Is it just me, or has this quarter suddenly gotten insanely busy? It seems like I’ve been cruising along without a care in the world for most of the term, and out of nowhere I was drowning in papers, midterms and other assignments every day this week. All I can say is, Memorial Day weekend could not have come at a better time. The weather this weekend promises to be perfect for tanning on the lakefill, running up to the Bahai temple and wandering around Chicago. However, if you’ve had a week like mine and have been averaging four or five hours of sleep each night, getting out of bed is at the very bottom of your weekend to-do list. So, for all of my fellow tired, overworked collegiettes, here’s a list of some of the best things to binge-watch on Netflix during your lazy three-day weekend.
Clueless: This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and is definitely my go-to when I need to cheer myself up after a hard week. It’s basically the Mean Girls of the ‘90s: it’s easily quotable, features some of the most popular actresses of the time (the flawless Alicia Silverstone and Brittany Murphy) and seems superficial but is somehow incredibly clever at the same time. Plus, the outfits are iconic—I’m still looking for somebody to buy an all-plaid outfit with me and be the Dionne to my Cher on Halloween!
House of Cards: If you haven’t already watched every episode of this super intense political drama at least once, drop whatever you’re doing and do that instead. The show, a Netflix original series, follows Frank Underwood (played by the amazing Kevin Spacey) in his relentless and insatiable quest for power in Washington, D.C. Smartly written and darkly humorous, House of Cards will draw you in immediately and leave you either dreaming of ruling from the Oval Office or feeling sickened by all of the underhanded political dealings.
Roman Holiday: When I’m snuggled up in my cozy bed trying to find peace among the craziness, I love watching old movies. There’s something to be said about romantic stories that take place in a much simpler time, and nobody played the delicate yet headstrong heroines of the mid-20th century better than Audrey Hepburn. In Roman Holiday, she plays an unhappy princess who meets the handsome Gregory Peck and gets to experience normal life for a while; it’s beyond perfect, so make sure you watch it before it gets taken off of Netflix yet again (I’m still not over the last time they did it).
Gossip Girl: Sometimes when you’re vegging out you just want to watch hours and hours of a tried and true classic. For some, it’s Friday Night Lights or One Tree Hill, but I could watch Gossip Girl for forever. It’s so dramatic and glamorous, and Blake Lively and Leighton Meester’s Serena and Blair are pretty much the coolest girls ever. Watch this if you have NYC dreams or are looking for a long-running show with an amazing mix of scandal and great fashion.
Miss Representation: As a little bit of a change of pace from my other recommendations, the last item on the list is a documentary. Miss Representation explores the appalling ways that women are misrepresented in the media, government and daily life; every woman needs to watch this film. It will make you simultaneously angry and hungry for change: for example, after watching it for the first time, I started considering following in Elle Woods’ footsteps and going to law school so that I can become a politician and make real change.
Whether you’re looking to relax with hour after hour of a fabulous teen drama or get inspired to change our outdated societal norms, Netflix clearly has you covered. Happy Memorial Day, and happy binge-watching!
[all images from tumblr.com]