Best series: the 20 most fun titles for your next binge night

Real free weekends are secretly quite rare. Usually, I fill those days completely. With fun things, of course, so I can't really complain. But to be honest: sometimes you just want a TV night, right? On the couch with a blanket and a cup of tea; that's ultimate enjoyment, isn't it? Once you've finally found such a moment, you still have to decide what to watch. And that's almost harder than finding a gap in your schedule. To save you that struggle, I've dived into all the streaming services. And, voilà: a list of the best series for your next binge night. I'd say: sit down, lean back, and enjoy.

1. Maid

Can we call a series old after four years? Maybe just a little. ‘Maid’ may have crawled into a forgotten corner of Netflix, but I lovingly pull it out. This series is oh so good, and that's mainly due to lead actress Margaret Qualley; she carries the story. In ‘The Substance’, we were mostly scared of her, but in ‘Maid’, she makes us reach for the tissues. Qualley plays the role of Alex, who flees from a violent relationship and ends up in a shelter with her daughter. The traumatic memories of her ex and her meager salary as a cleaner make it almost impossible to really build a future, but Alex perseveres; she has no other choice.

Qualley stars in the series alongside her mother Andie MacDowell, something she managed to arrange herself. She happened to have the contact details of Margot Robbie, one of the producers, and called to ask if that would be a fun idea. Just a quick call to Margot, we're not jealous at all. With ten episodes, binge-watching in one evening might be a bit optimistic. A breather here and there isn't a bad idea either.

2. Station 19

A spinoff is always exciting. Will it be as successful as the original, or just a mistake we want to forget as soon as possible? The seven seasons of ‘Station 19’ are proof that this ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ spinoff belongs in the top tier. Doctor Ben Warren leaves the hospital to join the Seattle Fire Department. Literally diving into the fire is quite different, but all the interpersonal drama is not new to him. Thanks to crossovers, the series could rely on the fans of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, but it quickly developed its own very enthusiastic fanbase.

When it was announced at the end of 2023 that season 7 would be the last, viewers sprang into action. Petitions, planes with banners, and a billboard in Times Square; everything was pulled out of the hat. The eighth season didn't happen, but the message was clear: this series is absolutely addictive. So off we go, sirens blaring to Disney+.

3. Severance

With 27 nominations, it wasn't ‘Adolescence’ or ‘The White Lotus’, but the Apple TV+ series ‘Severance’ was the big favorite at the Emmys. In the end, 8 statuettes actually went home; quite respectable, we must say. In the Netherlands, the series is even less known, which is a shame. A spot on this list is therefore a must. ‘Severance’ has a unique story. Employees of the mysterious Lumon Industries take the separation between work and private life very seriously. Thanks to a procedure, these different memories are completely separated into two distinct personalities; an ‘innie’ at work, and an ‘outie’ outside. The system seems to work well, until some ‘innies’ start to have questions about what is really happening to them and try to escape. For now, we have to make do with two seasons, but with a success this can't end here, of course. Fortunately, the creators think the same.

4. The Penguin

Another spinoff, but this time from the movie ‘The Batman’. You don't just make it onto a list of ‘best series’, so you know this wasn't a mistake either. The story of the HBO Max series ‘The Penguin’ takes place after the events of the film and shows how Oswald Cobbs (The Penguin) gains more power in Gotham's underworld. You have to look closely, but it's actor Colin Farrell who plays the lead role. He is, however, hidden under a thick layer of prosthetics; and it took 3 to 4 hours every day to apply. Originally, ‘The Penguin’ was intended as a mini-series and was supposed to stay at one season. But with this success, that's no longer certain. Batman director Matt Reeves, who also worked on the series, is reportedly already brainstorming with showrunner Lauren Lefranc about a possible sequel. It's just too good to stop; a must-watch, then.

5. Sleepers

Not only in America do they make good series, we can do it too. Well, not us, of course; but we can leave that to Robert de Hoog. He conceived, wrote, and directed the Videoland-series ‘Sleepers’. Quite busy, you might think, but Robert also had time to play the lead role. Can he give us some planning lessons too? In the series, he plays the corrupt officer Martin Oudkerk. At 18, he was sent to the police academy by his stepfather, so they would always have an accomplice within the department. Martin now has to navigate his double life as a good officer and part of the criminal circuit. Such a secret can't stay hidden forever. Work is currently underway on the third season, which will be released later this year. That will also be the acting debut of Glennis Grace, who claims she will shake things up a bit.

6. The Devil’s Hour

This list is never complete without a good thriller. And with a title like ‘The Devil’s Hour’, you know right away: this is going to be intense. Even that is an understatement. In this Prime Video series, we follow Lucy (Jessica Raine), a social worker with a rather chaotic life. Her mother has mental health issues, and her son seems to have no emotions at all. As if that weren't enough, Lucy wakes up every night from intense nightmares. Every time exactly at 03:33, the devil's hour. While she tries to keep it all under control, she gets involved in the search for a serial killer. Lucy isn't really granted any rest. Even for seasoned thriller lovers, this series is truly a must-watch. Just when you think you know how it goes, the creators throw in a new twist. Stay sharp. There are rumors that we might enjoy the third season next month, but that could easily turn out to be another twist.

7. The Good Fight

We're a bit repetitive, this series is also a spinoff. I can already reveal, not the last one on the list either. ‘The Good Fight’ continues the story of ‘The Good Wife’. After a major financial blunder, the reputation of young lawyer Maia Rindell (Rose Leslie) is completely destroyed; along with all the savings of her godmother and mentor Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski). They are forced to leave their law firm and join Lucca Quinn's. This prestigious firm is led by African Americans and also engages in political issues. Diane becomes increasingly active here, especially when Donald Trump becomes president; she's not exactly a fan of that. The series is fiction, but you don't have to look far for a link to reality. ‘The Good Fight’ has a slightly more serious tone; but Suits fans you will love this. SkyShowtime has all six seasons, so you can binge for a while.

8. The Diplomat

Another series with a political twist, but for this one, we move over to Netflix. There we find the first two seasons of ‘The Diplomat’, and season 3 won't be long in coming. Tip: keep October 16 free in your schedule. The story revolves around Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), an American diplomat who is chosen as the new ambassador to England. A quiet day to get used to? Not here. She immediately steps into a geopolitical game, and the stakes are high. Political intrigues are not her only concern, as her marriage to fellow diplomat Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) is also not in the best phase. According to The Guardian, ‘The Diplomat’ made it onto all the best drama series lists last year, and that's for a reason.

9. The Studio

Something lighter: ‘The Studio’, the new Apple TV+ comedy that is already breaking records. Never before has a comedy won 13 Emmys in one year. In the series, we follow Matt Remick, played by creator Seth Rogen. He becomes the new director of Continental Studios, a film production company that is a bit shaky. His goal? To combine his love for film with the commercial interests of the studio. But that turns out to be quite difficult; money doesn't just come rolling in. What makes this series extra fun is that a large part of the cast plays themselves. Zac Efron is, for example, really Zac Efron. The celebs make fun of themselves and their jobs; and it works. Making a good comedy is hard, but the creators of ‘The Studio’ have done it perfectly.

10. The Pitt

As a seasoned ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘ fan, I always find new medical dramas a bit tricky. Can it compare to my great favorite? The new HBO Max-hit ‘The Pitt’ comes very close. The series didn't go home empty-handed with 3 Emmys. It's all about Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle), an emergency room doctor at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. In one grueling shift, it's up to him and his team to help the constant stream of patients. And that in an overcrowded and underfunded ER. Far from an easy task, especially with the Covid traumas still fresh in his memory. The series received compliments from the medical community for how realistically and comprehensively the challenges of their work are portrayed. There was, of course, some criticism: not everything was equally realistic. But hey, it's a drama series, it can be a bit exaggerated. You won't hear us complain.

11. The Dropout

Those words ‘based on a true story’ always make you a bit extra curious, right? At least with ‘The Dropout’ it does. The series revolves around Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried), the woman behind Theranos. She developed a machine that could perform all sorts of major medical tests with just one drop of blood. But none of it turned out to be true. How did Elizabeth manage to convince so many people? And more importantly: why did she do this? As soon as you hit play, you just want those answers. Want to dive deeper after this Disney+ miniseries? On Spotify, there's the podcast of the same name that the creators also used. There you can hear even more bizarre details.

12.  1883

Something totally different. But if there's a link to ‘Yellowstone’, it has to be on this list. We can now say that everything Taylor Sheridan makes is just really good. ‘1883’ is no exception. The prequel can also be found on SkyShowtime and takes place before the events of ‘Yellowstone’. We follow the Dutton generation shortly after the Civil War. They leave Tennessee and join a wagon train convoy for the journey west. They flee poverty in search of a better future in Montana, the later home of the Yellowstone Ranch. With flashbacks in season 4 of ‘Yellowstone’, fans could already get a little used to ‘1883’. That turned out to work. Just the premiere got 4.9 million views, and that only increased afterwards.

13. The Reacher

When Tom Cruise was cast in 2012 for the lead role in the film ‘Jack Reacher’, fans were actually quite disappointed. Not because Tom isn't good, hello, it's Tom Cruise, but because he didn't fit the image from the books at all. Jack was supposed to be a giant who could break a skull with his bare hands. And well, we don't really see Tom doing that. They thought they had to make it right at Prime Video. She created the series ‘The Reacher’ and cast Alan Ritchson; a very good choice. As a former major in the military police, his character roams the US until he is arrested for the murder of his brother. And proving your innocence in the corrupt town of Margrave is not that easy. The series is now in its third season and number four is on the way. It is clear: the fans are happy again and you want to see this.

14. The Handmaid’s Tale

With each new season, there was a bit of chaos here in the editorial office. ‘The Handmaid's Tale’ was one of those series that had us all in its grip. Now that the sixth season is on Videoland, the story is really over; but secretly a full rewatch is already planned. If you still don't know the series, here's a little teaser: the story is based on the eponymous book by Margaret Atwood and takes place in the totalitarian state of Gilead. Women have no rights here and are property of the state. The few women who are fertile must live as ‘Handmaids’; including June Osbourne (Elisabeth Moss). She lives as a slave forced to bear children; but in the meantime, she has very different goals: to find her daughter and to destroy the regime from within. The story is bizarre and truly thrilling. Believe us: this is a must-watch.

15. Unorthodox

We're still sticking with the series with a heavier theme. And with four episodes, you could binge this in one evening. I'm talking about the Netflix hit ‘Unorthodox’. The story is loosely based on the autobiography of Deborah Feldman, an American-German writer who fled her Hasidic Jewish community in New York. In the series, the 19-year-old main character Esty Shapiro (Shira Haas) does the same. She flees to Berlin, away from her arranged marriage and leaves all the customs and beliefs of her youth behind. But when her husband discovers that she is pregnant, he is determined to find her. The series won an Emmy and was the first German production to do so. Completely deserved, if you ask me. As a bonus, Netflix also has a documentary about the making of ‘Unorthodox A little behind-the-scenes look, secretly we all want that, right?

16. Reservation Dogs

Ready for something light again? Then ‘Reservation Dogs’ will be your new favorite series. With an average Rotten Tomatoes score of 99 percent, we can actually call this perfect. In the series, we follow four indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma; they call themselves the Rez Dogs. The quartet has one goal: to make a trip to California, the big dream of their deceased friend Daniel. Now you might think: that doesn't sound particularly light. But believe me, it is. To raise the money for their trip, the teenagers fill their days with committing thefts. And that often doesn't go smoothly. Maybe not the most well-known title; but that's exactly why ‘Reservation Dogs’ deserves a spot on this list.

17. Succession

It was already a bit in the name; but if a series wins 92 awards, we can certainly call it a success. In the HBO Max hit ‘Succession’ we follow the wealthy media mogul Logan Roy and his family. Logan is the big boss of Waystar RoyCo, but due to his old age and deteriorating health, that can't go on for long. With four children who all do something within the business, his successor is close. But which one of them will it be? All four are eager to take over the reins. And as it goes with the elite, everything is allowed in that struggle. One big chaos. But believe me: it ends perfectly.

18. Mobland

With a crime thriller, you're always good with me. Especially if Pierce Brosnan plays the lead role. In the SkyShowtime-series ‘Mobland’, he is Conrad Harrigan, the head of a London crime family. The Harrigans become embroiled in a feud with the Stevensons, another notorious criminal family. To protect himself and his family, Conrad hires Harry Da Souza (Tom Hardy). A clever fixer who must calm things down before it gets out of hand. Tensions are rising and it's up to Harry to prevent a devastating gang war. Season one was such a hit that a sequel is already in the works. Much is not yet known about it, but according to rumors, the problems for the Harrigans are only getting bigger.

19. Bad Sisters

A good relationship with your in-laws is always a bit of a thing. If it doesn't click well? That can have quite serious consequences. At least in the series ‘Bad Sisters’ from Apple TV+. The story revolves around the five Garvey sisters: Eva, Grace, Ursula, Bibi, and Becka. When John Paul, Grace's husband, suddenly dies, a large investigation begins. According to his life insurers, his death was not so unexpected; the sisters must have something to do with it. One thing is for sure: John Paul was not exactly the family's favorite, and ideas about his murder have been discussed. But how serious was that? Did it remain vague statements or was it indeed a serious plan? For now, we can dive into two seasons, but the future of the series is still uncertain. The chance of a third season seems small, but a spinoff could be possible. Stopping would be a shame. It remains exciting for now.

20. The Girlfriend

‘The Girlfriend’ sounds like a very sweet series. But I can tell you, that's not the case. This psychological thriller is the nerve-wracking hit of Prime Video. Everything in Laura's (Robin Wright) life seems to be perfect: a successful career, a happy marriage, and the perfect son Daniel (Laurie Davidson). This dream picture comes to an end when Daniel introduces his new girlfriend Cherry (Olivia Cooke). Laura immediately feels: this is bad news. She is convinced that the girl is not who she says she is. The mother is determined to protect her son. But how do you do that when no one believes he is in danger? The series has just been released, but is already firmly in the Prime Video top 5. That's good news for a possible sequel. Big bosses at Prime, are you reading this? We would really like to see more of this. Thank you!

Image: Appletv+