Are you out of work and done with your evening workout and errands? Is it Saturday morning and your day at the beach has been compromised by heavy rain showers? Feeling just generally lazy?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are probably getting ready to sit down in bed and cozy up to your laptop for several very satisfying hours of binge-watching Netflix. For any of those unfamiliar to the phenomenon, let me elaborate.
Binge-watch: to watch in excess over a short period of time, typically referring to movie marathons or Netflix.
When binge-watching Netflix, three hours, six hours or a whole day can fly away with a good show and your choice snack at hand. As a tenured and experienced binge-watcher myself, here are eight shows that I would highly recommend flying through this summer. Some are old, some are new but all will have you clicking the “play next episode” button before the 15 second countdown is up.
Orange is the New Black
Current Seasons Out: 3
Episodes Per Season: 12-13
Early this month, “Orange is the New Black” released its third season and left audiences as satisfied as ever.
Though I was busy earlier on in the month, I finally got around to watching Season 3 and finished it in a grand total of, well… less than a day and a half (If that isn’t binge-watching, I do not know what is.).
This Netflix original series is centered around the women of Litchfield Correctional Facility. The series is filled with comedy, but it also takes an opportunity through the plot and characters to make interesting and powerful statements about our nation’s prison system and womanhood. It is filled with suspense, great overlapping plot lines and innumerable heartfelt characters (despite the cold setting.) Trade in your LBD for orange pjs this summer and pick up the show from Season 1 to see what we have all been going crazy about.
Friday Night Lights
Seasons: 5
Episodes Per Season: Varies by season
For anyone who loves football and/or Texas, “Friday Night Lights” is the binge-watch for you.
The TV show tells the story of Eric Taylor, coach of the Dillon Panthers, his family and his players as they fight their way to the Texas High School Football State Championships. The show spends as much time off the field as it does on though, filled with juicy high-school stories that will make you stay up till 3:30 am to get through a plot line. Watch the first episode and try not to fall in love with the show or any of the adorable southern boys (But seriously, try not to fall in love with Tim Riggins, because I totally have dibs on him.).
Game of Thrones
Current Seasons Out: 5
Episodes Per Season: 10
If you can handle gore, occasional graphic content and five (and counting) heart-breaking season finales, “Game of Thrones” is the show for you to binge-watch this summer. Maybe that didn’t sound all that convincing, but I swear it is actually one of my favorite shows on television.
For those who have heard the name but know nothing about the premise, let me break it down for you: in the fictional world of Westeros, seven powerful families are in constant battle for power and the Iron Throne. The story is based on the book series “A Song of Fire and Ice” and the plot will leave you on the edge of your seat every week and frequently screaming at your laptop in suspense. While a great show, this HBO series is actually not offered on Netflix, but get the HBO Go password of a friend and watch all five seasons because this one is a must. If you like fiction, great acting, and beautifully bearded British actors, definitely check out “Game of Thrones” this summer and understand the hype.
Gossip Girl
Seasons: 6
Episodes Per Season: Around 23
Watch it. Enough said. I waited till last year to start this perfect show because I was convinced that with a name like “Gossip Girl” this show had to be cheesy, one-dimensional and lame. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. I watched all 120 episodes or so in about 3 months, and that was during finals too (whoops!). I think my excessive binge-watching speaks for itself there. If you have yet to watch “Gossip Girl”, do it this summer because you will not regret it.
The Walking Dead
Current Seasons Out: 5
Episodes Per Season: 12-13
With gore levels off the charts, this zombie filled AMC series may not be for everyone, but you should definitely put “The Walking Dead” one your list of binge-watching considerations this summer. After listening to my dad rave about the show for the last few seasons, I finally picked it up on Netflix, and I have yet to be disappointed. In this zombie apocalyptic world, Officer Rick Grimes, portrayed by the dreamy Andrew Lincoln, helps lead his family and fellow surviving humans fight off walkers (zombies) as they travel through Georgia and the southeastern US searching for civilization and fellow living. In a world overrun by zombies, there is no shortage of thrill on this show. If you want a departure from the typical TV sitcom or teen drama, add “The Walking Dead” to your Netflix queue this summer.
Parks and Rec
Seasons: 7
Episodes Per Season: Varies by season
Now on to the funny shows! My favorite TV comedy of all-time is hands down “Parks and Rec”. The series stars Amy Pohler, alongside other famous jokers like Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Chris Pratt, Rob Lowe and Aubrey Plaza. Any lovers of “The Office” should definitely check out the show. Following a very similar mixed-interview and filming format as NBC’s “The Office”, “Parks and Rec” follows Leslie Knope and her coworkers through life working for the government, more specifically the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, IN (First in Friendship, Fourth in Obesity as the town saying goes). This show will have you laughing till you cry. New-comers be warned, some people think Season 1 starts a little slow, but do not give up on it if the humor seems slow at first, because when you get to know the characters it gets hysterical.
Friends
Current Seasons Out: 10
Episodes Per Season: 23
“Friends” is one of the most iconic sitcoms of our day. Most of us have probably seen an episode in passing, loitering around to see what our older siblings found so entertaining. “Friends” is a funny, pick-up anywhere kind of watch, but I would recommend trying to pick it up from the beginning this summer and binge-watch straight through. This is my current summer project (along with “The Walking Dead”) and I am absolutely loving it. When you watch it straight through, the characters are more loveable than ever. Join these six New Yorkers this summer as they battle with work, romance, friends, family, and all the woes and joys of adulthood in this hysterical 90s/early 2000s sitcom. Oh, and also watch one of the greatest love stories of our time unfold over 10 seasons (R + R forever).
Follow HCND on Twitter, like us on Facebook, Pin with us and show our Instagram some love!.
The HCND application is now open! For more information contact Rebecca Rogalski at rrogalsk@nd.edu or Katrina Linden at klinden1@nd.edu.