6 shows you should binge-watch over the holidays

Ah, the holidays… Students all around Australia, you can now breathe a  sigh of relief now that the school year is over! With so much time these holidays, you’ll have all the time to kick back and relax guilt-free and without the stress of your assignments and studies looming over you!

It also means you’ll have plenty of time to catch up on the best shows this year or binge-watch some all-time classics! So if you need to make the most of your time these holidays, binge through some of these recommended shows! 

The Handmaid’s Tale

Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is set in Gilead, a fictional society located in the dystopian near-future of the United States. It is a society where women’s rights have been revoked and fertile women are forced to be handmaids.

With birthing rates on the decline, the show revolves around one of Gilead’s handmaids, Offred (played by Mad Men‘s Elisabeth Moss) and tells her story. The Handmaid’s Tale is a fantastic piece and further highlights the struggles of women in modern society.

Catch The Handmaid’s Tale on SBS On Demand.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

“What else could there be to life than barbells and heavy weights?” asks Weightlifting Fairy Kim Book Joo, one of the most interesting Korean dramas to make waves with young audiences this year.

The coming-of-age story about students in a Korean university also doubles as a sports drama, as the premise of the series was inspired by Olympic gold medalist Jang Mi-ran. 

And with an ardent fanbase who love its funny and heartwarming story, this series will certainly leave you wanting more after each episode.

Watch Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo for free on Viki.

The Office

One of the most popular sitcoms in modern times is The Office, the show that launched the careers of actors like Steve Carell, Mindy Kaling, John Krasinski and many more.

It follows the daily lives of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company’s employees and their dealings with the inappropriate Michael Scott, the company’s boss.

With nine seasons of The Office to catch up on, you certainly won’t be lacking in content here. Each of the characters in the show has their own funny moments and the show is generally just a good watch if you’re looking for a laugh!

The Office is available on Amazon Prime.

Black Mirror

After something a little more serious and thought-provoking? Dark sci-fi series Black Mirror explores the society’s relationship to increasing advacements made in technology. Each episode tells a contained story that focuses on a different issue and idea, usually ending in tragedy or consequence. Think of each episode almost as a short film, or mini movie! T

That said, I recommend you go into the show without any expectations — you may be surprised by each episode’s underlying themes!

Episodes of Black Mirror can be streamed on Netflix (and a new season is on the way – perfect time to binge!). 

Parks and Recreation

You know that ‘Treat Yo Self’ meme that’s usually floating around the interwebs? Well that originated from Parks and Recreation! 

Similar to the style of The Office, Parks and Recreation is set in Pawnee, where Leslie Knope, an employee of her city’s Parks and Recreation department, works hard to make her town a little bit better.

Each of the characters in the show are lovable in their own way and, like The Office also helped launch the careers of actors like Aziz Ansari (Masters of None – also worth binging!), Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World) and Aubrey Plaza (Legion, Ingrid Goes West). Cameos from comedy actors like Paul Rudd, Will Forte, Megan Mulally and more are also featured in each of Parks and Recreation’s seven seasons.

You can catch Parks and Recreations on Stan.

Stranger Things

Last but not least is Stranger Things, and if you have not caught up with this cultural phenomenon, then now is the perfect time to do so!

Set in the ’80s and paying homage to classics from that era as well, Stranger Things features a fantastic child cast, a terrific return-to-form performance by ’80s/’90s teen icon Winona Ryder and deftly combines drama and horror (don’t worry, it’s not too scary that you cannot continue) and adds a splash of romance and humour.

It’s the perfect combination of quality television and geek-out fun and is a perfect combination for anyone of any age to watch and enjoy.

Stranger Things is available on Netflix to stream.