During the height of quarantine, all of us were searching for new things to try, whether it was baking banana bread, finding a new exercise routine, picking up a new instrument, or some other activity. After I did all three of those things and also started to watch Jeopardy with my family every night, I was still extremely bored. Friends started to recommend TV shows to me, so I decided to watch them since I had so much time. Here are some of my favorites  (in chronological order).

The Good Place

Rate: 10/10!!

This was the first show I binged in March. This newer series with Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, and Maya Rudolph portrays Eleanor Shellstrop, the main character, entering the afterlife. With lots of fun plot twists and a super interesting storyline, the topic of morality and ethical decision making is at the forefront. Personally, the afterlife and what it truly means to be a “good person” has always been fascinating to me. The writing for this show takes on popular philosophical ideas and brings them to a new level, making this the perfect show for those who were interested in Christian Morality junior year. Reflecting on the show’s intricate plot line, Mary Kate Feilke ‘22 said, “I liked how it was never repetitive. Something was always happening.” The finale for this 4-season sitcom aired in February and the last season just became available on Netflix. The creator of this show, Michael Schur, is also responsible for Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and he played Dwight Schrute’s cousin Mose in The Office. He unfortunately did not win the 2020 Emmy Award for Best Original Screenplay in a Comedy Series, which I think he rightfully deserved. This show was a 10/10 from me and is actually tied for my #1 favorite show of all time.

The Politician

Rate: 8.5/10

The amazing cast of this show includes Ben Platt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laura Dreyfuss, Zoey Deutsch, and Bette Midler. It focuses on a high school senior taking drastic measures to win the student body president elections. It also features multiple musical numbers by Ben Platt, both covers and original songs. The show has two seasons and is currently working on a third. I consider this show an 8.5/10 because I didn’t particularly love the plotline, but Ben Platt, especially Ben Platt singing, gives it some extra points.

Love is Blind

Rate: 3/10

This painful reality TV show is about a group of straight men and women who live together for a month. The men and women live in separate houses and are randomly matched together. The pairs are divided by a wall so they cannot see each other. After everyone has been paired up at least once, they request certain men or women they would like to meet again. By the end of the 30 day period, the couples either have to propose or leave the show. The show is way too dramatic and (spoiler alert) most of them end up breaking up before their weddings. The show only has one season and I honestly hope they do not make another. I give this show a 3/10 because I am not one for reality TV shows – besides Survivor.

All American

Rate: 7/10

This is another one of the many shows that I’m sure many people hopped on during the lockdown. Taye Diggs stars in this show about a high school football player from Crenshaw who struggles to balance between his new team in a wealthy neighborhood and his roots at home. This show was a bit overhyped, but it sends some good messages and tackles important issues for teens. “I liked it because every episode left you on a cliffhanger and it was a good mix of drama, romance, and comedy,” said Sarah Hughes ‘22 about the show’s different themes. There are currently two seasons of the show with a third in progress. I give it a 7/10 because the acting wasn’t great, but it is a Friday Night Lights-esque comfort show.

Outer Banks

Rate: 6/10

Here we have one of the most popular shows during quarantine. This show may have seemed like a great relatable show for all of us, but watching it a second time may change your mind. It covers a small friend group living in the Outer Banks and their rival “gang”. This roller coaster of a show even includes a treasure hunt and a few jump scares. “I thought it was like a modern age Scooby Doo except with more plot lines and honestly more plot holes,” Annmarie Wallis ‘22 said about the show’s theme. The “Hollister ad” looking cast is in the process of shooting a second season after the first season’s premiere in March. I give it a 6/10 because the acting wasn’t all that bad and, if you really look at it, there are some remnants of important messages in there.

How I Met Your Mother

Rate: 10/10!!!!

Now we come around to my favorite of my quarantine TV shows and also my favorite TV show overall. This sitcom is very similar to Friends; there is a friend group based out of New York City with inter-group relationships. Though similar shows, I think How I Met Your Mother is much funnier. While Friends only includes characters’ relationships and surface-level humor, there is a much deeper plotline in How I Met Your Mother with a different level of symbolism. Speaking about the show, Gina Princivalle said, “How I Met Your Mother is more than just a comedy. It develops the characters and their relationships with one another while also implementing hilarious running jokes.” It features Jason Segel and Neil Patrick Harris as members of the group. The show, along with the Good Place, fuels my love for plot twists and endings that can be interpreted many different ways. It lasted 9 seasons and ended in 2014. This show is another 10/10 from me and even though most people say the show has the worst ending of all time, I think it shows an interesting message about soulmates and destiny.

Euphoria

Rate: 10/10

This 8 episode series is another popular one. Starring Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Eric Dane, this show covers some very heavy topics. Rue (Zendaya) narrates her life in a small town, with each episode of the first season centering around a different character. Zendaya won the 2020 Emmy for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Rue. The first season came out in June 2019 and two specials were released December 6th and January 24th. I rate this show a 10/10 because the acting is amazing and it talks about these specific issues in ways no show has done before.

New Girl

Rate: 9.5/10

This show was more recent for me, but it did not take me very long to finish. One of the funniest shows I’ve watched since March, New Girl is about a girl named Jess who moves into a loft with three guys after breaking up with her boyfriend of 3 years. There are some great relationships between characters in the show, but my New Girl recommendation applies to those who want a comedy comfort show. The lack of a laugh track makes the show even funnier. I think this show is a 9.5/10 and it is one of my comfort shows because there are definitely some episodes that are funnier than others that I like to rewatch.

Parks and Recreation

Rate: 8.5/10

This is the most recent show that I have watched. The show has an amazing cast, including Amy Poehler, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Rob Lowe, and Adam Scott. It centers on Leslie Knope, the Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation department of Pawnee, Indiana. There is a widespread debate of whether or not this show is better than The Office, and I am here to tell you it is. With some of my favorite actors, the show is similar to New Girl in that I tend to go back and rewatch my favorite episodes. I rate this show an 8.5/10 because there are some lulls in the series.

Apart from these shows, some other recommendations I have are: Criminal Minds, Gilmore Girls, and Grey’s Anatomy. If you have more TV recommendations or want to share some shows you have gotten into, feel free to share in the comments!