We’ve all been there. You’ve had a rough day and simply want to get away from it all for a while. But you’re scared you’ll wind up binge-watching ten years of television. Why spend weeks watching a show when you can finish one in 5 hours?
So, here are some of our recommendations for whether you’re having a terrible day or just want to watch some lighthearted, easy-breezy television! You can never have too many comfort shows, right?
Fleabag (2016-2019)
Runtime: 5 hours
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Fleabag, a one-woman show by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, has it all: dysfunctional family drama, guinea pigs, Godmother Olivia Coleman, statue stealing, a hot priest, messy women, and chaos, chaos, chaos. The plot follows Fleabag, a 20-something, as she navigates her life through mortifying family dinners, awkward sexual encounters, and the loss of her best friend. Fleabag has won everything: Golden Globes, Emmys, BAFTAS, you name it, we have it. If you haven’t seen the show yet, do yourself a favor and do it right now. You can thank us later.
Derry Girls (2018-present)
Runtime: 3 hours
Available on: Netflix
Derry Girls is a Northern Irish sitcom that aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom and is currently available on Netflix. The raucous dramedy follows the lives of four sassy Northern Irish teen girls in a Catholic school growing up in the 1990s under English oppression. It’s finally arriving for a third season sometime later this year, so it’s the perfect time to binge-watch the previous seasons.
Country Comfort (2019)
Runtime: 4 hours
Available on: Netflix
We are still mad at Netflix for not renewing Country Comfort for a Season 2! A heart-warming multi-cam comedy with a mix of country music. The series, created by Caryn Lucas, stars actress-singer Katharine McPhee as Bailey Hart, a wanna-be country singer who finds herself in need of direction after her career stops and her longtime lover, Boone, leaves her on the same night. She finds herself working as a nanny for the five children of Beau, a rough rancher whose wife died two years before the series begins. If you’re a country music fan, then you’re in for a treat! (LeAnn ‘freaking’ Rimes!!!)
Crashing (2016)
Runtime: 2 hours 20 mins
Available on: Netflix
Fleabag is and will always be Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s signature work. But have you seen Crashing? We’d say you should simply watch a show if Phoebe’s name is included as the creator. End of the question! The plot revolves around six twenty-somethings living in a converted hospital as “property guardians.” Waller-Bridge stars as Lulu, who shows up at the hospital to surprise her childhood friend Anthony unannounced. If we say the rest of the plot, there is no point in watching. The first and only season of the British show consists of six episodes of 20–30 minutes each, but they’re so freaking good you’ll wish they were longer!
Modern Love (2019-present)
Runtime: 4 hours 13 mins
Available on: Amazon Prime Video
Modern Love, Amazon Prime’s anthology series based on the popular New York Times column of the same name, is a pure delight. “An unlikely friendship. A lost love resurfaced. A marriage at its turning point. A date that might not have been a date. An unconventional new family. These are the unique stories about the joys and tribulations of love, each inspired by a real-life personal essay from the beloved New York Times column “Modern Love,” writes Amazon. The cast features some big names like Anne Hathaway, Kit Harrington, Dev Patel, Andy Gracia, Andrew Scott, Tina Fey, and more. With eighteen (Season 1 & 2) episodes ranging from 29 to 35 minutes each, it’s like watching a mini-movie!