We all know the feeling. You finish the finale of the show you’ve just committed 6 or more seasons to watching. As the theme song plays and the credits roll, you stare in a panic, realizing the time has come to find a new show. You start by browsing the “trending now” and “top picks” sections, but the choices are overwhelming and you can’t decide on just one to try next. To help guide your search and bring you out of your state of helplessness, I tried five trending shows on Netflix to find your new binge watch.
Young and Hungry
illustration by Zach Cooper
Commitment level: 2 seasons
Best for: Studio background
Emily Osment returns for Hannah Montana fans as Gabi, a frazzled young chef in debt chasing her dream of becoming a personal chef. After securing a test dinner with potential employer Josh, her last test is to create a meal to make his girlfriend to accept his proposal. The girlfriend cancels last minute, and Gabi quickly saves the night by cheering Josh up with her dinner, but ends with things getting unprofessional between them. If you’re looking for a light hearted show with a quirky female lead to keep you entertained while spending late nights in the studio, Young and Hungry is for you.
Baby Daddy
illustration by Zach Cooper
Commitment level: 4 seasons
Best for: Mocking clueless guys
Ben, a young bartender, moves in with his brother and best friend thinking nothing can go wrong when a baby shows up on his doorstep. First terrified of commitment and encouraged by his family to give the child up for adoption, but later unwilling to let her go, Ben decides to give fatherhood a try. The show may be filled with over the top drama, with the guys relying on the female characters to take the lead on child care, but the pilot ends with an endearing moment between father and son. If you’re looking to roll your eyes at the helplessness of the three twenty-some year old roommates raising a child, add Baby Daddy to your watch list.
Louie
illustration by Zach Cooper
Commitment level: 5 seasons
Best for: Contemplating life
Louie, a single dad raising two girls, volunteers at school by day and is a comedian by night. His comedy topics include failing school systems and the struggle of getting back into dating which frame the supporting scenes of Louie chaperoning a field trip and going on a horribly awkward date. The show uses straightforward humor to comment on the realities of contemporary life. The episodes go by quickly and are best if you’re looking to watch an episode or two at a time to spark a new concept for your work while laughing in the process.
Scrubs
illustration by Zach Cooper
Commitment level: 9 seasons
Best for: Light-hearted drama
Fresh out of med school, J.D. starts an internship at a teaching hospital with his college best friend. He quickly realizes he isn’t as prepared as he thought, and feels lost in the fast paced and high stakes environment. He has two doctors training him and his fellow interns with opposing teaching styles, one very tough and one very encouraging. He navigates through the first 30 hours of his training while getting to know the new girl, Elliot, and the chemistry grows between them. Scrubs sets up a simple storyline with two friends, a new job, and a potential new girlfriend making it a great feel-good show to save for your next binge-watching weekend.
About a Boy
illustration by Zach Cooper
Commitment level: 2 seasons
Best for: Laid-back Saturday mornings
Will meets a “hot girl with a cello” and lies about being a single dad to impress her. When a new girl moves in next door with her son Marcus, Will uses him to cover his lie. In return, Marcus is bribed with protection from bullies at school and ribs, which his vegan mother won’t feed him. While he originally used Marcus to keep dating the cello girl, Will finds himself attached to the boy and starts to take on the role of a father figure. With an upbeat sequence of events and occasional moments of comedy, About a Boy is the perfect option to watch before committing on a longer series.
