Here Are The Best Shows To Watch While You’re Stuck At Home

Since we’ve all been spending a lot of time at home recently, I doubt I’m the only one who has been doing some serious binge-watching. In our current homebound state, finding a good TV show to sink your teeth into can be a great way to stave off boredom!

To aid in your quest for entertainment, I thought I’d help out by sharing another round of some of my favorite binge-worthy TV shows! (I’ve also made sure to mention which streaming service each show is on, so you’ll know right where to look for them.)

In addition to sharing my own favorites, I’ll also be sharing recommendations from the OGT Team and OGT Plus members too! Today’s post should give you plenty of options to help you pass the time in the coming weeks and beyond! 🙂

If you have a favorite show that isn’t mentioned in this post, share it with us in a comment at the end of this post!

Jillee’s Top 6 Binge-Worthy TV Shows

1. Victoria

Available on Amazon Prime Video

This PBS drama about the early years of one of the world’s greatest monarchs is superb viewing for people who love British period dramas (like me!) From her ascension to the throne at the tender age of eighteen to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert, Jenna Coleman’s tremendously engaging portrayal of Queen Victoria is so endearing, you can’t help but fall in love with her.

The show (much like The Crown, another personal favorite) gives you an up close and personal look at the life of a queen (and empress!) underneath the pomp and circumstance. I’ll admit the love story between the Queen and her prince hooked me in the first place, but I was soon just as captivated by her indomitable spirit. I guarantee it will have you hooked by the very first episode!

2. Poldark

Available on Amazon Prime Video

Based on the book series of the same name by Winston Graham, this is another masterfully done PBS series. The plot revolves around Captain Ross Poldark who has just returned from fighting in the Revolutionary War to his home in Cornwall, only to discover his father has died, his estate is in ruins, and his childhood sweetheart is engaged to his cousin.

He meets a young urchin called Demelza and hires her as a scullery maid but they fall in love and marry. The story follows their lives which, of course, are filled with much tragedy and intrigue! Irish actor Aidan Turner plays the lead brilliantly, stealing both the show and our hearts! 🙂

3. The Last Kingdom

Available on Netflix

I highlighted Vikings in our last post about binge-worthy TV shows, and after starting The Last Kingdom, I had a hard time deciding on which I liked better! They are both dramas based on Viking history, but the lead character, a Dane by the name of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, really captures your heart and soul from the first episode and never lets go!

The Last Kingdom is set in the late 9th century, when England is divided into seven separate kingdoms. However, the Anglo-Saxon lands are being attacked, plundered, and effectively ruled by Viking Danes in many areas, and the Kingdom of Wessex remains the last major stronghold against the Danes.

Through an unfortunate series of events, Uhtred and King Alfred of Wessex form an unlikely relationship that is tested over and over through the years. Their love-hate relationship is fascinating to watch, and I promise, you will NOT be able to stop watching!

4. Sherlock

Available on Netflix

Watching this television series cemented my undying love and respect for its lead Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Sherlock Holmes in this PBS Masterpiece series like he was born to do it. I’d never been especially interested in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories before this, but Benedict Cumberbatch (and his sidekick Dr. John Watson, played superbly by Martin Freeman) make this series impossible to resist!

The series is set in the present day, which is an interesting spin on the original Victorian era stories. Sherlock Holmes is a “consulting detective,” solving various mysteries in modern-day London assisted by his flatmate and friend, Dr. John Watson, whose blog documenting their adventures turns Holmes into a reluctant celebrity.

Did I mention that Benedict Cumberbatch was BRILLIANT in this role? His characterization of Sherlock Holmes is superb and funny, making this a series I could watch over and over again!

5. Hell on Wheels

Available on Netflix

Just so you don’t think I watch British dramas exclusively, here’s a show that couldn’t be more of a departure from my usual preference! Hell on Wheels is a western series about the construction of the first railroad across the US, chronicling the lives of the laborers, mercenaries, prostitutes, surveyors, and others who lived, worked, and died in the mobile encampment that followed the Union Pacific railhead west across the Great Plains.

The story focuses on Cullen Bohannon (played by the captivating Anson Mount), a former Confederate soldier who initially joins the railroad to track down Union soldiers who murdered his wife and young son during the Civil War. In the process, he becomes a foreman and eventually chief engineer on the railroad.

While I was once again drawn in by the lead actor, the story of the long and bitter battle between the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad proved to be unexpectedly fascinating!

6. Hart of Dixie

Available on Netflix

If you’ve had enough history and drama and are looking for something a bit more lighthearted, I have one last recommendation for you! Hart of Dixie is simultaneously a romantic comedy and a show about the quirky antics of a fictional small town.

I once heard the show described as “a show that feels like the TV version of a hearty chicken soup,” and I couldn’t have put it better myself! Its characters are compelling and lovable, and I found it to be a lighthearted oasis in the midst of a world that can be pretty hard to live in sometimes, especially right now!

At the “hart” of this show is Dr. Zoe Hart (played by the adorable Rachel Bilson), a New Yorker who, after her dreams of becoming a heart surgeon fall apart, accepts an offer to work as a general practitioner in the fictional Gulf Coast town of Bluebell, Alabama. But the rest of the characters are equally appealing, and the soundtrack is amazing too!

OGT Staff Picks For Binge-Worthy TV Shows

Brittany’s Pick: The Amazing Race

Available on Hulu

“There are 29 seasons of The Amazing Race on Hulu, and now is the perfect time for watching every last one! I love a good reality show, but The Amazing Race has the added appeal of watching contestants travel the world. I especially enjoy seeing cathedrals, museums and mountaintops while I’m stuck at home.“ – Brittany, Production Manager

Kaitlyn’s Pick: Jack Ryan

Available on Amazon Prime Video

“If you’re a fan of past Jack Ryan iterations like Clear and Present Danger or The Sum of All Fears, you’ll love this small-screen adaptation of Tom Clancy’s classic story. John Krasinski (Jim Halpert from The Office) plays the show’s namesake in this version and really does a fantastic job!

I love the balance of fast-paced action and well-developed plot as Ryan follow a trail of suspicious financial transactions to a terrorist cell in Yemen in Season 1, and during his compelling mission to Venezuela in Season 2. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!” – Kaitlyn, Photographer

Britta’s Pick: Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Available on Hulu

“If you loved The Office or Parks and Recreation, put Brooklyn Nine-Nine on your watchlist ASAP! I can’t resist a great ensemble cast or a comedy with heart, and this show, which follows the day-to-day workings of the detectives in the NYPD’s 99th precinct, offers both in spades!

Whether you’re a headstrong goofball like Jake Peralta, a teacher’s pet like Amy Santiago, or an anxious people-pleaser like Charles Boyle, I’m sure you’ll find this cast of characters as relatable and endearing as I do!” – Britta, Content Editor

OGT Readers’ Picks

Here are some of the TV shows that currently have OGT Plus members hooked! Some of these narrowly missed earning a spot on my personal list, so I’m glad they are getting a mention here: