Another 6 TV Shows You Need to Binge-Watch This Summer

Image Credit: MTV

Summer is the best time to binge-watch TV shows, but with the vast amount of shows streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services, finding something to watch can be more daunting than watching a new series from start to finish. But fear not!

Last year we suggested “6 TV Shows You Need to Binge-Watch Immediately This Summer,” and this year we’ve got another batch of shows you need to watch. Whether you’re binge-watching to relax after a long day of work or need to find something to watch during your summer vacation, these suggestions will help you pass the time indoors this summer.

Dawson’s Creek

Image Credit: Sony Pictures Television

Dawson’s Creek may not have been the first primetime teen drama, but it was definitely one of the most iconic. The show, which debuted 20 years ago this January, created controversy upon its debut for its supposed “racy” storylines and is responsible for the infamous “crying Dawson” meme. It also has one of the most iconic theme songs in Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait.” After 20 years, the show is definitely a bit dated, but is worth a watch because of its continued influence on teen dramas to this day. Plus, the Dawson/Joey/Pacey love triangle is one of the most iconic ones in teen TV history.

Dawson’s Creek can be streamed on Amazon Prime. 

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Image Credit: CNN

With Anthony Bourdain’s tragic passing in June, many tributes brought up the importance of his CNN series Parts Unknown. On the show, Bourdain travels around the world exploring different cities and sampling regional cuisines while highlighting places that are largely under the radar. What really makes Parts Unknown special is the respect that Bourdain shows to the people and cultures he interacts with, and the show overall is a great testament to his legacy.

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown can be streamed on Netflix. 

Top Chef

Image Credit: Bravo TV

If you plan on watching Top Chef, make sure you’re not hungry or else it will make you crave every dish served on the show. One of the best and longest lasting reality shows on cable, Top Chef has evolved from featuring largely unknown and sometimes even home cooks to being a showcase for some of the country’s best chefs. It’s also one of the few reality competition shows that has managed to remain compelling without major tweaks to its format over the years. While the first few seasons are the most iconic, the show has remained enjoyable throughout its run and has spawned many spin-off shows that are just as interesting to watch.

Top Chef can be streamed on Hulu.

The Dead Zone

Image Credit: USA Network

Based on the characters in the Stephen King novel of the same name, The Dead Zone aired on the USA Network for six seasons. The story follows protagonist Johnny Smith, played by Anthony Michael Hall, who develops psychic powers after being in a coma for a few years following a car accident. While the first season follows a lot of Johnny’s adjustment to the changes in his life after waking up from the coma, the series as a whole focuses on how he is able to utilize the visions he has of the past and future, which are gained through physical contact with people. The series does a good job of mixing the police procedural and paranormal genres and will undoubtedly leave you wanting more after the show’s premature series finale.

The Dead Zone can be streamed on Amazon Prime. 

Manhunt: Unabomber

Image Credit: The Discovery Channel

Manhunt: Unabomber, the TV miniseries that aired on the Discovery Channel, is a fictionalized account of how the FBI caught Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. Even if you know exactly how the Unabomber case turned out, the show builds enough suspense to make you wonder exactly how they are going to catch and successfully prosecute Kaczynski. The acting from everyone is top notch, although Paul Bettany’s American accent is hard to get past at times, and Sam Worthington in particular shines in his portrayal of FBI agent Jim Fitzgerald. The show’s later focus on how forensic linguistics was used to catch the Unabomber is incredibly compelling, and whether you’re interested in the true crime genre or not, you must make time to watch the eight episode miniseries.

Manhunt: Unabomber can be streamed on Netflix. 

Daria

Image Credit: MTV

Last year I wrote about the 20th anniversary of Daria and listed some essential episodes to watch. But with the news that MTV is planning on rebooting the show, now is the best time to watch the entire series from top to bottom. Though Daria debuted in the latter part of the 90s, the show holds up remarkably well, probably because jaded teenagers never really go out of style. The movies that MTV made, Is It Fall Yet? and Is It College Yet?, are also both streaming and deserve a watch as well. And no matter how good the reboot is, it’s highly doubtful that it will come close to surpassing the quality and humor of the original series.

Daria can be streamed on Hulu. 

* * * * *

What are you binge-watching this summer? Let us know in the comments!