Prior to 2020, finding time to finally start watching season 1 of a long-running TV series seemed more daunting than the line at Trader Joe’s. But now that you’re likely still home more often than not, why not allow yourself to be sucked into a program you might normally feel guilty about watching? From family-friendly baking competitions to trashy dating shows, there’s a binge-worthy series for everyone.
RuPaul’s Drag Race
VH1
RuPaul’s Drag Race is like all your favorite reality competitions combined—only fiercer. A group of queens battle it out to be crowned America’s next drag superstar by showing off their makeup, singing, dancing, modeling, sewing, acting, lip-syncing, comedy, and celebrity impersonation skills. There’s also tons of juicy drama and heartfelt discussions about acceptance and social issues. Drag Race has introduced the likes of Shangela and Trixie Mattel, who’ve gone on to mainstream success, and helped popularize slang that has gagged the pop culture lexicon. (Ever spilled tea, thrown shade, or read someone for filth? Yas, queen. Werk!) We recommend starting from the very beginning, but don’t let the hazy filter of season 1 cloud your judgment; the show only gets better with age. And, of course, if you’re not also watching the companion series Untucked (where the best fights happen), you’re only getting half the story. Seasons 1–8 are available on Hulu, while seasons 1–12 are available on Paramount+ with membership. —Jillian Sederholm
Love Island
Colin Young-Wolff/CBS
We understand that recommending binging something that both celebrates travel and getting as close to another human being as possible might seem like an odd choice in these strange and unprecedented times, but Love Island is so ludicrously fun and addictive that it’s worth any FOMO that comes along with it. Head to Hulu and opt for the U.K. (and original) version of this sexy series, but be sure to turn on closed captions or you’ll get lost trying to decipher regional accents. With seven seasons and up to 50 episodes to get through, and oh so many ridiculous characters, catchphrases, and catastrophes along the way, there’s probably more fun to be had watching this bevy of beauties fail at finding love than you would’ve had on your COVID-canceled trip to Mexico, anyway. Trust us, babes, you’ll be declaring “I’m loyal” in no time. —Ruth Kinane
The Great British Baking Show
BBC
The only thing better than binge-eating freshly baked goods, is binge-watching people whip up freshly baked goods, so put your own banana bread baking on hold and pop on an episode of The Great British Baking Show (or Bake Off, for true fans—if you know, you know). With five seasons available to stream on Netflix (in addition to four special two-episode seasons of holiday bakes), your appetite for wholesome kitchen content should be appeased for at least a week as you gorge yourself on bread, dessert, and pastry weeks with (the fabulously named) Paul Hollywood and company. Watch in awe as a tent full of quintessentially British bakers fold, whisk, and proof their way through rigorous baking challenges in hopes of being crowned star baker. It’s a jolly good time. —RK
Survivor
The cast of ‘Survivor: Winners at War’.
Robert Voets/CBS
Never has it been more important to know how to thrive on your own than during the pandemic, so why not learn how to outwit, outplay, and outlast from the best? One of the first reality competition shows to hit the airwaves, Survivor pits contestants against one another in challenges that test their mental and physical limits. The show’s 40th season, Survivor: Winners at War, featured some of the most impressive contestants to ever play the game over the show’s impressive run—and all seasons are currently streaming on Paramount+. Once you’re hooked, catch up on all of EW’s Survivor coverage here. The tribe has spoken. —OS
90 Day Fiancé
TLC
If you haven’t discovered the hot mess express that is TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé and its many spin-offs (Before the 90 Days, Happily Ever After, What Now?, The Other Way, etc.), now’s your chance to hop on board! The original series is a social experiment that follows international couples who, after securing a K-1 visa, are brought together in the United States, where they attempt to work through cultural differences, determine if their love is real, and have just 90 days to wed. Watch 90 Day Fiancé (and other iterations of the show on TLC.com with your cable subscription, or on Discovery+ with membership), to get relationship tips from couples who have never met in person to apply to your own dating app matches. —OS
Queer Eye
Netflix
While some weren’t sure rebooting Queer Eye in 2018 was a good idea, the adorable fivesome of Antoni Porowski (food), Tan France (fashion), Karamo Brown (culture), Bobby Berk (interior design), and Jonathan Van Ness (grooming) stole America’s hearts. The Queer Eye team has made us bawl more times than we can count as they uncover the deep-seated issues in their make-better subjects’ lives (and sometimes our own) that keep them from being the best they can be. Travel with the Emmy-nominated Fab Five to Atlanta, Japan, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Austin as every heartfelt tearjerker is available on Netflix. No avocados required. —OS
Are You the One?
MTV
MTV’s Are You the One? is another dating show, but this one secretly pairs contestants into couples using an algorithm consisting of in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and compatibility testing to help a group of singles find “the one”—while living together in paradise, of course. Unlike our other binge suggestions, this series has one season in particular that makes for a fascinating rewatch: season 8 featured an all-sexually fluid cast, which was a groundbreaking change to the dating game format. Check out all 8 seasons on Paramount+. —OS
Nailed It!
Netflix
For those of you who can’t stop posting dinner pics on Instagram while learning how to cook, Nailed It! will make you feel right at home. In this baking competition series, rookie bakers try their hardest to make professional-level pastries, usually with mediocre to disastrous results. Interestingly, instead of berating the bakers and their creations, the judges (comedian Nicole Byer, renowned chocolatier and pastry chef Jacques Torres, and a celebrity guest) are kind and encouraging. It’s the baker’s support group you never knew you needed! Watch all 6 seasons on Netflix, in addition to 2 seasons of Nailed It! holiday episodes and Nailed It! spin-offs from around the world. —OS
Below Deck
Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo
If you’re bummed that your summer vacation plans got canceled, let Bravo’s Below Deck whisk you away to exotic locales—and suck you into all of its drama. The series chronicles the lives of a good-looking yacht crew that caters to rich (and sometimes famous) guests during their luxurious adventures at sea—whether cruising around Croatia, Thailand, the South of France, or the Bahamas. In a recent episode of the franchise’s newest installment—Below Deck Sailing Yacht—Captain Glenn and chief stew Jenna got into it after he told her to “tone it down” when it came to her PDA with chef Adam, which is probably very relatable for anyone who’s been in quarantine with a couple. Binge all nine seasons of Below Deck, seasons 1–3 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, and all six seasons of Below Deck Mediterranean on Bravo.com or Peacock. This streaming service also offers the Peacock Original, Below Deck Down Under. —OS
