A good binge watch could possibly be America’s favorite activity of 2020. As the weather gets colder (and quarantines get stricter) here in 2021, there’s...
A good binge watch could possibly be America’s favorite activity of 2020. As the weather gets colder (and quarantines get stricter) here in 2021, there’s nothing cozier than sitting by the fire with a soft blanket, a glass of wine, and some popcorn for hours at a time, getting engrossed in a good show. Luckily, there has been some great original streaming content this year that’s perfect for both men and women viewers. Here are my top favorites to watch as a couple:
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant star in this riveting psychological thriller about a New York City therapist whose life unravels when she learns her husband may be a murderer. The acting in this show is pitch perfect, and the twists are spectacular. Also, as the series went on and my (very savvy) friends and I debated the ending, not one of us guessed it. If you don’t subscribe to HBO, you can purchase the series on the iTunes store now for $22.99, and it’s well worth it for ten solid hours of entertainment.
2. Tehran (Apple TV+)
In this surprise spy hit, a female Mossad agent goes undercover on her first mission in Iran’s capital. What’s remarkable about this show is that much of the dialogue is either Hebrew or Farsi, but it is so riveting you barely notice you are reading subtitles. No official announcement has been made, but it’s very likely there will be a Season 2 of this hit.
3. The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
I avoided this show at first because it’s about a female chess player in the 1960s, and to be honest, that sounded pretty boring to me. But my husband and I binge watched it together out of the sheer lack of other options, and we both loved it. Entire stretches of chess playing are actually really suspenseful, the costumes and sets are amazing, and the plot keeps you watching. Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays the lead, is an incredible talent.
4. Big Sky (ABC)
The season isn’t over yet, but this show about teen girls who go missing, starring Ryan Phillipe, did something so incredibly unexpected and daring in the first episode (I won’t give it away) that I had to put it on the list. You can watch this on Hulu if you don’t have ABC. You’ll be hooked after Episode 1.
5. Outer Banks (Netflix)
What’s better in the middle of winter than a show about the beach in summer? In this series, a teen and his three best friends search for a treasure linked to his father’s disappearance. It takes place in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It may sound like this show is best suited for the high school crowd (and it might be), but it’s a really fun show for adults too, and I didn’t feel like I was watching a kids’ show (it helps that the lead “teen” is actually 28 years old). In July, Netflix announced that there will be a Season 2 of this show.
Honorable Mention: Virgin River (Netflix)
I’m putting this as an honorable mention because my husband didn’t love this show, but I binge-watched it on my own and loved it. It’s about a nurse from Los Angeles who tries to escape a sad past by taking a job in a small northern California town. The scenery is beautiful, the actors have great chemistry, and it’s a great feel-good show about love in a sea of shows about murder and crime.
