Every year around this time, as the weather gets colder, I create a list of shows I either need to watch or rewatch. Most of my free time during the colder months is spent indoors, wrapped in a blanket, usually with a glass of wine, binge-watching whatever show piques my interest.
Unfortunately, as much as I’ve tried, Grey’s Anatomy has never been one of those shows. Of the many lists I’ve read trying to find a new series to watch, Grey’s Anatomy is usually somewhere at the top. I have nothing against the show; I’m personally just uninterested in the ongoing 20-season series. So, here is a list of shows I’ve specifically selected to (hopefully) help you find your next show to binge.
Criminal Minds
Of course, at the top of my list is my all-time favourite show, Criminal Minds. If you need a long (like 16 seasons), twisted-yet-wholesome show with a group of lovable characters, this has to be your next watch. Criminal Minds follows a group of FBI agents in the Behavioural Analysis Unit that use their profiling skills to track and take down criminals, or ‘Unsubs,’ across America.
Each group member has their own story, and you really need to stick around if you want to learn all their backstories, but I can promise it’s worth it. While it can be a bit repetitive at times, you’ll barely notice once you get to know the characters. However, if you don’t do well with blood and talk of some sensitive topics, this may not be for you. You can watch Criminal Minds in Canada on Disney+.
Bridgerton & Queen Charlotte
There is no way that you haven’t heard of Bridgerton since it came out in 2020. Based on a book series written by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton follows the Bridgerton family during the Regency era in England as each child of the family falls in love. It’s a show filled with drama and romance, and honestly, it’s a bit frustrating at times, but if you need a royal-core show with happy endings, then this is your sign to watch Bridgerton. While you’re at it, definitely watch the spin-off and tie-in series, Queen Charlotte. Within the Bridgeton world, Queen Charlotte is by far my favourite season. It focuses on Queen Charlotte and King George, who are loosely based on the real-life royals in the 1700s and their love story. It’s heart-warming but also painful to watch as they marry and slowly fall for each other. By the end of the season, I was absolutely bawling my eyes out. If you need a good, heartfelt cry, try Queen Charlotte. You can watch both on Netflix.
The Fosters & Good Trouble
I’m currently in the midst of rewatching The Fosters and I am just as invested as I was the first time I watched it. It follows the life of the Adam-Fosters, a family consisting of two moms, one biological son, a set of adopted twins and the two foster kids whom the family is fighting to adopt. Through the ups and downs of this family, it’s touching to watch the unconditional love they have for each other. Following the end of The Fosters is a spin-off series called Good Trouble, which follows the two daughters of the family after they’ve finished school and begin their adult life together. Callie, an aspiring lawyer, and Mariana, a tech genius, move to Los Angeles and try to navigate the confusing maze of adulthood. It’s definitely a must-watch if you need something a bit more wholesome! You can find The Fosters and Good Trouble on Disney+.
How I Met Your Mother
Personally, I don’t watch many sitcoms, but How I Met Your Mother holds a very special place in my heart because I used to watch this show every Monday with my dad as it came out. Apart from my emotional connection with the show, it’s definitely one of the funniest and easiest shows I’ve ever watched. Centred around a group of friends consisting of a single architect, an aspiring news anchor, an energetic playboy and a cheesy couple, the show follows their crazy adventures throughout New York. It’s lighthearted and the perfect show for a good laugh, and the short episodes in this nine-season-long series make it incredibly easy to watch. BUT please, please watch the alternative ending when you get to the end of the series. You can watch this show on Disney+.
Chicago Med
If you need an alternative to Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med is a bit more fast-paced. As a part of the expansive Chicago franchise, it weaves medical drama with the intricate workings of the fire and police departments, providing an interconnected view of emergency services in the city. I’ve yet to finish this series, but honestly, it’s quite addictive. It’s a series that grabs your attention and refuses to let go, making it perfect for a binge-watching session. I definitely recommend checking this one out if you need your fix of medical dramas. You can find this series on Prime Video.
The Alienist
This series is an American period crime drama based on a 1994 novel by Caleb Carr. It takes place in 1896 in New York City; an alienist, someone who studies mental pathologies and the deviant behaviours of those who are alienated from society, investigates gruesome murders that seem to have a connection. It’s twisted and dark and incredibly easy to get addicted to. It’s a shorter series that I personally watched in one weekend. The show’s atmospheric storytelling and intense pacing make it a gripping experience, leaving you on the edge of your seat and yearning for more after each episode. You can find The Alienist on Netflix.
Avatar: The Last Airbender & The Legend of Korra
A childhood classic, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a Nickelodeon cartoon that takes place in the fantastical world of fire, water, air and earth benders. It follows a young boy who just woke up from being frozen in ice after a hundred-year war, who finds out he is the Avatar, a person who is meant to learn all four elements to save the world. Along with some friends, he travels throughout the different nations to learn the elements in a year’s time to eventually fight and overthrow the Fire Lord, a tyrannical king who aims to expand his fire nation across the world.
As cute and lighthearted as it is, it has some very emotionally gripping episodes that I won’t deny shedding a tear to. As every Avatar passes, another is born, and with that was born the second series, The Legend of Korra. It’s a completely different vibe from the original series but just as compelling as it goes through the last Avatar’s predecessor’s life and her struggles to meet the expectations of being the Avatar. Definitely watch this series before the live-action Netflix adaptation comes out in 2024. You can watch Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Anne with an E
As a Canadian, there are many stories that are familiar to our country. If you know anything about the small province of Prince Edward Island, you’ve probably heard of the story of Anne of Green Gables. This Canadian series is an adaptation of the fictional book by Lucy M. Montgomery that follows a young, orphaned girl with bright red hair who gets adopted by a brother-sister duo to help with their work on the farm. Being so different from everyone else in the town of Avonlea, Anne struggles with trying to fit in while also staying true to herself. The three-season-long series goes through her life as she grows up and discovers her passions and wants for the future. It’s a family-friendly, incredibly wholesome experience to watch. You’ll fall in love with all the characters as they develop, and by the end of it, I’m sure you’ll be asking for the next season. You can watch Anne with an E on Netflix.
Riverdale & The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Last but certainly not least (well, maybe it’s a bit debatable), it is one of my favourite shows to cringe at Riverdale. Riverdale, at least the first couple of seasons, tries to stay true to the original Archie comics. Following Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead, along with some other iconic characters like Cheryl Blossom and Kevin Keller, the first season focuses on the murder mystery of Cheryl’s twin, Jason Blossom. Other storylines within the series include Archie falling in love with his teacher, Betty becoming an FBI agent, and everyone magically gaining different superpowers, but I’ll let you figure out how that all happens yourself. This is truly a series that you shouldn’t take too seriously, especially past season two. The best way to watch this, in my opinion, is to pour yourself a glass of wine, alone or with friends, and let yourself cringe through the events of this series. The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a (sort-of) tie-in series that follows the teenage witch Sabrina Spellman and her adventures in living both a normal, human girl’s life and a young witch’s life. This series is centred around magic and the fantastical, so it’s a bit easier to understand its weirdness compared to its counterpart.
I hope this list brings as much joy and entertainment to you as it has for me and helps you get through these coming winter months!
Much love, Evelyn<3