Usually, summer is the time of year to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, eat some burgers, drink some lemonade, and relax. This year, that seems impossible. Between wildfires, flooding, and the pandemic, I personally wonder if anyone’s left the house in the past year. I’m basically sending smoke signals out of my chimney for someone to rescue me.
What that means is we’ve got tons of time to spend inside. Since nobody watches regular TV anymore (That’s not true, I watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy every night), all we really have left is streaming. And reading a book, but who does that (Again, I do, but I’m weird).
So for those of us who like passive consumption of our media, here are the top 10 shows to stream while you’re sitting inside waiting for the world to end.
Ted Lasso (Apple+)
Ted Lasso is a show about soccer that isn’t about soccer at all. Ted is an American football coach who’s put in charge of an English soccer (football) team. Few shows combine heart and comedy as well as Ted Lasso.
100 Foot Wave (HBO)
If you’re into watching people do incredible feats of athleticism, this show is for you. It’s only had one episode so far, but this docuseries is breathtaking. Literally. These surfers have to hold their breath for minutes sometimes!
Alone (Netflix)
The premise for this show is pretty simple: contestants are sent into the wilderness to survive as long as possible. Whoever stays out the longest wins. The wild can’t be tamed, that’s for sure.
Loki (Disney+)
Loki is my favorite character in the Marvel universe. Tom Hiddleston crushes this role every time. The God of Mischief himself makes this show a must-watch.
Mythic Quest (Apple+)
Similar to Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest is a TV show about video games that isn’t really about video games. It’s a show about relationships between egos, friends, enemies, and antagonists.
Big Timber (Netflix)
The Biggest Catch goes inland for this Canadian-based show. What’s complicated about chopping down a bunch of trees? When you’ve got wild characters involved, apparently a bunch!
You (Netflix)
An engaging psychological thriller, this show explores the darker parts of human nature. What happens when love is a bit too much to handle? This is not a feel-good show, so if you’re looking for uplifting content, try something else.
Manifest (Netflix)
A plane disappears mid-flight. Everyone presumes it crashed. Except it didn’t. This show is sort of like Lost, except it explores the lives of people who are thrust back into their own lives, but 5 years later.
Barry (HBO)
If you haven’t watched Barry yet, you should stop everything you’re doing and watch it now. I love this show so much. Bill Hader’s portrayal of the hitman Barry is legendary. The only reason it’s not higher on this list is because it doesn’t have a new season out yet. But if you haven’t had the pleasure of watching yet, you can get caught up now!
Love Death + Robots (Netflix)
This niche show is a bit more cerebral, but I still like it. Every episode is a short story, animated, and about either love, death, or robots. Sometimes all three! You’ll be hooked from the very first episode, Zima Blue.
There you have it! Those are my top 10 shows to stream this apocalyptic summer. Most are adults-only, so if you have kids, just turn on PBS Kids or something.
Happy streaming!
