(A list of (quality) short, commitment-free, stress-free shows to watch)
By Setareh Sanaei
I spent the first three years of college rewatching shows I’d already seen multiple times. I think I watched Friends, New Girl, Arrested Development, and Gilmore Girls twice each, just in those three years — plus some others that I had watched before. Was this because of my slowly (or quickly) developing anxiety disorder and knowing what would happen next helped me cope? Probably. I’ve heard the same sentiment from several of my friends and random people on Twitter.
So, we’ve established this is a very serious issue. How to solve it? Well, this year I finally started watching new shows again, and let me tell you: TV is so good! There is a lot of quality entertainment that I was missing out on, and I thought I’d share some so that you don’t miss out too. Here, I’m listing short (1-3 seasons), light-hearted, and generally slow-paced shows. They’re not a big commitment and not super suspenseful or intense, but they’ll remind you that there is good TV beyond the five shows you keep rewatching. Think of them as gateway shows leading you to get back into the wonderful world of television.
Note: I’ve categorized these shows as cancelled, finished, or still airing. A cancelled show might leave you with the sadness of wanting more, and a still airing show might be a longer commitment than you want to sign up for.
FINISHED
Fleabag // Amazon Prime (2 seasons)
My friend, Silvana, recommended this show to me and said it was some of the “best TV ever made.” Of course, I was skeptical, but boy was she right. I have watched a lot of TV and this show is something else. The series is a dark-humored, British dramedy about a woman in her mid-thirties who owns a cafe and is dealing with the loss of her best friend, Boo. Side note: the character is never named in the show, but called Fleabag in interviews and such. We watch as Fleabag works through grief, financial troubles, a minor sex addiction, and strained relationships with her sister, father, and god-turned-step-mother. And all the while, she is constantly communicating with the audience by breaking the fourth wall to give us her snarky comments and inner thoughts.
Fleabag finished after just two seasons, so you will be getting a short but complete viewing experience with this. As sad as it makes me, creator and lead actor, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, feels strongly that the show is over and she won’t make more. Admittedly, though I definitely wish we had more, the ending felt natural and I was not at all upset at the conclusion. If there is any show you take away from this list, let it be Fleabag, and please, watch past the pilot. I know it’s a lot of sex. Just keep watching.
Easy // Netflix (3 seasons)
Ever heard of mumblecore? Well neither had I until I looked up Easy on Wikipedia and saw “mumblecore” listed as a genre, but it honestly seems like it was a term coined exclusively for this show. Easy is an anthology series that follows the lives of a large group of people in their 20s and 30s in a very naturalistic way as they deal with the difficulties of relationships and all the little life things that put stress on fragile relationships. Each episode is about a different group of people and their problems, but some characters appear twice in a season, and some appear as background characters in other characters’ episodes.
Every episode was written and directed by Joe Swanberg, which gives it a very consistent feel throughout, despite the fact that each one is about different people. I honestly can’t think of any other show to compare to. The best way I can describe it is that it has kind of mockumentary vibes, it’s slow paced, and has very realistic human dialogue. It definitely has some drama, but it’s not too heavy and makes you chuckle every once in a while, whether it be at a joke or at some really weird shit happening.
CANCELLED
High Fidelity // Hulu (1 season)
What can I say about High Fidelity? The music is immaculate, the cast is to die for, and I can’t decide who breaks the fourth wall better, Phoebe Waller-Bridge or Zoë Kravitz. Oh, and it was cancelled after one absolute banger of a season. Hulu has just made my top five heartbreaks list.
The show, which is based on a movie of the same name from 2000, follows Rob, a 29-year-old record store owner in Brooklyn, trying to navigate life after her recent breakup with her fiancé. Rob often talks to the audience, feeling the need to justify herself whenever she feels guilty about a bad decision she made. She is obsessed with “top five” lists and music (she owns a record store, after all). Throughout the season, she can’t really make up her mind romantically and it’s quite a fun ride to watch her try to figure out what it is she really wants. If you like good music and flawed, realistic, relatable protagonists, this show is for you.
Freaks and Geeks // Currently not on any streaming services but might be back* (1 season)
One of the best coming-of-age shows written and a cult classic, Freaks and Geeks was tragically cancelled because industry executives couldn’t get their heads out of their asses long enough to figure out that the internet was the future and viewer numbers didn’t matter anymore (read the article I wrote about this same thing happening to Arrested Development). Executive producer, Judd Apatow, has even said “Everything I've done in a way is revenge for the people who canceled 'Freaks and Geeks.'" Freaks and Geeks is also known for beginning the careers of several actors, including Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps, and beloved comedy trio James Fanco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel.
The show is about a teenage girl and her younger brother, and their respective friend groups, the so-called Freaks and Geeks. The series starts when Lindsey, feeling lost, begins rebelling by hanging out with a group of carefree rulebreakers. This teen dramedy was created back in 1999, but the problems the characters face, from typical teenager things like fitting in and deciding between right and wrong to family troubles, are still accurate and relatable. We get a glimpse at why the “freaks” are outcasts, what causes them to act out, and how Lindsey deals with the troubles of wanting to fit in with them but not wanting to be a bully.
ONGOING
Atlanta // Hulu (2 seasons)
If you haven’t heard of Atlanta by now, I’m seriously worried for your health, as you are obviously being crushed by the rock under which you’ve been living. And honestly, I’m offended. Donald Glover is a genius and deserves everyone to love and praise his work. Amanda Peet, wife of Game of Thrones creator David Benioff, even told Donald Glover that Atlanta is the best show on television. Yikes.
Anyway, sorry, I’m done fangirling now. Atlanta follows Earn, a college dropout in need of a job to take care of his daughter and girlfriend, signing up to be his cousin Al’s manager when Al gains popularity as a rapper. The show follows the two trying to make it in Atlanta’s rap scene, but it’s about so much more than just rap. It’s about racism, authenticity, family, friendship, and the difficulties of doing business with family.
One of my favorite things about this series has to be the way they don’t try too hard to break stereotypes. Where other shows might want to avoid seemingly negative stereotypes even though that is the lived experience of many people, Atlanta often finds itself leaning into some of those experiences. We see the characters make mistakes, and exemplify some clichés like violence in the rap world or being an absent father. But Atlanta deals with these issues head on without flattening the characters into offensive stereotypes and walking that line where lesser shows would fail. Because of this, the show can be much more in line with real life than a lot of others, and that’s what makes it so good. Real life isn’t always a success story. Real people are not trying to overcome stereotypes all the time; they are just trying to do what they think is right for them and their loved ones at each moment of their life.
The show is slow-paced and chill, but still touches on complex and heavy subjects without feeling super heavy. It’s perfect to watch a little at a time (no need to binge), and the cast is fabulous (I’m pretty obsessed with Donald Glover and Lakeith Stanfield, so… it’s amazing). Okay, go watch it, thanks.
Ramy // Hulu (2 seasons)
I’ll start by saying that as a middle eastern immigrant, the representation in media is practically nonexistent. Like I can’t think of any Iranian characters on American TV other than Shahs of Sunset, the reality show about a group of stereotypical Iranians in LA. And as far as movies go, I can only think of ones where the Iranian are the bad guys (I’m looking at you, 300). So, needless to say I was excited to watch a show about a middle eastern family living in New Jersey.
The show revolves around a millennial first generation American, born to Egyptian immigrants, and raised in a Muslim community. We watch as Ramy, the titular character, searches for a balance between finding his way in the world and being a devout Muslim. We see him question his beliefs about what life is supposed to be and how he should act, and how his faith plays into that. The show breaks many stereotypes about Arab and Muslim Americans, and gives us a view of middle eastern families that is very much needed in the world.
After Life // Netflix (2 seasons)
While the title may sound like it’s a knock-off version of The Good Place, After Life is actually a British dark comedy centered around a middle-aged man, Tony, grieving his wife who recently died of breast cancer. Tony becomes incredibly depressed when the love of his life dies, and he completely stops caring about life, contemplating suicide several times. We watch as he goes through life not giving any shits and thinking that since nothing matters anymore, he can be an asshole and tell it like it really is. Now that I describe it, it doesn’t sound chill at all, but I promise it won’t make you sad! It’s a sad story told by a really funny guy.
Created by and starring Ricky Gervais, this show has strong The Invention of Lying vibes (which he also wrote and starred in). If you enjoy dry humor and laughing at morbid jokes that make you feel like you really shouldn’t be laughing, watch After Life. I promise you’ll get a kick out of it. It’s surprisingly light-hearted and funny for a show about death and depression.
Never Have I Ever // Netflix (1 season)
Coming-of-age, but make it 2020 and realistic. And by realistic, I just mean that it’s refreshing to see a show about high schoolers actually acting like high schoolers, and not solving crimes and getting cocktails (you know which shows I’m talking about). Never Have I Ever is about high school sophomore Devi Vishwakumar, who is dealing with the recent death of her father on top of usual teenage dilemmas. After a difficult freshman year, Devi comes back to school ready to reclaim her social status and decides the best way to do that is by getting a boyfriend. The show presents a hilariously authentic view of being a teenage girl and a daughter of immigrants and breaks Asian stereotypes along the way. I’m not sure if the best part of this show is the way Devi reacts to everything in an absolutely ridiculously dramatic way, that it’s created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, or the fact that it’s narrated by professional tennis player John McEnroe. Overall, 10/10 would recommend. A show that makes me laugh this much even though I don’t really relate to the character even a little bit is a show well-written and well worth the watch.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel — I didn’t include this because it’s a little fast paced and I didn’t feel like it fit in with my list, but it’s definitely a fun watch and only three seasons are out so far!
Euphoria — This is only one season and you’ve probably already heard of it, but honestly, it’s very stressful for me to watch.
Modern Love — I haven’t watched this yet, but Marriya recommended it while reading my list, and just looking at the cast I’m obsessed.
* Freaks and Geeks has been taken off Netflix, possibly because of a copyright issue with the music. However, both Netflix and Amazon have a button saying “remind me when it’s back” so I assume they’re working out the issues.
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