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Movies & Television

Netflix homework for Christmas break

After months of school and a grueling finals week, many students use Christmas break to relax and watch Netflix.

Students shared the best shows to watch on Netflix: 'Arrested Development,' 'Freaks and Geeks' and 'The Wonder Years.' All three of these shows can be watched over Christmas break while only watching a maximum of  5.5 hours a day.

'Arrested Development'

Netflix currently has three seasons of 'Arrested Development.' Season four is set to debut as a Netflix exclusive in early 2013.

Leigh Bergin, a senior studying psychology, enjoys watching 'Arrested Development.' The show is about a dysfunctional family trying to keep the family business afloat. Bergin recommends the show because she said she finds it funny.

Bergin noted the importance of balancing time with family but also said watching Netflix while on break is not a bad idea.

'When you're with your family, if you have older siblings with kids, your parents are going to bed earlier than you and if you don't happen to be hanging out with your high school friends that night then watch some Netflix,' Bergin said.

'Freaks and Geeks'

Alyssa Child, from Bountiful, is an English teaching major. She discovered the show “Freaks and Geeks” from watching it with her brother and sister-in-law.

The show only had one season, but all 18 episodes are available for viewing on Netflix. The show takes place at a high school in the 80s. The geeks get bullied by the freaks. Child said she enjoys the show because of the humor and also because the show has no laugh track.

“It’s the best thing that has ever happened,” Child said.

Child said watching Netflix over Christmas break is an excellent idea.

'It's the best time to do it because you don't have to worry about anything,” Child said. “It's the end of the semester, and it's time to ‘veg' out and recoup.'

Child said Netflix should be watched in moderation to avoid missing family time.

“You don't have to be hooked at the hip with the people you're with when you go home,' Child said. 'On a winter's night, there's not much else to do. But if you haven't gotten out of your pajamas the entire break and you've watched all of the seasons of multiple shows you've probably maxed out.'

'The Wonder Years'

In this six-season show, Kevin Arnold reflects on memories of his childhood. The stories are portrayed by actors, and at the end a message goes along with what Arnold learned in his childhood.

Casey Bahr, a 20-year-old sophomore, recommends 'The Wonder Years.'

'It's my favorite show, and that's not an exaggeration,' Bahr said. 'I feel like everyone should see it at least once in their life.'

'The Wonder Years' can be watched together with one's family.

'It's a great family show,' Bahr said. 'It brings back good memories when I sit down and watch a show with my family just because we did that growing up.'

Bahr said too much Netflix-watching may be a bad idea because it takes away from time that should be spent together as a family.

'It depends on the family,' Bahr said. 'If you’re not together and it’s monopolizing your time then that is probably a bad thing.”