Winter break, or probably more accurately in this context, exam season, is fast approaching. This means that we are all going to need a lengthy Netflix queue to get us through both procrastinating, studying, and the now-extended time with our families. Never fear; I have you covered! Here is the list of TV shows you need to binge-watch this season.

Arrested Development

Arrested Development, an early 2000’s sitcom, is probably the funniest show of all time, despite getting cancelled after only three seasons. It stars a cast of now A-List actors as a rich and clueless family in the aftermath of their father’s arrest for corruption and fraud. I have heard it described as a “Rube Goldberg Machine” of comedy, and I honestly cannot think of a better way of putting it; every joke builds off the last, and its reveals make it so that when re-watching, you will be able to catch jokes that you did not notice before. 

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I have two things to confess: I have never read the A Series of Unfortunate Events books growing up, and I really do not like Neil Patrick Harris. Yet, I adore this show. It follows the Baudelaire orphans as they are being chased from guardian to guardian by the evil Count Olaf after the mysterious death of their parents, spiralling deeper and deeper into the mystery of their parents’ associations. All three seasons have now been released, making it perfect to binge right now.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

No binge list would be complete without this masterpiece. There are no bad episodes of this animated classic, which tells the story of a young boy, who must master all four elements, and his friends as they take on the imperial Fire Nation. I promise its hype is not just childhood nostalgia. I watched the show for the first time when I was eighteen, and it still went above and beyond my expectations.

Community 

Community is another comedy favourite that was underrated when it was airing. It follows seven eccentric members of a study group as they go through their days at their wacky community college. Both the cast and writing are brilliant, the characters and their relationships with one another feel so real, and there are a few concept episodes each season that is unlike anything else on TV. 

Derry Girls

One of the biggest ways that this pandemic has impacted me is that the production of season 3 of Derry Girls has been postponed indefinitely. I am hyperbolizing, of course, but it still stings. Derry Girls is a comedy that centres around four Northern Irish girls and their English companion while living through the tail end of the Troubles — the Northern Ireland conflict during the late 20th century. Every moment is hilarious, but there are a few heartfelt moments snuck in there as well. There are only twelve episodes spanning two seasons, each less than thirty minutes, so it is a little easier to watch them all in a single day.

Julie and the Phantoms

Julie and the Phantoms, from the mind of the man who defined our childhoods with the High School Musical franchise, is technically a kids’ show. It tells the story of Julie, a human, and her band, all of who are ghosts, as they attempt to achieve success in the music industry. Granted, it has many childish elements because of its target audience. However, it also has a soundtrack that is wall-to-wall bangers, a great cast, by the way, and low-key one of the most feminist protagonists I have seen in media. 

Smallville

Was this campy, early 2000’s CW superhero show one of the driving forces behind my interest in journalism? I plead the fifth. Smallville tells the story of a young Clark Kent growing up in the titular town, balancing his teenage drama alongside learning how to be Superman. The show also makes the best use of its time periods’ iconic songs that I have ever seen (Mad World by Gary Jules, anyone?). There are ten seasons, some better than others, but by the end, you cannot help but love it.

The Haunting of Hill House

Watching The Haunting of Bly Manor this autumn made me remember how phenomenal its predecessor was. The Haunting of Hill House tells the tale of the Crain family, switching between the present-day and the tragic summer of their childhood that they spent living in the titular house. As a certified horror-hater, I was nervous to watch the show, but the occasional jump scare is well worth it for amazing plot twists, touching family dynamics, and insightful monologues.