Culture

What to Binge-Watch Over the Holiday Break

You have a long weekend (and a lot of couch time) ahead. Here's how to spend it.
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Netflix

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There are two things Thanksgiving is good for: binge-eating and binge-watching. (And, OK, seeing your family and various other loved ones.) But the problem is, when you sit down—or lie down—in front of the TV, there are a lot of options. To save you some show-picking insanity, we decided to put together a list of the best TV to binge-watch over the holiday break. With a few exceptions, these are relatively new shows with one or two seasons under their belts—perfect for the holiday break. Make yourself a leftovers plate and enjoy!

  • Would you like to see a sunnier, kinder version of America? One where the absurdity is self-aware and the malapropisms make you smile? Luckily, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock have you covered. If you already watched all of the duo's *30 Rock*, try binge-watching *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt*. Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) may have spent the past 15 years in a bunker under the control of cult-leader Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm), but that won't stop her from finding her destiny in New York City. Kemper, with infectious optimism and light-up sneakers, is a delight, as is the rest of the stellar cast. This holiday season, treat yourself to 13 hours of goofy inanity. *—Charley Locke* Where to watch: [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/80025384)
  • The most sedate and calming political drama on television is the one still openly referencing Hillary Clinton. New Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord (Tea Leoni), her ex-fighter pilot/theology professor husband Henry (Tim Daly), and their three kids move to Washington DC following the sudden death of the previous Secretary. There's a lot of political intrigue, espionage plots, and near-disasters on a global scale, but it's all ridiculously countered with "Can a woman have it all?" plots. It's silly and spectacular in a way *Designated Survivor* can't touch. *—K.M. McFarland* Where to watch: [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/80024232)
  • Claire Duncan (Liv Hewson) is a college student who loves Korean dramas, especially *Taste of Love*, featuring her favorite actor Joon Park (Sean Dulake). Through some magic, she gets sucked into her smartphone and into the k-drama series itself, becoming a "facilitator" alongside the rest of the cast. It’s a meta-commentary on how ridiculous soap opera plots are achieved. Everyone who watches streaming services has that moment where they happen upon a foreign series that grabs them and doesn’t let go. This is that feeling, but with a supernatural twist. *—K.M. McFarland* Where to watch: [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/80100106)
  • What would Thanksgiving in America be without a fresh comedy imported from the UK? *Chewing Gum* centers on Tracey Gordan (Michaela Coel), a 24-year-old religious virgin who decides she wants to have sex and expand her view of the world. It’s only six episodes, so if you don’t have a ton of time to watch a new show over the holiday weekend, this is a perfect full season to get through in a few hours. *—K.M. McFarland* Where to watch: [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/80130911)
  • The CW has plenty of interlocking shows with its four DC Comics-based series. But the most unheralded program on the network is *iZombie*, which also happens to be the best zombie show on television. This ongoing mystery series from *Veronia Mars* creator Rob Thomas won't make you feel world-weary like *The Walking Dead*, it'll just draw you in and make you want to seek out the graphic novel series from which it's adapted. *—K.M. McFarland* Where to watch: [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/80027159)
  • What started as a fascinating experiment in how long a TV season could sustain itself with the bare minimum number of characters has become a compelling post-apocalyptic comedy. Phil Miller (Will Forte) initially believes himself to be the last remaining human survivor in Tucson, Arizona in 2020. But he slowly encounters other people, like his eventual wife Carol (Kristen Schaal), former real estate agent Melissa (January Jones), and the affable Todd (Mel Rodriguez). The show has shifted locations in Seasons 2 and 3, but it’s still as funny as the end of the world will get. *—K.M. McFarland* Where to watch: [Hulu](http://www.hulu.com/the-last-man-on-earth)
  • Despite the fact that it shifted from CBS to the CW, *Supergirl* is still one of the best superhero shows around. For its second season, the series introduced Kara Danvers’ (Melissa Benoit) slightly more famous cousin, Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) for some family team-up action. But the show has grown considerably since its rocky start, and with crossovers with *The Flash* and *Arrow* already filmed or in the works, it’s a full part of the DC TV family now that it’s not alone on a major broadcast network. *—K.M. McFarland* Where to watch: [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/80065386) for Season 1, [CWTV](http://www.cwtv.com/shows/supergirl) for the current second season.
  • Look, this Shonda Rhimes hospital dramedy has been on the air so long it’s nearly impossible to binge. (Not that we haven’t [tried](https://more-deals.info/2015/06/binge-guide-greys-anatomy/).) But here’s the thing: It’s a great show about reconciling with the families one is born into and keeping close the families they choose for themselves. It also has *great* holiday-themed episodes reflecting those points. We’re not saying you need to binge the whole show, but if you want to settle in with something a little life-affirming, this is it. *—Angela Watercutter* Where to watch: [Hulu](http://www.hulu.com/greys-anatomy)
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