Shows that Entice

Fact:  I love movies.

Fact:  I love puzzles and things that make me think.

Fact:  I often find my brain is in "go" mode far often than it wants to "rest".

Lie:  I don't watch tv.
Fact:  I don't watch tv often

This summer, however, I have found myself cemented in front of many XFinity TV and Netflix shows this summer in an attempt to shut off my brain from it's normal "go" mode and just enjoy the day and my "time off".  Some of the usual suspects that peak my TV interest are easy going shows that are often upbeat or promote people trying to accomplish something in their lives.  I enjoy "Burn Notice,"  "Say Yes to the Dress,"  "Project Runway,"  "Master Chef,"  "Drop Dead Diva,"  and "White Collar," to name a few.  Those are shows to which I normally default when and if I find time to actually hit the Power button for my TV or computer.

This summer, however, I have found a few new favorites on Netflix that have truly satiated some of my top endulgers.  I love things that make me think and keep my brain in "go" mode.  Two of the shows I've favored this summer, as a result, are "Life," and "Lie to Me."  A-MAZING!  And the best part?  They play out like ongoing movie sagas because they are 2 and 3 seasons long, respectively.  That means you can enjoy marathoning the shows as though they were movie sagas and not just 40 minute episodes.

So what makes them so special?  I'll fill you in on the little secrets about why I fell in love with them.

LIFE
No, it's not the game, first of all.  :-)
Premise:  A cop is acquitted of a crime he did not commit after spending 12 years in jail.  He returns to become a detective and brings with him the years of Zen Buddhism study he did while imprisoned.
The enjoyment factor:  Realizing how the Zen he acquired helps him solve cases and see things about reality and what people say that others either cannot see or simply overlook.  Watch it all in a relatively short time frame and I'd be surprised if a little of the main character's approach to life and problems doesn't rub off a little on the viewer!

LIE to ME
Premise:  A man has spent 20 years studying human micro-expressions that give away when they are lying and telling the truth.  He is hired by companies, the government, and individuals to help them assess crime, uncover truths, and solve problems.
The enjoyment factor:  WATCHING HIM CATCH PEOPLE IN LIES!!! HOW COOL!  And they often will focus in on a micro-expression and flash photos of real people displaying those same expressions.  It creates a tie into the real world and helps keep the apparent reality of the show flirting with the line between fictional stories and non-fictional situations.  It can also make you start to think about what you show on your face when you say things or wonder if you, too, couldn't pick out lies that other people tell.

....just in case you needed a few more shows to start loving.  :-)