Summer break is here for many college students and because of this, many have lost the will to live. Including me. How do you go from months of constant work to suddenly having nothing to do? Of course, if you have the money, and the drive, you could spend your summer traveling and having fun like some savage—but let’s be honest, a majority of us aren’t planning anything too big.
Couches are going to be sat, computers put to use, and brains turned to mush because now they don’t really have to think. That’s where Netflix comes in. Need something to watch to waste your time? Here is a list of five shows that I use as my time wasters (and also just shows that I adore) to help you find something to do with your summer. Enjoy.
1. "How To Get Away With Murder"

ABC’s popular murder drama, "How To Get Away With Murder", a story of a group of law students who don’t actually seem to spend their time in class and instead spend their time lying, having sex, causing drama, and uncovering murders—and also causing them. You may say that that seems like a bit much, but the infamous Shonda Rhimes (famous for "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Scandal") seems to smash it all into one nice pretty package.
For me, television dramas are too dramatic; it’s hard for me to stay invested, but for some reason, the Keating Five and their spiraling lives are far too interesting to leave you bored. Since the beginning two years ago, the show refuses to let you rest easy. Flashbacks spaced throughout the first half of the first season keeps you asking “what happens next?” till answers are found—and then you’re too invested in these graduate students to give up.
The best part of the show, if I may say, is the characters, who have more layers than a ten-layer cake. For example, Connor Walsh, the self-confident pretty boy of the group who uses his body to help out the group more than not. Never once, in a show that I’ve watched, have I watched a character so wholly change that dramatically due to trauma like I have this young man—and Jack Falahee has done nothing but blow the performance out of the water. This is saying something, considering I watch "The Walking Dead," where trauma is at every corner.
2. "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"
Netflix has started a new era of creating its own shows, and it couldn’t be better. From “Orange is the New Black” to “Daredevil,” Netflix is blowing every primetime cable channel away. One of their shows is "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," the story of a woman adjusting to life in New York City after being trapped in a doomsday cult for 15 years.
Currently, there are two seasons on Netflix, and as of today, I have only watched season one, but that doesn’t stop me from telling all of you to go on and watch the show. "Kim Schmidt" is a comedic masterpiece that easily steals the time from your hands. Sure, the characters are nothing to get excited about, they aren’t layered, but they’re all hysterical and that’s what matters.
Everyone finds someone in that show to identify with, and there’s at least one piece of main character Kimmy that you see in yourself. From her stunted knowledge of life outside of her cult, she gives you a fresh view of the world we live in—complete with the confusion over hashtags (dubbed by her, “hashbrowns”).
And of course, there is her sidekick, Titus Andromedon, who, by far, is one of the funniest people on the show. He’s constantly singing, his star-power overpowering everything and everyone. All-in-all, watch the show for the comedy that is mindless and beautiful, the perfect thing to waste away the day.
3. "Daredevil"
Speaking of Netflix, there is no way to say watch an original Netflix show without telling you to watch "Daredevil." Marvel has done nothing but grow in popularity over the years, and nothing has made it even more exciting than the introduction of full-length TV shows. Both "Daredevil" and "Jessica Jones" were picked up by Netflix, and as of now, I have only finished "Daredevil."
Though I’m open to telling you to watch "Daredevil" because the show is a dark masterpiece with characters that are strong and compelling—if anything, I want to beg you to watch "Daredevil" to get through to the second season. Yes, Matt Murdock is great, and so are Foggy and Karen, his sort of side-kicks, and obviously, any character played by Rosario Dawson deserves to be praised.
HeyBut, the second season introduces that big bad called the “Punisher,” who leaves you wondering why Daredevil is the one that got the show. Jon Bernthal takes over the show with his character, Frank Castle, who by the end of the second season leaves you wondering if it’s okay that you’re attracted to a mass-murdering man who is supposed to be a villain. Yet, the “Punisher” is the farthest thing from a villain—and I will fight you about that. Honestly, I’m just telling you to watch "Daredevil" so you can watch the “Punisher” before his own show comes out.
4. "Bob’s Burgers"
What a masterpiece. "Bob’s Burgers" is a cartoon that follows the family of Bob and Linda Belcher, who own the burger joint, Bob’s Burgers. They have three kids, Gene, Louise, and Tina, who encompasses everything that makes the world beautiful.
Honestly, the family leaves you feeling so good about yourself because yes, it is your family, but what’s better is there are probably hundreds of other college students watching this show going “my god, that’s my mother.” The humor of the show is what makes it what it is.
It’s just so casual, so simple, that it leaves you laughing for hours as you binge watch every season currently on Netflix. And, as I like to talk about characters, I can’t help but gush over the beauty that is every character in this show. They’re all funny for their own reasons, which is very unique.
For example, Louise is basically the bitter child ready to fight everyone, similar to Stewie in "Family Guy", but funnier. Gene, the star-power of the family, carrying around his electronic keyboard, popping out songs about non-sense. And then there is the beauty of Tina, who is obsessed with ponies, zombies, and boy’s butts. Tina, who spends much of her time on the show groaning. If anything, watch the show for the children. How can you turn that down?
5. "The Walking Dead"
Because I can’t help but stick to my roots—and because every current season is on Netflix—there is no way I can’t offer one of my favorite shows. Now, I kind of ragged on the show earlier when talking about the effect of trauma on characters, but hey, that doesn’t mean I don’t still love it. And with 6 seasons, it definitely belongs on a list of how to waste your time during the summer.
Now, since "The Walking Dead" has been out for years, people have already made their opinions already. But, it’s the summer, you have nothing else to do. This is the moment to actually give things a try. "The Walking Dead", as many people know, follows a group of survivors during the zombie apocalypse. The group of survivors grows and dwindles and grows again as the seasons go on and they run into new people, including good and bad alike.
The characters are great, most are interesting, but if anything, the best part of the show is definitely watching the characters grow and morph over the years. From quiet people, to strong characters. To strong characters to characters that worry over things. From a character that had actually thought through things once to just believing they were above everyone else.
Zombies aren’t even the biggest part of the show—which is what turns a lot of people off. It isn’t scary, the show is far from scary. The zombies jump out every now and then, but if anything, the creators play with the psychological factor of the apocalypse. Of course, you can’t get attached to characters—unless it’s the lead Rick or his son—and of course, sometimes the writing isn’t always the best, but hey, it’s still one of the number one shows on television.
I can always just tell you to watch it for Glenn Rhee, and the sunshine that he constantly is. But, I’m trying to be an overall fan, and tell you that this show is definitely a good time waster.
























