By Silvana Smith | Alumni Contributor
So the world went up in flames and now we’re all stuck at home. For better or worse (and god do we hope it stops getting worse), a lot of us have a little extra time on our hands. And no matter how shitty the cards we’ve been dealt with, we all need a little escapism to help us get through the day. So in hopes of helping someone pass the time, cope a little easier with reality, or maybe even find your new favorite show, here is a list of my top ten recommendations for your next TV binge session.
Below, I’ve compiled a list that ranges everything from comedies to dramas, oldies to new releases, teen trash to Emmy winners, and cult classic got-cancelled-too-soon indie darlings to Seinfeld. All those shows your film major friends always knew you would love, but you never had the time to fully check out, we got ‘em. Whether you want something to numb your brain or to be completely engrossed by a storyline that resembles nothing like your life right now; whatever you’re craving, there is something on this list to satisfy you.
Disclaimer; most of these are available to stream either on netflix or hulu because those are the only subscriptions I have access to. My apologies to anyone who lacks those means but, at the end of the day, we all know how to use putlocker (dear FBI agent, this is a joke).
The End of the Fucking World // Netflix
A show about a teenage, British psychopath who figures it's about time he tried his hand at killing a human. He decides on Alyssa, his classmate, who’s looking for any escape from her . Based on a graphic novel, the story is a study of the two extremes of coping: feeling everything at once and feeling nothing at all. This show is definitely a cathartic experience for anyone who feels like they’ve already lived through the end of the world and came out the other side still standing (albeit a little fucked up). You’ve got a mix of film-quality cinematography and classic British humor with a healthy added dose of heart-wrenching tragedy. The first time I watched this, I accidently sat through 8 episodes in a row, completely engrossed. I highly recommend this to anyone who’s up for a heavy, captivating storyline and a killer soundtrack.
30 Rock // Hulu
Life’s already heavy enough? Look no further than Tina Fey’s surreal comedy child, 30 Rock. Its nonsensical comedy and satirical tone allows the world of the show to sit a little above reality, which is just what some of us need during times like these. Loosely based off of Tina Fey’s life as head writer of SNL, 30 Rock follows the life of Liz Lemon, the head writer of a sketch comedy show, TGS, and her unlikely mentor, Jack Donaghy, played by Alec Baldwin. Having watched this show religiously since 9th grade and basically being able to recite the entire series by memory, I can totally unbiased-ly recommend this show as one of the greatest comedies of all time. It seamlessly blends humor and heart and it’s smart without taking itself too seriously. But if you can’t take my word for it, the Writer’s Guild of America declared it the 21st Best Written Television Show OF ALL TIME. Having aired between 2006-2013, it is also a great way to reminisce about Obama-era America.
Twin Peaks // Netflix
The cult classic TV debut of acclaimed director David Lynch is just the first of 3 shows on this list that display peak nineties fashions. Never mind that it marked a turning point in television drama or that it’s often regarded as one of the best TV series of all time; the aesthetic is just so good. Set in a small, remote town in the Pacific Northwest, the show follows an FBI agent as he investigates the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer. Although originally inspired by the rumored murder of Marilyn Monroe by the Kennedys and the 1908 unsolved murder Hazel Irene Drew, the show is filled with an all star cast of interesting characters and accompanied by a slew colorful townsfolk. In classic David Lynch fashion, the show is eerily disorienting and perfecting for rewatching over and over again, picking out new details each time. Even after 25+ years (and a revival), there is a ton of lore behind the scenes that warrants reading through different fan theories and wiki pages if you’ve got a few extra hours to spend falling down a rabbit hole.
Mad Men // Netflix
You already know Mad Men is amazing television; it's won a million Emmys, has a stellar cast, and has been on your to-watch list for ages. All your cool friends have already seen it and your film major buds have written a dozen or so think pieces on it. Well now is the time to finally press play. Not only does it live up to the hype but the fashionably short seasons make binging a lot easier than you’d think. Set in Manhattan in the 1960’s, the show is essentially a character study in the dark shadow of the American Dream and follows ad man Don Draper as he grapples with his secret past. Each episode is crafted with the nuance of a short film and turns away from every other formulamic drama on TV. As someone who decided to put into words a whole article about shows she wants other people to watch, it’s hard to fully encapsulate how meaningful the storytelling is of this show, so I suggest you finally see for yourself.
Party Down // Hulu
Possibly one of the best workplace comedies ever written, Party Down is the Office for service industry. For two seasons (cut short by Jane Lynch leaving for Glee and Adam Scott leaving for Parks & Rec), the show follows an LA based catering company filled with failing actors and writers as their less than enthusiastic employees. A hilarious show for anyone who’s experienced the indignities of the service work environment and knows what it’s like to hate everything about your job except each other. From the creator of Veronica Mars, Party Down is also filled with vaguely familiar faces that all went on to star in things way more famous than this show from the STARZ network. A quick but enjoyable watch that is perfect if you’re in the mood to laugh at your own misery.
Fleabag // Amazon Prime
Every second of this series is television gold. There are so many good things about this show I hardly know where to start. Please watch, if only to get to the restaurant diner scene in the first episode of season two (which is the best piece of television ever produced). As a meditation in female rage, this british, dark comedy was originally adapted from a one woman play, performed by the lead actress, writer, and creator herself. Narrated through clever breaks in the fourth wall from our protagonist, Fleabag, the story follows a secually charged, confused, and angry woman in London as she copes with grief, shame, and a troubled family in both hilarious and heartbreaking ways. This show is quite possibly (quite used in the British, not American way) both my favorite comedy and drama to premiere in the last ten years.
Bonus: Every good modern love story has a nosebleed and this show is no exception (Ex; Emma (2020), Ladybird, Call Me By Your Name)
Seinfeld // Hulu
Honestly, I watched Seinfeld half just to relive the glory days of 90’s fashion, and half to finally understand all the obscure seinfeld references my old history teacher used to make. And as a fan of the incomparable Julia Louis Dreyfus as well as dated cultural references, I was not disappointed. I shouldn’t really have to recap the premise of this show, but essentially Jerry Seinfeld wears a lot of sneakers, has three friends, and makes a lot of observational humor jokes. Although I put off attempting to watch all 9 seasons for a long time, the show was actually a lot funnier than I originally gave it credit for, but was also a nice comfort to have in the background as I was baking or procrastinating. It was a nice escape from anything too serious or life changing and definitely worth a binge.
Community // Hulu
Another cult classic comedy that got cancelled too early; Community (Six Seasons and a Movie!) is comedy about a group of unlikely friends that find themselves in a study group at community college. The show gained popularity and critical acclaim for its writing, meta-humor, and pop culture references, often parodying other films and tv show tropes. Any fan of rabid fan bases and obscure cultural references has probably already seen this show, and it’s in your best interest to follow suit. Deep inside its plethora of witty jokes and smart writing is a story that carries a lot of heart and will resonate with anyone who’s still finding themself.
Unfortunately after the first few seasons, the show got into trouble with ratings and lost a showrunner or two, and changed networks, sacrificing a lot of continuity in cast and storylines. Although the quality (and structure) of the episodes steeply declines after around season 4, the show never strays too far from its core and it is still worth getting into if only because you love the characters so much you have to see how it ends.
Skins // Netflix
The British teen drama that embodied the 2000’s hedonistic teen generation. Contrasting the fantasy lives of much of the teen dramas of the time (Gossip Girl, The OC, Dawson's Creek) Skins (2007-2013) followed a group of working class teens from Bristol as they deal with the adolescent issues of everyday life such as mental illness, alcohol, sexuality, drugs, poverty, bullying, and death. Each episode centered around a different character and the show rotated its cast every two years, eventually ending after seven seasons. Known for its authentic characters, dialogue, and storylines, it had fans all over the world that appreciated its raw realism. Although the show garnered a lot of controversy about the sexual and explicit nature of the show, it strayed from glorifying the party culture that surrounded the characters or the struggles they faced. The show also launched the careers of many of its teen actors such as Hannah Murray (Game of Thrones), Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), and Kaya Scodelario (Maze Runner). I highly recommend this show to anyone who’s sick of the glossy, unrealistic teen dramas of today (*cough* riverdale *cough*) or anyone who’s in the mood for a period drama of a time they can remember but no longer exists.
SKAM // Dailymotion
SKAM is basically the Norwegian Skins for the new generation. Skam, the Norwegian word for shame, centers around a group of teens in a prestigious school in Oslo and follows the journey of a different character each season as they go through different issues such as heartbreak, self-discovery, homophobia, religion, sexual assault, and body image. The show is incredibly well written and was the first show of its kind to post text conversations, social media posts, and clips from each episode in real time (congruent with the timeline of the story) on the show’s website, piecing together the entire episode by the end of the week. Each character also used genuine social media profiles where fans could follow their posts and activities as the season aired, which allowed the show to give a more honest portrayal of what it means to be a modern teenager.
Although you might have to do some digging on dailymotion.com to find all the episodes with english subtitles, it’s worth it. The show was cancelled after four seasons due to budgeting issues, however the rights were sold so that there have been a ton of remakes from several countries that are all worth watching for the different interpretations and cultural changes, even a US one set in Austin, TX, available on Facebook Watch. (Although the og is my favorite, I also highly recommend the remake from the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany.
So there you have it, all ten recommendations for your quarantine binges. If that’s not enough feel free to check out any of our honorable mentions down below. Happy Streaming:)
Honorable Mentions: Derry Girls (Netflix), Schitt’s Creek (Netflix), Veep (Amazon Prime, HBO) , Euphoria (HBO), Big LIttle Lies (HBO), Sopranos (HBO), Veronica Mars (Hulu), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Netflix), Unofficial Board of Visitors (Youtube).