Finally! A subject on which I am a self-proclaimed expert: the best TV shows to binge watch this weekend.
This summer, I had a goal to read one book per week. I’m not sure what this says about me, but I horribly failed at that goal and only read about one book each month. However, I more than made up for it with my Netflix TV show binge-watching skills. I am now a fountain of [relatively useless] TV knowledge.
And I would like to impart such knowledge onto you.
BTW don’t worry if you don’t have Netflix (or if you’re convinced that you’ve already watched everything on Netflix):
A) there is seriously no way you’ve completed all of Netflix. I haven’t even completed all of Netflix. Yet.
(B) I included plenty of recommendations for Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Apple TV, so there’s something for everyone!
Before we dive in headfirst, I need you to know that I’m expecting you have a strong TV show foundation. If you haven’t yet watched The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Crown, The Handmaid’s Tale, or The Man in the High Castle… literally what are you doing.
This post is instead going to focus on newer shows. Shows you might have heard about, but they haven’t yet gotten Game of Thrones-level huge. Shows that kind of snuck in under the radar during the post-Tiger King portion of the pandemic.
11 Great TV Shows to Binge Watch this Weekend:
What to Watch on Netflix
- Away: starring Hilary Swank, this TV show tells the story of an international crew on their journey to become the first astronauts to land on Mars. If you love dramas, suspense, space flicks, or sci-fi, you will love this show. Away just came out last week and I promise that everybody is going to be talking about this show by the end of this month – it’s that good.
- Criminal: United Kingdom: if you love criminal procedural shows, this show will be your jam. Each episode of Criminal: UK takes place in an interrogation room and tells the story of a different crime. It’s all about the dialogue and the tension, it’s definitely not an action show. But if you love the slow simmer, you should definitely add it to your list of shows to binge watch this weekend.
- Get Organized with The Home Edit: I love home organization. I’ve been following The Home Edit on Instagram for nearly 5 years, so when I heard they were coming out with a Netflix show, I was super stoked. Just peruse their Instagram: you’ll see why! If that’s not enough, these ladies have 2 books and a collection with The Container Store. I binged this show last week in less than 48 hours and then immediately went and reorganized my fridge. 10/10 would recommend.
- The Umbrella Academy: if you like sci-fi, fantasy, superhero shows, and/or dark comedies, you’ll love The Umbrella Academy. The show centers on a wildly dysfunctional family of superheroes, and features time travel, parallel universes, superpowers, and some really solid character development. The second season just came out so now’s the perfect time to watch!
- Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich: this show is a 4-episode documentary series which deep-dives into the life of Jeffrey Epstein and how he used his money and power to commit sex crimes over the course of multiple decades. This show is really difficult to watch due to the nature of the content, but I believe it’s one that should be added to your list.
Honorable Mentions: Grace & Frankie (comedy), The Witcher (fantasy).
What to Watch on Hulu
- Normal People: though I hated the book, I loved this show! This series focuses on a complex romantic relationship, following two teenagers in Ireland as they grow up, weaving in and out of each others’ lives. I know I’m doing a bad job selling it right now, but it was absolutely fantastic. I would absolutely recommend you add it to your queue for this weekend.
- Mrs. America: this show is based on the true story of Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist who led the backlash against the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). It was recently nominated for a bunch of Emmy awards, including Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie, and 3 nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie.
- Little Fires Everywhere: another Emmy favorite and [currently] limited series, this show is a drama set in 90s suburbia. It explores classism, racism, sex, and seriously so so much more. While it differs from the book in a lot of places, I love that the show largely stayed true to the story. Oh and PS it stars Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon so if you haven’t yet watched it, bump it to the top of your queue for this weekend.
Honorable Mention: Harlots (drama).
What to Watch on Amazon Prime
- The Boys: I love a good dark comedy / superhero / action / drama show. Honestly this show wears so many different hats, but somehow it just works. In The Boys, superheroes are treated as celebrities: they appear in movies, they’re commercialized, they’re idolized. But behind the scenes, they abuse their powers and rely on their management company, a multibillion-dollar global conglomerate, to cover up their misdeeds. This show focuses on a group of people who rise up against those celebrity superheroes and the company that manages them. Season 2 is airing now. The only bad part is that they’re only releasing one episode per week. The wait is real.
- Upload: this futuristic sci-fi comedy is all about the afterlife. Which sounds weird, I know, but it’s great. In Upload, people upload their consciousness to a digital afterlife, allowing them to “live on” and even mix and mingle (virtually) with their loved ones still living. It’s a little bit bizarre, a little bit awkward, fairly funny, and honestly just a good show. Plus Amazon just announced that it’s getting a second season, so now’s the perfect time to get hooked!
Honorable Mention: Hunters (thriller).
What to Watch on Apple TV
- For All Mankind: somehow, this show came out in 2019, completely under the radar. I honestly don’t know how that happened because For All Mankind is seriously one of the best shows I watched this summer. If not the best. My parents and I discovered it the first or second week I was in Colorado and we plowed through it. The show takes place during the space race of the late 60s, 70s, and 80s, and begins with the USSR beating the USA to the moon. What follows is a fantastic drama that has already been renewed for a second season. Add this one to your list. Thank me later.
Honorable Mention: The Morning Show (drama).
Did I leave off any shows you recommend friends binge watch this weekend? Let me know in the comments below!
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