Ah the holidays-a stressful time of year that finds people running amuck shopping, slaving away in hot kitchens, and crunching deadlines at work so they can get home to their family and friends. Or, if you’re like me (an unemployed college student), then your biggest concern right now is (besides whether it’s actually worth the effort to put-on pants) what television series are you going to ignore your family to watch. So, to save you the trouble of mulling over what program to watch ,I present: “ A Binge Watchers Guide To Christmas Break”. Now I will be covering three main categories Drama, Comedy, Anime. The list will consist of top three for each group. Enjoy your break!!!
Dramas...
3. Penny Dreadful
Carriers: Hulu, Amazon Prime, and ShowTime anytime
Staring Eva Green, Timothy Dalton, Harry Treadaway and Josh Hartnett, Showtime’s Penny Dreadful is a fresh new take on Victorian London’s Monsters, Legends and Satanic cults. The Show follows an American sharper shooter, Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) as he performs in a traveling western show. During one of his shows, he is approached a women, Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) who, because of his extraordinary talents offers him a job to work for her employer, Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton) who is hoping to rescue his daughter from an unknown evil. Through the first episode we are also introduced to a young, inexperienced Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) who is also working for Sir Malcolm Murray due to his fascination with eternal life and the dead. The show’s creator, John Logan, is a well-known playwright and Tony award winner. Backed by its fantastic writing, beautiful sets and unique story, "Penny Dreadful" is the perfect show for anyone looking to try something different from most prime-time shows.
Penny Dreadful is set for its third season premier early 2016
2. Fargo
Carriers: Hulu and most on-demands
FX’s newest gem, "Fargo," is a crime anthology show written by Noah Hawley. The shows weird, humorous, and often violent style plot, pays tribute to the movie Fargo (directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen), who also produced the first season. Besides it's quirkiness, the show has nothing to do with the movie. The shows first season follows Martin Freeman as Lester Nygard- a wimpy, doormat of an insurance sales man who is not only insulted by his wife, but constantly taken advantage of by everyone. One day in the ER, he runs into Loren Malvo- a mysterious traveler, brilliantly portrayed by Billy Bob Thornton. Loren slowly manipulates Lester into making some life changing decisions that are definitely for the worst. Fargo, over its first two season’s, has been critically acclaimed and has won awards for best mini series.
Fargo just finished its second season run, and is expecting a renewal for a third season
1. Ray Donovan
Carriers: Amazon prime, Hulu, and Showtime Anytime
Tony award winner ,Live Schreiber, portrays Ray Donovan-the man who celebrities call to make their problems disappear. Formerly a ruthless South Boston thug, Ray Donovan moves his family to Hollywood in hopes of giving them a better life, but his world starts crumbling when his father, Mickey (Academy Award winner Jon Voight), is released from his fifty - year prison sentence, and heads to California bringing a storm of chaos along with him. Ray Donovan is the perfect crime family show that develops unique characters that struggle with their own morals and poor life choices.
Ray Donovan has been renewed for season four in 2016
Comedies...
3. Futerama
Carriers: Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime
Matt Groening’s Futerama is very funny and (unfortunately) had a very short run, especially compared to Groening’s other major work ,The Simpsons, that is still going strong. The show originally aired on Fox before being cancelled, picked up by Comedy Central, and then cancelled again. The shows main protagonist ,Philip J. Fry, is NYC pizza delivery boy who accidentally gets chronologically frozen and wakes up 1000 years into the future. Fry eventually meets his great nephew ,Hubert J. Farnsworth, a scientist who owns an intergalactic delivery service. Futerama has the same flair we love about the Simpsons, but with weirder and more unique characters.
Futerama has eight seasons
2. Rick and Morty
Carriers: Hulu and Amazon Prime
Adult-Swims Rick and Morty is one of the weirdest shows I have ever seen, and that’s a good thing. Voiced and created by Justin Roiland, the show follows Rick Sanchez, a crazy scientist who has been missing for twenty years and abruptly arrives at his daughter’s house. Morty Smith, his grandson and an easily manipulated high school kid, joins him as he travels through space and time. The show constantly references different sources in pop culture like, Inception, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Purge. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. The two main character themselves are satirically modeled from the cult classic film Back to the Future. If you like smart, geeky and pop culture humor, then Rick and Morty is right for you.
Rick and Morty has been renewed for season three
1.It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Carriers: Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime
For those of you who have some not seen at least one episode of the FX comedy, "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia," do yourselves a favor and change that. The show follows five bar owning, narcissus friends Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day), Dee Reynolds, (Kaitlin Olson), Mac, (Rob McElhenney), Dennis Reynolds (Glen Howerton), and Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito), as they try to maneuver their way through life often leading to hilarious and uncomfortable situations. If you enjoy laughing till your chest hurts, then this one is for you.
Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia finished its eleventh season this year.
Anime...
3.Kill la Kill
Carriers: Netflix and Hulu
If you want action, comedy, and beautiful artwork all rolled into one anime, then look no further than Triggers, Kill La Kill. Set in a futuristic apocalyptic Japan, Kill La Kill tells the story of Ryuko Matoi- a high school girl on mission to avenge her fathers death. Ryuko transfers from school to school, looking to find her her fathers killer, until finally transferring to Honnouji Academy- ruled by Satsuki Kiryuin, the student body president. Ryuko believes that Satsuki knows what happened to her father, and is determined to beat it out of her. Kill La Kill is fast, fun, and short with only 24 episodes. If you like stories of revenge, then this one's for you.
It is unknown if Kill La Kill is will be renewed
2.Bleach
Carriers, Netflix and Hulu
Based on the manga of the same name, Bleach follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a high school kid with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by lost angry spirits known as “Hollows”, Ichigo becomes a soul reaper-a being with spiritual power who’s duty is to protect innocent spirits and the living. Filled with humor, epic sword fights, and great villains, Bleach is an easy anime for anyone to get into. Bleach is considered to be one of the most popular manga’s of all time and still being written. The shows production was put to a halt in 2011 to allow the manga to finish.
Bleach has 16 seasons and rumored to be starting up again sometime next year
1. One Piece
Carriers: Hulu
At a young age, Monkey D. Luffy ate what is known as a devil fruit which gives humans extraordinary powers in exchange for their ability to swim. By eating the devil fruit known as the “Gum Gum fruit”, Luffy’s body gained the properties of rubber. With this extraordinary power, he and is crew are determined to find the treasure known only as the "One Piece", and make him king of the pirates. Backed by its hilarious writing, unpredictable, quirky characters, and action packed episodes, One Piece is one of the longest running anime’s ever, and a personal favorite of mine. If you don’t have anything to do, One Piece's 725 episodes to date will keep you busy for along time.
One Piece is currently in season 17
