It's that time of year again...Thanksgiving break! 7 stress-free days full of family, relaxation, and a whole bunch of food. While I know most college students say that they are going to use their off days to catch up or get ahead on school work, very few actually do. I said I was going to get ahead for after break starting Monday, but I watched "Grey's Anatomy" until 2 a.m. last night and I need to know what's going to happen between Meredith, Derek, and Addison, so there's a slim chance I'll actually do any work. For those of you who are in my boat and are looking for a show to watch this break, here's a quick list of some of the best Netflix binge-worthy shows.
1. Orange Is The Next Black
The story of Piper Chapman, a woman in her thirties who is sentenced to fifteen months in prison after being convicted of a decade-old crime of transporting money to her drug-dealing girlfriend. [1]
Seasons on Netflix: 4 (still airing)
Reason to watch: A great cast of women make you question everything you know about what it's like in prison (but obviously a show isn't a totally accurate representation). The tension and fascinating backstories make it impossible to turn off.
2. Grey's Anatomy
A drama centered on the personal and professional lives of five surgical interns and their supervisors. [2]
Seasons on Netflix: 12 (Still airing)
Reason to watch: Not only do you get to follow dozens of characters over 12 seasons, but you basically get a med-school degree for free.
3. Supernatural
Two brothers follow their father's footsteps as "hunters" fighting evil supernatural beings of many kinds including monsters, demons, and gods that roam the earth. [3]
Seasons on Netflix: 11 (Still airing)
Reason to watch: Mystery, suspense, never ending deaths and revivals, comic relief, amazing music, and the folklore (and not to mention the VERY attractive cast).
4. The Office
A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium. [4]
Seasons on Netflix: 9
Reason to watch: Not only will you laugh, but you will cry and probably feel more awkward watching a TV show than you ever have in your life.
5. Parks and Recreation
The absurd antics of an Indiana town's public officials as they pursue sundry projects to make their city a better place. [5]
Seasons on Netflix: 7
Reason to watch: Very similar to The Office with characters and setting, seeing as it started as a spin-off to The Office. This mockumentary is guaranteed to make you laugh...and it has a miniature pony.
6. Criminal Minds
The cases of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), an elite group of profilers who analyze the nation's most dangerous serial killers and individual heinous crimes in an effort to anticipate their next moves before they strike again. [6]
Seasons on Netflix: 11 (Still airing)
Reason to watch: No two episodes are alike, and they make you think. Eventually you'll be able to decipher the un-sub.
7. The Walking Dead
Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes leads a group of survivors in a world overrun by the walking dead. Fighting the dead, fearing the living. [7]
Seasons on Netflix: 6 (Still airing)
Reason to watch: Zombies, of course, keep you on the edge of your seat. And placing bets on who you think is going to make it or be eaten alive is kinda fun.
8. How I Met Your Mother
A father recounts to his children, through a series of flashbacks, the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother. [8]
Seasons on Netflix: 9
Reason to watch: If nothing else, you will fall in love with the characters from beginning to end. And then you get the self high-five, and, best of all, the slap bet.
9. The X Files
Two FBI agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained while hidden forces work to impede their efforts. [9]
Seasons on Netflix: 9
Reason to watch: Great story lines with a power-duo solving mysteries and keeping viewers full of suspense. And it's apparently the basis for Supernatural, so that makes it a-ok.
10. Once Upon A Time
A young woman with a troubled past is drawn to a small town in Maine where fairy tales are to be believed. [10]
Seasons on Netflix: 5 (Still airing)
Reason to watch: Every childhood tale comes to life in a messy, good vs. evil, and totally satisfying way that makes you want to watch 5 season in one day.
11. Stranger Things
When a young boy disappears, his mother, a police chief, and his friends must confront terrifying forces in order to get him back. [11]
Seasons on Netflix: 1 (Still airing)
Reason to watch: It's a show you can watch in one day, and you won't regret it.
Good luck pretending like you're going to do something this break, and if you do, more power to you. But for those of you who have given up...happy binge-ing!
All summaries courtesy of imdb.com
