14 Shows You Should Absolutely Binge-Watch This Thanksgiving
When you’re home for the holidays, it can be tempting to curl up in your childhood bedroom and catch up on every Shondaland show exams have forced you to miss. After all, dodging awkward encounters with high school frenemies at the mall doesn’t exactly sound like a blast, especially when you could be hibernating with holiday leftovers. Instead of disappearing for the entirety of your vacation, why not binge watch with friends and family? Pull your parents away from their latest Big Bang episode to watch something fun for the whole family (no offense, Sheldon). Everyone knows parents have the best cable subscriptions, so you’ll have access to everything you’ve never seen. Whether you’re in the mood for a throwback celebration courtesy of The O.C., want to introduce the fam to the magic that is crystal-encrusted Reign headbands, or feel like hunkering down for a Law & Order: SVU ‘thon, this guide is all-encompassing.
1/14Binge on Nashville with your mom
Nashville is the ultimate guilty pleasure for mothers and daughters — especially if your mom is an O.G. Southern belle. It has all of the ingredients for a family-friendly drama. Plus, it’s much better than binging on Duck Dynasty or Hart of Dixie, but just as southern. There are the adorable daughters Lennon and Maisy, emotional baggage reminiscent of a Miranda Lambert song, and handsome gentlemen that will appeal to ladies of all ages.
2/14Binge on Life Unexpected with your mom
At first watch, Life Unexpected seems like the kind of cheesy made-for-TV movie that the Lifetime channel has perfected. Take that, add CW hijinks and Teen Vogue fave Britt Robertson, and you have the perfect bonding moment. It’s about a man-child who finds out that he secretly has a kid, who’s now almost an adult. Your parents will like it because it’s about a family fighting, but ultimately knowing they can always count on each other (can’t you just hear your mother saying “Awww?”). Your parents probably won’t like the ultra-awkward student/teacher tryst that takes place, but if your mom doesn’t flinch, feel free to move on to Pretty Little Liars. You’ll like it because it’s a reminder that your middle school wardrobe was the worst, because the protagonist, Lux, is constantly rocking those V-neck shirts that were mandatory for Myspace photoshoots.
3/14Binge on Reign with your mom
Prepare to enter the weird world of Reign, which will give you and your mother endless holiday party outfit inspiration. In fact, it will hopefully lead to her taking you on an epic shopping spree where you purchase Alexander Wang exclusively, a favorite of the IRL cast. This fabulous show is about Mary, Queen of Scots and her friends. All of her ladies-in-waiting are also named Mary, like a historical Heathers — how’s that for #squadgoals? The characters wear loads of Anthropologie headbands and are ultra dramatic, even for CW stars. The historical twist means it’s educational, so your mom will love watching with you, even if she already knows how it ends.
4/14Binge on Downton Abbey with your dad
Everyone can appreciate an episode of Downton Abbey, despite its predilection for killing off your favorite characters a la Game of Thrones. Even your grandmother might get in on the action, especially if she relates to Dame Maggie Smith, who stars as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, and purveyor of the most regal side-eye you’ve ever seen. Your dad will love the stodgy Earl of Grantham, who always tries his best, even when he’s getting it wrong with his three daughters, who are all wildly different in a Jane Austen sisters type of way.
5/14Binge on Parks & Rec with your dad
There’s nothing awkward about watching with your parents, which makes this a show that’s father approved. For all the single ladies (sing it Bey style) this will remind your parents that dating is hard. (Pre-Ben, when Amy Poehler/Leslie Knope is the victim of countless awkward dating scenarios, like someone trying to pull out one of her teeth. Unfortunately, your parents’ office probably doesn’t house the entire cast of Parks and Recreation (that would be far too entertaining), but that doesn’t mean that some of their coworkers don’t share the cast’s quirkier qualities. Hopefully they know an April Ludgate, who’s a live-action version of Daria, a Ron Swanson, who likes pretty dark-haired women and breakfast food, and an Andy Dwyer, who is “fine but simple” (according to Donna Meagle).
6/14Binge on Law and Order: SVU with your dad
Law and Order: SVU is so deeply disturbing that you’ll spend hours binge-ing, whether you find it on Netflix or settle in for a USA marathon. Unfortunately, the truly SVU-obsessed have usually seen all of the episodes already. When you commit to watching a single episode, it’s entirely possible that you’ll lose all sense of time and watch for days, eschewing your family and friends — so why not watch with them? It’s chock full of life lessons, like watching out for sketchy white vans. If you’re called in for jury duty on your winter break you’ll be ecstatic, because you can finally put everything Dick Wolf taught you to the test. Just try to refrain from yelling “dun dun!” anytime anything dramatic happens.
7/14Binge on Revenge with your sister
You can trust your sister with the knowledge that Revenge is the ultimate, soapy guilty pleasure (you could trust your sorority sisters, too). Emily Thorne is an inspiration — if you want to become an expert at Internet super sleuthing and one day hope to have a home in the Hamptons. While your mom might enjoy a little bit of revenge, especially if she grew up watching soap stories, your dad will more than likely run and hide when he sees the sweeping beach shots and flowing white dresses.
8/14Binge on UnREAL with your sister
While The Bachelor is appropriate viewing for the whole family, you might want to keep UnREAL under wraps. It’s on the Lifetime channel, but ignore that it shares a home with the same network that brought you the cheese-laden She’s Too Young, because it’s a feminist masterpiece. Much like FXX show You’re The Worst (perfect for binge-ing with your friends), UnREAL isn’t afraid to show deeply flawed people. Not TV flawed, but real, messed up, horrifying humans who struggle with the downright degrading choices they make. UnREAL is far more feminist than the flighty dramas you’re used to, featuring an anti-hero in the form of pint-sized Shiri Appleby of Roswell semi-fame. If you didn’t know she could act, prepare for your mind to be blown.
9/14Binge on Girl Meets World with your sister
This sweet — but never saccharine — Boy Meets World reboot was made for watching with younger cousins and siblings while you recover from your tryptophan coma. In fact, even your parents will come in and reminisce about growing up with the Matthews family when you were younger. It stars the wise beyond her years Rowan Blanchard as Riley Matthews, who’s a total do-gooder in the best possible way. Mega-talented actress/musician Sabrina Carpenter plays the rebellious Maya Hart (i.e. a younger version of Shawn Hunter).
10/14Binge on Gossip Girl with your best friends
Oh, what can be said about? Gossip Girl. Despite the fact that Chuck Bass was a seemingly irredeemable louche he did, after all, sell Blair for a hotel) after uttering, “I’m Chuck Bass,” he convinced everyone (including you and Blair) to dedicate their lives to the pursuit of binge-watching the show. Even if your high school experience is nothing like Serena and Blair’s, you’ll relate to somebody — although hopefully not Dan Humphrey, for obvious reasons.
11/14Binge on Buffy the Vampire-Slayer with your best friends
It’s basically a requirement that every fantastic teen TV show has a nightclub with ridiculously awesome bands where everyone goes to casually hang out. Unlike you, they’re not studying for the SAT or perfecting college essays. Instead, they’re crammed into a teeny tiny club where bestselling artists just happen to come through. Sunnydale had the Bronze, where Buffy was constantly meeting up with her sometimes boyfriend/sometimes nemesis Angel, when she wasn’t staking vampires. It’s ideal to watch with high school friends, because you’ll be reminded of the terrible teen clubs you went to, where there was no one who looked anything like a young David Boreanaz. Buffy proved that surviving high school can be difficult, but with the help of a squad of offbeat, pop culture obsessed friends, you can survive, even with the evil lurking in the hallways (sometimes said evil is the principal hellbent on giving dress code violations).
12/14Binge on The O.C. with your best friends
Now that the most epic television show of the early aughts is online, you can rejoice in Juicy sweatsuits and Marissa Cooper’s terrible decisions. Who better to join you than your sister? After all, your parents would be scandalized and secretly wonder if you go to similarly raucous fiestas. Now that The O.C. is a decade old, not everything stands the test of time (mostly the fashion choices), but Seth Cohen does. Seth and Summer were absolutely adorable, mostly because Seth Cohen is the most perfect man. He was hysterical, self-deprecating, ultra-indie, and he even owned a boat (swipe right). Luckily, the soundtrack is still impeccable. There’s Death Cab For Cutie, The Thrills, The Subways, The Killers, Rooney, and Modest Mouse, who all came through the hallowed doors of The Bait Shop. While The O.C. jumped the shark in later seasons (it is California), the main characters were multifaceted and fascinating, even when they were making mistakes like accidentally shooting somebody (try explaining that on a college application).
13/14Binge on The League with your brother
It might be uncomfortably raunchy at times, but the LOL-worthy moments are well worth it. While your dad would secretly love The League, the gross out humor doesn’t exactly make for precious daddy/daughter moments. The League is about a group of guys who have been friends with high school (feel free to binge with your own crew of dudes). Nick Kroll stars as Ruxin, a lawyer who’s constantly trying to convince people that he’s wildly impressive. Mark Duplass is Pete, an underachiever who still manages to be impossibly charming. Even if you’re not a football fan and have no idea what drafting a fantasy lineup entails, you’ll fall in love with these realistically hysterical characters — it’s like watching Entourage, only not embarrassing.
14/14Binge on Dawson's Creek with your ex
If you’re considering reuniting with your high school boyfriend and want to figure out how he truly feels about you, see if he can sit through a Dawson’s Creek marathon. If he somehow survives, you should probably marry him immediately, even if you’re too young, like Haley Scott on One Tree Hill. The main character, and unofficial head of the creek, was Dawson Leery, a normal youth who talks like an SAT vocabulary quiz come to life. Not only is it a solid test to see if you’ve found true love, it’s also perfect prep for studying.
