If you're anything like me you're probably watching a lot of television these days. Here are a few shows worth streaming. Note, this list is a mix of old and new! Thought we'd switch things up a bit.
Shrill
What it's about: Comedy series starring Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live) as Annie, a fat young woman who wants to change her life - but not her body. Annie is trying to start her career while juggling bad boyfriends, a sick parent, and a perfectionist boss. (Hulu)
Why you should watch: Shrill touches on body positivity in a refreshing and unique way, but that's not the primary focus of the show. Annie is dealing with every other millennials' struggles from her career to her love life. With Aidy Bryant as its lead it should come as no shock that it's hilarious.
Click here to watch.
The English Game
What it's about: Two 19th-century footballers on opposite sides of a class divide navigate professional and personal turmoil to change the game - and England - forever. (Netflix)
Why you should watch: Even if you have zero interest in soccer (*cough cough* me) this show will draw you in. Seeing how much the game has evolved from its beginnings was a fascinating watch.
Click here to watch.
Breeders
What it's about: "Breeders" explores the paradox experienced by nearly all parents, the willingness to die for one's children coupled with the near-constant desire to kill them. (Hulu)
Why you should watch: If you're a parent this show will really resonate. Even as a non-parent you will get it. Breeders is witty and relatable.
Click here to watch.
Snowfall
What it's about: Snowfall is a one-hour drama set against the infancy of the crack cocaine epidemic and its ultimate radical impact on the culture as we know it. (Hulu)
Why you should watch: If you like shows like Ozark, Narcos, and Breaking Bad, you will definitely love Snowfall. It follows the rise of protagonist, Franklin, as he goes from drug dealer to king pin. Even though you know what he's doing is illegal, you'll find yourself rooting for him to succeed.
Click here to watch.
Damages
What it's about: A rising star lawyer crosses paths with a cutthroat veteran attorney who will stop at nothing to win the cases she handles, even if it means manipulating and endangering the family and friends of those around her. (Hulu)
Why you should watch: It's not predictable. Every season starts with a flash forward. Each episode unfolds the story of how we got there. The first season was the best, but the seasons that followed were excellent.
Click here to watch.
The West Wing
What it's about: This powerful political epic chronicles the triumphs and travails of White House senior staff under the administration of President Josiah Bartlet. (Netflix)
Why you should watch: This show has been off the air for a decade yet it is still so relevant. Even though it is very much so fictional, there is something very real about it. Creative license and dramatization occurs as with any television show, but it doesn't feel like salacious or scandalous version of the White House (i.e. Scandal).
Click here to watch.
Peaky Blinders
What it's about: A notorious gang in 1919 Birmingham, England, is led by the fierce Tommy Shelby, a crime boss set on moving up in the world no matter the cost. (Netflix)
Why you should watch: It's a gritty no holds barred crime show. Tommy Shelby is the ultimate antihero. He's cold and distant, but you know everything he does is out of his love for his family.
Click here to watch.
The Tudors
What it's about: All the splendor and scandal of England's 16th-century royal court comes to life in this series that follows notorious Tudor monarch Henry VIII. (Netflix)
Why you should watch: If you love a good period piece, you'll love this show. It's not always historically accurate, but it well captures the essence of Henry VIII and his reign.
Click here to watch.
Mrs. America
What it's about: Mrs. America tells the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the unexpected backlash led by a conservative woman named Phyllis Schlafly, aka "the sweetheart of the silent majority." Through the eyes of the women of the era - both Schlafly and second wave feminists Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug and Jill Ruckelshaus - the series explores how one of the toughest battlegrounds in the culture wars of the 70s helped give rise to the Moral Majority and forever shifted the political landscape.
Why you should watch: It shows the second wave feminist movement from many sides. Mrs. America also tackles the start of the conservative women movement. A driving force that still has impact today (2016 election, for example). For better or worse depending on where you stand politically.
Click here to watch.
Beverly Hills 90210
What it's about: The show focuses on the assimilation of a solid, value-oriented Midwestern family into an accelerated Beverly Hills lifestyle. The show explores the realities and myths of social classes in Beverly Hills while at the same time exposing the strains this lifestyle can put on family relationships. (Hulu)
Why you should watch: This prime time soap opera has horrible acting, unrealistic story lines, and more drama than anyone would have in a lifetime. Sometimes, we need a little bad television to take our mind off things. So, here is some escapism.
Click here to watch.
