On the search for your next go-to show? I’ve got you covered. Here are some of my recent favorites—binge-worthy television of all kinds.
Enjoy!
Ted Lasso
Platform: Apple TV
Time: 30 minutes
Year: aired in 2020
I don’t know if I’ve enjoyed a show this much in a long, long time. Ted Lasso is everything I could ever hope for, in one wholesome, funny, and positive package. The story follows Kansas American football coach Ted Lasso as he’s hired to be the manager for a professional soccer team in England—a sport he very clearly knows nothing about. It’s addictive to watch the charm of an accented Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) as he wins the hearts of everyone he meets with his genuine compassion and quirks. This could very well be my favorite show.
The Morning Show
Platform: Apple TV
Time: 1 hour
Year: aired in 2019
Combining broadcast journalism, a beloved (fictional) morning show, a disgraced correspondent, sexism, ageism, and brutal behind-the-scene politics, The Morning Show is a drama series that has a little bit of everything. I really, really enjoyed this series and its peak into “good ol’ boy” cultures. Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Jennifer Aniston, Mark Duplass, and Steve Carell steal the show and captivate audiences with their back-and-forth alignments and betrayals. I highly recommend!
Halt and Catch Fire
Platform: Netflix
Time: 1 hour
Year: 2014 – 2017
Throughout four seasons, Halt and Catch Fire follows the technological revolution of the early 1980s through the 90s, and the fictional dynamics behind personal computers. The series begins centered on a trio of three characters: a visionary, a computer engineer, and a prodigy. Together, along with a few more key players, they risk everything to bring their future-changing vision to life. This is a captivating, well-written, and beautifully acted show that’s worth diving into.
Friday Night Lights
Platform: Netflix
Time: 1 hour
Year: 2006 – 2011
If you’re looking for something wholesome, entertaining, sporty, and binge-able, Friday Night Lights is a great option. It follows the football-first culture of a small town in Texas, and the extreme pressures of being part of the Dillon Panthers squad. I think it does a great job capturing the complicated politics of small towns and relationships within, and the football scenes are really well done. If the first episode doesn’t hook ya, I don’t know what will.
Formula 1: Drive to Survive
Platform: Netflix
Time: 40 minutes
Year: aired in 2019
Out of all the sports to ever exist, I literally could not have cared any less for race car driving of any kind. Literally. So when Chad wanted to watch a documentary series on Formula 1, I rolled my eyes so far that they almost stuck that way permanently. But, I gave it a shot anyway to humor him.
And now, guess what?! I am a HUGE fan of F1 racing! Because of this series! It’s so good! They take an intimate look into the ultra-competitive and political landscape of Formula 1, which only has 20 of the best of the best drivers in the world. You get invested in these drivers and the organizations. Seriously: watch this!
Loki
Platform: Disney Plus
Time: 50-ish minutes
Year: 2021
Where are my Marvel fans at?! If you, like me, are entrenched in the Marvel Universe, you’ll quickly consume this short series following the charming villain who we can’t help but love, Loki. The God of Mischief is whisked into a new kind of adventure as he rethinks his “glorious purpose” and finds more questions than answers in himself, his role, and his motives. It’s deep, entertaining, and mildly confusing. I wished for many more episodes, and am looking forward to a second season.
A few more
Here are a few other honorable mentions to watch as well:
- Firefly Lane, Netflix
- Selena, Netflix
- Virgin River, Netflix
- This is a robbery: the world’s biggest art heist, Netflix
- American Gods, Prime Video
- Downton Abbey, Netflix
- Wandavision, Disney Plus
- The Movies That Made Us, Netflix
- The Circle, Netflix
- Love is Blind, Netflix
We loved Drive to Survive too, it’s great. Got to watch out for Kimi’s rare appearances.