Tuesday’s Ten: My 10 Must-See Binge-Worthy Shows

It has been forever since I binged a really good show and I am looking for some suggestions. Please share yours in the comments section below.

Meanwhile, here are my top 10 binges from the past:

1. Breaking Bad 

Netflix

If you are one of the few who haven’t yet watched it, you may wonder if it’s really THAT good. Believe me, it is! I read somewhere that this show is the gold standard for writing TV. Beyond that the performances, unusual camera angles, and music are also outstanding. You will be hooked from the start, finding yourself staying up much later than intended surrendering to “Just one more episode…”  Originally on AMC, the series follows a mild-mannered chemistry teacher who upon learning he has terminal cancer, decides to manufacture and sell methamphetamine in order to secure his family’s financial future.

2. The Sopranos

Max

We binged this HBO series on DVD before streaming was a thing. It felt like a more intimate and realistic look into the life of a mob family than what was portrayed in blockbusters such as The Godfather and Good Fellas. Mob Boss Tony Soprano seeks help from a therapist in dealing with personal and professional problems after experiencing panic attacks. I remember getting so involved with the characters that my husband had to keep reminding me they were not real people. Some viewers complained about the ending not being explicit enough. I thought it was brilliant.

3. This is Us

Hulu

Oh, those loveable Pearsons! NBC originally aired this emotional family drama and I connected from the beginning. My viewership had been spotty throughout its run so I recently binged all the episodes on Hulu. It is a smart show in the way it flashes a glimpse of the future leaving the viewer eager to learn what led up to the scene. I came to love (or at least appreciate) all of the characters but was also struck by the way the show celebrates the unexpected meanings in everyday life. How I miss the Big Three! 

4. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel 

Amazon

This Emmy-winning period dramedy is one of the cleverest that I have seen. The series focuses on a New York housewife who decides to try her hand at stand-up comedy in the 1950s. Midge and Susie (the comedian and her agent) are an entertaining team. The talented cast includes the hilarious Tony Shalhoub. Remember him from Wings and Monk? The addition of a character based on the real Lenny Bruce introduced me to the legendary comedian whom I knew very little about. It’s worth tuning in to see the beautifully crafted outfits worn by Mrs Maisel, if for nothing else.

5. Dirty John

Netflix

This story would be too hard to believe if it wasn’t actually true. It consumed me from the beginning to the astonishing ending. Genuine and vulnerable, Debbie Newell thought she had found the perfect mate and ignored red flags popping up all around her. Her romance with John Meehan spiraled into denial, secrets, and manipulation.  Unfortunately, she was not the only one to face the horrific consequences. Her daughter Terra, played by Julia Garner (also in the title role of Inventing Anna) ultimately faced the wrath of her Mother’s psycho husband with a shocking result.

6. Big Little Lies 

Max

One of the few Liane Moiarty books I haven’t read. I stumbled across this series on a long overseas flight and watched the first 3 episodes. I couldn’t wait to get home and binge the rest. It boasts an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Dern. Of course, there is a mystery at the plot’s center, as with all of Moiarty’s stories. Here five friends find themselves entwined in an unexpected murder investigation. It is set in picturesque Monterey, California, with some beautiful coastline shots.

7. Dopesick

Hulu

Dopesick details the rise of the painkiller OxyContin. Relentlessly marketed by Purdue Pharma, this started the opioid epidemic in America.  Incidentally, I binged this as I was recovering from surgery and had been prescribed the drug to take if needed.  Needless to say, I went nowhere near it after watching this.  This show was an eye-opener for me in some respects. I was, of course, aware of the crisis but not how easy it is to become addicted. The series is described as a partly fictionalized account based on a nonfiction book. Michael Keaton stars and delivers an impressive performance. 

8. The Crown 

Netflix

I confess that most of what I know about Queen Elizabeth’s early reign is from watching The Crown. I had never given too much thought to how very young she was when called upon to serve and developed a new respect for her. With the understanding that there are likely liberties taken with the story, as Hollywood does, I enjoyed the bird’s eye view into the workings of the monarchy. As the series progresses to the period that I remember more vividly (beginning with Prince Charles’s engagement to Diana) it becomes more and more engaging.  Even if you have never been particularly interested in the Royals you should give this arresting series a try.

9. Inventing Anna

Netflix

Being an avid reader, if a show is based on a book, chances are that I have read it. In the case of Inventing Anna, I had previously read a book authored by one of her victims titled My Friend Anna. I am not sure what makes this true story so captivating. Perhaps because it is nearly inconceivable how easily this young con artist convinced New York’s elite that she was a German heiress. She had no real wealth, college degree, or business experience yet she swindled herself into a life of luxury by bilking hotels, banks, and associates. Pretty entertaining stuff. 

10. The Dropout

Hulu

Back in 2018, I read an intriguing book called Bad Blood, Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou. This was the first I heard about Elizabeth Holmes. After dropping out of Stanford Holmes launched Theranos, a company devoted to developing minimally invasive laboratory testing. She grew the company with funding from investors and became one of the country’s most acclaimed CEOs. The fact that what she was selling didn’t actually work wasn’t going to slow her down and she continued forward with a “fake it until you make it” mindset. This series does a good job of documenting her journey and eventual downfall.