One of the top things millennials love to do is binge watch their favorite series on Netflix, hulu, or HBO. These entertainment companies are a great investment because you can stream various television shows and movies directly to your device. I am a big fan of these luxuries, but I was always wary of watching a television series. I always felt I would never be able to keep up with them, and then I would lose interest and the series would go unfinished. #FirstWorld problems, am I right? That resistance to watching a TV series goes hand in hand with my stubborn nature; I usually need a good push to go and do something. Luckily, some series’ were so good and intriguing that I was pushed very hard to watch them, and now I’m hooked. Here are 6 television series I am now going to push you to watch.
1. Grey’s Anatomy (2005- )
OK, so this was probably very expected, but I highly recommend it nevertheless. Grey’s exposes viewers to traumatic conflicts and situations you don’t see every day, but they are always relatable in some way. Watching "Grey’s Anatomy" made me appreciate my friends and family more. Seeing couples almost lose each other to death or a girl sticking by her friend’s side through her cancer treatments made me see my own life through a different perspective. Plus, it never hurts to watch Patrick Dempsey for 45 minutes. There is always some valuable life lesson you can pull from "Grey’s Anatomy", and the lovable characters take you on such a journey. Nobody knows where they might end up!
2. American Horror Story (2011- )
One thing I absolutely love about "American Horror Story" (besides Jessica Lange) is that the seasons are disconnected from each other. Every season has a new story line with the majority of the same actors in different roles. It almost brings you back to high school where the same kids got cast in everything. The seasons vary from maniacs to witches to freaks, providing viewers with enough differentiation to keep things interesting. AHS has just the right amount of drama and gore, perfect for any horror fanatic. In this way, it’s also great to watch if no horror movies are striking you as interesting.
3. Parenthood (2010-2015)
"Parenthood" depicts family life and struggles so accurately. It is hard to believe they’re not all actually related to each other because the casting is perfect. The show follows the very large and loving Braverman family as four siblings deal with the pressures and hardships of raising children. Their problems include dealing with divorce, taming rebellious teens, and figuring out how to raise a special needs child. I promise they’ll become your second family.
4. Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)
What breaks my heart about this show is that it only ran for one season, but that one season kept me entertained and it even made me want to go back to school. Set in the 1980’s, "Freaks and Geeks" stars Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps, Seth Rogen, and James Franco as outcast high schoolers. If that isn’t convincing enough then I don’t know what is. Cardellini plays Lindsay Weir who tries to fit in with the wacky ‘cool’ kids and discovers a lot about them and herself along the way. She and her younger brother Sam, played by John Francis Daley, face a lot of common high school problems that are all almost too relatable at times. It’s a good option if you want to start a series but you’re also afraid of commitment.
5. Scream (2015- )
If you like "American Horror Story", you’ll love "Scream"! Honestly, I was very skeptical about this show. How could they possibly base a TV show on the movies? Well, I found that out when I watched the entire first season on Netflix in just a few hours! The series is loosely based on the movies with all new characters and a plotline that’ll keep you guessing until the season finale. I recommend watching this show with a friend. You’ll need someone to blab to about who you think the killer is and why.
6. Stranger Things (2016- )
The strangest thing here is how underrated this show is. We travel to a small town back in 1983; It’s all fun and games until something supernatural takes Will Byers from his home, setting his mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) into a frenzy. She and Will’s three best friends search for the truth as the government tries to cover it up. However, they have something the government doesn’t — a way to communicate with Will.
Isn't Netflix a beautiful thing? Happy watching!
