Look, we're not gonna' sugarcoat it, things are looking pretty rough out there. Thanks to the rapidly-spreading coronavirus, we've basically hit the part of the movie where a scientist played by, like, Thomas Middleditch is saying "stay home or we won't be able to contain this thing" and an army general played by a Clancy Brown-type is like "get this nerd out of my war room." Don't listen to the Clancy Brown-type, folks. Listen to Hollywood's three dads, Tom Hanks, Idris Elba, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Take this seriously. Stay home if you can.

And while you're home, think of the one silver lining: You have so much time to catch up on all that pop culture. If the sheer amount of choices is overwhelming, we've put together 15 series available to stream right now that you should finally check off your list. Some have an absurd amount of episodes to keep you busy. Some are basically stand-ins for socializing. Some are immersive enough to make you forget what's outside your window. What they all are is great, and well-worth a distraction binge. So, without further ado, here are the 15 best TV shows you should finally watch while you're stuck at home.

The Sopranos

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Image via HBO

Creator: David Chase

Cast: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, Dominic Chianese

Streaming On: HBO GO, HBO NOW, Amazon Prime

Now that you've got the time, why not check out arguably the best television series ever made? While any show that ran from 1999 to 2007 runs the risk of feeling dated, David Chase's suburban mobster epic has aged like a fine Italian wine. So much of that is down to the timeless power of James Gandolfini's performance as Tony Soprano, a crime boss torn between his family and his crew who seeks therapy with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (the equally brilliant Lorraine Bracco). It's a marvel to watch to this day, a role that showed off every one of Gandolfini's many strengths. Unlike a lot of your familiar explosive mafioso roles, Tony was always set a pulse-throbbing seethe—something very recognizable to anyone with anxiety—so when he did explode, it was doubly terrifying. It helps, too, that Tony was surrounded by some of the sharpest writing in TV history, along with a rotating cast of all-time great supporting characters. Be like Kumail Nanjiani, make this one a priority. --Vinnie Mancuso

 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Image via 20th Century Fox
Image via 20th Century Fox

Creator: Joss Whedon

Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head

Streaming On: Hulu

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is generally and deservedly considered one of the best TV‌ shows of all time; a teen drama that was ahead of its time, redefining the way television narratives were told, from the snappy dialogue of the ensemble-driven writing to the structuring of the seasons, and of course, the depiction of kickass women and paving the way for LGBTQ+ characters on TV. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Buffy, though, is how dang well it holds up, and how alive it still feels decades after it went off the air.

A perfectly blended cocktail of horror, humor, soapy romance, coming-of-age drama, and countless other genres as each new monster of the week and big-bad opened the writing team to new opportunities, Buffy the Vampire is still an absolute hoot to watch that, once again, feels way ahead of its time in terms of how downright bingeable it is. The only downside? With an old-school broadcast episode count/length, the thing is a dang beast to get through. Which makes these times of isolation and social distancing the perfect time to finally sit down for all 144 episodes. And in these apocalyptic times, who better to bring you comfort than the Scooby Gang, true blue survivors, who never let a little thing like the end of the world in get the way of getting on with their lives. – Haleigh Foutch

Schitt's Creek

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Image via PopTV

Creators: Eugene Levy, Dan Levy

Cast: Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Levy, Annie Murphy

Streaming On: Netflix

It took a while for the world to hop on the Schitt’s Creek train, but that certainly wasn’t due to the show’s quality. This CBC sitcom airs on Pop TV, but really came to prominence once its episodes hit Netflix. The uproariously funny comedy tells the story of a wealthy family who loses everything when they’re defrauded by their business manager. The only thing they own is a tiny, backwoods town the patriarch (Eugene Levy) bought for his son (Daniel Levy) as a joke gift back in 1991, and they’re then forced to move there and live out of a motel. They slowly begin to accept and even love their new town, despite the many quirks of both the townsfolk and the Schitts themselves. What sets Schitt’s Creek apart is that it’s absolutely devoid of cynicism. It’s hilarious but never in a mean-spirited way, paving a comedic path forward through positivity. That doesn’t mean it’s lacking in drama, but this show will never leave you feeling angry, upset, or frustrated. This is pure, unfiltered joy delivered courtesy of Catherine O’Hara and Co. – Adam Chitwood

 

The Magicians

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Image via Syfy

Creators: Sera Gamble, John McNamara

Cast: Jason Ralph, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Hale Appleman, Arjun Gupta, Summer Bishil, Jade Tailor, Stella Maeve

Streaming On: Netflix

The Magicians is one of the most rewarding "just keep watching" scenarios in recent years. Toward the tail-end of season 1, what started as a perfectly fine adaptation of Lev Grossman's fantasy trilogy magically morphed into one of the wildest, least-fucks-given shows on TV. Appropriately billed as an R-rated Harry Potter, The Magicians revolves around Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph), a fantasy novel nerd who finds himself enrolled in the very-real Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy. That's the jumping-off point for a story that hops between universes, cheats death, pulls off a few incredible musical numbers, and does it all with an incredibly human heart at its center. The most magical thing about The Magicians is that it's never afraid to take on the most serious subject matter, and the insanity of everything around it only makes it hit that much harder. Syfy recently announced season 5 would be the show's last, so this is the perfect time to take it all in. --Vinnie Mancuso

Lost

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Image via ABC

Creators: Jeffrey Lieber, JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof

Cast: Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway, Terry O'Quinn, Dominic Monaghan, Naveen Andrews, Harold Perrineau, Yunkin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Emilie de Ravin

Streaming On: Hulu

Listen, the conversation around Lost always circles back around to its ending, which you could charitably call divisive. But ABC's long-running plot-a-palooza is the best example of TV series as thrill ride; even if you know the track you'll end on, the sheer amount of twists, loops, and sudden drops in-between make Lost a more-than-worthy binge. The show follows the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, which crashlanded on a remote island that plays host to dozens of unexplainable phenomena, including (but not limited to) a smoke monster, a polar bear, an atomic bomb, a few time holes, and a shady research organization delving into the most dangerous corners of fringe science. If you're trapped inside and want something to straight-up devour, Lost and its constant stream of episode-ending shockers is your best bet. --Vinnie Mancuso

Superstore

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Image via NBC

Creator: Justin Spitzer

Cast: America Ferrera, Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Nico Santos, Nichole Bloom, Mark McKinney, Kaliko Kauahi

Streaming On: Hulu

If you need something that will straight up make you feel good, keep you giggling, and deliver some of the most unforgettable characters on TV right now, turn towards Superstore. The NBC‌ workplace comedy has been topping “Most Underrated TV‌ Shows” lists for years and I‌ finally caught wise when‌ I‌ got the flu earlier this year and let the show’s giddy silliness keep me afloat through the rough patches. (That said, if you are dealing with any sort of bronchial illness, this show will make you laugh so hard you wind up in a coughing fit and that’s a warning I‌ can give from personal experience.) Set in the sparkling linoleum aisles of a Walmart-esque discount superstore, the series follows the diverse set of employees therein, an absolutely hilarious buncha weirdos that are also impossibly lovable and full of heart. There’s some real heft hidden between the laughs too, heartfelt character arcs and clever critiques of corporate culture, and for my money, Superstore has the best cutaway gags on TV. – Haleigh Foutch

Star Wars Clone Wars / Rebels

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Image via Lucasfilm, Disney+

Creators: George Lucas (Clone Wars) / Simon Kinberg, Dave Filoni, Carrie Beck (Rebels)

Cast: Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor, Ashley Eckstein, Taylor Gray, Freddie Prinze Jr., Vanessa Marshall, Tiya Sircar, Steve Blum

Streaming On: Disney+

Once you've blown through the 11 Star Wars films for the dozenth time and purged that malware you got trying to track down the Holiday Special, you'll be delighted to learn that there are still 200 more animated episodes filled with stories of a galaxy far, far away. The Clone Wars—which started as a 2008 film, also available on Disney+—takes place in the three-year gap between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, giving you all the Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) banter you can handle. (While also introducing Ashley Eckstein's instantly-iconic padawan, Ahsoka Tano.) Rebels is set five years before A New Hope and follows a rag-tag Resistance outlet as they try and hamstring the Empire at every turn. Both shows are basically a dream for both older fans and newcomers, because while they do add immensely satisfying layers to familiar faces—especially the done-dirty Phantom Menace villain Darth Maul—Clone Wars and Rebels also aren't afraid to create entirely new characters all their own. Stories spearheaded by executive-producer Dave Filoni, in particular, delve into the trippier parts of Jedi lore. Beware, it will send you down a delightful Wiki rabbit hole. --Vinnie Mancuso

Breaking Bad

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Image via AMC

Creator: Vince Gilligan

Cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, Bob Odenkirk

Streaming On: Netflix

I feel like Breaking Bad has probably achieved such a status in pop culture that it's now a daunting task for anyone who's even remotely interested in checking it out from the beginning. I highly suggest that you do. It's one of the best TV shows in recent memory, in the running for the best TV drama of all time. Even after concluding nearly seven years ago, Breaking Bad remains a popular title thanks to movie treatmentsprequel series, and books exploring every aspect of Vince Gilligan's acclaimed AMC series (one of which just so happened to be written by yours truly.) So I understand why you might be hesitant to dive into the murky waters of the meth-making series, but here's why you absolutely should:
Breaking Bad is about a lot of things: The criminal underworld; illegal drug manufacture, distribution, and dealing; the long arm of the law when it comes to enforcement and investigation; and expert-level montages which may or may not occasionally feature dub-step tracks. Okay, ignore that last one; it happens rarely. What Breaking Bad is really about is the descent into villainy on the part of mild-mannered Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he becomes the nefarious drug kingpin Heisenberg, and his attempt to corrupt small-time crook and big-hearted doofus Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) in one of the best on-screen pairings ever devised. You can enjoy Breaking Bad for a lot of reasons--the science, the editing, the acting, the aforementioned dub-step--but it really is a total package, a rare TV show that somehow gets better with each and every season, peaking in not just the final season but the finale itself. This one is truly not to be missed. - Dave Trumbore

The Leftovers

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Image via HBO

Creators: Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta

Cast: Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon, Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler

Streaming On: HBO NOW, HBO GO

Ok, yes, The Leftovers may be a bit grim given the general sense of “Oh my god, help! What the hell are we gonna do? Where’s all the damned toilet paper?!!” simmering panic right now. But Damon Lindelof’s semi-apocalyptic drama is an essential piece of television that some would call the best TV series of the 21st Century so far (It’s me, I would call it that.) It’s also pretty timely, considering the plot hinges around the question: what would happen if 2% of the world’s population disappeared? Which makes it a damn fine series to show any one who think’s COVID-19’s mortality rate isn’t a big deal. But most importantly, of all The Leftovers is a stunning exploration of faith, fear, family, and the fight for some kind of meaning in a world that will never give you answers. The Leftovers is all about how the answers never mattered in the first place. Since it’s Lindelof, it’s also one of the greatest love stories ever told, with some of the most outright bizarre narrative devices and characters arcs you’ll find on prestige TV.

I could honestly rave about the brilliance of The Leftovers forever, so let’s just say, if you were plagued by people telling you, “Oh you have got to watch The Leftovers” during last year’s phenomenal Watchmen adaptation, or if you’re looking for a show that stares straight in the face of bleak tragedy and finds meaning in the meaninglessness, now is the perfect time to finally cross The Leftovers off the list. One more thing, as a warning: the first season is brutal and relentlessly dark. So much so that I almost never watched another episode. That changes, and in the second season, The Leftovers evolves into something weirder, more tender and wondrous than‌ I ever could have imagined. Stick with it, I‌ promise it’s worth it. – Haleigh‌ Foutch

Supernatural

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Image via The CW

Creator: Eric Kripke

Cast: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Katie Cassidy, Lauren Cohan, Misha Collins, Mark A. Sheppard, Mark Pellegrino

Streaming On: Netflix

A month ago, the thought of diving into the CW's 15-season, 319-episode bedrock was more terrifying than any ghost or ghoulie featured on Supernatural. But now? We've got the time! For 15 years, Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles led the series as Dean and Sam Winchester, brothers who travel the country in a Chevrolet Impala hunting down supernatural creatures. (Think The X-Files with all of the CW's trappings and you've got it.) Supernatural remained a bonafide hit for so long partly because of the neverending charms of its two leads. But it also remained one step ahead of becoming stale by never being afraid to get ridiculous as hell, graduating from standard monsters-of-the-week to fourth wall breaks, black and white horror homages, shape-shifting pagan gods disguised as Paris Hilton, and a crossover episode with Scooby-Doo. You'll be busy with Supernatural for a long time, but you'll never be bored. --Vinnie Mancuso

Los Espookys

Image via HBO

Creators: Fred Armisen, Ana Fabrega, Julio Torres

Cast: Bernardo Velasco, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Ana Fabrega, Julio Torres, Fred Armisen

Streaming On: HBO NOW, HBO GO

Los Espookys is far and away HBO's most delightful hidden gem, a primarily Spanish-language comedy that plays like gold for horror nerds, misfits, and fans of the casually surreal. The series is basically a reverse Scooby-Doo, following a quartet of horror enthusiasts—Renaldo (Bernardo Velasco), Ursula (Cassandra Ciangherotti), Andres (Julio Torres), and Tati (Ana Fabrega)—who conjure up hauntings for paying clients. Genuinely funny and filled with unexplained tinges of the supernatural, Los Espookys is the definition of a quick comfort watch, six episodes of wonderful weirdness that will have you screaming for a season 2. (Which, surprise, you will get! Eventually!) --Vinnie Mancuso

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

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Image via Netflix

Creators: Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews (based on characters by Jim Henson)

Cast: Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Isaacs, Mark Hamill, Simon Pegg, Nathalie Emmanuel, Benedict Wong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Andy Samberg, Helena Bonham Carter

Streaming On: Netflix

Practically no one watched Netflix's prequel series to Jim Henson's generation-defining classic, The Dark Crystal. If I had it my way, that would be a criminal offense, but then again, I'm probably more Skeksis than Gelfling or Podling. But even if you weren't a fan of the high-fantasy version of Henson's proprietary puppets back in the '80s, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is worth a watch if only to appreciate the incredible artistry on display. But there is so, so much more to the story that has yet to be seen, so if enough of you commit to a quarantine watch of the series, perhaps Netflix will signal the go-ahead of a much-desired Season 2.
For the uninitiated, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance takes place on the alien world of Thra, which is basically a fantasy artist's dream come to life. (And that artist, or artists in this case, is the acclaimed Brian Froud and his family.) Wholly original, Thra is home to sentient beings--like Podlings, Gelflings, Arathrim, and whatever Mother Aughra is, exactly--who are inextricably linked to the planet's heart, the titular crystal itself. But when alien beings come to Thra and corrupt that crystal, ultimately splitting themselves apart and upsetting the planet's natural balance, darkness comes to Thra and all who dwell upon it. That's a fantastic setup on its own, but the practical puppet mastery and incredible effects work that brings the story of the rising Gelfling resistance against their Skeksis overlords to life is a one-of-a-kind experience. I just wish we had a second season to further wrap that story up. You can be a hero like Hup if you watch The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance today and get all your Podling pals to do the same! - Dave Trumbore

 

Peaky Blinders

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Image via BBC

Creator: Steven Knight

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Helen McCrory,

Streaming On: Netflix

Peaky Blinders is the perfect follow-up for when you've finally exhausted Netflix's two most-watched crime sagas, Breaking Bad and Narcos. The series has all the tension, anti-hero intrigue, and bursts of gritty violence you're looking for, but it also really immerses you into the mudstained streets of post-WWI England. (If you're looking to trade the real-life muck outside for a new brand.) Cillian Murphy puts on a quietly intimidating and all-too-charming performance as Tommy Shelby, former war hero turned head of the Peaky Blinders gang. There are five seasons—with a delayed sixth on the way—each running six episodes each, charting the expansion of the ambitious family gang. A bloody good time the entire way. --Vinnie Mancuso

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

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Image via Fox

Creator: Dan Goor, Michael Schur

Cast: Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero, Andre Braugher, Terry Crews, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti

Streaming On: Hulu

There’s just something about Michael Shchur’s golden touch that guarantees an ensemble cast you’ll fall in love with. The case remains absolutely true with Brooklyn Nine-Nine, co-created with Dan Goor (Parks and Recreation), the only place you’ll ever look to a crew of cops for a chill hangout sesh. Set in New York’s fictional 99th precinct, the show is stacked top to bottom with all-time great sitcom performances. Andy Samberg puts in his charmingly over-the-top effort in the lead, Stephanie Beatriz is a deadpan maestro, and Chelsea Peretti snarks with the best of them. But MVP status firmly goes to Andre Braugher as the uber-uptight Captain Raymond, quite possibly the single funniest TV performance of the last seven years. Over six seasons, there is not a line or a delivery that leaves that man’s mouth that isn’t solid gold. Something else to look for on your binge: The annual Halloween Heist episodes are a genuine cause for celebration.  --Vinnie Mancuso

Cheers

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Image via NBC

Creators: Glen Charles, Les Charles, James Burrows

Cast: Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, Bebe Neuwirth

Streaming On: Hulu

Cheers might be the platonic ideal of “television comedy.” It’s just, like, perfect. If it didn’t write the playbook on ubiquitous facets of TV comedy -- will they won’t they, workplace genre, ever-deepening ensemble cast over leads -- it sure as heck crystallized them to a pure-ass diamond (to the point where “will they won’t they” relationships are often referred to as “Sam and Diane,” the two main characters involved in a will they won’t they, in TV writing shorthand). Its theme song, crooning sweetly about a place where everybody knows your name, effectively communicates the show’s level of lived-in comfort, of ease and effortlessness. It’s still wildly funny, wildly sweet, expertly staged, and expertly crafted at every level -- truly the top-tier example of multi-cam sitcoms of this era feeling like “plays that happened to be filmed.” If you haven’t gotten around to Cheers yet -- and especially if you consider yourself a student or creator of TV comedy -- pull up a barstool and grab a drink. --Gregory Lawrence

The West Wing

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Image via NBC

Creator: Aaron Sorkin

Cast: Martin Sheen, John Spencer, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Rob Lowe, Moira Kelly, Richard Schiff

Streaming On: Netflix

Tied with Mad Men for the most consecutive Best Drama Series Emmy wins in history, you’ve no doubt heard of the prestige of the NBC series The West Wing. But I’m here to tell you this show isn’t just “important,” it’s also incredibly fun. Created by Aaron Sorkin, the hourlong drama pulls back the curtain on the staffers that surround the U.S. president—the chief of staff, the communications director, the press secretary. The show is, at heart, an ode to those who devote their lives to public service, and while it does touch on important issues, the sing-song-y nature of Sorkin’s dialogue, his knack for humor, and a murderers row of talent in the cast also make this just an insanely fun series to watch. The quality dips after Sorkin departs following Season 4, but the show then morphs into a more straightforward drama series about politics, which still offers insight to the U.S. political process. And while the series does certainly feel dated, particularly now, it’s a great reminder of how government is supposed to work. – Adam Chitwood

New Girl

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Image via 20th Television

Creator: Elizabeth Meriwether

Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone, Damon Wayans Jr.

Streaming On: Netflix

The overall "adorkable" aura around Zooey Deschanel usually gives people the wrong impression of New Girl, when in reality it's just a weirder spiritual successor to Friends. If you're hunkered down with roommates you love and hate in equal measure, there is no better security blanket than New Girl. In the earliest episodes, the sitcom does mostly revolve around quirky schoolteacher Jess Day (Deschanel) as she adjusts to life with three dude roommates: Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris). But New Girl quickly pivots into TV's warmest hangout, a show that feels like friendship in all its stages. Just make sure you're keeping track of the rules to "Real American", because that's what will truly come in handy the longer you're stuck inside. --Vinnie Mancuso