Over quarantine, I watched A LOT of television. A little too much, if I am being honest. Now, however, I will put my waste of time to good use and impart some of my television wisdom on all of you. For this list, I tried to pick both classic recommendations but also ones you might not have heard of before.
Dramas to watch when you need some excitement in your life:
The Librarians (Hulu)
There needs to be more people watching this show! Filled with magic, mythology, and friendships, this show follows four Librarians and their Guardian who protect and recover ancient artifacts to the Metropolitan Public Library. Each member of the group has certain skills, and they go around the world and time zones.
The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
This show follows the adopted superhuman Hargreaves siblings. They reunite as adults due to the death of their father and the threat of an upcoming apocalypse. Season two was released on Netflix this summer. I honestly did not think The Umbrella Academy could get any better after season one, but boy was I wrong!
La Casa de Papel (Netflix)
If you are a fan of heists, La Casa de Papel is a must. A criminal genius called the Professor is trying to succeed with the largest heist ever with the help of eight thieves: breaking into the Royal Mint of Spain and printing billions of Euros. While you can watch in English, it makes for a better experience in the original Spanish with English subtitles.
Jane the Virgin (Netflix)
This show does not solely classify as a drama, because it is a rom-com telenovela with elements of magical realism, but I had to include it! This show follows Jane, a woman who gets accidentally artificially inseminated, and the incredible plot twists and turns along the way.
Upload (Amazon Prime)
Is there a way to keep living after you die? Well, here you can upload yourself to an afterlife of your choosing. Upload is a sci-fi drama with a little comedy, but not enough for me to classify it as a comedy. Created by Greg Daniels (the co-creator of Parks and Rec and a writer on The Office), this show follows a man named Nathan and his virtual afterlife angel Nora.
Reality shows to fill the void before The Bachelorette comes on:
Selling Sunset (Netflix)
HGTV with the drama of the Bachelor. You will be sucked into seeing wealthy real estate agents sell million-dollar homes and stay for the dynamics between all the agents and their partners.
Queer Eye (Netflix)
If you have not shed a tear during an episode of Queer Eye, did you even watch? The Fab Five, Jonathan, Antoni, Bobby, Karamo, and Tan, give people the makeover of a lifetime. They help their heroes by teaching them how to cook, fixing up their homes, their style, their confidence, and their hair. Honestly, this show is one of my favorites.
Too Hot to Handle (Netflix)
If you are a fan of Love Island or Bachelor in Paradise, this show is perfect. They send singles who are not allowed to kiss to live together on an island. Oh, and did I mention there is a $100,000 prize?
The Circle (Netflix)
In this competition, contestants cannot see one another face to face. They communicate through a screen using a social media platform. Some of the contestants are playing as their actual selves while others are trying to survive by being a catfish. Really entertaining!
Instant Hotel (Netflix)
Instant Hotel takes place in Australia where people are trying to compete to see who has the best Airbnb. If you are a fan of HGTV and people with cool homes, I highly recommend this show!
Comedies to make you laugh when you are having a bad day:
The Good Place (Netflix)
This show combines all my favorite things: a whole lot of humor, unique characters you root for, and a never seen before premise. It is the age-old question of “what happens after you die” with plot arcs you will not see coming. The last season was just released on Netflix, so definitely go check out this show.
Psych (free on Peacock)
A show about a man who pretends to be psychic to solve crimes- what can go wrong? The running gags (look for the pineapple featured in every episode!), the jokes, and the characters are just so enjoyable to watch.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Hulu)
While a show about a NYC police precinct does not sound enticing, Brooklyn Nine-Nine has some of the most well-developed characters and comedic plots I have ever seen. In addition, they talk about homophobia, racism, sexism, and immigration. For the upcoming season that should be out in 2021, they are going to incorporate the Black Lives Matter movement. I am really interested to see how this will play out.
Never Have I Ever (Netflix)
Loosely based on creator Mindy Kaling’s life, Never Have I Ever revolves around Devi. She is simultaneously dealing with the death of her father, trying to figure out her identity as an Indian American girl in California, and wanting to improve her social status at high school.
New in Town/The Comeback Kid/Kid Gorgeous
Now, I know these three are not tv shows, but if you are in the mood for stand-up comedy, John Mulaney’s Netflix specials are fantastic. He worked as a writer on SNL (so you know you he is funny), and he is captivating to as a performer.