With the holidays fast approaching, many people will be able to enjoy some well-deserved time off to relax. Whether it’s with family or by yourself, the holiday break will be a great time to binge-watch shows that you may have missed or possibly never heard of. But with so many streaming services and show to choose from, it can be a daunting process to decide what show to watch. So I wanted to come up with a list of shows, some that have ended and some that are ongoing, that I would recommend binge-watching while people are on their holiday break.
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The shows I included in this list were selected based on various elements, including live-action, different genres, and at least one show from each major streaming service. In addition, an age rating will be included for all shows to let you know which shows are suited for younger viewers.
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Rating: TV-14
Premise: Set thirty four years after events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament that took place in The Karate Kid, a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now-successful Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio).
Episode Highlight: “No Mercy”
Number of Seasons: 3, Season 4 premiering on December 31st.
GLOW (Netflix)
Rating: TV-MA
Premise: Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie), an out-of-work actress, struggles to find work while living in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Finally, she finds a job in the most unlikely of places when she’s presented with the opportunity to join a women’s wrestling show. Along with 12 other women, Wilder must learn the ins and outs of the world of wrestling while working for Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron).
Episode Highlight: “Every Potato Has a Receipt”
Number of Seasons: 3
Great News (Netflix)
Rating: TV-14
Premise: The show follows Katie (Briga Heelan) as she handles her everyday responsibilities of being a producer MMN, a cable news network. Her world takes a turn when her mom, Carol (Andrea Martin), is hired as an intern. To make matters worse, her coworkers present problems of their own that Katie must deal with. Together, they must all come together to deliver the news to their viewers.
Episode Highlight: “Carol’s Eleven”
Number of Seasons: 2
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Rating: TV-MA
Premise: Three strangers share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. They must come together to solve the crime while being cautious of the fact that the killer might be living amongst them.
Episode Highlight: “Open and Shut”
Number of Seasons: 1, Season 2 will premiere in 2022.
The Other Two (HBO Max)
Rating: TV-MA
Premise: The series follows two siblings who desperately seek their lot in life. Aspiring actor Cary (Drew Tarver) is struggling to land better auditions while his sister Brooke (Heléne Yorke) is simply struggling in general. But, as they work toward self-improvement, their lives are turned upside-down when their teenage brother Chase (Case Walker) becomes an internet sensation overnight.
Episode Highlight: “Chase Gets Baptized”
Number of Seasons: 2, Season 3 has been officially confirmed.
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Rating: TV-MA
Premise: Small-time American football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) is hired to coach a professional football club in England, despite having no experience coaching football.
Episode Highlight: Rainbow
Number of Seasons: 2, Season 3 will premiere in 2022.
The Morning Show (Apple TV+)
Rating: TV-MA
Premise: An inside look at the modern workplace through the lens of the people who help America wake up, pulling back the curtain on early morning television.
Episode Highlight: “The Interview”
Number of Seasons: 2, Season 3 will premiere in 2022.
One of Us Is Lying (Peacock)
Rating: TV-MA
Premise: The series is based on Karen M. McManus’ New York Times best-selling novel of the same name. Mystery surrounds Bayview High when five students walk into detention and only four walk out alive, leaving one dead just as he was about to reveal life-changing secrets about the others in a gossip app. Each of the students, Bronwyn (Marianly Tejada), Addy (Annalisa Cochrane), Nate (Cooper van Grootel), and Cooper (Chibuikem Uche), had the opportunity and individual motives to murder their classmate, but all claim to be innocent as the case revolves around which one of them is lying.
Episode Highlight: “One of Us Is Lying”
Number of Seasons: 1
iCarly Reboot (Paramount Plus)
Rating: TV-PG
Premise: Carly (Miranda Cosgrove), Spencer (Jerry Trainor), and Freddie (Nathan Kress) are back, navigating the next chapters in their lives and facing the uncertainties of life in their 20s.
Episode Highlight: “iTake a Girl’s Trip”
Number of Seasons: 1, Season 2 will premiere in 2022.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Disney+)
Rating: TV-PG
Premise: Set at East High School, the school where the original High School Musical film took place, the show follows members of the drama club and their faculty advisers as they work their way toward the opening night of the musicals that they produce. New romances blossom, old friendships are tested to their limits while new ones are formed, rivalries flare, and lives are changed forever as these students discover the transformative power that only high school theater can provide.
Episode Highlight: “Act Two”
Number of Seasons: 2, Season 3 will premiere in 2022.
While the list itself may seem overwhelming, there are various genres from every major streaming service that you can add to your holiday binge-watch list. However, all of these selections are shows that I have come to enjoy and have recommended to family and close friends. These are all shows that don’t have more than 3 seasons each and the seasons are no more than 13 episodes long—perfect for a binge-watch this holiday season.
