As we grow older, our daily lives become filled with an increasing number of activities, to the point where weekends become the space we look forward to enjoying our free time in the company of friends and family, or simply to relax and enjoy recreational activities around the house. However, even if we have an absolutely jam-packed routine of things to do, every now and then we all experience the inevitable: boredom. For those moments, nothing is better than settling down on the couch with some snacks and enjoying a good movie or TV series, something that nowadays is within everyone’s reach offering a wide range of options.
Movies and television have always been two of society’s greatest allies, but with the rise of streaming platforms and the huge volume of productions that are released every week, they have gained a greater prominence than ever before: it is virtually impossible not to find a movie or TV show that suits our personal tastes. Fortunately, just as the entertainment industry is available whenever we need to clear our heads or enjoy some company, it also comes into play when boredom takes over, offering us the chance to get into other stories and experience different adventures alongside the main characters of our favorite productions. So if you’re feeling bored, here are some TV series you should definitely check out.
10
Squid Game
The premiere of Squid Game in 2021 completely revolutionized the world, and in a remarkably short amount of time, it ranked among Netflix’s most watched productions, attracting millions of viewers worldwide. This South Korean production by Hwang Dong-hyuk presents a very peculiar premise featuring hundreds of people with severe financial problems who enter a secret competition to win a large sum of money that could be life-changing. In order to win, they have to successfully overcome different children’s games, but there is a catch: in each of the challenges, they are in danger of losing their lives.
Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo and Jung Ho-yeon star in this acclaimed production that garnered a slew of awards and nominations. Following Squid Game’s success, its creator went on to work on a second season, which is due in 2024.
9
The Good Place
Kristen Bell stars in The Good Place as Eleanor, a woman who dies and arrives at the Good Place, an area intended to house those who have done good deeds during their time on earth and are guaranteed to have all their wishes fulfilled. But there is a small problem: Eleanor was not a good person in her life, and to maintain her spot in the Good Place she must learn from her soul mate and new neighbors if she is to avoid an eternity of suffering.
This show, created by Michael Schur, premiered in 2016 and aired for four seasons, featuring performances by William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Ted Danson, Manny Jacinto, and D’Arcy Carden. Over the course of the seasons, this acclaimed TV series received many awards and nominations, including two Golden Globes and 14 Primetime Emmy Awards.
8
How I Met Your Mother
Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Neil Patrick Harris, and Cobie Smulders star in How I Met Your Mother, a 2005 sitcom created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays. In the show, an adult Ted Mosby of 2030 recounts to his two children the intricate story of how he first got to know their mother, tracing his 20s, his many failed relationships and the adventures he had with his unconditional group of friends.
How I Met Your Mother was inspired by the creators’ experiences as young adults living in New York City and aired for nine seasons, ending in 2014. Due to the popularity of this show and the good reception from the audience, 2022 saw the premiere of the spin-off How I Met Your Father, with a very similar premise but from a female perspective.
7
Sex Education
Sex Education is a British TV series that became a hit with critics and audiences due to its point of view and the cast’s performance, among many other things. Created by Laurie Nunn for Netflix, the production revolves around the students of Moordale Secondary School, who are navigating their teenage years and all the difficulties that this entails. Among them is Otis, a young boy who everyone considers a freak, yet thanks to the knowledge instilled in him by his mother, a sexologist, he finds a way to make some money and help spread good sexual practices among his peers.
Asa Butterfield, Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa, Gillian Anderson and Aimee Lou Wood are some of the stars in the wonderful ensemble cast gracing Sex Education since 2019. This show is currently awaiting its fourth season, although many actors will not be reprising their roles in it.
6
House
House is one of those series that engages the audience from beginning to end, both for the main character’s story and for the episodic cases presented. This Fox medical drama show created by David Shore follows Dr. Gregory House, a doctor as brilliant as he is egomaniacal and peculiar who leads a team of diagnosticians at the Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey as they tackle the most unusual medical cases. The methods he uses in his day-to-day work are far from conventional, which causes strong friction with his team, managers and the rest of the doctors at the hospital.
Hugh Laurie heads the cast of House alongside Robert Sean Leonard, Omar Epps, Jesse Spencer, Jennifer Morrison and Lisa Edelstein. The show aired for eight seasons, and earned its entire team a slew of awards, including two Golden Globes presented to Laurie for his lead role.
5
The Big Bang Theory
Leonard and Sheldon are two physicists and housemates who often hang out with Howard and Raj, two co-workers who are just as nerdy as they are. But life for this group changes completely with the arrival of Penny, a new neighbor whose presence in the building turns into a challenge, and who soon sweeps Leonard off his feet.
That is the plot of The Big Bang Theory, the CBS series that aired for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019. This show by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady became hugely popular, attracting a large fan base around the world and prompting the creation of the prequel series Young Sheldon. It stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar.
4
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is, hands down, one of the most popular series of recent years, and also one of Netflix’s biggest hits. This Duffer Brothers’ production, which recounts the strange events that strike the inhabitants of Hawkins during the 80s, stars an ensemble cast that seamlessly combines established stars and young talents, such as Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard and David Harbour, among many others.
The show premiered in 2016 and quickly became an audience favorite and a top contender for awards ceremonies. Over the course of its four seasons, Stranger Things earned over 200 nominations and added many, many stars to the cast, such as Sadie Sink, Sean Astin and Joseph Quinn. The show is currently awaiting its fifth and final season for 2024.
3
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a Fox series that, in spite of its cancellation, managed to rise again and emerge as one of the greatest comedy productions of recent years. Created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur, this show follows the detectives of the 99th Precinct of the New York City Police Department in Brooklyn as they adjust to the arrival of a new commanding officer with an overly serious attitude.
Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Melissa Fumero, Terry Crews, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Lo Truglio and Chelsea Peretti are just some of the stars of this popular 2013 comedy. Brooklyn Nine-Nine aired on Fox for five seasons until it was canceled, but NBC picked it up and treated audiences to three more seasons of the show.
2
Friends
Friends is an obvious go-to choice when you are feeling bored, and no matter which episode you tune in to, you will always find yourself hooked on the hilarious adventures of this quintessential bunch of friends from Manhattan.
This show by David Crane and Marta Kauffman was a turning point in the history of television since its premiere in 1994, and starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer, artists whose careers rose to utter popularity after their involvement in this production. Friends aired for ten seasons, wrapping up in 2004, and managed to build a solid fan base over the years that remains strong to this day.
1
The Office
Rounding out this list is a production that will probably get anyone out of the dullest boredom: The Office. In 2005, Greg Daniels adapted Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s show for American television, and although the first few episodes of the show were met with mixed reviews, over the course of its nine seasons it became a comedic masterpiece that, just like Friends, maintains its strong fan base to this day.
With an ensemble cast led by Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer, The Office follows the employees of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company as they deal on a daily basis with their quirky and irritating boss, Michael Scott.
Source: movieweb.com