Here’s the series you should be adding to your watchlist this fall.
The streaming era has brought with it more new TV shows than ever before, but that wealth of content has some downsides, too. One is analysis paralysis: The agonizing process of scrolling through pages and pages of options on Netflix or Max until your snacks have gotten cold, unable to pick a winner. Or perhaps you’re on the other end of the spectrum, and you watch everything — so much content that none of it really sticks with you after you turn off the TV.
We’re all love a little mindless entertainment from time to time, but nothing comes close to the joy of a series that you can truly connect with. Shows that make you laugh, cry, and think about yourself in a different way can transcend simple entertainment and become something else — a part of your life that informs your taste, changes your perspective, and helps you relate to others.
To that end, we asked our staff about the life-changing TV shows that they recommend every chance they get. These picks run the gamut in terms of genre, but what they have in common is the ability to burrow themselves into your brain, in a way that most series simply can’t. So clear off the couch and immerse yourself in some shows that are true game-changers.
Six Feet Under
“I’ve always been terrified of dying, so it was a surprise when, at the age of 15, a show about the subject caught my attention. Each episode of Six Feet Under begins with a death, the causes of which range from heart attack to mountain lion attack. In some ways, it’s a typical HBO family drama: Before the Roy siblings were duking it out for control over Waystar Royco, the Fishers on SFU were managing their family business — a funeral home — which feeds into the show’s themes of mortality and the personal, religious, and philosophical ways in which individuals cope with it.
While this series had a huge impact on the way I perceive death, it also had a major impact on my career: In falling in love with this show, I started to appreciate the art of television — specifically, the craft of storytelling. The care that went into producing this series helped me figure out that I wanted to create content for people to watch and enjoy — the way I did, for the four years this show aired.” – Mary Agnant, Senior Video Producer
Where to watch: Streaming on Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Max
Enlightened
“Laura Dern’s been getting a lot of attention (and real-deal awards) over the last several years, but I was sort-of early to the Dernaissance, thanks to my love for the HBO dramedy Enlightened. Created and written by Mike White — yes, White Lotus Mike White — the series premiered in 2011 and revolves around a middle manager named Amy Jellicoe (played by Dern, of course), who has a spectacular fall from grace at her corporation, accompanied by a complete psychological meltdown — this bonkers scene in the first episode made me shriek with joy. Jellicoe attempts to find/reinvent herself in the aftermath, moving back into her mom’s suburban house and declaring that she’s on a campaign to heal the world.
The writing is saber-sharp, every character is richly drawn, and Jellicoe is the ultimate unreliable narrator. But the series’ underlying emotional questions are what roped me in: Jellicoe thinks she’s making the planet a better place, but is she really just settling a score? What does it actually mean to become ‘enlightened,’ and is that quest ultimately a self-serving act? What do we owe to the people we love? This is one of the first ‘prestige’ shows I really fell for, and even if you don’t care about the issues at play, Enlightened is a must-watch, if only for the stellar script, the laugh-out-loud depictions of corporate bureaucracy, and for the Dern. Always the Dern.” – Molly Simms, Editorial Director
Where to watch: Streaming on Max, Amazon Prime, and Hulu
Fleabag
“Trying to explain Fleabag to someone who’s never heard of it is absolutely wild: It’s about a woman whose name is maybe Fleabag, but nobody else in the show has a name except her sister, Clare, for some reason? Fleabag is a complete mess who’s clearly having a traumatic breakdown but is in denial. Oh, and and she repeatedly breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly into the camera, but in a way that won’t make you want to roll your eyes, I promise.
Both seasons of this show are amazing, but the second season, in my opinion, television at its all-time best. The first episode of that season includes a scene in a public bathroom that presents itself as almost funny, but made me gasp and cry like I’d been punched in the gut. The way the writer and star, Phoebe Waller Bridge, masterfully transitions from comedy to tragedy will give you whiplash.
Fleabag’s relationship to you, the viewer, evolves in an intimate and complex way over the course of the show. She’s desperate to speak to someone, anyone, and she has chosen us. But Fleabag evolves, too, and by the last episode, with a subtle shake of the head, she tells us she doesn’t need us anymore. The finale is a masterpiece, culminating in an incredible exchange that gutted me so deeply that I get teary-eyed just thinking about it.” – Emily Pinto, Senior Producer & Creative Director
Where to watch: Streaming on Amazon Prime
The Simpsons
“To ignore The Simpsons is to completely discount what I believe to be the greatest American sitcom of all time — but even if you don’t share my very hyperbolic opinion, you can probably agree that the show shaped popular culture for at least the majority of the ’90s. You’re likely familiar with the basic premise: A working-class American family living in a small town are just trying to get by. That ‘getting by’ includes traveling to space (multiple times), having a neighborly feud with George H.W. Bush, and attending the opening night of Planet of the Apes: The Musical, to name a few examples.
Absurdity aside, this show became particularly life-changing for me because it was so heavily syndicated: Along with Seinfeld, my household watched an episode of The Simpsons every evening, every weeknight, for as long as I can remember. It very much shaped my understanding of pop culture and family values — especially because my father was, shall we say, a Homer Simpson-type who was always thinking up a new scheme. Plus, my family also lived in a corrupt and zany town. I basically thought this show was my life, which fundamentally formed my sense of humor.” – Diana Valenzuela, Assistant Editor
Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Severance
“I can’t remember the last time a show has been as captivating, entertaining, and intellectually compelling as Severance was for me. The show, which has released one season and is in the midst of producing its second, technically falls into the realm of the sci-fi and dystopian genres, but it also functions as a workplace-doldrums dramedy. Imagine if the film Office Space were put in a pressure cooker, with the intensity notched up to 11. Plot-wise, the show follows one worker as he attempts to reconcile a series of concerning disparities between his ‘office life’ and his ‘home life’ — but from a higher altitude, the show soars over so many topics with remarkable deftness, from the pain of heartbreak to the fear of dying to the exhausting, back-buckling realities that so many people face trying to make a living under late-stage capitalism. Oh, and it’s really funny. Did I mention how funny it is?” — Caro Burke, Associate Editor
Where to watch: Streaming on Apple TV+
How To with John Wilson
“The best TV — and the best art in general — makes us think differently about ourselves and the world around us. This gem of a series from HBO unites comedy and documentary, and it gave me an entirely new perspective on something I already understood pretty well: the utter chaos one encounters on the streets of NYC. The half-hour episodes of How To are ostensibly guides to solving a problem (‘How To Find a Public Restroom,’ for example), but they’re more accurately described as hilarious, idiosyncratic, and often deeply moving meditations on city life. The show is a reminder to notice (and laugh at) the bizarre things around you, as well as a call to look for the greater meaning in interactions that might seem completely mundane — until you dig a little deeper.” – Ryan Buxton, Deputy Editor
Where to watch: Streaming on Max
The Midnight Gospel
“I tend to assume cartoons are something I can space out to, but this show had me in tears during multiple episodes. Created by comedian Duncan Trussell, the surrealist animated show follows a space caster (aka space podcaster) as he interviews otherworldly beings about life, death, and everything in between. The audio from the show is taken from Trussell’s real-life podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour, in which he interviews everyone from Anne Lamott to Ram Dass to his own mother.
I won’t spoil the details, but the last episode of the series features a conversation between Trussell and his mother who has stage four breast cancer. Together, they confront death head-on, discussing how, instead of ignoring it, they simply must accept it as a fact of life. The conversation is frank, beautiful, hopeful, and yet incredibly sad. The conversation was taped three weeks before his mother’s death, making it all the more bittersweet to listen to the two reminisce about the time they’ve spent together, and what will come after his mother passes.
On a lighter note, the colorful animations are breathtaking, trippy, and a joy to watch. It’s amazing to see such deep conversations translated into something that’s often considered a childish medium.” – Katie Pittman, Commerce Editor
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix
Derry Girls
“Derry Girls holds a special place in my heart because it was a guiding light for my friends and I during the pandemic, when we were finishing out our college careers online. We’d crowd into our campus apartments, switch on Derry Girls, and immediately turn on the subtitles. (I’m a proud watcher of television with captions on and will be until the day I die, but even if you aren’t, you’ll probably need them for this show.) The series takes place in Northern Ireland in the 1990s, while the country was facing the Troubles, a ethno-nationalist conflict that lasted about 30 years. Five teenagers with very thick Irish accents (hence the need for subtitles) get into chaotic situations while experiencing the highs and lows of first loves, family relationships, school, and — oh yeah! — living in a turbulent time when their country was experiencing an ‘irregular war.’
Though the show is set during the Troubles, its main undercurrent is the day-to-day lives of the hilarious characters. Besides the sharp satire, blunt timing, and incredible music from Ireland’s own born-and-bred rock band, The Cranberries, one of my favorite things about the show is its portrayal of raw, emotional moments without making them seem out of place. My friends and I met the characters of Derry Girls when we were also living our lives in a fearful and uncertain time while experiencing the normal progression of getting older, graduating, and moving on with our lives (and away from one another). Simply put, Derry Girls is both a timely and timeless piece of art that will make your eyes wet with tears and your stomachs ache from laughing.” – Meredith Struewing, Social Media Producer
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix
Beckham
“I’ve never been into soccer (or, as they say in the rest of the world, ‘football’), and if I’m being honest, the only reason I knew of David Beckham was previously because he married to my favorite Spice Girl (Posh). But this Netflix docuseries gave me a compelling look into his humble beginnings growing up in East London to global stardom, and also captures England’s sheer passion for the game. I had no idea about the extent to which Beckham was bullied and blamed for England’s loss against Argentina in 1998: He essentially became public enemy number one — and was the recipient of death threats from fans. That was horrifying, to say the least, but it was refreshing to see Beckham challenge the toxic masculinity that’s often found in sports and be vulnerable about his struggles going through that period of painful vitriol.” -Tess Bonn, Senior Writer
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix
The Mindy Project
“‘Life-changing’ might be a strong word for this one, but it’s certainly become a comfort show for me thanks, to a recommendation from one of my roommates (shoutout to Allie!). Mindy Kaling’s hilarious writing, spot-on comedic timing, and endearingly flawed characters come together in a comedy that’s made me cry tears of laughter, tenderness, and frustration. Kaling’s protagonist (also named Mindy) is made up of a lot of ‘contradictions’ that are actually just how personalities work: Yes, she loves clothes, boys, and rom-coms, and she’s a brilliant gynecologist — and those characteristics don’t need to be mutually exclusive. She wants to be swept off her feet by romance but is also passionate about giving women agency and control over their reproductive lives. Some days she feels confident and sexy, and other days she’s desperate for love and attention. She’s constantly holding her own in a bizarrely male-dominated career — one in which she has as much professional expertise and more lived experience than anyone else in the room, but she still feels the need to prove her worth. It’s relatable, funny, empowering and heartbreaking, and it’s a show I would recommend to anyone.” – Ciara Hopkinson, Senior Associate, Account Management
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
“I would have called this series ‘life-changing’ when I watched it as a pre-teen, and I stand by the statement now — although my reasons have shifted. Back then, I would’ve said that it showed me what ‘true love’ looked like and made me feel less alone in hating high school. (I referred to the block that my first high school inhabited as the ‘Hellmouth,’ and then ended up transferring to the high school that Sarah Michelle Gellar went to.)
After years of reflecting on my obsession with the show, reading books about its cultural significance and legacy, and interviewing Gellar myself, I have a different perspective. Buffy was one of those pivotal shows that placed a bunch of outcasts at center stage, showing their triumphs and their struggles — relatable and supernatural — as they navigated not only high school, but an actual portal to hell. These quirky characters were comforting to an angsty teenager; I needed to see them facing their demons to find the strength to do so myself. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was also drawn to Buffy because it had a strong female lead, which was rare in the early aughts. (To this day, she might be one of the strongest female leads of all time.)
I’m not saying every adult should watch this show, but if you’re still trying to understand your own teenage struggles, Buffy might help you come to terms with those years. And I highly recommend it for current high schoolers as a way to show them things could be a lot weirder and scarier — and what young women are capable of.” – Maggie Parker, Deputy Web Editor
Where to watch: Streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime
Parks and Recreation
“When it comes to an ensemble comedy cast, it doesn’t get much better than Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, and Nick Offerman — plus Jenny Slate and Ben Schwartz. Parks and Rec is very funny (I’m told that the first season is hard to get through for some, but I liked it), and while the political positions on the series didn’t all age amazingly well, some of it is such an accurate reflection of our current times that it feels like Parks and Rec predicted the future, Simpsons-style. Just watch any town hall meeting or any scene with Jeremy Jamm, and you’ll see what I mean.” – Sara Levine, Newsletter Editor
Where to watch: Streaming on Peacock and Amazon Prime
