What to Watch on Netflix When You Are Under the Influence

Image via Complex Original

Genre: Cartoon

Takeaway: Hilarious writing that can be appreciated by brains operating at any level. 

Bob's Burgers is sort of a miracle. It's a show about a working-class family barely getting by that doesn't look down or make fun of its characters in any way. In fact, it's written with such fondness for Bob and co. that you can't help but fall in love with them. It's on this list, though, because it also happens to be really, really funny. Plus, it's about food.

Genre: Nature show

Takeway: Only you can solve the mystery of the eels. Or something.

I'm not going to lie: These two shows are both pretty boring. But, like, in a good way. They also happen to have phenomenally good titles. So good, that you can finish an entire sitting of The Mystery of Eels while discussing the "the mystery of eels" while having a nice backdrop of eels swimming around to set the scene. What is the mystery of eels, you ask? Well, you'll just have to find out for yourself. As for The Private Life of Deer...well, it involves a lot of grass and I know you love that. 

Genre: Cartoon

Takeaway: It just gets better with every viewing. 

Archer's jokes are so self-referential, so rapid-fire, and so multivalent, that you can't possibly get them all in one viewing. Which is exactly why any fan of the show owes it to his or herself to watch every episode more times than once. I don't recommend putting on an episode at random (the show builds on itself in order, getting funnier along the way), but if you've already seen them, putting on a classic like the "Heart of Archness: Parts I and II"  is a perfect accompaniment to some dank herb. You'll likely uncover jokes you completely glossed over the first time around. 

Genre: Documentary

Takeaway: DMT is really intense. 

I'm not condoning the ingestion of powerful, mind-altering hallucinogens, but here's the truth: For better or worse, this documentary will make you want to take DMT. I originally watched this because it popped up in my recommended section so often I couldn't keep ignoring it. I'm not sure exactly what that says about me, but I learned a whole lot about how brains react to psychedelic drugs. Maybe stick to the softer stuff when you're actually watching this though—it's actually surprisingly information-packed. Still not sure why they call it the "spirit molecule" though. 

Genre: Documentary

Takeaway: Science can be pretty trippy, if you think about it.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey manages to pay homage to Carl Sagan's 1980s original, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, while creating an engaging show for a 21st century audience. Neil deGrasse Tyson proves a charismatic host, the science is high-level enough to interest adults (but simple enough where you won't get lost along the way), and the trippy special-effects well keep its core audience of stoners and kids delighted (weird how similar the two are when it comes to TV). Speaking of stoners: Tyson, like Sagan before him, flies around in a time-traveling ship of the imagination that looks like a sleeker version of Boba Fett's Slave1. Plus, we already know that Tyson is 420 friendly. 

Genre: Film

Takeway: Drugs are scary. Especially DMT. 

If DMT: The Spirit molecule makes you really want to try DMT, then Gaspar Noe's hallucinogenic nightmare Enter the Void does the exact opposite. Set in the Tokyo underworld, the film follows a small-time dealer through the streets of the neon megalopolis as his life spirals out of control. As dark as that sounds, though, it's also a visual masterpiece that is only heightened by real-life psychotropic substances. If you don't think you can handle the bizarre visuals (and they are really bizarre—the movie is often shot in first-person) maybe you should just start with the beginning credits (featuring music by Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter) to get an idea of what's to come. 

Genre: Documentary

Takeaway: You never knew raw liver could look so delicious.

Anthony Bourdain may have moved on to bigger and better things with Parts Unknown, but the nine amazing seasons of No Reservations are as vital and entertaining as ever. As I mentioned before, food shows are a no-fail option when you've had little bit to smoke, and nobody has ever done food television better than Bourdain. A trip to Thailand, Hong Kong, or France with Bourdain will make your mediocre Seamless order taste a little bit more like the foie gras Tony is happily chowing-down on.

Genre: Cartoon

Takeway: Totally weird. And surprisingly great. 

The premise is totally weird: Humans and animals live together, and has-been sitcom star BoJack Horseman is trying to get his life together. The cast is made up of people like the always-great Amy Sedaris, Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul, Will Arnett, and a roster of guests that includes Patton Oswalt, J. K. Simmons, and Keith Olbermann playing a blue whale on MSNBSea (if you don't think that's hilarious, I give up). Even though reviews have been mixed, I assure you it's worth your time to light a joint and burn through a few episodes. Thank me in the comments.