Over the holiday break, I basically spent my days watching a ton of shows! Being at home due to the pandemic allowed me to revisit some of my older favorites and discover some amazing new ones. These five shows have great range and variety, perfect for any person in need of a new show to watch!
- One Tree Hill (2003 – 2012)
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This was my first time watching One Tree Hill and let me tell you, I am now obsessed! For some major nostalgia and a big throwback to simpler times, One Tree Hill is the perfect show if you crave a ton of drama and a little bit of everything else in between. This show has iconic friendships, intense love triangles, a brotherhood rivalry and so many twists and turns! In short, the show follows estranged half brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott build their relationship on and off their highschool basketball team surrounded by their own family issues and friendship drama. With nine full seasons, there’s plenty of content for you to binge and it is super easy to follow. Plus, who doesn’t love seeing Chad Michael Murray in his 2000s prime? This show also has an amazing soundtrack with original hit music, the iconic Gavin DeGraw theme song and so many other classic tunes that come with the full viewing experience!
- Bridgerton (2020 – present)
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Bridgerton is one of the newest originals to hit Netflix and it’s the hottest topic all over the internet right now! In short, it’s like a 1800s version of Gossip Girl but way more intense, steamy and dramatic, all occurring in the beautiful Regency time period of London. This show is an adaptation from the book series by Julia Quinn and touches on some thought provoking themes on class, race and gender, especially for Black people assuming roles of power in society. There are tons of underlying plotlines going on, but in short, it follows Daphne Bridgerton and her wealthy family navigating through the courting season by striking a deal with the desirable but unattainable Duke of Hastings to change the misfortunes her older brother has caused her with suitor interests. This show has quite the passionate enemies to lovers couple trope, tons of family drama and a daily society newsletter from the infamous Lady Whistledown that centers the whole show in the gossip. Overall, there is so much to appreciate about Bridgerton, like the beautiful classical arrangements to current top hits by Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, or all of the custom made wardrobe pieces!
- Julie and the Phantoms (2020 – present)
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Created by the Disney king himself, Kenny Ortega is the main visionary behind the Netflix original show, Julie and the Phantoms, and it is absolutely marvelous! In short, highschooler Julie is connected to three ghost boys who died in 1995 through music. The boys help her get over her mom’s death by rediscovering her love and passion for music by forming a new band. The catch is that only Julie can see and talk to them, but when they perform as a band, the whole world is able to see the ghosts, which is played off as holograms. The boys definitely find ways to get themselves into trouble, and we get to see Julie help them out too. Every episode has a phenomenal original song and the band’s friendship dynamic is hilarious to watch unfold. If you love any of Kenny Ortega’s other work, this show will definitely hit all of the marks in a fresh and fun new way!
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018 – 2020)
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I have been a die hard fan of this Archie Comics adaptation by the creators of Riverdale ever since the first part was released! In Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (CAOS), it follows a much darker version of the beloved and iconic teenage witch as she learns about her mysterious family past, and lives a double life by going to school with her mortal friends on weekdays and training at the Satan worshiping witch academy on weekends. She knows what she wants and defies all odds by finding ways to challenge the norms and go against the distasteful traditions in which she doesn’t believe in. She is definitely a badass leader where two worlds converge into one big crazy turn of events. The fourth and final part of the series came out over the winter break and it pulled out all the stops! CAOS has tons of fun with the dark magic elements, death, relationships, drama and all the evil forces in which Sabrina and both her mortal and witch worlds face! There are great musical covers and themed episodes throughout this series, and there’s even references to the original Sabrina The Teenage Witch show in the final part. Even though it’s dark, the show has tons of comedic moments, still includes the iconic cat Salem and plays into all the fun teenage tropes she wishes to experience!
- Teen Wolf (2011 – 2017)
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Forever one of my favorite shows to exist is Teen Wolf! The show has six amazing seasons and puts a very unique twist on the supernatural. Plus it gave us Dylan O’Brien in his prime! The show follows Scott’s journey of becoming a new werewolf while trying to manage his way through highschool, navigate his romantic relationships and discover all the hidden supernatural secrets about their town of Beacon Hills with his awkward and human best friend Stiles. Despite the show’s intensity, irability and seriousness, it has a great comedic balance too! It’s both hilarious and exciting to watch Scott and his friend group dynamic unfold while they do everything they can to save the town and solve the problems at hand. Without spoiling too much, the show touches on supernatural mythologies and legends from Japan, Mexico, Celtic druids, and more! Teen Wolf has done a great job at creating a unique dynamic with the long standing rivalry between hunters and werewolves as well. This show is packed with action, mystery, life struggles, heartwarming friendships and tons of laughter!
I hope this list helps narrow down some options for you the next time you need something new to watch or rewatch! I know especially with the pandemic, activities are extremely limited and I dread the feeling now more than ever of having nothing to watch. Overall, these are all fantastic shows that have so many appealing elements that I hope you are able to find as enjoyable as I did!