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By Naomi Deevy<\/p>\n
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Huddle up under a blanket, put your feet up, you\u2019ve earned this – time for some great series to get your Christmas teeth into! These are just a few of the many funny, smart, absorbing and downright binge-worthy box sets available right now. But don\u2019t just trust me, these scores speak for themselves.<\/p>\n
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Togetherness\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
7.5 – IMDb<\/p>\n
93% – Rotten Tomatoes<\/p>\n
Follows a group of kooky, flawed and extremely engaging characters who maneuver their sometimes complex relationships producing moments that are moving and hilarious in equal measure. It\u2019s got heart, but it\u2019ll make you laugh and sometimes guffaw too. Overall, it\u2019s a well-drawn and meaningful comedy drama. Like a hearty, \u201cSunday dinner\u201d of a box set.<\/p>\n
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Inside Amy Schumer<\/b><\/p>\n
7.3 – IMDb<\/p>\n
100% – Rotten Tomatoes<\/p>\n
Amy Schumer should be on your radar by now. She\u2019s been doing stand-up comedy and has been showing up all over the place on talk shows and as a guest on other comedians\u2019 shows recently (30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm). It was just a matter of time until she got her own show and it is just as outrageous, off the wall and unflinchingly irreverent as her stand up. As long as you\u2019re not easily offended, you will possibly split your metaphorical sides wide open with this one. Highly recommended.<\/p>\n
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This Is England<\/b><\/p>\n
7.7 – IMDb<\/p>\n
93% – Rotten Tomatoes<\/p>\n
Gritty, captivating and un-stop-watching-able, \u2018This Is England\u2019 began as a spinoff of the hugely successful 2006 British drama film of the same name which is centred on young skinheads in England in 1983. The award-winning television version however, goes further and has evolved into an incredibly multi-layered and engaging series; the acting and writing quality here is exceptional. There are 3 series so far: \u201886 \u201888 and \u201890.<\/p>\n
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Transparent<\/b><\/p>\n
8 – IMDb<\/p>\n
98% – Rotten Tomatoes<\/p>\n
Emphasis on the \u2018trans\u2019, this series follows Mort, whose wife and three adult children have some difficulty dealing with the fact that their father, after many years, tells them he is transgender. This one stars \u2018yer man\u2019 from Arrested Development. The series touchingly and hilariously deals with the trials of its characters and depicts a family who, above all, love each other for who they are. All the characters have a depth and individuality in their own right too. Uplifting and rewarding, but also extremely funny. Thumbs up.<\/p>\n
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The Affair<\/b><\/p>\n
7.9 – IMDb<\/p>\n
95% – Rotten Tomatoes<\/p>\n
Follows the emotional and psychological effects of two couples\u2019 affairs and the aftermath of the initial \u2018fling\u2019 stage of their romances. It\u2019s got sincere, heart-wrenching performances, sexy bits, and some very real and human issues that are very well portrayed and will keep you coming back for more. Serious quality.<\/p>\n
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Dora the Explorer<\/b><\/p>\n
2.5 – IMDb<\/p>\n
15% – Rotten Tomatoes<\/p>\n
Dark psychological drama following the struggles of an underage Latina trapped in a world of social injustice and systematic discrimination. This series tackles the issues that immigrants face in a socially inhospitable environment. She navigates this world where her only friends are a misfit criminal thief who goes by his gang name \u2018Boots\u2019 and a strange apparition calling itself \u2018The Map\u2019.<\/p>\n
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OKAY, okay!\u00a0 This last one was a joke – making this list a roundup of five of some of the best new box sets out there. Enjoy!<\/p>\n