Since the quarantine lockdown has begun, people have been trying to figure out how to occupy their time. Some have really engaged with their spring cleaning, doing arts and crafts, or maybe even finally picking up that book that they had been meaning to read forever ago. But for the ones that I've talked to, most have been catching up on their favorite shows and movies.
But what happens once you finish those shows? What else is there to watch? After looking at multiple streaming platforms, I have compiled a list of eleven shows from various different genres so that everyone can find something to binge this quarantine lockdown!
1. Stranger Things
One of the biggest hits of the past couple of years Stranger Things, a horror/science fiction crossover genre starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, and a talented group of child actors, remains inventive and nostalgic even after three seasons. Set in Indiana back in the 1980s, middle-schooler Will Byers goes missing at the same time a mysterious young girl with psychokinetic powers arrives. Not only is it full of iconic 80s pop culture references but the series also has a backdrop of the Cold War lingering in the shadows. With 210 nominations from various award shows, you simply must come to visit Hawkins, Indiana (and the Upside Down!).
Streaming on: Netflix
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Considered to be one of the most iconic teen dramas ever, Buffy the Vampire Slayer withstands the test of time. Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as the titular character, Buffy is a woman from a long line of Slayers: women destined to find and destroy vampires, demons, and other evil supernatural creatures. With the help of her friends in Sunnydale (their town which sits upon a demon realm), Buffy Summers establishes a group to help continue to protect their town. Not only was the initial show a hit, but it also spawned spin-offs (Angel), comics, novels, and video games, which fans have coined the "Buffy-verse."
Streaming on: Hulu
3. One Tree Hill
Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, One Tree Hill follows the lives of two half-brothers, Lucas and Nathan Scott who compete not only for positions on the basketball team but for the romances in their lives as well. In addition to being one of the most commercially successful young adult shows, it also has one of the most loyal fan bases ever. Plus, it happens to be a personal favorite of mine as all nine seasons were filmed in Wilmington, NC, my own hometown.
Streaming on: Hulu
4. This Is Us
From the mind behind Parenthood and Crazy, Stupid, Love, and with an estimated 175 show nominations, comes This Is Us. Jack is preparing for the arrival of his triplets with his wife Rebecca; Kate has lost all direction in her life and decides to start a new weight loss journey; Kevin is an actor who is growing tired of his bachelor lifestyle; Randall decides to find his birth father after he was abandoned at a fire station when he was born. Although their lives seemingly could not be more different, all of it effortlessly intertwines.
Streaming on: NBC, Hulu, YouTubeTV
5. Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy has proven to be a household name, season after season, for the past sixteen years. As of July 2020, it is not only the longest-running medical American drama but also ABC's longest-running scripted primetime show EVER. The show follows intern Meredith Grey, and her various colleagues, as they venture through the ever-changing and dramatic world of modern medicine.
Oh - and there's plenty of romance to go around as well. Launching the careers of stars like Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Patrick Dempsey, and Katherine Heigl, the show has been nominated for over thirty Emmy nominations over various categories.
Streaming on: ABC, Netflix, Hulu, YouTubeTV
6. Schitt's Creek
After gaining a cult following over the years, Schitt's Creek has recently emerged into the public eye and people are LOVING it. The show follows the formerly-rich Rose family (mother, father, son, and daughter) as they try to survive their fall from grace. With everything else gone in their name, the family must now utilize their only remaining asset: the small-town of Schitt's Creek.
The show's cast is mixed with upcoming starlets such as Dan Levy (also one of the show's driving creative forces) and Annie Murphy, with household names like Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara. I have recently started binging this show and I will tell you that it does live up to the hype!
Streaming on: Netflix, Hulu, YouTubeTV
7. Never Have I Ever
From one of the queens of comedy, Mindy Kaling, comes Never Have I Ever. Partially based on Kaling's own childhood, Never Have I Ever has been one of quarantine's biggest hits. We follow Devi, a first-generation Indian-American teenage girl, as she tries to rebound after a devastating and transformative freshman year.
The show has been praised by critics and fans alike with its breaking of Asian stereotypes, LGBTQ+ representation, and simply showing what it's like to be a teenager in modern-day. The show was recently given a season 2 renewal and I have a feeling that this relatively new cast will be one for the books.
Streaming on: Netflix
8. Love is Blind
As someone that has never been a huge fan of reality dating shows, Love is Blind has been my only exception. Following the question of "Is love truly blind?," several Atlanta singles sign up for a month-long dating experiment where they try to fall in love with someone without ever seeing what they look like. For the ones that truly believe they have found their soulmates, the couples see each other for the first time and must overcome many obstacles before they say "I do." Oh yeah - you heard that right!
If all goes well, the couples will be married at the end of the experiment. While many fictional shows, movies, and books try to depict true, unconditional, and blind love, Love is Blind does that with real people.
Streaming on: Netflix
9. The Society
Maybe it's just me but I feel like not enough people are talking about The Society. I mean, it answers the old age question: What would happen if young adults were in charge? After returning home from a field trip, a group of teenagers realize that everyone in their town has disappeared.
A forest has surrounded their town, the outside world is gone, and no one can be contacted through telephone or the Internet. With no guidance or end in sight, these teenagers must learn to survive on their own with their limited resources and conflicting ideologies. While there may only be one season currently on Netflix, season 2 has been ordered. May the mysteries of West Ham continue!
Streaming on: Netflix
10. The Good Place
From the mind behind shows like The Office, Parks and Rec, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place is an almost guaranteed hit without even watching it. Starring comedy legends Ted Danson and Kristen Bell, The Good Place answers the question of the afterlife.
After Eleanor (Bell) is introduced to "The Good Place," a very selective utopia, she realizes that she is not supposed to be there as she was not necessarily the best person while she was alive. Chaos and laughs ensue but it's the heart of the show that keeps viewers coming back for more: what truly makes a person good or evil?
Streaming on: NBC, Netflix, Hulu, YouTubeTV
11. New Girl
"Who's that girl?" It's Jess! New Girl, one of the most underrated comedies of the past decade, is a fan-favorite for many. The show revolves around Jess (Zooey Deschanel), a quirky teacher that has just broken up with her boyfriend who then decides to move in with three male roommates.
You don't just become an adult when you leave college and New Girl proves it. It's warm humor, stellar characters, and quick wit allows viewers to continuously watch the show and never grow tired of it, something only classics seem to be able to do.
Streaming on: Netflix, Hulu
While this list could probably go on and on for ages, these were some of the ones that I, and society, hold near and dear to our hearts. When everything seems to be bleak and grey outside in the real world, sometimes all you need is a trip back to the characters who will never let you down...at least in the long run. Stay safe, keep social distancing, and wash your hands!
