As a freshman, my first experience with college midterms has taught me a few things. One of the most important thing I’ve learned is the fact that midterm week is not an accurate description. Midterms is more like a whole month devoted to exam and essay hell. The only silver lining to the weeks of intense academic pressure is the relief when it’s finally over. What better way to relish in your newfound freedom than to binge-watch all of the shows you’ve missed out on the past few weeks? Here’s a guide to the best shows to devote the next six, 12, or 24 hours to:
1. “The Night Of”
One of the best shows this summer, “The Night Of,” follows a young New York city man caught in the middle of a mysterious homicide. The mystery at the heart of this story is going to keep you guessing up until the very end. Once you start watching this eight-part mini-series, it’s almost impossible to stop; a perfect show to binge-watch during a night in.
2. “The Office”
“The Office” is an absolute binge-watching staple. With nine seasons, it’s probably not possible to watch the whole series in a post-midterm weekend, but you could definitely fit in a few seasons to take the edge of. Regardless of how far you get, the employees of Dunder Mifflin, Scranton are perfect to keep you company as you try not to think of grade postings.
3. “Friends”
Nothing better than Phoebe, Chandler, Rachel, Ross, Joey and Monica to make you forget about that essay you stayed up until 2 a.m. to write. With 10 seasons, their antics and infallible hilarity will provide you with just the right level of escapism.
4. “Stranger Things”
If you’re still looking for some scary and mysterious entertainment post-Halloween and post-midterms, look no further. “Stranger Things” combines cute kids, Eggos, ’80s nostalgia and a whole lot of otherworldly mystery. The first season is very short, so it’s easy to finish up the whole season in just one night. And trust me, once you start, you’re not going to want to stop.
5. “Game of Thrones”
The hype surrounding “Game of Thrones” has grown exponentially over the years, but it is definitely warranted. The most upcoming season isn’t set to air for a quite a while, which gives you plenty of time to dive into the world of Westeros.
6. “Gilmore Girls”
Probably like most collegiettes, I grew up with “Gilmore Girls,” so the clan of eccentric Gilmore women will always carry a special place in my heart. Luckily, with the invention of Netflix, it’s easy to catch up on the full story arcs of all three Gilmore women and their plethora of love interests. It’s important to refresh yourself on all things “Gilmore Girls,” leading up to…
7. “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life”
This four-part mini-series is destined to take over my entire Thanksgiving break. Premiering on Nov. 25, “A Year in the Life” could not be timed better. If the previews are any indication, this revival is going to be one for the books. What better way to destress than to eat pounds of mashed potatoes and plunge back into the lives of the beloved residents of Star’s Hollow?
Hopefully this list of addictive shows will give you some direction in planning your post-midterm relaxation. Regardless of how you choose to de-stress, remember that you made it through and now you’ve got a little time before finals. Enjoy it!