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“Big Little Lies”
Image Credit: HBO Where to Watch: HBO Go
What It Is: This mystery based on the novel by Liane Moriarty, features a killer all-star cast, including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgård, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, and Adam Scott. Season 2 is coming soon, so catch up or get a refresher now.
What Makes This a Good Binge: It’s only seven episodes, and the tension ratchets up to a fantastic costume party. Gorgeous photography also makes this a pleasant escape, despite the more intense subject matter.Read IndieWire’s full Season 1 review.
Additional coverage:
‘Big Little Lies’ Season 2 trailer — Watch‘Big Little Lies’ Planning to End After Upcoming Season 2, Says Writer David E. Kelley
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“Dark”
Image Credit: Julia Terjung/Netflix Where to Watch: Netflix
What It Is: It’s a creepy German sci-fi series about some strange things that go down in a small town. You might get a bit confused trying to tell all these German people apart, but the payoff is rich and bizarre.
What Makes This a Good Binge: The 10-episode series takes time to get into, but once the hooks are in, it’s addictive viewing just to see what odd turns the show takes next. Season 2 is coming this summer.Read IndieWire’s full review.
Additional coverage:
‘Dark’ Season 2: Series Creators on Where Things Could Go and the Show’s Crazy Family TreesSubtitles vs. Dubbed: Critics Debate How They Prefer Their Foreign-Language TV
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“Designated Survivor”
Image Credit: Netflix Where to Watch: Netflix
What It Is: This political thriller stars Kiefer Sutherland as the mild-manned HUD Secretary who suddenly becomes the President of the United States when everyone else in the presidential line of succession ahead of him dies.
What Makes This a Good Binge: OK maybe 43 episodes isn’t a quick binge, but this is a solid show full of action worth investing time into especially since the show moved from ABC to Netflix, which is where Season 3 will debut in June.‘Designated Survivor’ Trailer: Season 3 of Kiefer Sutherland Show Gets First Look at Netflix
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“A Discovery of Witches”
Image Credit: Joss Barrett/SundanceNow/Shudder Where to Watch: AMC.com and BBCAmerica.com with cable subscription, Sundance Now, Shudder
What It Is: Based on the novel of the same name, this is a sexy supernatural romp with a forbidden romance between a newly awakened witch and a vampire played by Matthew Goode.
What Makes This a Good Binge: Matthew Goode. Need more? It’s only eight episodes, with a second season already ordered. -
“Good Trouble”
Image Credit: Freeform/Beth Dubber Where to Watch: Hulu, Freeform.go.com (free)
What It Is: Although this is a spin-off of the late-lamented series “The Fosters,” no knowledge of that show is necessary to enjoy this drama about two sisters — Callie Adams Foster (Maia Mitchell) and Mariana Adams Foster (Cierra Ramirez) — who move to Los Angeles and move into a communal living apartment.
What Makes This a Good Binge: It’s a quick 13 episodes in Season 1 full of drama, sex, and even an episode with Noah Centineo. Season 2 arrives mid-June. -
“Hanna”
Image Credit: Jonathan Prime/Amazon Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
What It Is: This serialized adaptation of the 2011 film of the same name tracks a 15-year-old girl raised in the wilderness to be a lethal, possibly even superhuman, killing machine.
What Makes This a Good Binge: Eight episodes. Lots of action. Joel Kinnaman punches a dude in the face while he’s inside a furnace.Read IndieWire’s full review.
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“I Am the Night”
Image Credit: TNT Where to Watch: Hulu
What It Is: Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman”) produced and directed this limited series that stars Chris Pine as a reporter who encounters Fauna Hodel, a young girl given up for adoption, during his investigation into a man connected to the Black Dahlia slaying.
What Makes This a Good Binge: It’s a limited series, so why not check out the six episodes?Read IndieWire’s full review.
Additional coverage:
Chris Pine Helped Create His ‘I Am the Night’ Character, Even When He Didn’t Know It‘I Am the Night’: Chris Pine Breaks Down the ‘Euphoria of Killing’ at TNT’s Wild FYC Event
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“I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Where to Watch: Netflix
What It Is: It’s a demented yet beautifully absurd sketch comedy show that’s produced by The Lonely Island — Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone — which is a good indicator of the type of simple, outrageous humor in store.
What Makes This a Good Binge: Six episodes less than 20 minutes each. It’s more snack than binge, and yet still satisfying.Read IndieWire’s full review.
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“Lodge 49”
Image Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/AMC Where to Watch: Hulu
What It Is: A cheerful ex-surfer named Dud (Wyatt Russell) becomes a drifter after his father’s death and the collapse of the family business. He joins a mysterious fraternal order known as Lodge 49.
What Makes This a Good Binge: The 10 episodes are gentle, congenial viewing that occasionally feels profound or magical.Read IndieWire’s full review.
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“Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries”
Image Credit: Acorn TV Where to Watch: Acorn.tv
What It Is: This spin-off of the 1920s-set “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” involves Phryne’s niece Peregrine who solves mysteries in the 1960s and looks very mod doing it.
What Makes This a Good Binge: It’s a lighthearted four feature-length episodes, perfect to watch in the evenings over the course of your week.Read IndieWire’s full review.
Additional coverage:
‘Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries’: How the Youthquake Influenced Costumer Maria Pattison‘Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries’: Geraldine Hakewill Has a Blast in the Past
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“The Other Two”
Image Credit: Comedy Central Where to Watch: Comedy Central online https://www.cc.com/shows/the-other-two
What It Is: This delightful comedy focuses on adult siblings Cary and Brooke, who are struggling to make it in showbiz when their younger teenage brother Chase Dreams becomes a viral sensation overnight.
What Makes This a Good Binge: These 10 30-minute episodes are absurd and snort-out-loud funny, told with love and a cheeky insight into pop culture.Read IndieWire’s full review.
Additional coverage:
‘The Other Two’: Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider Make Family Heartfelt and Hilarious -
“The Passage”
Image Credit: Steve Dietl/FOX Where to Watch: Hulu
What It Is: In this adaptation of Justin Cronin’s novel, Mark-Paul Gosselaar plays a federal agent befriends a 10-year-old tomboy named Amy (scene-stealer Saniyya Sidney), who becomes the “most important girl in the world” when a vampire epidemic threatens to break free.
What Makes This a Good Binge: Its 10 episodes move briskly, and it’s still creepy although less gory than “The Walking Dead.” FOX canceled the series after this season.Read IndieWire’s full review.
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“Pose”
Image Credit: FX Where to Watch: Netflix
What It Is: This acclaimed FX series is set in New York’s late 1980s ball culture and stars an unprecedented number of LGBTQ+ actors and transgender actors in lead roles, including MJ Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, and more. Evan Peters, Kate Mara, and James Van Der Beek also star.
What Makes This a Good Binge: There’s plenty of artistic flair, poise, confidence, and even soapy drama in what ends up being a heartfelt eight-episode first season. The show returns to FX in June.Read IndieWire’s full review.
Additional coverage:
‘Pose’ Season 2 Will Culminate With the Historic Release of Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ in 1990 -
“Ramy”
Image Credit: Hulu Where to Watch: Hulu
What It Is: Ramy Hassan (Ramy Youssef) is a Egyptian-American whose New Jersey life is pulled between old-school Muslim traditions and the millennial mindset. The witty and compassionate series is co-produced by Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, and Bridget Bedard.
What Makes This a Good Binge: Insightful and hilarious, this is an easy 10-episode watch at less than half an hour each.Read IndieWire’s full review.
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“State of the Union”
Image Credit: Marc Hom/SundanceTV Where to Watch: SundanceTV.com with cable subscription, Sundance Now
What It Is: Penned by Nick Hornby and directed by Stephen Frears, this scathing comedy examines the relationship of Louise and Tom (Rosamund Pike, Chris O’Dowd) who meet in a pub immediately before their weekly marital therapy session.
What Makes This a Good Binge: Consider this an amuse bouche. The 10 episodes only clock in at 11 minutes or less apiece.Read IndieWire’s full review.
Additional coverage:
‘State of the Union’: Nick Hornby on Covering an Entire Relationship in 10 Episodes
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“Tuca & Bertie”
Image Credit: Netflix Where to Watch: Netflix
What It Is: “BoJack Horseman” fans should take note that cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt has taken her animal-centric sensibilities to her own project starring a carefree toucan named Tuca (Tiffany Haddish) and her anxious songbird pal Bertie (Ali Wong) in a sweetly honest and yet raucously imaginative romp.
What Makes This a Good Binge: The 10, half-hour episodes go down easy once they find their groove after the first installment. Not only is it bizarrely, awkwardly hilarious, but it’s also a playful animated treat full of visual and meta jokes.Read IndieWire’s full review.
Additional coverage:
‘Tuca and Bertie’: The Amazing Origins of an Adult Netflix Cartoon — and Its Inspiring Artist‘Tuca and Bertie’ Voice Cast Guide: From Tiffany Haddish to Richard E. Grant
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“Wayne”
Image Credit: YouTube Premium Where to Watch: YouTube Premium (first episode is free)
What It Is: This “Bonnie and Clyde” for the teen set is very much “The End of the Fucking World” meets “Deadpool.”
What Makes This a Good Binge: Its mix of profane, thoughtful, sweet, and bloody makes for a completely engrossing, 10 half-episode binge.Read IndieWire’s full review.
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Previous Binge Suggestions:
Image Credit: Amazon, YouTube, Netflix June 2018
August 2018
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February 2019
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