All of my life, my mother has had a strict 9 p.m. bedtime. No matter what function we attended, tasks needed to be accomplished, or vacations we were on, my mother would tap her watch promptly at 8:30 p.m., yawn, and give us the signal that we had to Irish exit and get home STAT. Enter the infinite number of times she had an overwhelming opinion on what to watch on Netflix and then promptly fell into a slumber before the beginning of the movie was even over.
Two weeks ago, my mother called me at 10:30 p.m.—basically her “middle of the night.” What could my mother, who adheres to such a strict bedtime, want this late at night? I answered with much confusion, only to immediately burst out laughing when she exclaimed, “Dexter is such a good show. Have you seen it?”
There’s nothing quite like finding a new thrilling series that makes you abandon your morals and your bedtime. For our editors, these shows do that. From true crime to romance to drama to comedy and beyond, here are 10 shows that our team can’t get enough of right now:
1. The Vampire Diaries
Where to stream: Netflix
Number of seasons: 8
Alright, I’ll admit it. Sometimes I can be a bit stubborn. The best example that I can give is that, up until a few weeks ago, I was apprehensive about watching The Vampire Diaries not because I thought it was going to suck but because people kept telling me that I had to watch it. In the spirit of being honest, let me tell you: I made a grave mistake. The fact that I missed out on years of the Stefan-Elena-Damon love triangle drama and twists and turns that keep me clicking “next episode” with record speed will forever be one of my biggest regrets. Now that I’m in the thick of it, I’m one of those annoying people who will plead “you have to watch it” to anyone who will listen.
2. Good Girls
Where to stream: Netflix
Number of seasons: 3
I’d gone through everything on my to-watch list, so on a complete whim, I landed on Good Girls, which is now one of the best shows I’ve watched as of late. To me, it’s a mix of Desperate Housewives and Breaking Bad (which sounds like everything, right?). The pilot hooked me immediately, and now I truly cannot turn it off. I love the cast, the story is fun to follow, and yes, Rio could probably also convince me to do unlawful things.
3. Scenes from a Marriage
Where to stream: HBO Max
Number of seasons: 1
Ever since that iconic red carpet moment between Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, I knew I was in for a good show. Never in my life have I been so captivated by two people on screen. What I love about this show is that it is heavy in dialogue, and the setting and side characters really take a back seat. The show is so raw and really makes you believe all of the emotions being fed. If you’re looking to get lost in a show about a tragic love story and all the trials and tribulations of a marriage, this is the one to watch next!
4. American Horror Story: Double Feature
Where to stream: Hulu
Number of seasons: 10
I am an AHS stan and have watched every single season from the beginning, but in the last few years, I haven’t loved it. For the 10th season, Ryan Murphy went all out on a “double feature,” meaning the first episodes of the show are one story and the last four are a different one. I immediately was sucked into Red Tide, which follows a family after they move to Provincetown, Massachusetts, and now I’m just as obsessed with Death Valley (which follows aliens—just trust me, it’s good). Yes, it’s a little gory, but I would recommend this to anyone who wants a creepy, twisty story this fall.
5. Game of Thrones
Where to stream: HBO Max
Number of seasons: 8
The fact that I decided to rewatch GOT while deep in the trenches of The Vampire Diaries says less about the chokehold that TVD has on me and more about my lack of time management skills. As soon as I caught wind of the new House of the Dragon teaser trailer from HBO, I went off the rails and made it my life’s mission to rewatch all 73 episodes of Game of Thrones before the prequel airs in 2022. I may be losing sleep due to my unprecedented ability to watch two eight-season, heavy-hitter shows at one time, but TBH, I’ve never been happier.
6. Gilmore Girls
Where to stream: Netflix
Number of seasons: 7
This is definitely not my first time watching Gilmore Girls (in fact, I believe it’s my fourth or fifth), but I was craving a good comfort show with fall vibes that I could spend entire Sundays watching. I expected to watch it in the background and not really pay much attention, but it has really sucked me back into the world of Stars Hollow, and suddenly, I’m on season four again after three weeks. It really makes me feel all sorts of emotions and nostalgia, and it’s definitely fulfilling my need for a good, wholesome comfort show. I also can’t believe how much my thoughts on everything have changed since my last viewing—so if it’s been a while for you too, it just might be worth a rewatch.
7. Midnight Mass
Where to stream: Netflix
Number of seasons: 1
I will watch anything Mike Flanagan puts out, so I jumped to binge Midnight Mass the second it came out. The first episode is interesting, but the second episode sucked me in, and I couldn’t turn it off. The cast is incredible and the story is like nothing I’ve ever watched before. The only thing I will say is that there is a lot of talk about religion in here (especially Catholicism), and I found some of those parts to be not relatable to me, but it was easy to look past it because of how good the rest of the story was. And if you’re wondering, I’d say it’s scarier than The Haunting of Bly Manor but not as scary as The Haunting of Hill House.
8. Love on the Spectrum
Where to stream: Netflix
Number of seasons: 2
Blurb: I have to preface this recommendation by sharing that I could watch pretty much anything having to do with love. When I started the first episode of Love on the Spectrum, I quickly knew this was going to be my new favorite show. This heartwarming reality TV show takes you through the emotional journey of individuals searching for love while they grapple with the roadblocks their disabilities present. My favorite part of the show is witnessing firsthand the growth that happens with failed and successful relationships and how they shape our character. This show reminds us that love and happiness are the greatest gifts of life. However, I have to warn you: If you decide to give this show a try, Micheal will steal your heart.
9. On My Block
Where to stream: Netflix
Number of seasons: 4
What I love about On My Block is the fact that we get a glimpse of a world that we don’t get to see on TV often. This is a coming-of-age series that takes place in South Central Los Angeles, where native teenagers try to navigate growing up, finishing school, and being exposed to gangs and violence. While all of these hard-hitting themes are taking place, the main characters are so hilarious and the show is so tastefully done that it makes the heavier plots much more digestible. Another major plus is that the entire cast is made up of people of color! Not only is representation in the media super important to me, but the show is also a great reminder that they are more than just their races and ethnicities. Their individual storylines allow you to see all of their complexities and layers that make you feel a range of emotions.
Source: TheEveryGirl
