With hundreds of television shows readily available through streaming platforms, figuring out what to watch can take as much time as actually watching a show.
Between balancing school, work and a social life, a student’s free time is limited and they do not want to waste what little leisure time they have mindlessly scrolling through pages of recommendations on Netflix. To take the guesswork out of it, here’s five TV shows that are worth your while.
“Breaking Bad”
“Breaking Bad” follows a high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, who is struggling to make ends meet with a baby on the way and a son with cerebral palsy. To make matters worse, White is diagnosed with lung cancer, further exacerbating his financial situation. In an effort to supplement his teacher’s salary, White begins making and selling meth with one of his former students, Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul.
Brynn Swavely, a junior media studies major from Reading, Pennsylvania, said she became hooked on “Breaking Bad” because Vincent Gilligan, the show’s creator, is “an excellent storyteller.” The character development throughout the show also kept Swavely invested and sparked her interest in similar shows like “Ozark” and “Good Girls.” As for her favorite genre of TV, Swavely alternates between light comedies and shows with a darker subject matter, like “Breaking Bad.”
“Life is all about balance, right?” Swavely said.
“Breaking Bad” can be found on Netflix.
“The Bachelor”
The staple of reality television, “The Bachelor” features an “eligible bachelor” who dates a series of women over the course of several weeks with the end goal of finding “true love.” The show has been running for 20 years and is currently on its 26th season.
Kennedy Thurgood, a senior recreation and sports management major from Clearfield, loves the cheesy nature of the show. Thurgood said “The Bachelor” manages to tie together romance and “petty drama” in a way that keeps her coming back for more.
“The Bachelor” is the perfect show to put on while you’re doing homework or cleaning your apartment. The show serves as great background noise when you want to watch something, but don’t want to devote 100% of your attention to it.
If you want to find out who gets the coveted final rose, you can stream “The Bachelor” on Hulu and HBO Max.
“Fleabag”
Based on Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s play of the same name, “Fleabag” tells the story of how a woman, only known as Fleabag, learns how to deal with loss and love while grieving a recent tragedy. Along her journey of healing, she rejects anyone who offers her help while managing to “keep up her bravado through it all.”
Oliver Stimston, a junior integrated studies major from Athens, Georgia, was drawn to “Fleabag” for the show’s realistic and honest portrayal of the faults of being human.
“It’s intimate and raw, like you’re reading someone’s diary,” Stimston said.
“Fleabag” is clearly a hit with Stimston and general audiences alike due to its rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
If you’re interested in watching “Fleabag,” the show can be found on Amazon Video.
“One Tree Hill”
The classic high school drama, “One Tree Hill,” chronicles the lives of half-brothers, Lucas and Nathan Scott, as they navigate playing on the same basketball team while dealing with the drama that arises from their romantic relationships.
Megan Webb, a junior media studies major from Herriman, said she thoroughly enjoys “One Tree Hill” because “it’s kind of like two shows in one.” The series is split into two different periods of time in the characters’ lives, with the first four seasons being set in high school and the last five seasons following the characters as they enter adulthood. This structure of the show provides viewers with a more fleshed out version of the characters over the course of nine seasons.
“The development of the characters throughout the show is incredible,” Webb said.
You can watch “One Tree Hill” on Hulu and HBOMax.
“Hunters”
Starring Al Pacino and Logan Lerman, “Hunters” follows a group of Nazi hunters in New York City who uncover that “hundreds of high-ranking Nazi officials” are living in the U.S. under aliases. After discovering the Nazis’ plans to create “a Fourth Reich,” the hunters make it their mission to bring them to justice and disrupt their plans.
Hannah Kenrick, a junior digital film major from Hartland, Michigan, enjoyed the show for two reasons—she loves shows set in the ’70s and the plot of “Hunters” is like nothing she has seen before. No spoilers, but Kenrick shared that the show features a great twist at the end that makes you look at the season differently. “Hunters” could be categorized as a suspense/thriller show, which is Kenrick’s favorite genre because it keeps her on her toes.
“Instead of just watching it, you feel like you’re participating in it because you’re just waiting for the next thing to happen,” Kenrick said.
“Hunters” is currently on Amazon Video.
No matter which show you decide to add to your must-watch list, gathering a group of your friends and/or roommates and hosting a watch party can help elevate your viewing experience.
