Bring on the Binge
Being stuck at home for weeks on end sounded like a great idea a few months ago, yet after a while the magic wore off and the reality set in that there are a lot of hours in a day. Luckily now is the perfect time to revisit some binge-able TV show classics and with so many streaming services to choose from, the days will fly by in no time.
American Horror Story – Hulu
Ask any horror fan their top 3 horror TV shows and American Horror Story will be number one. Unlike most of the shows on this list, American Horror Story isn’t a single story spanning several seasons. Instead, each season of reboots with an independent story in settings ranging from a circus to a haunted house to a literal apocalypse, resulting in one of modern TV’s best horror anthologies.
Arrow – Netflix
Nowadays superhero shows are a dime a dozen, but back in the day when Arrow was released, it was truly a groundbreaking show. It brought the idea of a superhero film to the small screen series format and succeeded. After spending five years shipwrecked, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen returns to his corrupt city with a secret vigilante identity, determined to right wrongs not only of the criminals but of his past.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Hulu
Many people today might have forgotten just how big Buffy was back in the day. It was a cultural phenomenon that blew away TV ratings and dominated tv screens around the world. Buffy is a Slayer, the once-in-a-generation hero chosen to defend the world against demons, vampires, and other supernatural baddies. With the help of her loyal band of friends and a couple of supernatural love interests, she saves the world over and over again, all while dealing with high school and college. Show creator Josh Whedon would go on to write the first Avengers movie, bringing along the witty banter from Buffy.
Breaking Bad – Netflix
What more can be said about this seminal show? Fantastic acting, incredible plot twists and character development that puts most books to shame, Breaking Bad set such a high standard for television drama that it is still held up today as the shining light in many audiences’ eyes. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, between 2008 and 2010, Breaking Bad follows Walter White, a meek high school science teacher who transforms into a ruthless player in the local methamphetamine drug trade, driven by a desire to provide for his family after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
Community – Netflix
Dan Harmon might be more famous now for his cartoon super show Rick & Morty, yet Harmon made a name for his unique humor and clever dialogue with Community, a smartly written comedy show set inside the world’s worst Community College, Greendale. When a lawyer finds out his degree was revoked, he’s stuck going back to school at a community college. He starts a “study group” to impress a pretty girl in one of his classes, but instead ends up launching a real study group full of colorful characters. Look out for some hilarious moments with Mr. Childish Gambino, Donald Glover and football jock Troy.
Chuck – Amazon Prime
When Chuck opens an e-mail subliminally encoded with government secrets, he unwittingly downloads an entire server of sensitive data into his brain. Now, the fate of the world lies in the unlikely hands of a guy who works at a Buy More Electronics store. Instead of fighting computer viruses, he must now confront assassins and international terrorists. Chuck who is now an unwilling government asset, falls under the protection of a grumpy colonel and a secretive spy as he gets wrapped up in all sorts of hilarious and dangerous missions.
Mad Men – Netflix
A drama about one of New York’s most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm’s most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper. It was a slow burn in the first few episodes, but once the drama set in and the characters revealed their true selves it became must-watch television. Plus it was the show that introduced us to the amazing Christina Hendricks, so it’s worth watching just for her.
The Sopranos – HBO
The show many felt kicked off the trend that “TV shows can be better than movies”. It’s an iconic show that still holds up to this day. Hailed as one of television’s essential dramas, The Sopranos follows James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano: husband, father and mob boss whose professional and private strains land him in the office of his therapist. The show includes many incredible performances and some with its truly shocking plot twists, The Sopranos is still a bona fide classic.
Six Feet Under – HBO
Who would ever have guessed that a show centered around a funeral home could be so hilarious, yet Six Feet Under wowed audiences when it was first released and continues that trend today. The show focuses on a family-owned funeral home owned by the dysfunctional Fisher family, a reluctant son who becomes a partner in the business after his father’s death, and the families who require their services. It’s as dark as dark comedies go and it’s sure to tickle the fancy of all our dark sides.
New Girl – Netflix
Although New Girl is your stock standard sitcom, it featured some truly hilarious characters and scenarios that made it stand out from every other comedy on TV. A quirky, just-dumped young woman moves into a loft with three mismatched roommates. What starts out as a goofy fish-out-of-water premise turns into a warm and still goofy comedy about an unlikely group of friends figuring out life, love, and growing up. It’s a feel-good watch during these uncertain times.
The Office – Netflix
For many years people referred to Netflix as the “Office Streaming Service” purely because that is all people would watch on the globally renowned streaming service. This has more to do with the immense re-watchability of this iconic piece of modern TV comedy, than of Netflix. The Office follows the hijinks of the quirky workers at a Pennsylvania paper company office that’s far from dull, with some of the most likable characters ever seen on TV.
The Wire – HBO
Still seen as the premiere cop drama, The Wire shocked and wowed audiences when it was first released, due to its realistic depiction of the police and the criminals they are after. Instead of focusing on just one “side” of things, the show famously tackles it from all angles, presenting us with characters who are cops, drug dealers, addicts, politicians, families, and more, who are all trying to build lives for themselves in whatever ways they know how.
Shameless – Netflix
If reality TV has taught us one thing, people love watching low-class people doing stupid stuff. Shameless is the story of a family of six kids and their drunk and selfish father. The eldest daughter Fiona has to raise the rest of the family on her own. They need to steal food and steal money to live while their father takes everything and offers nothing. Meet the fabulously dysfunctional Gallagher family.
The West Wing – Netflix
There was a time when a show about the US president was not met with such a divided opinion. How times have changed, yet The West Wing unveiled the curtain behind the Whitehouse to show the dramas and tribulations the most powerful man in the world might face. Under the administration of the deeply decent President Bartlet, a group of White House staffers work to keep the country running smoothly. Nothing comes easily, though, especially keeping political agendas in check.
Elementary – Hulu
A modern twist on the stories of famous detective Sherlock Holmes, Elementary took the story and placed it smack bang in the middle of modern New York City. Set in Manhattan, Sherlock, a recovering drug addict, and Joan Watson, a former surgeon hired to aid Sherlock in his rehabilitation, help the New York Police Department solve difficult crimes. A much lighter watch than the BBC’s Sherlock it’s the perfect binge-watch show for anyone interested in crime-solving shenanigans.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Hulu
Set in the fictional 99th Precinct of the New York City Police Department in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows a team of detectives headed by the overly serious, newly appointed Captain Raymond Holt. The detectives include Jake Peralta, who has a high rate of successful arrests and solved cases, in spite of his relaxed, carefree and (at times) childish attitude. He eventually falls for his nerdy, by-the-book but loveable partner, Amy Santiago. The hard-working but timid Charles Boyle is partnered with the apathetic, aggressive and stern, Rosa Diaz. It’s silly, it’s over the top and it is a lot of fun.
Friday Night Lights – Hulu
A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town’s dormant social problems begin to flare up. It is left to the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines to instill in the other team members and, by proxy, the town itself, a sense of self-respect and honor.
Cheers – Hulu
The place where everybody knows your name is as iconic as apple pie and Cheers is still seen as one of the greatest sitcoms ever created. Over 30 years later and this still holds true. The regulars of the Boston bar “Cheers” share their experiences and lives with each other while drinking or working at the bar where everybody knows your name. This is also the show that gave us the wonderful Frasier spin-off so keep an eye out for the occasional appearances of Dr. Frasier Crane.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – Netflix
Always Sunny is unlike any other comedy show on this list as every character on it is a terrible and horribly selfish a-hole that no one would ever want to meet in real life. And yet it’s because of this that Always Sunny is an absolute classic as the cast can get away with going on the craziest and morally dubious adventures ever. Five mismatched misfits who own a bar get into all sorts of professional and personal messes, all while trying their best to actually act like adults. Although their schemes for success fail more often than not, they just keep trying and trying often with hilariously disastrous results.
Seinfeld – Hulu
The show about nothing that became absolutely everything during the late ’80s and early ’90s. It was the hit TV show that had everyone talking and was one of the first television shows to become a regular meme generator (although memes didn’t exist back then). It originated catchphrases still used today and apart from the terrible ’80s wardrobe it’s still as hilarious now as it was back in the day.
Veep – HBO
Politics and smart comedy is a very rare blend, yet Veep finds the perfect balance in bringing to light the absurdity of US politics mixed with excellent characters and stunning performances. This Emmy-winning comedy centers on a bright but messy vice president and her chaotic staff. After becoming vice president, Selina Meyer finds herself working a thankless job, trying to juggle personal and political responsibilities and keep her eye on the ultimate prize: the presidency for herself.
The X-Files – Hulu
Back in the ’90s, The X-Files was must-watch television. It brought a unique and never before seen premise to the small screen that had people rush to the water cooler the next day to discuss the crazy and the weird the show presented. Two federal agents, one a skeptic, one a believer, investigate weird, inexplicable, and sometimes downright terrifying happenings and try to discover if they’re all linked. There are still some episodes that will freak out anyone in 2020.