Summer isn't always glamorous and fun, sometimes you need a day (or two) in bed to just watch tv. If today's one of those days, check out this list of 12 shows to binge.
1. Designated Survivor
This political drama is in the midst of its second season of twists and turns to keep you binging. Both seasons are on Hulu and will make your Hulu subscription completely worth it. The premise of the show focuses on a lower-level cabinet member during the State of the Union Address.
He’s the designated survivor a.k.a the new president if something horrible happens and everyone in the line of succession gets killed. You’re probably seeing where this is headed by now. Everyone at the State of the Union dies when the Capital gets blown up and our designated survivor becomes president.
Don’t worry, I didn’t spoil anything, that’s just the beginning of the first episode. Watch as Tom Kirkland played by Kiefer Sutherland works to rebuild the government and run the country all while trying to find out who blew up the Capital.
2. Madame Secretary
This is another political drama, but this one’s full of “the future is female” vibes. Each episode focuses on a new international crisis the Secretary of State, Elizabeth McCord has to solve with a few fun twists and turns thrown in to keep things dramatic and interesting.
Seasons 1-3 are currently on Netflix and you have all summer to catch up before the October premiere of season 4.
3. One Tree Hill
This is a classic that, frankly, if you haven’t seen yet you need to drop everything and binge right now. All 9 seasons are currently on Hulu which if you’re like me and you fell in love with the show while it was on Netflix, this is a godsend.
But if you’re new to the game, here’s the summary: Two brothers, Nathan and Lucas, live in the same small town in North Carolina, but live very different lives. Dan Scott, their dad was in love with Karen, Lucas’ mom, back in high school.
After getting her pregnant, he left for college where he fell in love with Deb, Nathan’s mom. Deb got the happy ending with Dan and their big house, or so it seems. The show follows the two brothers as their paths cross and their two worlds collide.
The summary definitely doesn’t do it justice, but trust me, this show will change your life and make you super jealous of the awesome friendships between Lucas, Nathan, Brooke, Peyton, Haley and everyone else.
4. Gossip Girl
Another classic everyone should watch comes in the form of Gossip Girl which is basically One Tree Hill on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Follow best friends Serena Van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf as they live their super privileged and fun lives on the Upper East Side.
I’m talking cocktail parties and social events on the reg, breakfast on The Met steps every morning before school at their super fancy private school and an anonymous blogger who puts every detail of their lives on the internet and sends out notifications to keep everyone updated.
Not convincing enough? Watch a few episodes and I swear you’ll be hooked. All 6 seasons are on Netflix and are totally binge-worthy.
5. The OC
This one was recommended to me by a friend and it’s another great teenage drama that can be binged on Hulu. It comes from the same executive producer who brought us Gossip Girl and follows a wealthy California community as an outsider joins them and turns their worlds upside down.
It crosses Gossip Girl with 90210 and won’t disappoint.
6. How I Met Your Mother
If you’ve read this far you're probably noticing a trend of classics, but what can I say, I’m a sucker for good TV. How I Met Your Mother is the perfect chill comedy to watch with family or friends.
Join Ted Mosby as he tells his kids the story of how he met their mother; it only takes 9 seasons, but it’s full of fun, friends, and “why would you do that” moments.
Got your attention yet? Check it out on Hulu.
7. Scrubs
This is another comedy found on Hulu with similar vibes to How I Met Your Mother, except the plot, revolves around doctors at Sacred Heart Hospital. It’ll make you laugh and just might make you think a little bit about life too.
8. Friends
This 90s classic is like One Tree Hill in the sense that it’ll make you want friends like Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler and Joey and can be binged on Netflix. It’s a comedy that let’s viewers laugh and cry with these friends for 10 seasons. It’ll also help you understand the hidden joke in season 2 episode 7 of How I Met Your Mother.
9. Cheer Squad
Chances are you haven’t heard of this one. It only has 1 season on Netflix, but it’s surprisingly good. And this is coming from an ex-gymnast who thought competitive cheer was a joke up until watching Cheer Squad.
This reality show follows the Cheer Sharks as they work to defend their World Championship title as they battle the everyday drama of real life.
10. The Crown
Travel back in time with this show about Queen Elizabeth and her early years as the Queen of England. The Netflix original drama is in its second season and is full of ups and downs as Queen Elizabeth works to adjust to the reality of being queen and her relationship with Prince Phillip.
11. Gilmore Girls
You guessed it, another classic. If you need a fun bonding activity to do with your mom, this is it. Gilmore Girls tells the story of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore a mother and daughter who live in a small town in Connecticut.
Rory is a high school aged high achiever on the road to Harvard who’s best friend is her mom, Lorelai. And Lorelai is a young manager of an inn who had Rory when she was a teenager and dreams of owning her own inn and maybe finding love along the way.
Grab some popcorn and a Netflix subscription and settle in for 7 seasons worth of entertainment.
12. The Bold Type
This is a show for all my feminists out there. Imagine you and your two best friends all working at the same magazine that publishes content similar to Cosmopolitan; that’s The Bold Type.
For motivation and another show that will inspire friendships to binge the first season on Hulu in preparation for the season two premiere in June.
