My Ultimate TV Binge List
/Guys, this is what we do at night after the boys are asleep: watch shows or movies. Usually, it’s TV shows since having kids we can never finish a movie in one evening, and now we seem to enjoys shows/series more than movies. Do you do the same? Well, with the coronavirus and quarantine maybe you are watching more at home. And if you’re like us, you run into what we call “show holes.” So when you finish a series and you have to find something new to watch. It can be challenging to find something (especially if you really liked what you were watching and miss the characters and storyline and nothing seems to stand up to it). Anyway, I’m here for you. I’ve racked my brain to remember all the TV shows I’ve ever watched (as an adult) and made a list of my favorites. So get ready for this, there are a lot of them. I hope you find something enjoyable to watch. (Oh, and I tried to categories them as best I could, but some would really fall under a couple categories sometimes.)
War
Foyle’s War (Amazon Prime) - Detective Foyle undercovers all the small-town mysteries in his small town on the south coast of England during WWII.
Jack Ryan (Amazon Prime) - Jack Ryan is a character based from Tom Clancy’s books. Jack was formerly a U.S. Marine, but now a rising CIA analyst. He is constantly leaving his desk to head into the field for some dangerous adventure. (P.S. He’s Jim from The Office).
Rebellion (Netflix) - You’ll learn lots about the 1916 Easter Uprising in Ireland with this series. A bit serious, so you gotta be in the mood for this one.
British
The Crown (Netflix) - Get roped into the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Claire Foy does a great job as The Queen and in later seasons they switch up the actors, but it totally works and is an excellent period drama series.
Victoria (Amazon Prime) - Another show about a Queen of England during the mid to late-1800s. As the name suggests, this is about Queen Victoria and her taking the throne at a very young age.
The Durrells of Corfu (PBS / Amazon Prime) - My mom introduced this series to me when I was at home visiting a while back. I returned and got Josh interested in it, too. It’s a nice alternative to all the serious drama we watch. All the characters are a little quirky, but it’s what makes the show. The premise is an English family that moves from England to the Greek island of Corfu.
Downton Abbey (Amazon Prime) - Here you follow the upstairs family of the aristocratic Crawley family, the family that owns Downtown Abbey, as well as the downstairs servants. It’s a whole world of drama inside that mansion.
Doc Martin (Hulu, Acorn) - An eccentric doctor moves from London to the country village of Port Wenn in Cornwall. Lots of more quirky village folk and the funny, odd cases that Doc Martin gets in his doctor’s office.
Indian Doctor (Acorn) - Doctor Prem Sharma and his wife move from India to Welsh mining town, to take up the place as the local doctor. Dr. Sharma is willing to help everyone and will all small towns, he’s got his hands-full.
The English Game (Netflix) - Football (aka soccer) is invented and starts to gain popularity in 1879 in England. As the game spreads, The upper-class and working-class collide.
Poldark (Amazon Prime) - Ross Poldark returns from the American War of Independence in 1873 to his hometown of Cornwall to pick up life where he left off…or so he thought. He tries to bring his family mine back to life, dealings with love, and adventures inbetween.
Pride and Prejudice (BBC Mini Series) - A classic Jane Austin story full of love triangles and misunderstandings. Of course with our favorite character, Elizabeth Bennet and the handsome Mr. Darcy.
Drama
The Americans (Amazon Prime) - I don’t know a lot about the Cold War, in high school they spent like two days on it, but this gives you a bit of insight on it. The story is two Russian spies in Washington DC that pose as a typical American family. You find yourself wondering…should I like them?
Mad Men (Netflix) - Follow Don Draper, Peggy, and others in the 1960s advertising agency. Oh, Don, do you like him? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, but he’s got mad talent.
This is Us (Hulu) - This might be a bit too much drama and not enough comedic relief, but we were desperate after binging on Parenthood. It’s all about family and the different relationships and dynamics. It tends to go back and forth in time, but you get attached to the characters all their life wins and challenges.
Sherlock (Neflix) - Oh, Sherlock and Watson. You can’t beat getting sucked into all their adventures in London. And let’s not beat around the bush, Cumberbatch makes a fantastic Sherlock!
The Mentalist - Patrick Jane is a crime consultant whos very good at reading people and solving mysteries. But, what he really wants to solve is the murder of his wife and child.
Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Game of Thrones (HBO) - Mother of Dragons. The Guardians of the Wall. Whitewalkers. Jon Snow. That’s all.
Carnival Row (Amazon Prime) - Humans and fairies live in a fantasy world sort of like England but not. There was a war, the fairies aren’t treated equally, and then a monster and murders upset the balance. The first season sucked us in, and now we must wait for the second season to come along.
The Mandalorian (Disney Plus) - A spin-off Star Wars with a bounty hunter and a baby Yoda.
Fringe (Amazon Prime) - In the same vein as X-Files, but I preferred Fringe. The FBI have to work with the Fringe department to figure out some weird things that happen in the world.
True Blood (Hulu) - Vampires. Werewolves. Fairies. Can they get along? Kinda gory sometimes, but entertaining.
Once Upon a Time (Netflix) - I really enjoyed the first few seasons, but it lost steam in later seasons. That said, I still really enjoyed this show (not Josh, though). It takes a bunch of fairy tale characters and brings them all together with a new twist and tale.
Quick Watch
The Good Place (Hulu) - So what do you think Heaven is like? Follow Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason as they arrive and how things go down.
Modern Family (Hulu) - Three families and the funny, everyday things that happen to them all.
Fresh off the Boat (Hulu) - Eddie and his family are Taiwanese, live in Orlando, Florida, and own a steakhouse in the 90s.
How I Met Your Mother (Hulu) - Four best friends and all the funny things that happen to them. You also really want to know who Ted ends up with. Oh, and it’s…wait for it…legendary. (You’ll get it if you watch it.)
The Office (Neflix) - Dunder Mifflin is a paper company in Scranton, PA and Michael Scott is the office’s boss…who is a bit kooky. Actually, they are all a bit kooky except for Pam and Jim.
Scrubs (Hulu) - You join the daily life of JD, Turk, Elliot, and Dr Cox at Sacred Heart Hospital. It’s funny and heartwarming, trust me.
Seinfeld (Hulu) - It’s a show about nothing (and everything).
Friends (Purchase, or what later this year on HBO Max) - The one about six friends who live in New York and frequent a coffee shop.
New Girl (Netflix) - Adorable and quirky Jess is roommates with three boys, Schmidt, Nick and Winston. Lots of comedy and relatable characters.
Cooking & Food
Great British Baking Show (Netflix) - A baking challenge in England with judge Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. I just love how the contestants help each other and keep it a friendly competition. Also, yummy!
Britain’s Best Home Cook (Hulu) - Basically, it’s the same as the Great British Baking Show but they cook instead.
The Big Family Cooking Showdown (Neflix) - Again, similar to Great British Baking Show and Britian’s Best Home Cook, but this time it’s families cooking and competing.
I'll Have What Phil's Having & Somebody Feed Phil (PBS, Netflix) - Two seasons but with different titles. Phil Rosenthal, the writer & producer of Everybody Loves Raymond (actually, another good show), takes you on his food adventures around the world.
Top Chef (Hulu) - Chefs from around the US are brought together to compete and are judged by a panel of experts like Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, and Gail Simmons. The winner of the show is the Top Chef!
Feel-Good
Parenthood (Hulu) - This all about one, big family, the Bravermans. It’s another “follow the family” show with real-life struggles and triumphs, but it’s warm-hearted and you connect with the characters.
Gilmore Girls (Netflix) - You follow the ups and downs of a young, single mom raising her teen daughter in a small town in Connecticut.
Arrested Development (Hulu) - Laugh and cringe with Michael as we follow the Bluth family and the strange yet hilarious things they say and do.
Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) - Midge is a 1950s housewife that decides to become a stand-up comedian after some life-changing events in her life. She’s funny and lovable!
Chick-Flick
Call the Midwife (PBS / Amazon Prime) - This is about a group of midwives in London's East End that live and work out of a convent, Nonnatus House. The first few seasons follow Jenny and later it focuses on the other midwives more. Be prepared for some birth scenes. P.S. Josh won’t watch this one.
Anne with an E (Netflix) - This is a new take on the classic story of Anne of Green Gables. Follow the adventures of the vibrant young orphan girl on Prince Edward Island in the late 1800s. P.S. Another one Josh won’t really watch.
My Boys (Crackle? or Purchase) - PJ is a sports columnist in Chicago and hangs out with a bunch of boys.
Not Quite Favorites / We Watched & Liked But Never Finished
Homeland (Hulu)
Outlander (Netflix)
X-Files (Hulu)
House (Amazon Prime)
Man in the High Castle (Amazon Prime)