What we watched in September
For most of us around the world, streaming services have become the new playgrounds for entertainment. The pandemic has severely restricted our movement, and streaming is having its moment in the sun. More and more of us choose our couches over a jaunt at the pub or a day at the beach. So what is everyone watching? I asked my fellow Android Authority colleagues to dig through their streaming history for September and suggest one title that stood out for them. I also asked them to describe why the title was so special to them and what they liked about it.
Also read: Tired of Netflix? Here are 14 great alternatives
A Black Mirror-style anthology series, one of Netflix’s best video game documentaries, and even some good ol’ pick-me-up comedy shows — Team AA has some great streaming suggestions to share this month.
PS: Don’t expect to find all the newly released titles from September on this list. For that, you can always head to our dedicated streaming section or check out our best lists for popular services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and more.
Team AA streaming picks for September 2020
1. High Score
Streamed by: Kris Carlon, Executive Editor
High Score presents a super-familiar topic in a highly accessible way that will appeal both to hardcore gamers and curious noobs alike. The six-part series currently only has one season, streaming now on Netflix.
It tells the broader story of the origins and evolution of video games, focusing on the people that made, played, and popularized them.
From early arcade titles like Space Invaders to the era of home consoles from Atari and Nintendo, right up to the multi-million-dollar online esports competitions of today and genre-defining properties like Doom — High Score is expertly edited, cleverly animated, and entertainingly delivered by the people who were there.
Also read: The best documentaries to watch on Netflix
High Score is easy to get into and hard to break away from, whether you’re an avid gamer or just interested in learning a little more about the (often bizarre) stories behind some games, names, and companies you may have heard of. It’s also entertaining to learn about almost-forgotten tales highlighting the unsung heroes of the industry. I would definitely recommend a watch.
2. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Streamed by: Jimmy Westenberg, Managing Editor
I’ve heard good things about Avatar: The Last Airbender over the years, and after watching all three seasons, I can say it’s worth the hype. The story of Aang is one of my favorites in recent memory.
Also read: Best Netflix animated movies you should add to your watchlist
Every main character has chemistry with one another to the point that you don’t bat an eye if two of the kids go off on their own adventure. Seeing Aang grow as an Avatar is exciting. Although he faces challenges that you or I would never experience, his struggles spark empathy for anyone watching.
3. The Boys
Streamed by: John Callaham, News Writer, and Edgar Cervantes, Head of Imaging & photography
The Boys on Amazon Prime Video was streamed by two of our staffers at AA. John says that the best superhero TV show got even better with season 2. It’s got social commentary mixed with superpowers and humor. He can’t wait to watch the rest of the season and is already excited for season 3.
Related: The 16 best original series on Amazon Prime Video
Edgar says that the series is an interesting portrayal of superheroes — these beings who are usually viewed as individuals of outstanding moral character and icons of everything good in society. The Boys portrays the dark side of having so much power.
4. My Octopus Teacher
Streamed by: Adam Molina, Editor
My Octopus Teacher is a documentary shot by wildlife filmmaker Craig Foster. It tells the story of Foster’s encounters with an octopus he found in the magical underwater world of the kelp forest off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. Shot over eight long years, with 3,000 hours of footage, the documentary portrays a unique friendship and animal intelligence as we have never seen it before.
Here’s what Adam had to say about it:
I like nature documentaries and this one was a little different than the typical ones that I’m used to.
5. The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Streamed by: Hadlee Simons, Editor
The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy is perhaps the most popular fantasy movie series out there. But our own Hadlee had never seen a single one of the movies till this month.
Here’s what he had to say about them:
“Believe it or not, I’ve never ever watched the movies before. I don’t know if it’s because I spent (and still spend) a lot of time gaming instead, but the idea of watching three, three-hour movies felt intimidating. Anyway, after my partner discovered that I hadn’t seen them, we decided to watch them over the space of about a week. I’m glad I watched it, but would I watch them all again? Hm…”
6. Cobra Kai
Streamed by: Ankit Banerjee, Editor
Cobra Kai is nostalgia-fuel for those who loved the 1984 movie The Karate Kid. The two main characters return, and it’s as much about their journey as it is a next-generation story. The plot has evolved and moves on from the “good vs. evil” concept. I think it’s excellent story-telling when you can’t easily point out the good and the bad guys.
Also read: The best action movies to stream on Netflix
I was a huge fan of the original movie series, and this show was why I signed up for YouTube Premium. Now that the series is on Netflix, I just had to watch it again!
7. The Lighthouse
Streamed by: Oliver Cragg, Features Editor
A stunning descent into madness that’s equal parts disturbing, hilarious, and oddly beautiful. Robert Eggers’ follow up to the 2015 masterpiece The Witch is a loose adaptation of an unfinished Edgar Allan Poe story. The movie revels in the myth and weirdness of maritime folklore and features tour de force performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. As good as The Witch? I think it might be better, and that’s saying something.
8. The Office (US)
Streamed by: Sarah Clary, Campaign Media Operations
The Office (US) is one of my all-time favorites. With tense and divisive news over COVID-19 and the upcoming presidential election bombarding us on all sides, it’s important to find joy wherever you can.
The Office is undoubtedly the best place to go for a good laugh. As Netflix is set to lose this title next year, now’s a good time to get that final rewatch in, too. Not to mention, no show does a cold open better than this one. It’s guaranteed to have you laughing before the theme song starts.
9. Dark
Streamed by: C. Scott Brown, Senior Staff Writer
This German sci-fi series is kind of like Stranger Things meets Twin Peaks meets Back to the Future, but directed by Christopher Nolan. If that sounds awful to you, then you should probably avoid this, but if that sounds amazing, that’s exactly how I felt about this show.
Related: The 9 best sci-fi shows on Netflix
It’s a total head trip. By the middle of the first season, you will need to write things down. By the third season, you will likely have a hard time keeping track of anything and just hope the show takes you to a satisfying conclusion (which it does). I can’t recommend this one enough!
10. The Platform
Streamed by: Nick Fernandez, Author
It’s nearly a year old but The Platform (El Hoyo in Spanish) absolutely nails the low-budget, high concept sci-fi feels that few movies can pull off without slipping into well-worn cliches. Think of a modern take on 1997’s The Cube, but with a heavy helping of social commentary that’s more relevant now than ever.
At its core, the Spanish-language film is about a vertical prison where prisoners are shifted up or down at random every 30 days. In the center of each level is a hole, where every day, a platform filled with a lavish meal is lowered from the top. Prisoners can only eat while the platform is on their level, and any attempt to keep food for later results in death by gassing. There’s enough food for everyone, but only if everyone takes just their share.
Also read: The 10 best sci-fi movies on Netflix
This inevitably leads to those at the top getting more than their fill, and those at the bottom left starving and desperate. It’s grim, it’s gruesome, it’s dystopian, and it belongs on your Netflix playlist. Don’t sleep on this one!
11. Burn Notice
Streamed by: Jonathan Feist, Editor
An old show, but I am finally finishing it. It’s been six years since I last watched it, and at the time I only got through a couple of seasons. I started again from scratch, so I could remember what was going on. It’s not a great show, but it’s mindless, so that one can wind down at night. And there’s no harm done if you fall asleep and miss a bit.
It’s fun to get all the little spy tricks, even if most are bogus, and crazy to watch how many times they open up their feature phones to install trackers and bugs. I wonder if the show ever gets around to using smartphones? No spoilers, don’t tell me, I’ll get to the end soon enough! Actually, I only get through two or three episodes per week, so check back with me in a month. I might still only be on season 4.
12. The Seven Deadly Sins
Streamed by: Joe Hindy, Apps Editor
The Seven Deadly Sins is a Netflix exclusive anime. Seasons are released fairly slowly, and the long-awaited season three (English dubbed!) launched just a couple of weeks ago.
For the uninitiated, the anime is an adventure-fantasy about a group of heroes that have incredible strength but have done terrible things in the past. They designated themselves sins based on their past deeds and fight together to destroy evil for their own various reasons.
The first season centers around an arc where they try to save a kingdom in the thralls of a disaster, while the second and third seasons deal more with larger story arcs. It’s certainly not a top 10 best anime of all time or anything, but it’s a pleasant watch with some likable characters, good comedy sequences, and a fun story.
13. Inside No. 9
Streamed by: John Dye, Editor
Inside No. 9 is a British anthology series that’s smartly written and deviously twisty. Think Black Mirror, but without a reliance on a technological gimmick. Some early episodes are hit and miss, but once the show finds its stride, it’s highly binge-able. I recommend it to anyone interested in twist endings, short stories, tightly developed characters, and dark comedy.
The premise is that each episode takes place in a single building or often a single room. I’m not usually a fan of bottle episodes, but instead of being a budget-saving tactic by a studio looking to pad out a season, this is a pair of writers tying one hand behind their back just to show off that they don’t need fancy set pieces to tell a good story.
Also read: The best Hulu originals you can stream right now
Go in expecting everyone you meet to be a despicable human being, and you won’t be disappointed. If everything I’ve said makes you think, “Why on earth would anyone watch this?” then it’s probably going to be a hard pass for you. If black and gray morality is your jam, however, check out Inside No. 9.
14. Lovecraft Country
Streamed by: Adamya Sharma, Editor
Lovecraft Country is a show that marries social commentary with monster mysteries and dark magic. It takes the horror genre and twists it into an absolutely fantastic and engaging watch.
Set in the 1950s, when Jim Crow laws legalized racial segregation in America, this 10-part TV series on HBO Max is on its sixth episode. It started back in August, but I had heard such good things about it I decided to wait until episode four to start binging it.
Also read: HBO Max: The master list of movies and TV shows
It begins with a soldier’s search for his missing father that leads him and his fellow travelers — his uncle who writes a safety guidebook for African-American travelers, and his vagabond friend/love interest — deep into the regressive township of Ardham, a fictional place plucked out of Matt Ruff’s 2016 novel. What follows is a chain of events that have the trio battling deadly creatures, a secret occult society, and racist lawmakers.
The debut series is a nod to author H.P. Lovecraft’s weird fictional tales and is shouldered through-and-through by a powerful performance from Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors. Both actors are a force of nature and deserve all the accolades for their fiery roles of Atticus and Leti.
Looking for more awesome streaming suggestions? Check out the links below.
