Amidst all the news surrounding COVID-19, it’s probably a good idea right now to hunker down with your loved ones (or roommates…both?) and stay at home. The silver lining? That we’re willing to bet you’ve got a pretty big backlog of Peak TV that you’ve been meaning to get around to, but couldn’t quite find the time. But now that you’ve got the time, where to begin?
Here’s our curated list of great TV options to keep you and your squad company until we can all resume our normal binge-watching lives.
If You’re Looking For Laughs
They say laughter is the best medicine and while that is not literally true, it certainly helps. Where to start? Look no further than feel-good comedies “Friends,” “Parks and Recreation,” “The Goldbergs” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
Or if you like your comedy a little edgier and a little darker, try “You’re the Worst,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Barry” or “House of Lies.”
If You’re Looking For Action
FOX’s shows “9-1-1” and “9-1-1: Lone Star” are just about wall-to-wall action week in and week out. If you’re not convinced, check out season three, episode two of “9-1-1” where a tsunami hits Santa Monica. It is a white-knuckled ride.
Other good action TV shows include “Lethal Weapon,” “Chuck,” the “Chicago”-verse shows (P.D., Med, Fire), and “Banshee” (but be warned that “Banshee” is not for the little ones. Keep reading for more family-friendly programming, and check out our curated movie list for kids here).
If You’re Looking for Scares
There are nine seasons of “American Horror Story” available and each season reboots the premise, so there are a lot of different scares to be had. If you’re new to the anthology series, the strongest seasons are the first (“Murder House”), second (“Asylum”), sixth (“Roanoke”), and seventh (“Cult”).
Other binge-worthy horror shows include “Penny Dreadful” and “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” —which premieres April 26 — “Hannibal,” “Bates Motel,” and “Channel Zero.”
If You’re Looking for Drama
If you like your drama with a side of comedy, there are some excellent “dramedy” options, like “Better Call Saul,” “Succession,” “Billions,” and the criminally underrated “Good Girls” on NBC.
If you prefer just straight-up drama, try “The Americans,” “Homeland,” “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” or “The Leftovers.”
If You Love a Good Mystery
There are a few good mystery shows going strong on TV right now with “Manifest,” “The Blacklist,” and “Dispatches From Elsewhere,” or you could always revisit “Lost,” “True Detective” or “Pretty Little Liars.”
If You Want to Get Lost in a Fantasy World
Have you always wondered what all the fuss over “Game of Thrones” was about? Now is your chance to find out. But if you’re looking for fantasy that’s more lighthearted, try “Wynonna Earp,” “The Magicians” or “Lucifer.”
If You’re Looking for Competition
If you’ve managed to remain unspoiled for certain reality shows, they would make great binge-watches while you’re shut in at home. There is a myriad of cooking, singing and fashion competition shows to choose from — “MasterChef” and “MasterChef Junior” are personal favorites because they feature untrained home cooks.
Or you prefer more slice-of-life reality TV, try “Deadliest Catch” or “The Incredible Dr. Pol.”
If You Have Kids
For the really little ones, “Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures” is a recent Disney title that is a lot of fun. For the slightly older kids, you can’t go wrong with “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.” If you want something live-action, try “Once Upon a Time, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” or “iCarly.”
If You’re Feeling Post-Apocalyptic
No judgment — if being stuck at home makes you crave watching other people battling the end times, “The Walking Dead” and “Fear the Walking Dead” are great choices, as are “12 Monkeys,” “Jericho” and “Z Nation.”
Watch these shows, movies and more on DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM.
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