Motherhood is exhausting. And if you’re doing a running jump onto your couch at the end of the day to cuddle up under a blanket and binge-watch some good TV, you’re not alone. But there’s nothing worse than being ready for some sweet, sweet distraction, and instead falling into a rabbit hole of never-ending indecision.
Whether you’re in the mood to laugh, cry, swoon, and/or judge other peoples’ life choices with abandon (it comes so naturally!), there’s a binge-worthy TV show on this list ready for your play button. Best part? No searching, no rabbit hole, no worries.
From dreamy settings and soapy narratives like Bridgerton and One Day to dark and twisty true crime like The Asunta Case and Under the Bridge, the following curation of entertainment will keep your nights and weekends booked and busy. (And for those up for date night flicks or scary movies, we’ve got a few picks for you, too.)
The Best TV Shows to Binge-Watch Right Now
Bridgerton
The Regency-era romance drama has returned. Fans of the series know the drill: One couple takes the spotlight, while juicy subplots unfold around them. In Season 1, Daphne and the Duke get hot and heavy; Season 2 pivots around Anthony, Kate, and Edwina; and in Season 3, the romance between Penelope (a.k.a. Lady Whistledown) and Colin takes center stage. The first half of the eight-episode season is streaming now, with the subsequent half dropping on June 13.
Stream it on Netflix
One Day
One of the most talked-about hits to stream this year, One Day is a romantic comedy about one couple’s missed connections. The limited series is based on the 2009 novel by David Nicholls and, yes, the 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, but spend time on those some other day. Start One Day, the series, today! Because the chemistry between Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall is electric, the soundtrack is sublime, and the range of emotion is so real it hurts (in the best way).
Stream it on Netflix
Under the Bridge
Based on true events that happened in 1997, this Hulu miniseries stars big-screen heavyweights Riley Keough (Zola, The Lodge) and Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) as two women investigating the murder of Reena Virk, a 14-year-old Canadian girl who went to a party with her friends and was never seen alive again. A brutal account that fuses fact and fiction, the series gives parents and anyone else who wants one a peek into the secret lives of teenagers.
Stream it on Hulu
Baby Reindeer
The narrative for Baby Reindeer comes straight from the experiences of its writer, director, and star, Richard Gadd, who was stalked and assaulted—by two different people—on his path to becoming a stand-up comedian. Over seven episodes, Gadd goes from full of hope, to full of hate, to full of forgiveness. It’s a singular journey, for sure, yet it’s one many viewers might find they still relate to. Fair warning: There are triggering topics and graphic scenes of drug use and sexual assault.
Stream it on Netflix
The Asunta Case
In 2013, the parents of a 12-year-old girl named Asunta Fong Wang reported her missing. Shortly after, her body was found discarded on the side of a mountain road. This Netflix Original tells the shocking story of her murder. Kicking off as one might imagine, the series sees the police gather evidence and calm the distraught parents. Before long, however, the well-to-do couple who adopted the girl from China years earlier find themselves as the prime suspects.
Stream it on Netflix
Girls5Eva
Looking for something a little more upbeat? Look no further than this musical sitcom about a has-been girl band now in middle age who gets a second chance at stardom. Operating with the Midas touch of executive producer Tina Fey, the series starring Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Paula Pell was unexplainably nixed from Peacock. Thankfully, Netflix had the good sense to rescue it for another season.
Stream it on Netflix
Hacks
Another sleeper hit that hasn’t received the viral attention it deserves, Hacks stars Jean Smart as a washed-up comedian and mother of one who learns the value, both personal and profitable, in the art of reinvention. Seasons 1 and 2 watch her claw her way back to the top of her game, with the help of an entitled twentysomething who’s just as good at getting a laugh. Season 3, which debuted in early May 2024, delves even deeper into the pitch-black mentorship the two share.
Stream it on Max
Beef
Ali Wong and Steven Yeun star in this hilariously offbeat sitcom about two people—he, a contractor; she, an entrepreneur—whose initial interaction of road rage descends into a feud between the two, wrought with so many delicious twists and turns you will never see coming. Though there isn’t a Season 2 confirmed just yet, the rumors are a-rumbling. Hey, Netflix, here this roar: The masses are starving for more Beef.
Stream it on Netflix
Somebody, Somewhere
Sam (Bridget Everett) and Joel (Jeff Hiller) meet at work while Sam is dealing with the loss of her sister Holly, and an unlikely connection forms, with Joel becoming Sam’s respite as she navigates family drama and a small town in which she doesn’t really fit. Shining a light on life’s imperfections, the endearing series will remind you how certain people make it all worth living. Catch up on the first two seasons before Season 3 hits the platform later this year.
Stream it on Max
Bad Sisters
Bad Sisters starts at the end. JP, the loathed brother-in-law of three sisters from whom they’ve wanted to save their fourth sister, is dead and they’re all attending his funeral. In the episodes that follow, the how is unraveled. Sharon Horgan, the genius behind Catastrophe and Motherland, is behind this one as well; she also stars as the sister who inherits the role of the matriarch after the death of their parents. Get hooked now, because Season 2 is a go and set for a 2024 release.
Stream it on AppleTV+
Poker Face
Charlie has an extraordinary ability: She can sniff out lies to solve crimes. Unfortunately, her talent has gotten her into some trouble, so she hits the road in her Plymouth Barracuda, with every pit stop serving as a new opportunity to crack a case. Natasha Lyonne is utter perfection as this modern-day version of Columbo, so you’ll totally be along for the ride. Hop in, binge Season 1, then get ready for Season 2 to premiere sometime soon.
Stream it on Peacock
On the Verge
Middle age sucks sometimes, and it’s fine to admit that. This Netflix series looks at the lives of four friends who are in varying stages of midlife crises: one has a narcissistic husband who doesn’t recognize her talent, one is bored and struggling with anxiety, one’s younger husband just left her, and one is flailing about trying to find steady income. Created by and starring Julia Delpy, this TV show perfect for moms to binge-watch is sometimes awkward but overwhelmingly funny.
Stream it on Netflix
Catastrophe
Here’s a pretty good rule of thumb: If Sharon Horgan’s name is attached, watch it. A producer, director, and actor, she’s comedic gold, and Catastrophe is proof. She and Rob Delaney both write and star in the series, with the two playing a couple whose one-night stand turns into an unplanned pregnancy and a very real bond. The pair’s intense chemistry combined with the real-life crap that accompanies relationships results in a recipe for the perfect binge-watch.
Stream it on Prime Video
Related: TV Shows Every Mom and Daughter Should Watch Together
Dead to Me
Looking for a Hallmark vibe? Then look elsewhere, because this series is absolutely not that. A black comedy that follows the unlikeliest of friendships, this Netflix Original unfurls around a widow with major anger issues and a free-spirited empath as they set out to find the killer of the former’s husband. Full of plot twists and A-list chemistry between Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me ended in 2022, but it’s so good it deserves to be binged and touted again and again.
Stream it on Netflix
Workin’ Moms
Not only does this Canadian series from creator and star Catherine Reitman wax honest about motherhood, but it emphasizes female friendships over romantic relationships, and that is just so damn refreshing. With seven seasons, there’s plenty of this TV show to binge-watch if you haven’t started already. And we have to say, we’re jealous of those who are new to the hilarious mom groups, the storylines about infidelity and step-parenting struggles, and all the other things these female friends endure.
Stream it on Netflix
Sweet Magnolias
Netflix’s runaway success is a hit for a reason: It focuses on good friendships, loyal communities, and hot men. You’ll want Brooke Elliott to be your best friend (and cook you a meal), you’ll be cheering for JoAnn Garcia to get away from her cheating sack of an ex-husband (played by Chris Klein), and you’ll want to wrap your arms around Heather Headly and tell her to stop being so strong for everyone. Also—there are margaritas.
Stream it on Netflix.
Related: 12 Times TV Reboots Hit It Out of the Park
Togetherness
This show from Mark and Jay Duplass was canceled after two seasons. It’s horrible to lead with that, we know, but an amazing series no matter how abbreviated is still worth writing home about. Starring Melanie Lynskey, Amanda Peet, and Mark Duplass, it gets refreshingly honest about the rough spots of marriage. They live, laugh, and make mistakes, causing you to fall even more in love with each of them. Speaking of mistakes… HBO, canceling this show on a cliffhanger? Big mistake.
Stream it on Max
Virgin River
Big-city girl Mel escapes her life in L.A. by moving to a small town. There, she works as a nurse practitioner, helping the local doctor and falling for the town’s hot bartender, Jack. Watching Virgin River is true escapism, from the incredible scenery to the cast of charming characters who all have enough drama surrounding them, you can’t help but go back for more. With five seasons in the can, and another on the way, it’s no wonder this one is a fan favorite.
Stream it on Netflix
The White Lotus
Mike White’s genius series, which blends wealth, seduction, and death, into an all-inclusive package set at an exclusive resort at some dreamy locale, is must-view fare. In Season 1, you have murder and privilege at a Hawaiian resort, while Season 2 deals with sex and cynics from the cliffs of Sicily overlooking the Ionian Sea. Jennifer Coolidge stars in both seasons, although she’s the only through line. And Season 3 heads across the Pacific to Thailand and will hit the streamer in 2025.
Stream it on Max
Good Girls – Netflix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbjIaPzODs0
This show will make you want to gather your BFFs and start a badass girl gang, complete with money laundering, accidental murder, and hot affairs with drug lords. Okay, maybe this sounds over-the-top, but that’s what binge-worthy TV should be. When you’re finished watching this, you’ll want Christina Hendricks, Ruby Hill, and Annie Marks on speed dial. There are five incredible seasons to binge, and you’ll love every single one.
Stream it on Netflix.
Based on a True Story
Ava (Kaley Cuoco) is a flailing realtor obsessed with true-crime podcasts. Her husband, Nathan (Chris Messina), is a one-time tennis great who’s aging out of pro status at the local country club. They both need a big, financial break—when they realize they’ve unwittingly stumbled upon an actual, real-life serial killer posing as a harmless plumber named Tom. Determined to cash in, the couple join forces with an unlikely third, sending their lives into total, comedic disarray.
Stream it on Peacock
