My current top 10 most binge worthy TV shows

 I should start out by saying that watching tv is my guilty pleasure. And I’m not ashamed of it. I just love it! Television has evolved so much in the past few years, surpassing movies in my opinion. I love being able to spend hours watching characters slowly evolve rather that jamming that type of story into 2 hours in the theater. I guess it just seems more believable to me. Since I was a kid, I always loved getting lost in other worlds, spending days or months learning every detail of a character universe, and that hasn’t changed. I never thought of myself as a person who would be into those types of cult followings, but I find I just gravitate towards them. That being said, I don’t discriminate with my show palate, which runs a full gamut. I love comedies more than anything because it helps me unwind and I find that laughing is healing. I also thoroughly enjoy delving deep into dramas but usually need a comedy to alternate with it when things get heavy. It’s like how gym rats have leg days and arm days, with a full body workout in between…you can’t say I didn’t warn you that I geek out over this stuff. 

As the weather’s getting cooler and with the holidays approaching there’s more time to spend with loved ones cuddled up on the couch, I thought I’d share a few of my all-time favorite bingeworthy shows. I’m always finding more but these are the shows I continue to come back to over and over again.  

1. Outlander– NUMBER ONE, OUT THE GATE, BINGEWORHY PERFECTION! This show is my current obsession (can you tell?) and just won the People’s Choice Award for the Most-Binge-worthy show of 2019! Obviously, I agree! (And may have helped stuff that ballot box a few times) I completely stumbled onto it by accident and had no idea that there was an entire series of books and a cult following behind it for nearly the past two decades. Honestly, I almost turned it off after the first episode or two. It seemed slow and I didn’t know the point of what was going on, I had no idea that there was this epic love story about to happen to me! I don’t even know how to categorize this series if someone asked me. It’s got time traveling, historical drama, wars, action, and romance. Did I mention, SEXY, HOT ROMANCE!?!? Though it’s entirely shot in Scotland (which has me already planning my next trip) every season takes place in a different part of the world. From Europe, to the Caribbean, to the American colonies, tricorn hats off to the crew who transformed the Scottish countryside into colonial North Carolina in season 4. Each season is so different, yet the show feels very cohesive. I don’t know which season is my favorite to be honest. Well-rounded but varied, I feel like everyone can find something to like and relate to in this show. I may have gotten into it for Sam Heugan’s 🍑, butt I’ve stayed for the intoxicating storyline. And did I mention #KingOfMen Jamie Fraser (the main squeeze played by Sam Heugan and his 🍑).  

2. Man in the High Castle– Now this one is another show that’s concept is soo darn cool! Another spectacular show based on a book, this Amazon portrayal tells an alternate history to the end of WWII where the US lost the war. Honestly, the antagonist (Obergruppenführer John Smith, a former American army captain turned high ranking Nazi after the war) has to be my fav character because there’s so much depth to him. It really helps to know some history when you watch this show but don’t let that scare you away. Stick with it. It’s very well done and beautiful to watch if nothing else. I promise it’s worth it! 

3. Narcos– Another that I just stumbled into. This show is just so fascinating because it’s based on the true story of Pablo Escobar’s drug empire in Colombia in the 1980s. Honestly, it feels like there’s no way that any of this actually happened. And that’s why is sooo good! Watch the first two seasons. You won’t be able to stop.   

4. The Office– Come on. It’s a classic! I can’t tell you how many hundreds of times I’ve seen it but it’s bad enough that my friends rely on me as their “secret weapon” on Office Trivia Nights (a thing we do around here, check your area!) This is my go to for when I need to watch something that I know will just make me smile. So disregard season 1 (I like it but many people say it put them off) and just COMMIT. You won’t regret it.   

5. Arrested Development- A.K.A. My Friendship Litmus Test. I’m going to oversell this one. But it IS the MOST UNDERRATED COMEDY OF ALL TIME. Arrested Development is something that television just wasn’t ready for in 2003. In my opinion, it created the term BINGING for tv audiences. After it failed on cable, people started watching it on dvd and that’s when the world learned the brilliance of this show. You can’t watch it once. In fact the first time I watched it, I hated it. You can’t watch it twice either. The second time, I still didn’t get it. By the third time, the light bulb went on. Pure Genius. This show is like an onion, So. Many. Layers. It rewards you the more you watch. You’ll catch jokes you never noticed even after your tenth time through the show. I don’t know how they did it. Honestly. A show filled with endless Easter eggs!?!? It’s so smart and quick witted which is what I love most. Just stick to the first three seasons (the originals before Netflix rebooted it).   

6. Breaking Bad– If you haven’t seen this show, shame on you! I know you knew about all the hype in 2013 when it was ending. But water under the bridge because now I’m envious of you. I’m envious because I can’t ever experience it for the first time again like you can. I bet there are few people who can resist this show. The suspense, the cinematography, music choices, the elite acting, I don’t know, pick one, because this show is one word. And that word is perfect. What makes Breaking Bad even better in 2020 is that it doesn’t have to end. You can continue watching with Better Call Saul (the prequel) and El Camino (a follow up movie to the finale) since these writers know they’ve got gold with the Breaking Bad universe. 

7. Jack Ryan– I got into this show when I was sick in bed last year and that was the perfect excuse to finish it in a day. Yeah. I know. A day! But it sooo good! It reminds me of 24. If you’re looking for an action show filled with suspense and not looking for anything gruesome, it’s a perfect pick. I feel like this is a crowd pleaser and with just 8 episodes, it’s ideal for keeping even the shortest of attention spans invested. Who knew that John Krasinski (from The Office) could pull off a show like this? If you’re not sure where to start on this list, this is a no-brainer. 

8. Stranger Things– Well if you haven’t been recommended this one, you’ve been living under a rock. And I know that, because until this past summer, I was under that rock as well. I tend to stay away from things that have a crazy fan following (I can’t explain why, I’ve always done it), hence my delay on trying out this show. But oh man, was I missing out! The only thing that I’m okay with is the fact that I didn’t have to wait all those years for new seasons. It’s not a scary show, which seems a common misconception nor is it for kids (since kids are the main characters). It’s does an exactly perfect job of capturing 80’s pop culture, music, films, hair, fashion, all the things! Watch it NOW. You WON’T regret it! 

9. Hell on Wheels– I have turned a few people onto this one after my best friend shared it with me. And Every. Single. Person. Who has started the show says the same thing. O.M.G. CULLEN BOHANNON (the main character played by the ever rugged and gorgeous Anson Mount). YUM. Even my guy friends have man crushes! I personally have NEVER been able to get into Westerns. Just not my thing. But Hell on Wheels changed my mind. As a history geek, it covers the time period of the transcontinental railroad so well and seems to try balancing all perspectives from the immigrants, to the Indians, the settlers, and the railroad men. But don’t let my historical blather turn you off! You don’t need to know anything to enjoy it AND BOHANNAN 😉. 

10. Ozark– To be honest, I started this show to see Jason Bateman (from Arrested Development) do some serious acting. I was convinced he couldn’t since I’ve never really cared for him in anything outside of AD but here it is. I feel like if I explain Ozark’s plot, I won’t do it justice. Saying that it’s a family who gets caught up in the world of money laundering in the Ozarks doesn’t really sound entertaining. The twists and turns and drama of this show are really where it’s at. I really adore the depth of the female characters as well, specifically Ruth. As banal as my description seems, this show is truly just entertaining. 

    Honorable Mentions 

      

    Parks & Rec– Another crowd pleaser with the same writers and style as The Office. If you like this style show, this one is just as good. I like to sprinkle it in when I’m watching a drama as well. There are so many lovable characters and it made me want to join local government, of course, I’m currently in the public school system, so I know better. Stick out season 1 as they rewrite the main character, which was necessary! But it’s a sweet, little show that will make you giggle. 

      

    Buffy the Vampire Slayer– This one is an oldie but a goodie. Don’t be mistaken, it’s not a horror show or just for teenagers. I stumbled on this gem as an adult and still fell in love. It’s not in my top 10 because I feel it may only relate to a specific viewer or at least I find that many people aren’t willing to give it a chance. Season 1 feels like you’re watching a live action version of Scooby Doo (and I feel like that’s what does it) but it’s so gleefully 90’s which makes me nostalgic. I geek out over this show because of the themes and the meta-writing style of the show. Honestly, I feel like I could teach a college course on the writing brilliance of Buffy. I’m not kidding. I read Why Buffy Matters: The Art of Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Rhonda V. Wilcox (I told you I geek-out on tv) among other books, just to delve deeper into the thinking behind the writing of this series. It’s also just fun. Making me long for my simpler, high school days. 

      

    GLOW– This one makes the cut but only for the first two seasons. This show is fun and different. Based on the oh so very real, Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (hence G.L.O.W.) which aired in the 80s, I just like that this is an original topic for a show. Of course the storylines are fictional, but I think it’s quite enjoyable.