10 Addictive TV Shows to Binge-Watch in One Weekend

Image: PBS

Ever browse through Netflix or iflix to look for something fun to watch without all the weekly commitments? As much as we love our series, some days we just don't have the time or energy to watch all five seasons in a week. That is why, we've compiled a list of amazing series you can binge-watch without spending too much time in front of the computer. Whether you're looking for a brief respite from your day-to-day or dedicating your weekend to binge on a new series, we've got you covered. Now, time to bid farewell to your social life.

#1 Stranger Things

Stranger Things is set in 1983 Indiana, where a young boy vanishes into thin air. As friends, family and local authorities search for answers, they unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries involving sinister government conspiracies and a strange little girl who seems to know where the lost boy is.

Image: The Verge

Approximate time commitment: 8 hours
Why watch this: Two words: Winona Ryder. Still not convinced? How about this – Stranger Things is set in the 80s, so naturally there are tonnes of 80s pop culture references in the series. From fashion, music, right down to the use of technology, the attention to detail in this series is miraculous. Besides, who doesn't love a good story that takes us back to the simpler times?
You'll like this if you love: Twin Peaks, Sense8, Hemlock Grove and The X-Files

#2 Sherlock

The quirky spin on Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic sleuth identifies him as a "high-functioning sociopath" in modern day London. Assisting him in his investigations is Afghanistan War veteran John Watson, who's introduced to Holmes by a mutual acquaintance.

Image: Entertainment Weekly

Approximate time commitment: 15 hours
Why watch this: Remember when the movie Sherlock Holmes was released in 2009 and we were convinced that no actor can play the titular character better than Robert Downey Jr? Boy, were we wrong. Not only does Benedict Cumberbatch make an excellent Sherlock Holmes, Martin Freeman plays the role as John Watson flawlessly. Together they make an unlikely couple who solve crimes and bring down notorious criminals.
You'll like this if you love: Elementary, Doctor Who and True Detective

#3 Master Of None

New Yorker Dev takes on pillars of maturity as he accepts his first big job, gets into a serious relationship, and busts sex offenders on the subway.

Image: Netflix

Approximate time commitment: 5 hours
Why watch this: The highlight of the show has got to be the episode where Dev, played by Aziz Ansari, introduces us to his real life parents on the show. Titled ‘Parents’, the episode explores Dev’s parents’ immigrant stories and the struggles they faced living in the US. By the end of the episode, all you want to do is pick up the phone and call your parents to say thank you for all the sacrifices they’ve made for you to be the person you are today.
You'll like this if you love: Girls, Love and Louie

#4 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Rescued after 15 years in a doomsday cult, Kimmy Schmidt decides to reclaim her life by venturing to New York, where she experiences everyday life with wide-eyed enthusiasm.

Image: The Independent

Approximate time commitment: 13 hours
Why watch this: Where do we even start? This Netflix original is, without a question, one of the best comedy series out there. Produced by Tina Fey, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is quirky, fun and energetic. With its amazing guest stars and hilarious one-liners (Hashbrown, no filter!), it’s the perfect series to watch when you’re feeling down. And of course, who can ever forget Tituss Burgess and his flamboyant character? Only he can make a song out of Pinot Noir and sound fabulous in it.
You'll like this if you love: 30 Rock, New Girl, Modern Family and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

#5 Jessica Jones

Following a tragic end to her brief superhero career, Jessica Jones tries to rebuild her life as a private investigator, dealing with cases involving people with special abilities in New York City while trying to run away from her past.

Image: Screen Rant

Approximate time commitment: 11 hours
Why watch this: Jessica Jones is anything but your typical superhero. She's an alcoholic, suffers from PTSD, doesn't like being a superhero and on top of that, has a psychotic stalker who watches her every move. The amazing thing about Jessica Jones is that it’s not a show to watch if you’re looking for an escape. The plot is completely immersive and after watching each episode, you’d want to find out what’s going to happen next. Which is why, Jessica Jones makes the perfect show to binge on.
You'll like this if you love: Daredevil, Agent Carter, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Gotham and Arrow

#6 Black Mirror

Featuring stand-alone dramas – sharp, suspenseful, satirical tales that explore techno-paranoia – Black Mirror is a contemporary reworking of The Twilight Zone with stories that tap into the collective unease about the modern world.

Image: Indie Wire

Approximate time commitment: 13 hours
Why watch this: Ever feel like you deserve more 'likes' for a particular post on Instagram? Suspect that someone has hacked into your webcam? We've been there. Black Mirror shows the dark side of technology with each episode exploring a different facet of the rapidly changing face of the tech world. You’ll be guaranteed to be extra cautious with the gadgets around you after watching this.
You'll like this if you love: The Twilight Zone, Humans, Dead Set, The Returned and How TV Ruined Your Life

#7 Better Call Saul

Before he was Saul Goodman, he was Jimmy McGill, a small-time attorney hustling to make a name for him. He's a forceful champion for his low-income clients, an underdog whose morals and ambitions often clash.

Image: Netflix

Approximate time commitment: 16 hours
Why watch this: It's the series that every Breaking Bad fan has been waiting for. When Bob Odenkirk's Saul Goodman was introduced in Breaking Bad years ago, audiences fell in love with this shady lawyer instantly. On one hand, he's a good-hearted lawyer who wished nothing but the best for his clients, but on the other hand, Saul will do whatever it takes to win his cases, even if it's the illegal way.
You'll like this if you love: Breaking Bad, The Good Wife, Suit and Damages

#8 Narcos

This Netflix original takes on the infamous Madelin drug cartel, following the rise and fall of Colombian kingpin Pablo Escobar and the Drug Enforcement Agency agents hunting him.

Image: Hollywood Reporter

Approximate time commitment: 16 hours
Why watch this: Pablo Escobar's story has been told many times in various different versions, but none has stayed as truthful as this (sorry Benecio del Toro, you just can't squeeze the story of Pablo Escobar into a two-hour long movie). Two seasons in, Narcos still manages to deliver all the gritty minutiae we'd been missing out on without dreading the storyline.
You'll like this if you love: The Wire, Breaking Bad, Mr Robot and Sons of Anarchy

#9 Luther

Luther is a brilliant but emotionally impulsive detective who is tormented by the dark side of humanity while hunting down criminals. Once the self-destructive detective knows the killer's identity, it becomes a psychological duel between predator and prey.

Image: The Huffington Post

Approximate time commitment: 15 hours
Why watch this: The premise of Luther is unlike the usual police drama formula. The guilty party here is always apparent from the beginning because Luther doesn't want you to guess who the killer is; instead, they want you to find out how the killer did it. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what makes the show thrilling and suspenseful. And come on, it's Idris Elba. What more reasons do you want?
You'll like this if you love: Sherlock, Broadchurch, Happy Valley, The Fall and The Wire

#10 Making A Murderer

Filmed over a 10-year period, Making a Murderer is an unprecedented real-life thriller about a DNA exoneree who, while in the midst of exposing corruption in local law enforcement, finds himself the prime suspect in a grisly new crime. The series takes viewers inside a high-stakes criminal case where reputation is everything and things are never as they appear.