Want to stay on top of studying but not let your Netflix subscription go to waste? The shows on this list can help you unwind—without tempting you to binge.
Has a gruelling study session left your brain feeling fried? Or maybe it’s one of those nights you’d rather spend indoors, dressed in comfy clothes and armed with your favourite snacks, instead of out on the town. Netflix is here to save the day! But before you dive into a pilot episode, keep in mind that some shows could lead to long binge-watching sessions . . . a tempting notion, but not one that students can afford to give in to.
Luckily, we’ve prepared a list of shows that will offer an entertainment fix without putting your academic performance in jeopardy. The next time you’re looking to unwind, check out some of the suggestions below.
Have you already watched and rewatched all of the classic TV shows on Netflix? It may be time to check out something new. If you’ve made it through every season of Grey’s Anatomy, you can surely spend one night sitting through an episode of one of these recently added shows. They might even be worth putting on your re-watch list.
Coming-of-age comedy-drama series On My Block received a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and follows the experiences of four high school friends in a rough inner-city neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles.
1 season, 10 episodes, ~30 minutes
Crime drama series MINDHUNTER received a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and follows two FBI agents attempting to better understand and apprehend serial killers by investigating the psychology of murder.
1 season, 10 episodes, 35–55 minutes
You’ve got the best of both worlds with these shows. The episodes are all around 20 minutes long, so they’re ideal for study breaks (if you have the willpower to stop after one episode). If you’re one to be easily tempted, fear not: Even if you binge, these shows are limited to just one season!
Quirky, dark comedy series The End of the F***ing World received a whopping 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The plot follows the journey of two teenage outsiders, one a self-diagnosed psychopath and the other an angsty girl at odds with her family and classmates. The two take an impromptu road trip filled with various ominous misadventures that change them in some unpredictable ways.
1 season, 8 episodes, ~20 minutes
Based on a Japanese superhero webcomic, One-Punch Man garnered a 9/10 rating on IMDb. This comedic anime series follows the story of a superhero so powerful that he no longer feels challenged, and so he sets out on a quest to find a worthy opponent and cure his boredom.
1 season, 12 episodes, ~25 minutes
Afraid of becoming too attached to the plot or the characters of a TV show? Not ready to make that kind of emotional investment? An anthology series offers different characters and storylines in each episode, so you’ll minimize the risk of becoming too invested.
Black Mirror could be described as a modern take on The Twilight Zone, spanning the genres of science fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, satire, and psychological thriller to earn a rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. There’s no need to watch the episodes in order, so take a look at this list to help you get started with some of the best ones.
4 seasons, 3–6 episodes per season, ~60 minutes
Garnering a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Chicago-based creative comedy-drama Easy features a diverse group of characters as they navigate the ups and downs of modern romance, technology, and culture. Watching these episodes in order won’t hurt, but if you’d prefer to skip around and are unsure of where to start, check out this review to help you find an episode or two worthy of your study break.
2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, ~30 minutes
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