answer that question, as tries to keep his family safe and all together. 
9) Van Helsing (2017, TV-MA, season 2  recently added) New Episodes
Vanessa Helsing wakes from a 5-year coma finding herself in a vampire nightmare, and to learn her vampire immune blood makes her very likely humanity's last hope. (No pressure there, I'm sure.)
10) Altered Carbon (2018, TV-MA, 1 season) Season 1 coming February 2nd, 2018. New Series
"After 250 years on ice, a prisoner returns to life in a new body with one chance to win his freedom: by solving a mind-bending murder" 

Crime and Punishment ... 
The saying goes, "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time", but is it really that black and white? These Netflix Original series clearly show it's complicated, messy and grey. 
10) Wanted (2017, TV-14, 2 seasons) 
After being framed for a murder they witnessed, total strangers Lola and Chelsea become fugitives and "partners in crime" so to speak.
11) Retribution (2016, TV-PG, 1 season, recently added) Recently Added
"A dark web of secrets and lies emerges when a newlywed couple is killed and detectives question their feuding families."
12) Manhunt:Unabomber (2017, TV-14, 1 season)
FBI Profiler Jim "Fitz" Fitzgerald is trying to catch the Unabomber, but in order to do that he'll need to find support within the FBI Unabom Task Force (UTF) for his new approach to profiling.     
13) Mindhunter (2017, TV-MA, 1 season)
FBI Profilers Holden Ford and Bill Tench attempt to catch murderers and serial-killers by first understanding how they think. Hoping to "get in the mind" of murders they get up-close-and-personal with some of the most notorious murders incarcerated at the time. Their work in this area of criminal science is the basis for current serial-killer profiling. 
14) Seven Seconds (2018, TV-MA, 1 season) Season 1 coming February 23, 2018. New Series
The search for the truth about the death of a 15-year-old African American boy killed by a Jersey City cop has tensions running high between the African American community and the Jersey City Police.    

Made me laugh ... 
Sometimes all you can do is laugh at life and all it throws all you. These are just a sampling of the Netflix Original comedy series that will keep you in stitches in 2018.
15) The End of the FxxxING World (2017, TV-MA, 1 season, dark comedy) Recently Added
Be warned this is not a lighthearted comedy, and definitely not appropriate for younger viewers. It is a story about what happens when two teens -- James a self-diagnosed psychopath and Alyssa the rebellious new girl at school -- decide a road trip to find Alyssa's real father is a good idea.    
16) Friends from College (2017, TV-MA, 1 seas0n)
A group of friends who met at Harvard reconnect as they approach their 40's only to find that their complicated and interwoven relationships aren't any less so 20 years later.  
17) American Vandal (2017, TV-MA, 1 season, dark comedy) Recently Added
This true-crime satire begins after someone vandalizes 27 Hanover High School faculty members' cars by spray-painting phallic images on them. Dylan Maxwell, who claims he's innocence is expelled for the crime, prompting a student-filmmaker to investigate the controversial crime, suspect and penalty.  
18) Disjointed (2018, TV-MA, 2 parts) New Series
Ruth Whitefeather runs a medical marijuana dispensary called Ruth's Alternative Caring with the help of her 20-something son, and a security guard. As you can imagine the three of them get up to all sorts of "high" joints jinks. 

This year I plan to add shows not in my usual or go-to genres to "My List". For me that includes adding more shows from the psychological thrillers, and sci-fi/fantasy categories. How about you? What's on your "What to Watch" list for 2018? Will you be considering shows from genres or with themes you may not have in the past? 

If you want to stay up to date on the latest news and content available on Netflix Canada be sure to follow the them on twitter and facebook. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking about learning this year.  

2017 - A Year of Outstanding Streaming (#Ad) #Streamteam @Netflix_CA

A Look Back: 12 Months and 12 Netflix Original Series 

Disclosure: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive special 

perks for my participation, posts, and sharing. All opinions are my own.

As 2017 comes to an end, I thought I'd take the time to highlight some of the Netflix Original series I had the pleasure to watch over the past year. This is by no means a complete list, but it does give you an idea of the quality and quantity of content created by Netflix. 

My Year of Bingeing in Review:

January: Riverdale (Season 1) TV-14 

February: Santa Clarita Diet (Season 1) TV-MA

March: Marvels Ironfist (Season 1) TV-MA

April: 13 Reasons Why (Season 1) TV-MA

May: Girlboss (Season 1) TV-MA

June: Unbelievable Kimmy Schmidt (Season 3) TV-14

July: Friends from College (Season 1) TV-MA

August: Atypical (Season 1) TV-MA

September: Marvels The Defenders (Season 1) TV-MA

October: Mindhunter (Season 1) TV-MA

November: Argon (Season 1) TV-MA (subtitles)

December: The Crown (Season 2) TV-MA

If you haven't had the pleasure of watching the shows listed above be sure to take some time in the new year to check them out.  

Wishing you a Happy New Year and Happy Streaming in 2018!

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about a year of streaming.

No Power - No Problem: I Download @Netflix_CA Faves to My Tablet (#Ad) #Streamteam

Power Outages (PO) ... 

Living in Canada you expect and prepare for at least a couple during the winter months. 

Disclosure: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive special perks

 for my participation, posts, and sharing, All opinions are my own.

But did you remember to ...

Include downloading some of your favourite Netflix shows and movies to your tablet or phone as part of your Powers Out - What Now Preparedness Kit (POP Kit)? Recently I was happily watching a series on Netflix (ummm ... no surprise there) when we lost power. I soon realized there is nothing more frustrating than losing power half way through an episode of an action drama. To make things worse this happened in the evening (aka anything past 5:00 pm this time of year) so there was no light by which to read, or write a blog post, or clean the house. Okay, the "clean the house" thing wasn't going to happen regardless of whether I had power or not. So there I sat in the dark ... feeling frustrated ... UNTIL ... I remembered! I had downloaded the very same series I was watching to my tablet before leaving on a recent road trip. I thought this feature was great for travel (which it definitely is!) but as a Life Hack and part of a POP-Kit it is brilliant! 

Be Power Outage Ready ... 

Be Scout-like, and be prepared by putting together a basket or box of essentials you'll need to stay happy and entertained during a PO. That might include snacks, bottled drinks, flashlights, portable battery chargers, and a cozy throw. And now I know to keep a few series or movies downloaded to my tablet just in case. If the forecast is calling bad weather, heavy snow, freezing rain, or thunder showers, I also add a few of Hubby's, Thing 1 and Thing 2's favourites so we can "ride out the storm" so to speak. 

If you haven't ... why not?!

If you've already used the Netflix App to download shows or movies to your tablet or phone you know just how easy it is to do. And you know how great being able to watch a couple episodes of a show, or a movie without wi-fi or the internet is. If you haven't ... first, What are you waiting for! and second, you can find more information on how to download Netflix shows and movies to your devices HERE. You can find the Netflix App for iOS in the Apple App Store or for Android in Google Play. 

Have Netflix will Travel!

"Netflix to Go" (as I call it) is a travel essential, and  warrants repeating it's a must have whether traveling by air, train, or embarking on a long road trip. Most airlines have done away with the drop down screens for movies, and now require you to use you own device, and have their App to assess in-flight entertainment. Most also charge for at least some content, and to rent a device (and the fee is not cheap). I can honestly say I do not travel without my Netflix to Go, and use it both enroute to watch some House of Cards on the plane, and once I have reached my destination to enjoy a bit of GirlBoss. 

There is no shortage of options to download, so you are sure to easily please everyone in your family.

If you're a parent ... 

You'll appreciate being able to control what the kids watch in a hotel, or while visiting family and friends over the holidays, since you decide what is appropriate to download for your kids to watch. Plus Netflix has just launched a Netflix Family Facebook page where you can find and share all sorts of information, tips, updates and stories, including family travel "experiences". 

I'll show you my list if you show me yours ... 

What do you have in your My Downloads? And if it's empty what are you going to add to that list as soon a you finish reading this post? Currently "My Downloads" include:

• The Method (Series, 2015, TV-MA, subtitles)
• Sadqay Tumhare (Series, 2014, TV-PG, subtitles)
• The Many Faces of Ito (Series, 2017, TV-14, subtitles)
• Colony (Series, 2016, TV-14)
• Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (Movie, 2006, TV-PG, subtitles)
• People You May Know (Movie, 2016, TV-MA)
• Bushwick (Movie, 2017, TV-MA)
• Wheelman (Movie, 2017, TV-MA)

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about being Power Outage Prepared. 

Foodies Netflix-Google Mind Map - Inspired Learning (#Ad) #Streamteam @Netflix_CA

Inspired Learning with Netflix and Google.

Because you never know where a little inspiration will take you, or what you'll learn unless you act upon it. 

Disclosure: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive special perks for my participation, 

posts and sharing. All opinions are my own. 

The inspiration ...
Have you ever watched a cooking or food show, or even a movie that showed a meal, type of cuisine, restaurant or chef that that left you wanting to know more. An emotional response to food you have seen on the screen that leaves you with a craving to smell and taste it for yourself. 

The Learning Journey ...
What if you were to take those thoughts a step further, and instead of just thinking about it, what if you were to go on a Netflix-Google Mind Map journey. Each person's inspired learning journey is different because we are each inspired by different things.

It's like a Pick-Your-Own Ending Adventure ...

The adventure starts with a food themed show, movie, or documentary. Inspiration found in the show that lead to questions. Different questions lead to different discoveries, journeys and endings. 

Start your journey with a show such as Chef's Table, which will lead you to questions about recipes on the show, ingredients used, or a certain type of cuisine. Now Google for answers about those questions. The answers are likely to raise more questions to Google. You might learn about different ingredients, and how to use them, or where they are produced and their historical significance. You might learn about how to adapt recipes to fit your skill level and lifestyle, or about pairing beverages with certain dishes. The possibilities are truly endless. 

I'm sure one of the shows listed below is sure to get you started on your Foodie Netflix-Google Mind Map and your Inspired Learning Adventure.   

Chef's Table
Cooked
A Cook Abroad

Theatre of Life 
Taste of the Country
Testing the Menu

Raja Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniyan 
Restaurant Australia 
Chef & My Fridge 

Food, Cooking, and Eating are always about more than just the ingredients. What do each of these mean to you, and what inspired learning journey will they take you on?

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Inspired Learning Journeys.   

Ideas to Personalize Kid's B-Day Parties (#Ad) #Streamteam @Netflix_CA

No need to be Martha Stewart or break the bank 

to create fun and personalized birthday parties for your kids.

Disclosure: as a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive special perks for my participation, 

posts, and sharing. All opinions are my own. 

Finding party items in the theme your child wants is not always easy. Especially if the theme they have chosen is not one of the popular themes of the day. Below are 5 ideas I used over the years to create one of a kind, personalized birthday parties for my kids. Not only do they solve the problem of finding party items in a particular theme, they cost next to nothing to make. 
Tip: Get yourself a binder and clear page protectors to organize all these items during the planning process and the actual party.

1) The invitation: 
Make your own fun interactive invitations by including a themed maze or word search, or both to the invitation. I cut and past onto a piece of printer paper to create the master invitation. Then just copy the number of invitations needed. 

2) Party Hats:
Themed headbands made from inexpensive Bristol board from the dollar store can easily be customized to fit any party theme from crown to Lego mini figure head.
Tip: Depending on how complex the themed image is, or for printing reasons, it may be easier to make the band, and the theme image separately, then attach, rather than make the headband in a single piece of Bristol board. 

3) Pin the ___ on the _____:
Again it is easy to adapt this party game favourite to fit any theme. Just like the donkey game, the kids are blindfolded and must pin, in this case Lego heads on the Lego mini figure. 
Tip: I use tape, and pre-tape each head and stick them to a clear page protector so they are ready to go at the party. 

4) Themed Musical Chairs: 
These can be adapted to any theme, and can be used on chairs or simply on the floor. As with musical chairs one is removed between each music session. 
Tip: Create 3 or 4 different images and then make enough copies to accommodate the number of kids attending the party.

5) A Ribbon Pinata:
This pinata is made from a paper bag and ribbons, and eliminates the swinging of a stick  required for a traditional pinata. This is a good thing, since in my experience the stick mostly misses the pinata, but hits everything else. The ribbons are knotted inside the bag, and when each one is pulled it creates a small rip in the bag. Ribbons continue to be pulled until the hole becomes big enough to let the candies and toys fall out the bottom. 
Tip: You may want to have 1 or 2 ribbons that feed through 2 holes to ensuring at least 1 hole large enough to empty the loot. 

And now there is something new ... 
that was not available for my kids, but is available for yours! Netflix has 14 fabulous Birthday-on-Demand videos to help make your child's birthday special. 

How fun is this!
Fourteen Birthday song videos featuring some of the most popular characters from 14 shows such as Pokemon, Lego Ninjago, Lego Friends, and Project MC2 singing Happy Birthday, and helping to celebrate your child's birthday.  

Just search Birthday Songs in Netflix to find all 14 options available.

Personally I think a special Birthday song is a great idea for kids of all ages. Which song would your kid(s) pick first? I say first because I know one would never be enough for this kid at heart. 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about Birthday fun! 

DIY Family Streaming Planner = Consensus #Streamteam #Ad @Netflix_CA

Strategies for ending Streaming Selection Squabbles and Bringing 

Calm and Consensus to Family Movie Night negotiations.

Disclosure: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive special 

perks for my participation, posts, and sharing. All opinions are my own. 

I think most of us have had the following experience: You lovingly plan a Family Movie Night, with visions of family harmony and bliss. In reality the kids argue over what to watch, frustrated you lay down the law and make the decision, at which point the kids stomp off and refusing to participate. This is followed by you watching a movie alone, while eating the snacks you prepared in quantities large enough to serve a family of four. In my opinion the key to avoiding this type of solo-streaming is managing expectations: by putting into place mechanisms to for everyone to have input into the decision making process, and clear rules and guidelines beforehand. An easy way to do this is by using my easy to make DIY Family Streaming Planner (FSP). My DIY FSP will take you no time to make and cost almost nothing. I used recycled paper, 3 mason jars, and a notebook. 

The FSP Users Manual: 
Start by putting in writing some basic non-negotiable rules and guidelines, which should be kept in your FSP for quick and easy reference. Make sure everyone reads, understands, and signs to acknowledge the rules and guidelines. This single action will save you hours of conflict resolution, frustration, and set the expectations for participation. 

Rules and Guidelines...
1) Movie and show suggestions must be approved by FSP administrators (aka parents).
2) A different family member will randomly pick from each category. For example: if Thing 2 picks the movie, he can not pick the snack. 
3) The family member randomly picking the snack, movie or show rotates. For example: if Thing 1 picks the movie this week, next week the next person on the list picks that category. Weekday show negotiations can be resolved in the same manner, and the reason for the "Show Jar"
4) All family members agree to accept the randomly picked snack, movie or show, and may not opt out because they don't like the snack, movie, or show selected.
5) If a situation arises where a selected snack cannot be provided, administrators (aka parents) may substitute, or pull another snack selection. For example: missing ingredients, or time doesn't allow for a given snack. Idea: Select the snack the week prior so there is time to purchase snack ingredients during the weekly grocery shopping. I don't suggest doing this with the movie or show selections, since it will give the kids time to figure out how to wiggle out of participation if they don't like the selection, or argue over the selection. 

Snacks, Movies, Shows.
To start pre-select 10 snacks, movies and shows, write them on small slips of paper, fold, and place in the jars. Going forward each family member can add up to 1 new movie and show suggestion per week. Snacks stay constant to ensure availability of ingredients, and preparation is easy, but a quarterly review of snack options might make sense.

A peek at what's in our jars ...

Movies:
Nine Lives (2016, PG, Family-Comedy)
Here Comes the Boom (2012, PG, Comedy)
Enchanted (2007, G, Comedy - Fantasy)
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005, G, Comedy - Animated)
Shows:
Bindi's Bootcamp (2012, TV-G, 1 season, Reality-Adventure)
Merlin (2017, TV-PG, 5 seasons, Fantasy)
Roswell (2001, PG, 3 seasons, Sci-Fi - Teen)
Drop Dead Diva (2014, PG, 6 seasons, Comedy)
Snacks:
1 Minute Microwave Nachos (Top nacho chips with cheese, salsa, and your other favourite toppings. Microwave on high for 1 minute)
Pizza Bites (Pizza cut into bite size pieces, served with a variety of dips)
Mini Pancakes or French Toast Fingers (Idea: Add the syrup to the batter so they are mess-free (ish) and easy to eat)
Hummus & Crackers or Nacho Chips or Sliced French Stick

Still need help avoiding Solo-Streaming?
Assuming of course you don't want to Solo-Stream, because there are definitely times when you do, then the tips below may help to reach your streaming goals, and hone your persuasion skills. And who knows, maybe Chef's Table will provide you with some inspired snack ideas for your family to nibble on while sharing a movie, or episode of your favourite show. I know I like it better when we stream together ... sometimes.  

Do tell ... how do you settle streaming selection squabbles? 

Yep,  just me Cathy thinking our loud about the power of persuasion and peaceful streaming selection negotiations. 

You can find Netflix Canada being social on Twitter, and Facebook. 

Stereotypes & Women Breaking the Mould #StreamTeam #Ad @Netflix_CA

Looking to Netflix for examples of female trailblazers and women who break the mould. 

Disclosure: As a Netflix Streamteam member I receive special perks

 for my participation, post and sharing. All opinions are my own.

When I think of the term "Role Model" I think of someone whose behaviour, actions, convictions, and qualities make them worthy of admiration, imitation, emulation, and inspiration. That doesn't mean they're perfect or even successful in their pursuits, but that their motivation for saying or doing something is good, positive, and consistent with their beliefs and convictions. Role models are those who simply by doing what they do inspire engagement, conviction, action and often change in others.
I think our kids both need, and look for positive role models who exude qualities and core values that align with theirs. I also believe it's important for kids to have a sense of history and where they came from, in order to understand where they are, how they got there, and where and how they want their futures to unfold. Throughout history there are examples of women who break the mould, or at least add cracks to it, and over time change its shape. They're trailblazers that defy the restrictions and stereotypes of their time. I might not be able to get my kids to read a book about the history of feminism or about stereotypes, but I have a good chance of success at conveying information and starting a conversation by finding common ground through a show or series. 

Netflix can be an extremely helpful tool for segueing into important conversations, and an excellent way to draw attention to gender biases, stereotyping, and the depiction of women in the media and on screen. As parents I think it's important to give our kids guidance, context, and perspective on the constant barrage of media, images, and messaging they're exposed to on a daily basis. Given the speed of change for this generation, they may not realize many rights and freedoms they enjoy today were not available to their mothers or grandmothers. They might not understand the struggle and sacrifices made by women (and men) to secure these gains in women's rights and freedoms in regard to life choices in health, relationships, education, and careers. Without history and context our kids may fail to understand what is at stake, and why indifference to gender stereotyping, bias and inequality is not an option. One just has to look to the news, and the challenges we never imaged possible to rights and freedoms as proof that maintaining those gains is not a given. We need trailblazers more than ever to challenge the status quo, and stereotypes. More than ever our kids need role models.

Each generation of women has had to work within the restrictions placed upon them by stereotyping and inequalities often entrenched in the legal system. Each generation has had trailblazers that challenged the status quo and the way thinking of their time. Seeing how far women have come is an important part of understanding where we are now and, how far we still need to go. Being aware of, and calling out negative and limiting depictions of women, and questioning stereotypes is an essential part of the process. Otherwise these stereotypes and double standards will continue be used as excuses and justification to limit women based on gender.

Netflix has many examples of women rejecting the stereotypes of their time, finding ways to break the mould, and working around society's restrictions and barriers. These women forge ahead and find their own space and place in non-traditional ways, and act as an example to our kids that they don't have to accept the status quo, limiting gender roles, or others' definition of what being a woman means. 

Below are a list of period series with multiple examples of strong women who despite the restrictions placed on them by society find ways to define themselves and question society's stereotypes and prejudices. The women in these series all at some point struggle with questions about what is the just and right thing to do in the reality of the moment, and the potential consequences of their choices. 

Spoiler Alert: Although I've tried my best to have a meaningful discussion about the following series without giving away so many details that it spoils your viewing experience, you continue at your own risk.


Downton Abbey: (2015, TV-PG, 6 seasons)

The Crawley sisters, daughters to the Earl and Countess of Grantham are examples of completely different women who in their own ways push the boundaries of their position, class, and gender, and defy the stereotypes and prejudice of the time. 

Lady Mary, is the eldest child of the Earl of Grantham, but her gender disqualifies her as legal heir to Downton Abbey. Nonetheless she finds ways to wield influence over it's management and future. She seems determined to pursue happiness that's not merely defined by a husband or being married. Lady Mary is by no means perfect or even nice, but she's an example of a strong woman refusing to sit back and accept the status quo.
Lady Edith, is the quiet and often almost "forgotten" middle daughter. This may be why she's able to defy stereotypes and expectations of "proper" behaviour for a lady, by learning to drive, writing about Women's Sufferage, and running a magazine.  
Lady Sybil the youngest and most vocal and radical in her rejection of society's stereotypes and restrictions based on class, position and gender, constantly pushes the envelope of what is considered proper for an English lady of her time, much to the dismay of family elders. While her sisters are looking to make changes within their class, Sybil rejects the whole idea of class.    

Call the Midwife: (2016, TV-14)

This series is interesting in that some of the midwives/nurses are nuns, while others are not. Although the nuns are dressed in black and white it quickly becomes clear the issues this show tackles are definitely not. In contrast to the ordered rules and rituals of the nuns, are the nurses trying to figure out their role in a time of change. They see and respond to issues such as pregnancies out of wedlock, birth control and family planning, poverty, and illegal at the time abortion and homosexuality. Gender stereotyping and inequality is never more obvious then in relation to reproductive rights and sexuality. Each of these women are forced at some point to deal with their feeling about these issues, while still trying to do their job, and what is right for the health of baby and parents. Not always an easy task given the restrictive laws, norms and prejudices of the time. The midwives regularly face situations which force them to examine the validity of both their and society's prejudices, concepts of right and wrong, and stereotypes. Sometimes the right thing to do isn't necessarily the legal one.

The Bletchley Circle: (2014, TV-14, 2 seasons)

This series revolves around the lives of 4 women; Susan, Millie, Lucy and Jean who all worked as code breakers at Bletchley Park during WWII. As code breakers their work was not only classified but highly unusual positions for women to hold. The series is set post-war, with the main characters settled into traditional gender roles as wives and, or mothers. The group is brought back together when several women are murdered in London. After being largely ignored by male police detectives, they put the skills that got them hired as code breakers to work in an effort to link and solve the cases themselves.

Murdock Mysteries: (2016, PG, 3 seasons)

In this series both Doctor Julia Ogden and Doctor Emily Grace are pathologists, a position traditionally held by men. As pathologists, they try to reveal the details of a crime from the deceased often using unconventional approaches. They often face resistance to their use of new or less conventional techniques to reveal clues, as well as gender stereotypes that call their credibility into question. 

The Crown: (2016, TV-MA, 1 season)

At the age of 25, Queen Elizabeth takes the throne as head of the British Monarch. Not only is she young, but neither her sheltered life nor her education has prepared her for the very public and male dominated political arena. Balancing the challenges of her public and private roles as monarch, wife and mother are made even more difficult by the gender biases, and stereotypes of the time. 

The Pinkertons: (2015, TV-14, 1 season) 

Set in the 1860's, this series tells the stories of a father and son detective duo that team up with the first female detective in the "Wild West" (Kate Warne) to help solve crimes. She proves to be a smart, resourceful, brave and a successful detective despite, or maybe because of her gender. She also inspires other females to join the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

When Calls the Heart: (2015, PG, 2 seasons)

Elizabeth Thatcher is a young teacher from a privileged background, that embraces the challenges of teaching and living in a small coal mining town despite her parents objection, and the town's skepticism. Her parents think a teaching position in a coal town in beneath her station, while most of the town thinks she is too pampered and soft to survive the hurtles of teaching in the town's saloon with limited resources. Both sides think she is not suitable for the position because she is too much a lady. Both sides make assumptions based on class and gender stereotypes. But, Elizabeth not only survives, she thrives, and brings the town's people around to her modern approach to teaching. 

Why not spend some quality time with your tweens and teens watching one (or more) of these series, and then start a conversation.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about trailblazers and mould breakers.

Disclosure: As a member of the Netflix Streamteam I receive special perks for my participation, posts, and sharing. All opinions are my own. Images courtesy of Netflix.