From Poker Face to Bad Sisters, this list of the best TV shows to binge-watch will fill your entertainment queue for months to come
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 decisions. Whether you’re in the mood to laugh, cry, and/or judge other peoples’ life choices with abandon (it comes so naturally!), there’s a TV series on this list with your name on it. And you won’t even need to search!
From Virgin River‘s dreamy setting and soapy characters to Dead to Me‘s dark and twisted tale of friendship, consider your nights and weekends officially booked. (And for those up for date night flicks or scary movies, we’ve got a few picks for you, too.)
Somebody, Somewhere - MAX
Sam (Bridget Everett) and Joel (Jeff Hiller) have the most perfect friendship in this show; it makes it really hard not to dream of joining their two-person BFF squad. They meet at work while Sam is dealing with the loss of her sister, and an unlikely connection forms. Joel becomes Sam's respite while she deals with a high-strung, perfectionist sister, an alcoholic mother, and a father who has been dealing with family drama for so long that he totally (albeit, lovingly) disconnects. The series follows the friends as they navigate all the imperfections life offers and will remind you how a few, integral people make life a whole lot worth living.
Bad Sisters - Apple TV+
Bad Sisters starts at the funeral of the show's antagonist, JP. He's the loathed brother-in-law three sisters have longed to murder, to save their fourth sister—the one he married and has slowly sucked the life out of. So while we know he's dead off the bat, episode after episode we're left to figure out exactly how it happened. Sharon Horgan is the genius behind yet another incredible show, and stars as the sister who inherits the role of matriarch after the death of their parents. This hilariously dark show will hook you from the get-go. You'll be rooting for JP's death and loving every moment of the sisters' twisted plans.
Poker Face – Peacock
Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. It’s an ability that’s gotten her into some trouble in the past, and when trouble finds her again, she hits the road in her Plymouth Barracuda and vows to keep moving so the evil men on her case won’t be able to track her down. Every town brings her a new opportunity to sniff out a lie and solve a crime. Natasha Lyonne is utter perfection as 2023’s version of Columbo, and you’ll totally be along for the ride.
Based on a True Story - Peacock
Ava (Kaley Cuoco) is a flailing realtor obsessed with true crime podcasts. Her husband, Nathan (Chris Messina), is a one-time tennis great who is aging out of his tennis 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. Ava becomes determined to cash in—in the podcast space. This requires the couple to join forces with an unlikely third, sending their lives into total, comedic disarray.
Run – MAX
Who among us hasn’t occasionally wanted to pack their things and run out the door? You don’t have to answer that. HBO’s Run is about a mom and wife who fulfills a pact she made 17 years earlier with her college sweetheart—that if either of them texted each other the word “run,” they’d drop everything and meet in New York. This one only lasted for a season, but it’s a season worth watching.
Behind Her Eyes - Netflix
Louise Barnsley is a single mom looking for love, and when she meets psychiatrist David Ferguson at a bar, you'll immediately sense the chemistry and be rooting for some steamy love in her future. But alas, she learns the next day that Dr. Ferguson is both her new boss and married. So she befriends his wife (as one does), and the weird love triangle that ensues is just too good.
Catastrophe – Amazon Prime
If Sharon Horgan’s name is attached—I’m watching it. If you haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying her work (she’s a producer, director, and actor), Catastrophe is a good place to start. When a one-night stand turns into an unplanned pregnancy, Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney decide to give a real relationship a go. Their intense chemistry combined with the real-life crap we all go through in relationships is the recipe for the perfect watch—if you’re ready to fall in love with two characters and root for them both. The 24 episodes spent with this couple before its run on Amazon Prime ended in 2019 were not nearly enough.
Related: TV Shows Every Mom and Daughter Should Watch Together
On the Verge - Netflix
Middle age can suck sometimes, and it’s fine to admit it. This Netflix series takes a look 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 one is at times awkward but also overwhelmingly funny.
Dead to Me – Netflix
Are you looking for a show with a light, tug-at-the-heart-strings, Hallmark kind of vibe? No? Well, great. Because this series is absolutely not that. Instead, this black comedy follows the unlikeliest of friendships between a widow with major anger management issues and a free-spirited empath as they set out to find the former’s husband’s killer. Just when you think there can’t possibly be another plot twist, your jaw will fall right back on the floor. The chemistry between Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini is out of this world and what makes this show a must-watch season after season.
Big Little Lies - HBO
Beautiful families living in breathtaking mansions in Monterey, CA? You'll want to hate-watch it but will become immediately invested in every single one of these characters. Reese Witherspoon is a perfect mom and imperfect wife; Laura Dern is brilliant as a money-loving, hard-working, ruthless professional; and Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, and others generate more star power than you've ever seen in a single cast. Starting as one thing and quickly evolving into something quite dark and different, the show is an insightful take on a real truth—that despite outward appearances, no family, no matter what they have or appear to be, is perfect. And sometimes, trying to maintain that perfection can be deadly.
Sweet Magnolias – Netflix
I never imagined I was someone who was into sweep, sappy, Southern romance—but here we are. Netflix’s runaway success is a success 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.
Workin’ Moms - Netflix
Not only does this show have a perfectly honest take on all things that suck the life out of you in motherhood, but the emphasis on female friendships over romantic relationships is also so damn refreshing. Catherine Reitman is the creator and star of this seven-season Canadian show that thankfully made its way to Netflix. What starts as women meeting each other and bonding over their struggles in a new-mom group evolves into a storyline that goes from infidelity to step-parenting struggles to all things that adult female friends endure. This is not to miss—and if you haven't seen it yet, I'm jealous of the sheer amount of episodes you get to enjoy for the first time.
Related: 12 Times TV Reboots Hit It Out of the Park
Togetherness - HBO
This show by Mark and Jay Duplass was canceled after two seasons. I hate to lead with that, but I’m still bitter about it. Starring Melanie Lynskey, Amanda Peet, and Mark Duplass, Togetherness views the rough spots of marriage through a refreshingly honest lens. They live, laugh, make mistakes, and you’ll fall in love with them. Speaking of mistakes… HBO, why did you cancel this show on a cliffhanger?
Virgin River – Netflix
If the trope of the big city girl who has to escape her life by moving to a small town is your thing, you’re going to love Virgin River. Mel is a nurse practitioner who leaves a troubling past behind in LA to answer the call to help a small-town doctor on a year contract. The doctor is grumpy and hard to crack—and so is the local bartender, Jack. But Jack is also hot, and he and Mel have an instant connection. Jack’s just emotionally unavailable enough to capture Mel’s attention (yes, another trope!), but you’ll be rooting for this pair immediately anyway. Escape into the incredible scenery and a cast of small-town characters who all have enough drama surrounding them to keep you coming back for more. There’s a reason this one is a viewer favorite.
Friends from College - Netflix
Another show that was canceled before its time! Sorry to make you fall in love with these shows that will leave you early, but two glorious seasons are all you’ll get from this cast, including Keegan Michael Key, Fred Savage, and Billy Eichner. Twenty years after graduation, a tight-knit group of college friends reconnects. They’re dysfunctionally dependent on one another, and their relationships are at times totally inappropriate, but this group is so damn real and funny that you’ll fall in love with every single imperfect character.
The White Lotus – HBO
Honestly, I’ll watch Jennifer Coolidge in anything so I probably would’ve finished these two seasons even if they weren’t the most oddly hilarious thing I’ve watched in years. In season one, Murray Bartlett nailed it as the perfectionist manager of a high-end resort, simultaneously grappling with his sobriety and the most high-maintenance guests you’ve ever seen. Season two brought even more drama and laughs, and if you have managed to exist this long without knowing what happens in this show, I’m not going to spoil it for you now. Just know that these two totally different seasons with two totally different casts (save for Coolidge) were both fantastic. Maybe you don’t think you want to know what happens when wealthy guests ascend upon an all-inclusive resort first in Hawaii then Italy, but I promise—you do.
Good Girls – Netflix
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.
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