Summer might be just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still binge-watch TV shows. Sure, the weather is lovely and you probably should be outside, but honestly, it’s sometimes so much more tempting to be inside, on your couch, comfortable and not surrounded by bugs. Unfortunately, many of your favorite television shows are probably on hiatus for the next few months, which can put a damper on things. Fortunately, though, there is Netflix, the reliable streaming network you can depend on to always give you solid plans. So what’s worth tuning into? There are a bunch of shows to binge on Netflix if you need something to obsess over, and it can be hard to know where to start.
After all, everyone knows that picking a show on Netflix can be overwhelming. It usually ends up going like this: You sit down, ready to start something new, so you search through everything, just to find that you can’t actually make a real decision. And then, you end up re-watching something you’ve already seen several times before. It happens to the best of us (usually me). If you need some fresh shows to get into, the below are all great options. They’re easy to watch, they’re interesting, and they’ll pull you in right away — so forget about your summer plans!
1. Queer Eye
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If you haven’t already watched the Queer Eye reboot, you need to start ASAP. The first season is full of heartwarming moments that will make you laugh and cry at the exact time, and the cast is incredibly lovable. It’s one of those shows that makes you feel good, even if you’re in a terrible mood. Plus, the second season was recently released, so you’ve got plenty of episodes to keep you busy.
2. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
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If you’re looking for a feel-good comedy, you can’t go wrong with this one. Created by Tina Fey and one of 30 Rock’s showrunners, this show is hilarious and adorable all at once. Ellie Kemper was basically made to play Kimmy Schmidt, a young woman who was rescued after 15 years in a cult. She’s super innocent and totally unaware of everything about present-day life, but she goes to New York to experience everything she’s missed. She ends up meeting Titus, a wannabe Broadway actor, and the show is basically about their New York City life together. There are currently four seasons on Netflix for your bingeing pleasure.
3. Jane The Virgin
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This is a personal favorite that I recommend to anyone who will listen. Jane The Virgin has a premise that sounds like the weirdest/potentially worst show ever, but trust me: It is very, very good. It’s about a young woman named Jane who ends up getting accidentally inseminated, even though she’s a virgin. The rest of the show is about her adjusting to life as a mom (who’s still a virgin). It’s hilarious, sweet, and perfect. The cast is incredible, and the storyline is addicting. You won’t be able to stop watching it!
4. Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
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If you want to watch something really good and also honor Anthony Bourdain’s life at the same time, start watching Parts Unknown. Due to the reaction of fans, Netflix agreed to continue streaming the show after Bourdain’s death, and there are eight seasons you should watch ASAP. The show features Bourdain traveling to all different parts of the world to explore, experience the culture, and try different food. It’s incredibly interesting, and will inspire you to take your own trips…after you watch the entire series, of course.
5. Parks and Recreation
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It’s nearly impossible to watch Parks and Rec without watching at least five episodes. They’re short, they’re hilarious, and the cast is incredibly lovable — it’s difficult to not watch the entire series in just a week. Parks and Rec is about Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler), who works in a government parks facility with a ridiculous group of people. It’s one of my favorite shows ever and is a true gem.
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6. The Office
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Netflix actually offers both the American and the British versions of The Office, so pick the one that you want to watch and get into it. I love the American version, because no one beats Steve Carrell as Michael Scott. It’s impossible not to laugh when you watch this show, which is about a group of bored, “normal” people who work in a paper company’s office. Every character is amusing and each episode will make you laugh until you cry.
7. Shameless
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Netflix added the American version of Shameless fairly recently, and it’s definitely worth a watch. It’s one of those shows that you get sucked into immediately, and from there, you just can’t stop thinking about it. It’s about a poor family in Chicago that’s just trying to get by…and in doing so, get themselves into the most absurd situations. You get annoyed with everyone in the show, but you also kind of really, really love them? It’s incredibly entertaining.
8. Gossip Girl
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Gossip Girl is one of those teen shows that has such absurd plots that you sometimes groan at just the idea of them. It’s also very easy to become completely obsessed with it. The show, which is about a group of very privileged Upper East Side Manhattan teenagers, is full of spectacular fashion and over-the-top drama, as well as a stupidly beautiful cast. The first two seasons are so good that you’ll be so hooked you won’t be able to log off your computer, even as the show gets more and more ridiculous.
9. Nurse Jackie
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If you want to sink your teeth into a drama, watch Nurse Jackie. The show is a little tough to watch sometimes, because it can be heartbreaking and often confronts very real issues and problems. But as a dark comedy, it keeps you laughing even when it starts to feel a little depressing. It’s also really, really well done. Edie Falco does an incredible job as Jackie, the main character who is addicted to painkillers and who you’ll love to hate. The rest of the cast is also excellent, and it’s a show you’ll really enjoy getting into — even when it infuriates you.
10. The Crown
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Another drama you’ll fall in love with is The Crown. This period piece is so well done that it’s hard to look away. It tells the story of the royal family, but especially focuses on Queen Elizabeth. What makes it really interesting is that so much of it is based on events that actually happened. It’s beautifully shot and the cast does such a terrific job. Watch the first two seasons now and you’ll immediately want to book a flight to London.
11. Parenthood
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If you’re looking for a show that will make you laugh but also cry every single episode, watch Parenthood. This is an emotional roller coaster of a show that you’ll become completely invested in. It’s about a big family and how they get along and everything that they have to go through, together and separately. As you watch, you’ll feel like you’re really growing up with them, which is kind of special. It’s a very sweet, lovely show that’s hard not to love.
12. Breaking Bad
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If you haven’t already watched Breaking Bad, what are you waiting for? It’s constantly discussed for a reason: It’s really, really, really good. Sure, it starts off a little slow, but give it a few episodes, and you’ll find yourself rooting for Walter White no matter what stupid/insane/shocking thing he does. Even if you’ve already heard spoilers, it’s still worth watching. The show is about White, a family man who turns to selling meth in order to support his family — and things get pretty intense from there. This one is almost impossible to turn off.
13. Gilmore Girls
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As this is one of my personal favorite shows ever, I have to highly recommend it. Gilmore Girls follows the lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a mother-daughter duo you’ll fall in love with. It’s full of witty pop culture references, a small town you’ll want to move to immediately, an incredible cast, and so many perfect moments. It’s hard for me not to gush about this show! There are seven seasons to obsess over, and then the Year In The Life reboot that Netflix created on top of that, meaning you’ll be set for the summer.
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14. Weeds
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Weeds probably isn’t a show you want to watch with kids, but it is very entertaining. Created by the same minds behind Orange Is The New Black, it starts off strong, with a cast you’ll love to hate and a series of very endearing episodes. It does get a little weird toward the end, but it’s worth finishing. Weeds is about a single mom who starts selling marijuana to provide for her family (similar to Breaking Bad, but a bit lighter and less murder-y), and it’s such a unique and hilarious show.
15. Easy
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There are only two seasons of this Netflix Original series, so definitely start it now. Easy is a comedy-drama anthology series, where each episode tells a different story for different people. Each episode, though, focuses on dating or love in some way. It has a diverse cast and the most interesting stories, and it’s a great show with an impressively star-studded cast.
