The spring semester is just about to start and you've no doubt binge watched a few great shows over winter break. If you're looking for a new show to watch on study breaks or while procrastinating, check out this list of awesome shows that will certainly get you through the semester.
1. Downton Abbey
If you love fashion, British accents, drama, or Dame Maggie Smith as a sassy grandmother than you definitely need to watch Downton Abbey. With the final season airing now and soon available for order in full, there’s no better time to start on this amazing show! Downton Abbey is a British drama that follows the Crawley family and their loyal servants on their large Georgian estate in the changing world of the early 20th century. Not only has its cast and crew been nominated for countless awards but it won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series- Drama in 2014. You can find Downton Abbey on Amazon Video, Hulu, or on Sundays at 9pm on PBS.
2. Park and Recreation
If you haven’t already seen Parks and Rec (where have you been??), now is the time because season 7 is now up on Netflix. This means that you can now binge watch the entire series and soak in Leslie Knope and friends in all their glory. Parks and Recreation is an American comedy series starring Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, an Indiana bureaucrat trying to beautify her town and boost her career. Knope and gang’s crazy antics from episode to episode are guaranteed to keep you laughing.
3. Haters Back Off! by Miranda Sings
Colleen Ballinger Evans, YouTube personality and the lady behind in the infamous and hilarious Miranda Sings announced on January 14th that Miranda Sings has been given her own Netflix Original Series, Haters Back Off! The show will center around Evan's character Miranda, an egotistical and quirky character who is constantly singing (badly), giving inept tutorials, telling us about her day, and fawning over her multiple ‘baes’. Not much else is known about this show yet but be sure to keep an eye on your Netflix queue for Haters Back Off!
4. Mercy Street
This period medical drama takes you behind the battle lines of the American Civil War and into the Mansion House Hospital in Union-occupied Virginia. The show follows the lives of two nurses on opposing sides of the conflict and relays the drama of undergoing even the simplest of procedures during this difficult time. All six episodes are available for streaming on the PBS website and will be broadcast live Sundays at 10 p.m. from January 17th until February 21st.
5. Shades of Blue
Starring Jennifer Lopez as a woman juggling the duties of NYPD dective and single mother, NBC’s “Shades of Blue” is diverse, poignant and exciting. The show follows Lopez as detective Harlee Santos and her struggles as she walks the line between loyalty, honor, and betrayal. The show strives to diversify American television screens because, as the show’s creator Adi Hansk says, “broadcasters are realizing that the white man’s 15 minutes are up.” Check out NBC on Thursdays at 9 p.m. to see the life of badass Detective Santos.
6. Mozart in the Jungle
Mozart in the Jungle, an Amazon Original Series, will have you hooked whether or not you’re a fan of classical music. The series follows the New York Symphony under the instruction of brand new maestro Rodrigo and the suddenly changing life of oboe player, Hailey. “Mozart in the Jungle” explores the search for love and for self, intertwining love, music, and ambition with New York City as it’s beautiful backdrop. Recently, the show won Best Musical or Comedy and Gael Garcia Bernal (Rodrigo) won best actor at the Golden Globes. Available for streaming on Amazon Video, the series is now in it’s second season.
7. Freaks and Geeks
This show is the definition of an oldie but a goodie. If you’re missing your cheesy 1980s movies or the awesome shows around in the 1990s then Freaks and Geeks is definitely for you. This show follows high school freshman Sam and his older sister Lindsey as they navigate high school in the 1980s. Freaks and Geeks will have you laughing at their antics, blushing with second hand embarrassment, and smiling as Sam and Lindsey figure everything out one step at a time. And if that doesn’t pique your interest, Lindsey’s main love interest/crush be informed played by a young Dave Franco. Unfortunately, the series only lasted for one season, but the whole thing is up on Netflix!
8. Making a Murderer
This Netflix Original Series is a ten episode documentary following Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man who was convicted of sexual assault and attempted murder, exonerated in 2003 and then shortly after convicted again of the murder of a local photographer. The show actually took ten years to make as creators moved constantly back and forth between Wisconsin and New York City for filming. Reminiscent of the HBO show The Jinx and the podcast Serial, this is a must watch if you love crime mysteries. All ten episodes are now available for streaming on Netflix.
9. American Horror Story: Hotel
A creepy place that seems to mix the vibes of The Overlook Hotel from The Shining and the fictional Hotel California from the Eagles song, The Cortez Hotel is sure to thoroughly creep you out. American Horror Story: Hotel is the fifth installment of the popular series by Brad Falchuck and Ryan Murphy and proves to be the darkest yet. Inspired by old hotel horror films and true, sinister happenings in downtown Los Angeles hotels such as The Cecil, Hotel is sure to keep you entertained. This season brought back key actors from previous seasons such as Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters while also incorporating new talent in Lady Gaga as The Countess. Lady Gaga, in fact, won the Golden Globe for her role. So, if you haven’t seen the series yet it’s time to binge watch it before Murphy and Falchuck announce season 6!
10. Call the Midwife
This BBC drama follows a group of women working as midwives in the East End of London in the 1950s and 60s. The series, now in it's fifth season, was originally based upon the memoirs of Jennifer Worth. Popularity led to the continuation of the show passed the ending of the memoirs and so has now expanded to include other historically sourced material. Call the Midwife has been nominated for and won many awards including most recently Best Family Drama at the 2015 TV Choice Awards, UK. The first four seasons of the series are available for streaming on Netflix.
