It’s a simple fact: There’s too much TV to watch. While the streaming craze has slowed down a bit, there’s still a huge backlog of great content, and there’s always new content arriving, pushing older releases further and further away. (I mean, what are you going to do – miss out on the enjoyment The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Instant emoticons? ) Additionally, you are a parent and your free time may not be very abundant.
But there are definitely some gems you might have missed in the first round, and many of them have stood the test of time. So the editors at Horror Mom put together a list of recommendations that we’re either rewatching or recently watching for the first time, years after others. Bonus: It turns out that if you’re nearly a decade late to the show, and you’ve avoided spoilers for that long, you’re almost guaranteed to have a flawless viewing experience, untainted by other people’s revelations or opinions. This is a dream!
1. stop fire2014-2017
I came to the show literally ten years too late and now I’m looking around for someone to talk to about it. The show is basically mad Menbut the dawn of the personal computing era. It tells the story of a core group of characters in the 1980s and early 1990s who try various things, screw up in spectacular ways, make friends, alienate friends, destroy various relationships, then rebuild them (and then destroy them again) )). The characters are so vivid that every time I turn on an episode I feel like I’m about to meet a talented but chaotic and self-destructive group of friends. marvelous. Streaming on AMC Plus. —Kelly Faircloth, Executive Editor
2. friday night lights2006-2011
In fact, this would have been peak viewing for me – my college years. But during that time, I was busy pursuing my dream of acting and was rehearsing or performing almost every night. Football never appealed to me either until I married my football-obsessed husband, and I was never a big kid doing teen drama. I prefer all happy situation comedies! But watching it now is just the best; it connects my husband and I (he must have watched it when it aired), and it’s the perfect mix of ridiculous drama and incredibly sweet moments. Stream on Netflix or Hulu. —Samantha Darby, senior editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment
3. stay up all night2011-2012
Who doesn’t love Christina Applegate and Will Arnett? I will wait. It’s a short-lived situation comedy about new parents trying to stay relevant. I watched this movie while on maternity leave with my second child and it suited me perfectly; the episodes were short and entertaining. It also makes a great bedtime show. Stream on Prime. ——Kate Auletta, Editor-in-Chief
4. black sail2014-2017
I started watching this because I wanted a silly historical drama to shut off my brain. While not lacking in bravado, I quickly realized that this show Way Better than I imagined. The play is set in the Golden Age of Piracy and focuses on the real history of pirates – Calico Jack and Anne Bonny! Blackbeard! Charles Venn! —and serves as a prequel to the greatest pirate novel ever written: treasure island. We meet Captain Flint as he attempts to find treasure and found a pirate republic in the Bahamas, while John “Long John” Silver soon discovers that his unexpected foray into piracy may just be his life’s calling. The story itself is engaging and exciting, but it’s the relationships between the lovingly drawn characters that you don’t want to miss. Stream on Netflix or Starz. —Jamie Kenney, deputy news and entertainment editor
5. sanditon2019-2023
This is classic masterpiece theater. It’s based on Jane Austen’s suicide note and it’s just a pure English soap opera. Come for the period costumes and picturesque British seaside, stay for the wit and joy of Jane Austen’s classic (even as it’s been adapted). Stream on Prime. — Kate Auletta
6. Number of episodes2011-2017
Sean and Beverley Lincoln, a married couple who had just won another BAFTA for their hit British series, were convinced by a Hollywood mogul to remake the show on a major television network in Los Angeles. It didn’t take them long to realize that Hollywood was going to fundamentally change the show, starting with the show’s lead character: once played by an old British man, the studio decided that it would now be played by Matt LeBlanc. Yes, Matt LeBlanc plays himself in what I dare say is his funniest role ever. This show is hilarious but heartfelt and of course there’s a lot more friends Cameo. Streaming on Paramount+. — Jamie Kenny
7. weird mom out2015-2017
As a brunette from Manhattan’s Upper East Side, I can relate (to some degree) to Jill Kargman’s role in this grossly underrated comedy. If you like a comedy in which a mother gets real and honest about the truly hilarious pain points of motherhood—even if she’s a wealthy New Yorker—you’ll love this. Stream on Prime. ——Kate Auletta
8. The Walking Dead2010-2022
Honestly, I missed so much TV that I will never watch again. However, as someone who has read the graphic novels that the show is based on, I started wanting to catch up on the episodes. It’s really good and you don’t have to have read the book to enjoy it. A police officer wakes up from a coma to find that the world has been ravaged by a virus that turns people into zombies. So, he goes to his family and wow, the story goes from there. I have great memories of having dinner with my boyfriend (now husband) after get off work. Streaming on Netflix. —Katie McPherson, associate editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment
9. the durrells2016-2019
The show, based on an autobiographical book series spanning four seasons, tells the story of a British widow who moves her family to Corfu for a change of pace. The cast is absolutely superb – Josh O’Connor, Keeley Hawes and Callum Woodhouse are among them – and the beauty of the scenery is like taking Xanax and sitting back and relaxing. This is a dreamy and fun show. Stream on Prime. ——Kate Auletta
10. the other two2019-2023
When Cary and Brooke’s teenage brother Chase skyrocket from internet celebrity to international stardom, the star-crossed duo try to hitch a ride on his own path to success. Stream on Max. — Jamie Kenny
11. play house2014-2017
I’m a fan of Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair. The real-life pals play best friends spending their 30s together, and the ups and downs that come with growing up and aging. It’s funny, easy to watch, and their comedic chemistry is magical. Stream on Prime. ——Kate Auletta
12. the Vampire Diaries2009-2017
Around this time I was basically over one tree hill and my other favorite high school dramas and deep dives into MTV’s reality shows, so I’m missing out the Vampire Diaries When it was on the CW (RIP). When I came home with my newborn baby, I watched the entire postpartum process. A high school girl begins to fall in love with an insanely sexy man and an even sexier brother, only to discover they are vampires and become entangled in a tangled web of (sorry) their otherworldly enemies. This is the perfect low-stakes drama for when you’re sleep-deprived and can’t emotionally handle an intense performance. For context, I watched this and heartland interchangeable at the time. Stream on Peacock or Max. —Katie McPherson
13. night manager2016
This adaptation of John le Carré’s novel stars Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston (Taylor Swift’s former actor). It’s suspenseful, riveting, and totally worth watching. While I watch almost any limited series, this is definitely in the top three in my book. Stream on Prime. ——Kate Auletta
14. comeback2005-2014
Lisa Kudrow stars as Valerie Cherish, a struggling, unemployed actress suffering from hysteria. if you like hacker Now, you’re going to want to see this. Stream on Max. ——Kate Auletta
15. secret city2016
You’ll find yourself saying, “I didn’t know they were Australian!” Watch the cast more times than you can count in this gripping limited spy drama. This is a great show to watch with your partner when you need a show that’s not too scary but suitable for boys. Streaming on Netflix. ——Kate Auletta
