Shows I’ve Binged During the School Year

During the school year, it is very hard for me to find the time to sit down and watch a show. Surprisingly, this past school year, I watched a total of 8 shows. 

For me, binging a show – 8 at that – is definitely a guilty pleasure. However, considering that our lives were flipped upside down recently – you know, because of the pandemic, I think I deserved it. Plus, I was home quarantining. What else could I do? 

In order of most to least enjoyable, I compiled a list of 8 shows from diverse genres that allowed me to get away from reality for a few hours.

• Elite

Netflix

Released: October 5, 2018

Drama/Thriller/Mystery 

Rating: 5/5

What to expect: This is the best Spanish thriller I have watched. The series begins with three working-class students enrolling in a prestigious high school and ends with a murder (S1).

I finished the first three seasons in a month. The fourth season was released last week, and it is just as good as the first three. Each episode is about 47–56 minutes. I’d say it’s comparable to the British teen comedy-drama television series, Skins. If you enjoyed that, Elite is a good series to start!  

• Sex Education 

Netflix

Released: January 11, 2019 

Comedy/Drama/Coming of Age 

Rating: 5/5

What to expect: I loved this show. I finished both seasons in two weeks and I am so excited for the third season! The episodes are not very long – just 30 minutes, but are enough to keep you entertained. Basically, there is this awkward kid whose mother is a sex therapist. Despite lacking in the lovemaking department, he uses his mother’s skill-set as a sex therapist and opens a sex clinic with a school outcast– offering sex advice to his school peers.  

• Ramy 

Hulu

Released: April 19, 2019

Comedy-Drama

Rating: 4.8/5

What to expect: As a first-generation Salvadoran-American, I related to the story told throughout. The plot revolves around Ramy, a first-generation Egyptian-American, who is on a spiritual journey. With a traditional family at his ear, he is torn between living an honest Muslim life or the reckless millennial life. 

• Normal People  

Hulu

Released: April 26, 2020

Drama

Rating: 4.5/5

What to expect: The show follows two teenagers of different backgrounds and their lovely yet tragic love story. I only gave it a poor rating because I personally despised the finale, but I would recommend it to anyone because the plot was just too good.

• Gossip Girl

Netflix 

Released: September 19, 2007

Teen Drama

Rating: 4.3

What to expect: I was late to this train – please don’t judge. I started Gossip Girl at the beginning of the school year and finished it the same day Netflix took it off. The episodes are pretty long – 42 minutes – and there are six seasons. I enjoyed the first three seasons, but soon after I felt it going downhill. The drama was good, but a lot of it was repetitive. If you have not watched it yet, I would still recommend it. 

• High Fidelity

Hulu

Released: February 14, 2020

Romantic Comedy

Rating: 4/5

What to expect: The oldies might hate me for this, but I never read the novel or watched the original film. However, I can say that the TV reboot was amazing! If you like music and pop culture, this show is for you. It begins with a record shop owner who, while attempting to get over her one true love, revisits prior relationships via music and pop culture. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after one season – for no apparent reason to be honest. 

• Bridgerton 

Netflix 

Released: December 25, 2020

Romance 

Rating: 3.8/5

What to expect: The eight, hour-long episodes flew by. I finished the series in less than a week! Honestly though, Bridgerton is shallow and lowkey controversial. It takes place during the Regency Era . The plot is very similar to most shows that share the similar time period (e.g. young and arranged marriages). What made it somewhat different, was one of the vital characters, Lady Whistledown. Think of her as “Gossip Girl.” Whistledown is the enigmatic writer of a newsletter that is the first to uncover a scandal. She kept every character, and myself, on their toes.

• Freaks and Geeks 

Hulu

Released: September 25, 1999

Comedy-Drama

Rating: 3.8/5 

What to expect: This show is a classic. Unlike most shows that take place in a high school setting, I would say this one is pretty relatable. Essentially, there are two groups of kids the show focuses on: the Freaks, the school outcasts, and the Geeks. It is a beautiful show and really captures the essence of the not-so-pretty teenage years. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after one season (18 episodes, about 45 minutes each), but I recommend it nonetheless.