Five Shows You Need to Binge Watch This Summer

With summer just around the corner, I thought it would be great to share some activities that you can do to make your summer amazing. While I was thinking long and hard about all the exciting things I could recommend like hiking, picnics, and hanging out with friends I realized that maybe I should be a bit more realistic. Yes, you should totally go swimming, hiking, and all that, but let’s be real here, we are all going to be on the search for the best TV shows to binge-watch at 2 am. So, as a self-proclaimed TV connoisseur, I thought I would give you my top 5 TV shows that are perfect for your summer binge-watching.  

Arrow

Network- The CW

Personally, I think the CW hit the jackpot with this show. At first, I was a little skeptical due to the fact that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the whole DC comic spin-off thing, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The show revolves around Oliver Queen who is based on DC Comics Green Arrow. What’s appealing about the entire show is the double life Oliver is forced to live in order to continue being Arrow, also, this show gives a good example of a hero that is genuinely unselfish. I find that with most superhero shows it’s common to find a hero that is only being a hero for themselves. Either they wanna get the girl or they want to look really good. Part of me understands why shows do this because it creates more drive for said hero to really beat the bad guy. However, I find it refreshing that the show Arrow makes Oliver a hero just because he’s a nice guy and wants to make the world a better place.

The Leftovers

Network- HBO

Okay, yes  I did think of this show being about leftover food in a refrigerator the first time I heard about it. This HBO drama series takes place in a world where 2% of its population suddenly disappears in an event that is called the “sudden departure.” First of all, I have to say that while the show is absolutely incredible, it’s also super weird. The first season really shows the grief and confusion that comes after the “sudden departure,” but it’s the second season that really gets into what exactly happened and introduces some of the best characters. You’ll be very confused for a lot of it, but if you’re patient, the story will come into full swing and you will be amazed.

iZombie

Network- The CW

The name is horrendous I’m aware, but don’t judge it too quickly. At first, I didn’t want to watch this at all because of the name, and I wasn’t ready for the whole zombie fad to become a thing just yet. But here I am on season 3 and absolutely loving it. This Sci-Fi/Comedy/Crime show is The Walking Dead without the unrelenting gore and bad humor (sorry if I just offended someone).  The reason I really decided to include this show is because of some pretty phenomenal acting. Rose McIver, who plays the charming zombie Liv Moore, is who really makes the show. Without giving much away, Liv, after becoming a zombie, is tasked with eating the brains of the people she examines (she works in a morgue) to better understand what happened to them. Each time Liv eats a person’s brain, she gains their mannerisms and personality making her a totally different person each episode. If that isn’t impressive then I don’t know what is.

Game of Thrones

Network- HBO

Need I say more? Game of Thrones has been the show of the year since, well, the first year it aired. The epic story of Westeros not only shocks but amazes, creating a story that revolves around a blood-soaked throne and the families vying for it. Make sure you never get close to any character because you never know if they will survive until the next episode. The reason I really appreciate this show is because of the ever changing plot structure, and just the pure realness of it. Okay, yes the show has dragons so not that real, but what I mean when saying real is that the show realistically portrays war. Bad things will happen to the characters you love and the characters you hate, and you have to both accept and admire the guts of the creators of the show.

Stranger Things

Network- Netflix

The incredible thing about this show is how different it is from really any show, especially any Netflix original. The cast is incredible, and I’ve found that the most talented people working on this show are the youngest. This show gives the perfect mix of 80s vibes that you weren’t looking for, but actually really needed, and your traditional well loved Sci-fi/Fantasy. Even with all this, what really blows my mind is how much traction it got from very little promotion. Netflix was pretty quiet about this show, yes, of course, there was a trailer but nothing monumental. As most of you know, only about a week into the show dropping on Netflix everyone was talking about it, and I mean everyone. I think this just shows that everyone at least needs to sit down and try this show out.

Happy watching this summer from the Johnny Green!