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.)
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Related: 12 Times TV Reboots Hit It Out of the Park
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.
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.