Seven Binge-Worthy Comedies
Image courtesy of The Wrap
By MADDIE CESARETTI ‘21
As we enter the second semester, we all find ourselves in different situations. Perhaps your midyear grades did not live up to your hopes, or perhaps they did. Perhaps you’re an underclassman, or perhaps you’re a teacher. Regardless of your circumstances, I believe that you should relax, regroup, and rejuvenate as we move into the second half of the school year. One way I like to take time for myself is by watching TV. My favorite genre is comedy because it lifts my spirits, and it tends to be easiest to start and stop at will—especially helpful when I find myself getting far too invested in the characters while I should be doing my homework or sleeping. Through much trial and error, I have assembled this list, in no particular order, of TV comedies—beyond obvious ones like Friends, The Office, and Parks and Recreation—that I have enjoyed a lot and would recommend to you.
The Good Place
Eleanor Shellstrop is in the afterlife—the Good Place—but not all is as it seems. It’s only a matter of time before Eleanor realises that she’s there by mistake. As the show teaches, however, it’s never too late to change one’s past ways. This optimistic take on human nature blends different aspects of comedy and philosophy to weave a surprisingly addictive narrative—one that will keep you engaged until the very end.
Arrested Development*
This story follows the Bluth family as Michael Bluth attempts to pull his family’s real estate business and personal affairs together after their father is caught for a white collar crime. Each episode blends the storylines of the family members in different creative, hilarious ways, ultimately creating a narrative that showcases the quirks of the characters and their semi-functional family dynamic.
What We Do In The Shadows
Following a visit from their supreme leader, four vampire roommates living in Staten Island, New York are reminded of their original intent when they had come one hundred years prior: conquering the entire New World. A camera crew follows the vampires on their quest to figure out the best way to go about such a mission. This mockumentary-style cult favorite never fails to delight.
Schitt’s Creek
After being swindled out of their family fortune by their financial handler, the Rose family is forced to relocate from their luxurious mansion to the only property left in their name: Schitt’s Creek, an entire town they originally bought as a joke. Despite the initial culture shock, the Rose family gradually learns to find value in the authenticity of the people around them.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
This lovable workplace comedy follows Jake Peralta, a carefree detective, and his fellow just-as-quirky members of the ninety-ninth precinct of the New York Police Department as they solve crimes and adjust to the way their new captain, Ray Holt, runs the show. Though it usually maintains a lighthearted atmosphere, this show also delves into pressing social issues.
American Vandal
Following the discovery of a slew of graffiti on teachers’ cars, high school students Peter Maldonado and Sam Ecklund are determined to catch the culprit and document the process through a home-made documentary Youtube series. This satire of true-crime television takes on the aftermath of high school pranks and their impact on the student body. True to the genre it imitates, the show follows Peter and Sam as they pursue different leads and interview all the suspects—but also keeps one wondering who the culprit is until the very end.
Community*
After former lawyer Jeff Winger finds his law license revoked, he is forced to return to college. Once there, he forms a study group with an unlikely group of students. This often genre-bending and culturally-meta show showcases the lessons that a community can teach a person about himself and others.
*Certain seasons are better than others