It’s finally happening. We’re near the end of a two month long stay-at-home order, and whether you’re itching to get out of your house or continuing to observe social distancing out of an abundance of caution, we’re beginning to emerge from our altered reality.
If you’re anything like us, you’ve already gotten past Tiger King and are looking for something new (or old) to take its place. With all of the different streaming services available, it’s hard to get an idea of what’s really entertaining to watch — and what you can skip.
Well, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best “binge-worthy” shows you can use to get through the last few days of lockdown:
1. Ozark
Fans have compared the Netflix original crime drama Ozark to Breaking Bad in terms of its complex storytelling and focus on dysfunctional family drama. The series centers around a couple forced to relocate their family to a remote area in Missouri after the dad’s money-laundering scheme went bad. Things go from bad to worse, and the stylish, tightly-scripted episodes will have you glued to your seat as you watch all of the twists and turns. There are already three seasons available — with more to come.
2. Hannibal
Maybe you’d prefer to watch an entire series that’s already (fairly) neatly wrapped up. NBC’s Hannibal is only three seasons long, but it ends on a note that most viewers found immensely satisfying. Based on the Thomas Harris novels featuring brilliant madman and psychiatrist “Hannibal the Cannibal” Lecter, this series reinvents the storyline and explores the symbiotic relationship between Hannibal Lector and FBI profiler Will Graham. Dark and thought-provoking, you can binge the entire show on Amzon Prime during a weekend.
3. Midsomer Murders
There have been no new episodes of Sherlock in a while, and that’s left folks with a detective-sized hole in their hearts. If you’re looking for a good British mystery show that you won’t run through too quickly, check out Midsomer Murders. The show follows fictional Detective Inspector Barnaby and his cohorts as they solve all manner of complicated murders inside the quaint little towns and villages that populate Midsomer county. There are 21 (!) seasons of the show to work your way through, scattered around Amazon Prime, Netflix and other streaming platforms, so this may take a while.
4. Russian Doll
If you thought Groundhog Day was trippy, buckle up: Russian Doll puts the main character’s life on repeat as she dies over and over again — just like Groundhog Day did. However, this show combines comedy with deeper revelations about the importance of breaking self-destructive cycles, coming to terms with past trauma and helping other people to help yourself. There’s only one season of Russian Doll available (so far) because it dropped at the end of 2019, so the show is perfect for a single weekend binge.
5. Black Mirror
If you haven’t watched Black Mirror yet, what are you waiting for? This Netflix anthology tells a different story in every episode — all of which are loosely woven together in a dystopian tapestry that presents a high-tech future that is terrifyingly realistic. Black Mirror is the kind of series that you definitely want to watch — but probably not all at once. At once disturbing and thought-provoking, every episode will give you and anybody you invite to your watch party a great deal to talk about.
6. Solar Opposites
Okay, Rick and Morty has made fans wait for what feels like forever to see any new episodes and then they’re doled out very slowly. Bojack Horseman recently ended and The Simpsons just doesn’t have the necessary edge you want. What’s left? If the lack of worthwhile adult animation is driving you crazy, head over to Hulu and check out Solar Opposites. From the mind of Rick and Morty’s creator, comes this brand-new interstellar comedy-drama that centers around an alien family stuck dealing with Earth life in the suburbs.
7. The Great
Also on Hulu, this show is a fabulous period piece that brings alive some of the historical facts (along with a whole lot of fiction that’s there just to entertain) surrounding the rise of Catherine the Great to the Russian throne. The first episode of The Great premiers on May 15, so you can be among the first of your friends to decide if it’s binge-worthy or not. (We can’t vouch for this one, but the trailers do promise an entertaining run.)
8. I Am Not Okay With This
Ever wonder what it would be like for a real teenager to discover they have superpowers? I Am Not Okay With This is a coming-of-age story about love, life and friendships — with a supernatural twist. It’s also perfect for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider who simply doesn’t “fit” with their surroundings. By turns comic, charming and dark, this series is filmed in a way that makes you eager to just let the whole season unfold in one sitting.
9. The Act
If anything, Tiger King showed us just how strange real life can be for many people. If you want to peep into another world that explores how crimes sometimes play out in the age of social media, check out The Act on Hulu. The Act is an exploration of the saga involving a mother who forced her daughter into pretending she was deathly ill and the daughter who ultimately killed her. Like Tiger King, The Act is a “stranger-than-fiction” story that has been fascinating viewers for a while now. (The same subjects were also featured on Mommy Dead and Dearest on HBO.)
There’s plenty more out there — far more than we could ever list here. Grab your remote, turn on your favorite streaming service and start to explore!
