Netflix's famous red envelopes will soon be a thing of the past. A recent announcement from Netflix has officially announced the shuttering of its famous DVD rental service, signaling its full commitment to being a streaming service first and foremost. It's a shame, really. Netflix's DVD rentals often have material that will never see the light of day on the company's streaming counterpart, including shows and movies from competing services. What's especially heartbreaking, however, is that plenty of content will seemingly vanish from Netflix altogether, becoming even more difficult to find than it was previously.
The service is set to be shut down in September, meaning there's still time to try some of Netflix's exclusive DVD content. These shows are difficult to find elsewhere, so they may as well be gone for good once they're gone. Here are some of our picks for the best of what the service has to offer.
The Vietnam War is a Ken Burns Classic
Love him or hate him, Ken Burns is a staple of high school classrooms and historian media libraries everywhere. It's safe to assume that if you have even a slight interest in what he's covering, he'll be sure to do so without missing so much as a single detail over multiple hours of archival footage and photographs. While some of his documentaries are available elsewhere, The Vietnam War is readily available to rent on Netflix.
The Vietnam War is a particularly interesting production due to the heavy involvement of primary sources. Retired war photographers are able to lend their experiences to the retellings of specific events, along with specifically interviewing those directly impacted by the war's events instead of popular figureheads. It's a brilliant encapsulation of the conflict, one that's guaranteed to educate and inform across its seventeen hours.
Fawlty Towers Is a John Cleese Comedy
With twelve episodes across two seasons, Fawlty Towers is one of those comedy shows that defy the throes of time. What we're saying is that it's absolutely brilliant, straight from the minds of John Cleese and Connie Booth of Monty Python fame. Set in the titular fictional hotel, the show follows the establishment's day-to-day operations in the midst of oddball guests and ridiculous situations. Suffice it to say; things are more than a little difficult to handle.
Featuring memorable characters, hilariously quotable jokes, and a compact length, Fawlty Towers is an easy recommendation for anyone needing a quick laugh. Of course, it goes without saying that any fan of Monty Python will also find themselves having a terrific time. A sequel series is currently being developed with Cleese's involvement, having been announced in February of this year.
Shogun is a Historical Japanese Epic
Based on James Claveill's 1975 novel, Shogun has one of the most intriguing setups for a historical drama you can imagine. Set in 1600s Japan, an English sailor by the name of John Blackthorne washes ashore on the island country after a storm ravages his crew. Having been taken prisoner by a group of samurai, Blackthorne is tasked with surviving an alien environment while getting wrapped up in the country's political affairs.
It's an incredible series that goes the extra mile for authenticity. The entire series was filmed on location in Japan, subtitles are nonexistent as Blackthorne struggles to understand those around him, and over the span of ten hours, you'll get a sprawling examination of Japan's geopolitical struggles from a wholly unique perspective. The miniseries is currently being remade at FX, having originally been announced in 2018.
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Exists
With the upcoming fifth Indiana Jones movie allegedly being Harrison Ford's last portrayal of the character, there's no better time to revisit a classic series made during the franchise's heyday. The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles -- aka, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones -- is a series that leaves little to the imagination. In essence, it's a made-for-TV set of adventures that show off our legendary adventurous archaeologist in his youth. But what makes the series especially unique is how it handles this concept.
The role of Indiana Jones was played by multiple actors as the series went on, highlighting Indiana Jones at different ages. Harrison Ford himself even appears to bookend an episode, with Sean Patrick Flanery and Corey Carrier making up a bulk of the character's on-screen presence. It's a wealth of untapped content for fans of the series, created and produced by George Lucas himself.
Dungeons & Dragons is a Geeky Throwback
Wizards of the Coast
Tabletop role-playing games used to be associated with myopic nerds and dozens of multicolored dice. Nowadays, only the latter remains true. Dungeons & Dragons in particular remains a popular past-time for people of all ages and cultures, transporting themselves into a new world powered by their own creativity and imagination.
In the official Dungeons & Dragons cartoon series, a group of kids inadvertently make this world come alive -- along with the dangers contained within it. Do they have what it takes to defeat the evil wizard Venger and find their way home?
Notable for a brief cameo in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the original Dungeons & Dragons cartoon is a perfect geeky throwback. Featuring animation by Toei, voice performances by the likes of Frank Welker and Katie Leigh, and a cheesy 80s aesthetic, it's a terrific comfort series that, thankfully, has a conclusive ending.
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is Aussie Perfection
Daytime mystery shows are a staple of casual television. Whether we're watching Tony Shalhoub solve crimes while struggling with OCD or watching Hugh Laurie make miracles happen under the influence of Vicodin, there's something to be said for how well audiences respond to these kinds of shows. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, an Australian take on a similar formula, may fulfill a similar kind of niche for those who want something new.
Set in the 1920s, it follows the eponymous Miss Fisher, a Melbourne-based private detective, as she gets wrangled into a variety of mysteries based on author Kerry Greenwood's novels. Embodying the poppy and slick style of its respective era, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is an engrossing series with strong characters, a unique setting, and a terrific lead played by Essie Davis (The Babadook, Game of Thrones).