You have to live a little this summer--and you have to live a little vicariously through your favorite characters. From Michael Scott (a.k.a. Michael Scarn, a.k.a. Caleb Crawdad) to Rory Gilmore, these characters can do more in a season than we can in three months. Therefore, let us examine the most rewarding of the TV shows available on Netflix for the most fulfilling binge.

1. "Psych"

This TV show is grossly underrated in my opinion. With eight excellent seasons of serious issues turned comedic fodder in this psychic detective "dramedy" (drama/comedy, duh), it’s the perfect TV show for a longterm commitment. It follows the broke, yet highly observant Shawn Spencer as he and his best friend Burton Guster solve crimes with the Santa Barbara Police Department. The love interests are intriguing, the plot is ever-changing and interesting, and the lovable yet laughable shtick of the main characters never gets old. The show presents serious issues like murder, theft, and the intrigues of police politics in a humorous manner, yet never forsakes the gravity of the issues present. With the main characters exhibiting the perfect yin and yang, keeping the show both funny and informative, along with some intriguing familial drama, the whole cast of this highly rated show delivers and keeps on delivering for 121 episodes.

2. "The Office"

"The Office" is the revolutionary "mockumentary" that redefined an entire style of television. Derived from a similar British television program, it follows blundering, awkward regional manager Michael Scott and his motley crew of employees at a flailing paper company. From office romances to fire drills, to epic prank wars, "The Office" delivers heart, witty dialogue, and a healthy dose of pure fun. The series has a tendency to lull in later seasons, but all in all it’s a terrific contribution to American popular culture, and definitely worth the screen time. In short, if you haven’t already seen this show, then you should. It’s practically a classic.

3. "Sherlock"

Call me an Anglophile, but I could not stop watching “series” after “series” of this BBC show. Everyone is familiar with the unparalleled intelligence of the mythical Sherlock Holmes, but Benedict Cumberbatch, with a reserved but genius Martin Freeman as the sidekick Dr. John Watson, delivers such a fresh, sarcastic and comical, yet layered performance as the famous detective, that this series undeniably merits your attention. With punny titles of classic Sherlock Holmes cases and dynamic cinematography around the U.K., this show delivers a fresh take on a classic character. I swear, you will be a Cumberbitch (or Cumberbastard) by the time you reach the third “series.” Praise for the upcoming 2015 Christmas special will quench your thirst for more Sherlock, as the fourth series isn’t expected to premiere until 2017 (GASP)!

4. "Gilmore Girls"

The title basically says it all. This fun and enthralling series follows a teen mother, Lorelai Gilmore, and her now-teenage daughter, Rory, through multiple romances, business decisions, and educational phases, all while deeply examining familial ties, especially the bond between a mother and her daughter. With fast-paced, witty dialogue filled with pop culture references and early 2000s trademarks, this show will bring you back, and keep you watching. It’s just the right mix of poignant, dramatic, and comical to keep you around. Warning: This show may dramatically increase your coffee intake (a la Lorelai).

5. "Parks and Recreation"

This is another mockumentary, but undoubtedly as good as the first one mentioned. The characters are EVERYTHING in this show about a high-energy, extremely dedicated but low-level government employee named Leslie Knope, in the ridiculously ridiculous town of Pawnee, Ind. Watching her engage with the community and her employees makes this show more than funny. The relationships the characters form with each other create a fluid story, one that you want to read again and again, preferably while eating waffles.

Now binge away.