With midterm season finally over and Thanksgiving break just a few weeks away, you might be finding yourself with something that rarely comes to the average college student—time to relax. If this is the case, and you find yourself wanting to avoid hours of mindless scrolling, here are some shows that you might want to give a try.
If you’re looking for something funny, “What We Do In The Shadows” is the perfect show for you. It’s a mockumentary that revolves around four vampire roommates named Nandor, Nadja, Laszlo and Colin—an energy vampire, meaning he gets energy by boring those he talks to. The series asks the question, “What if vampires were just… kind of stupid?” Whether it’s Laszlo refusing to admit that his hat is cursed, Colin Robinson engaging with an internet troll, or the entire cast becoming convinced that a chain email sent by “Bloody Mary” is completely sincere, that question is consistently answered over the course of three seasons. It airs on FX and can be found on Hulu without a premium subscription.
If you’re looking for something much less comedic than that, there are loads of other options for you. Netflix is currently going strong on the Drama front, with multiple shows capturing peoples’ imaginations. For example, if you haven’t heard about “Squid Game”, it’s probably because you live under a rock. Regardless, if the Wi-Fi is good down there, and you’re a fan of dark takes on game shows, then check it out. Revolving around hundreds of people in financial debt, this South Korean drama shows their attempts to get out of their financial difficulties by competing in dangerous children’s games. You should be warned that the show is extremely graphic, so avoid it if you think you should. I won’t get too much more into things as it is a series worth going into blind, but trust me when I say that it’s good.
Another Netflix drama that has gotten people talking is the popular, and endlessly memed, “You”. Already having released two highly successful seasons, many eyes were on what would happen next in the third season, which was just released a few weeks ago. The series follows Joe Goldberg, a stalker who makes the audience feel uneasy as his crushes inevitably turn into unhealthy fixations. Exploring topics like the difference between love and obsession and how our online lives reflect—or don’t reflect—our real selves, it’s a good show to binge watch or pace yourself with. Either way, it’s sure to stay with you.
Those shows sounded pretty dark, didn’t they? If you want to watch something that will leave you with positive emotions, “Ted Lasso” was tailor-made to give its audience a warm feeling inside. The simplest way to explain this show would be to say that it’s about a nice man doing nice things. The main character, Ted Lasso (how’d you guess?!) is an American football coach who has just been hired to work for an English soccer team. However, there’s only one problem…Lasso has no experience teaching soccer. Though with his good-natured personality, he slowly wins over his reluctant team. Even if you’re not into sports media, there’s still a chance you’ll like the show, as its charm lies in watching the main character uplift those around him. All two of its seasons, with more to come, can be found on Apple TV.
Whether you’re looking to laugh, cry, or experience something in between, you should be able to find it all. If these shows don’t sound like they’re for you, that’s alright, there are so many good shows out there right now. Chances are, if you turn on the TV, you’ll like what you see.