10 Binge-Worthy TV Shows That Will Make Time Fly

Everyone in quarantine is watching Tiger King, The New Pope, or Unorthodox right now. Everyone has already binged The Office or Parks and Recreation (or both), either loves or hates Sherlock, and had their true-crime obsession with Making a Murderer. Here are some shows you may or may not have heard of, based on whatever you feel like watching or are looking for right now. These are some of my most loved shows, and B&A blog Editor Noamane contributes with some of his own to help time move a little faster for all of us right now. 

1. If you are looking for a feel good show about a riches-to-rags story that is genuinely funny. 

Schitts Creek (6 Seasons/ 5 on Netflix U.S) 

This is a heartwarming show about an incredibly rich family that loses everything, and must learn to live together and make ends meet in a little town in the middle of nowhere. It is hilarious and has great writing, as well as a wonderful cast of quirky characters that you will definitely fall in love with. It also has an LGBT storyline that is never tragic or sad for the characters, and is overall a very lighthearted and positive show. It has become my new favorite.

2.    If you like a mix of horror and humor and loved Natasha Lyonne in Orange is the New Black.

Russian Doll (1 Season/ Netflix)

Think Groundhog Day but ten times darker and funnier and you will get this show. It is the classic story about a woman that has to repeat the same night over and over again, and her death is what re-starts the clock every time. She must figure out how to stop this loop from happening, and must confront various aspects of her past in order to do so. While it is tonally very dark, a stellar performance from Lyonne (who co-created the show with Amy Poehler), keeps the show from becoming too dramatic, and is able to reach a perfect middle ground of dark humour. I started this show last semester  while exams were going on and it was so good I would not pick up a book until I finished it. 

3. If you adore vintage fashion, the 1950’s, and well written female characters. 

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (3 Seasons/ Prime Video)

If you won’t watch this show for any other reason, watch it because of how visually spectacular it is. Set in the 1950s, it is the story of Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a housewife whose perfect life suddenly gets turned upside down and leads her to discover her talent as a stand up comedian. It is written by Amy Sherman-Palladino, who also wrote Gilmore Girls, and you can definitely see some similarities in the humour as well as the fast-paced way the characters speak. While stand-up may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the show is also very character driven and has a solid story, but its true greatness lies in its production value. It is meticulously crafted in order to transport the audience into the 50’s and no detail is spared to do so. If you are a vintage fashion nerd you will have a field day with this one, I promise. 

4.  If you prefer impeccably done book-to-series adaptations, murder mysteries, or are a fan of historical fiction. 

Alias Grace ( Miniseries / Netflix)

This is an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name, and I dare say the superior adaptation if compared to The Handmaid’s Tale. I devoured the book straight after watching the show and it is one of the most faithful retellings of a story that I have seen so far. It tells the story of Grace Marks, an Irish immigrant and servant in Canada who is accused of the murder of her employer and his housekeeper. Although the novel is based on factual events, the story deviates from them with the inclusion of the narrative of a fictional doctor who researches the case. In the series the story is told through Grace’s perspective, but we never know if she is an unreliable narrator, and we never know who is lying or telling the truth, if she is guilty or innocent. It is a thrilling mystery that is sure to keep you on your toes. 

5. If you like Jane the Virgin, want a soapy romance with a love triangle, or want to practice your Spanish skills.

Las Chicas del Cable (5 Seasons / Netflix)

This is one of my guilty pleasure shows. I started it when there were only 2 seasons and since then I have religiously watched every single one. It follows a group of women in Spain in the 1920’s as they enter the workplace in a new telecommunications company, finding friendships and love along the way, but it's not without its many challenges. It’s definitely dramatic and has a convoluted storyline that keeps you watching to see what will happen next, as new twists are revealed all the time. Watch it in the original Spanish without subtitles for extra practice and great accents. 

6.  If you like shows like Brooklyn 99 and Parks and Recreation, with some philosophy thrown in the mix. 

The Good Place (4 seasons/ 3 on Netflix U.S) 

The question of what happens after you die is the main driving force for this entire show. The great thing about it is the way in which it handles said topic, avoiding any heaviness or religious charge that could be associated with it and replacing it with lightness and comic relief. After her sudden death, Eleanor ends up in “the good place” and her tireless devotion to helping others back on earth pays off. Except that Eleanor has always been a selfish, terrible person her entire life and knows she does not belong there, but must try to hide the truth from everyone else or risk being sent off to “the bad place”. It is perfectly cast with Kristen Bell leading the show, and well loved actors from Brooklyn 99 and Parks and Rec make appearances as well. 

7. If you feel like delving into a darker show, and having a good cry to release some tension. 

The End of The F***ing world (2 Seasons / Netflix)

This is one of those rare shows that truly depicts a coming-of-age story in the most heartbreaking way possible while still showing glimpses of hope along the way. It is a dark comedy/drama based on a graphic novel of the same name, that deviates from the source material with the creation of a second season that continues the narrative. The story follows 17 year old James who believes he is a psychopath, and befriends rebellious Alyssa with the intent of trying to kill her. Alyssa proposes they run away together to escape her turbulent home-life and find her estranged father, and James agrees with the intent to carry out his plan, but various misadventures happen to them along the way. While the premise may appear overly dark, the writing handles it well and is able to provide some more optimistic moments throughout that make it a truly remarkable series and an instant favorite. 

8. If you sometimes feel like a bad feminist, have a complicated relationship with your sister, or want to see Andrew Scott as a hot priest. 

Fleabag (2 Seasons / Prime Video)

Everyone that watches this show raves about it, and for good reason. Phoebe Waller-Bridge stars and also wrote the series based on her one-woman play first performed in 2013. It follows the life of a young woman in London who is only referred to as ‘Fleabag’, as she navigates loss and love and family drama while providing fourth-wall-breaking commentary throughout. It is sad and funny but most of all real, and shows the most accurate relationship between sisters that I have ever seen portrayed on television. 

This show has won 6 Emmys and a myriad of other awards both for the writing and the actors, I couldn’t recommend it more. 

9. If you have a tendency to indulge in self loathing induced binges or feel like a subpar human being.

Bojack Horseman (6 Seasons / Netflix)

At first glance, this looks like the regular adult comedy with butt jokes and overly dry humour, but it ends up being this incredible journey in the psychology of a very damaged individual trying to be the best version of himself and walking a path paved with potholes. What makes this so brilliant is that each of the characters is relatable in one way or another. The quest to find happiness and fulfillment is something universal and the journeys these characters embark on hit like a semi truck sometimes.

10. If you ever question the human condition.

True Detective ( Season 1 / HBO)

Season 1 of True Detective is one of the most well written series i had the pleasure to watch, not from a story standpoint but from a conversation and ideological one. Nicholas Pizzolatto couldn’t have a tv show revolving around two people just driving around having conversations so he had to put a murder investigation in the middle of it. But what makes this show excellent television is the sequences of of mundane everyday tasks spiced up by a clash of beliefs, personalities and motivations.