With any luck, you’re going to have a lot of extra time on your hands in these final days of 2015. And while we expect most folks will be using the off-days between Christmas and New Year’s as a chance to cram in as many screenings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens as they can, there will be hours when theaters are just closed. To fill that time we have a suggestion: Catch up on your binge-watching.
Someone in your family hasn’t gotten into Luther? Now’s the time to catch them up. Your mom hasn’t heard of Broad City? It’s time to rectify that immediately. Or, perhaps, has your significant other never seen Doctor Who? Save your relationship this holiday season by sitting them down and making it a priority.
Yes, there’s plenty of culture to catch up on over the next few days. To help, we’ve compiled a list of great TV that you should binge. Happy holidays! We'll see you in January, after your eyes have turned into giant fried eggs from watching this damn much television.
This Idris Elba-starring BBC show about a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police Service just aired a massive holiday special, but if you didn’t catch that because you still hadn’t watched any Luther episodes that came before it, it’s time to get on that. Also, this drama—which puts Elba on the right side of the law after his turn as Stringer Bell in The Wire—has just enough grit to counterbalance all that saccharine holiday programming.
Where to Get Your Fix: Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC America On Demand
Want to know why everyone was talking about funny women in 2015? Look no further than the dynamic duo from Broad City. (And Amy Schumer, but that’s a different piece.) Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson are two of the funniest sketch artists around and their Comedy Central show has only gotten better season after season. Use this when your yuletide needs some comic relief. (And when you’re done watching, go see executive producer Amy Poehler in Sisters.)
Where to Get Your Fix: Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime
Family drama getting a little out of hand this holiday season? Maybe it’s time to settle in with the far-more-dysfunctional brothers on Sons of Anarchy. This Hamlet-on-Harleys show kind of petered out at the end, but up until then there was more back stabbing, drug running, and motorcycle shoot-outs than you could ever possibly want. Settle in with SAMCRO.
Where to Get Your Fix: Amazon Prime, Netflix
Keeping it real for a second, you probably wouldn’t be on this web site if you haven’t already watched at least some of Joss Whedon’s amazing Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But you know what? The holidays are a time to indulge in things that you know are guaranteed to make you happy. And is there anything that makes you happier than teenage girls kicking serious blood-sucker butt? Don't be foolish; of course there isn't.
Where to Get Your Fix: Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu Plus
During the holidays, there is a beautiful tree that’s lit in Rockefeller Center in New York City. You know what else is in Rockefeller Center? 30 Rock. Tina Fey’s hilarious show-about-a-show is one of the most binge-able things ever made and it’s very easy to dip in and out, so don’t worry about watching it beginning to end. Just pop one on when you need to relieve the tension after a particularly awkward holiday meal. (We suggest “Ludachristmas.”)
Where to Get Your Fix: Amazon Prime, Netflix
The holidays—in theory—are about wholesome family fun. So is Gilmore Girls. But unlike a lot of “family” programming, this mother-daughter drama is also smart, funny, and a lot of other things that make is extremely watchable. It’s also just a hoot to watch baby Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore and early Megan McCarthy as chef and BFF Sookie.
Where to Get Your Fix: Netflix
When you start to feel like your holiday break doesn’t have enough rampant misogyny and binge-drinking, it’s time to fire up AMC’s wonderful drama about the world of advertising in the 1960s. Granted, Don Draper might not be your great-aunt Molly’s idea of a good time, but he’s sure to at least pique the interest of a few folks you’ll be spending the holidays with. And honestly, Mad Men will suck you in when you have an open afternoon—even if it’s just a lot of despicable behavior wrapped in a very nice suit.
Where to Get Your Fix: Netflix, Amazon Prime
Sure, you’ve probably already watched a ton of Friends in your life—it’s always on somewhere. But this show does such an incredible job of having great holiday episodes and great storylines about our ersatz friend-families, it’s the perfect thing when you're in desperate need of some warm fuzzies. (Could it be any more perfect?)
Where to Get Your Fix: Netflix
Doctor Who is great; everyone knows this. It also has some killer Christmas specials. Perhaps it’s time you fired one up along with your yule log? When you’re done with those, go back to the beginning and watch this longest-running sci-fi show from the beginning. If anyone asks, just say it WIRED was making you do it as your New Year’s resolution.
Where to Get Your Fix: Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime
Pretty much all of Shonda Rhimes' shows are great for binge-ing, but Grey’s Anatomy will always be the best. Heartfelt, funny, imbued with some Message About Life in every episode—it’s everything you love about melodrama wrapped up in one soapy holiday-sized package. (And it's got hot people hooking up, so even purely from an aesthetic perspective it's got merit.)
Where to Get Your Fix: Netflix, Hulu Plus
