Binge-watching: the practice of watching television for longer time spans than usual, usually of a single television show. I.e: lemme lay in bed for eight hours and become emotionally attached to fictional characters.
I know there are so many options to choose from when deciding on a new show. I've faced that problem plenty of times. While I left some of my favorites and the more obvious shows out ("Grey's," "Gossip Girl," etc.) I wanted to shed some light on shows that I never would've thought to watch myself:
1. The Blacklist
When the show first started I heard a few people talk about it but I didn't think much about it. One day I decided to give it a try. This was after Season 1 was on Netflix. Just incase I liked the 1st episode I could watch the other 15 or so in two days..and that's EXACTLY what I did.
Why it's addicting: First Episode..no First 10 minutes of the first episode..you're hooked. It's inevitable. Say goodbye to your social life and Hello to Raymond Reddington, the FBI's most wanted criminal who turns himself in to give them a bigger and badder list of criminals that they didn't even know existed. However he only wants to communicate through one agent, who he seems to know pretty well but she has no idea how he knows her. Every episode is an attempt to catch new criminal on the list while it also develops the relationship of the two main characters and then IT ALL TWISTS TOGETHER. I'm telling you..amazing..addicting..everyone needs a Reddington in their life and you need to watch this show.
2. Parks and Recreation
Why it's addicting: Contrary to the emotional and suspenseful drama in Blacklist, Parks and Rec is just downright funny. You cannot, I repeat cannot take this show seriously because it doesn't even make sense sometimes but that's why it's so great. While Leslie Knope is like the glue that binds all the other characters together, Andy is my personal favorite. That might be just because Chris Pratt is equal parts attractive and hilarious but whatever. While there is usually a storyline that carries through the episodes, the content of each episode is so random (Catching possums, a flu outbreak, homosexual penguins). The writers are geniuses. Watch it. You'll laugh. I promise.
3. Sherlock
I had to take a summer school writing emphasis class last summer and the only one available had an emphasis on yep, you guessed it, Sherlock Holmes. I wasn't too excited about it but it turned out to be one of my favorite classes I've ever had, mainly because we watched all sorts of movies and the teacher brought treats to class. I did learn a lot though and was introduced to the BBC's take on one of the most classic characters.
Why it's addicting: Benedict Cumberbatch. People are OBSESSED with him and I know why. In our class we learned all about Sherlock and the many ways he has been depicted over time. BBC took the original character, who was way more dimensional than I ever knew, and brought him to the 21st century. A modern day Holmes and Watson solve cases in the coolest ways. There's also a really fun bad guy AKA Holmes' arch nemesis. Sherlock Holmes is actually really quirky and Cumberbatch NAILS it. Also the episodes are 90 minutes long.. kinda like mini movies..extra binge-worthy.
