Feature Image by The Handmaid’s Tale
Grab some popcorn and slip into some sweats because it’s binge-watching season.
If you’re in the mood for something a bit heavier than Parks and Recreation, ahead are some thought-provoking alternatives. Each one will boggle your brain and spark long, analytical discussions with your friends (who probably also binge-watched four seasons in two days).
Black Mirror
This British science fiction series is a collection of movies surrounding themes in technology and modern society, which challenge you to think deeper into the world we live in. Each episode may leave you with a weird knot in your stomach, but you’ll find yourself clicking “next episode” every time.
Rick and Morty
Rick and Morty is a cartoon that younger audiences might watch and enjoy for its creative world and one-off jokes, but adults will be pleased to know that it’s nuanced with humor that only (slightly jaded) adults will understand. It’s a crude, smart, and hilarious portrayal of life and personalities you’ll recognize all too well.
Insecure
Dating is messy; the rest of life isn’t so much cleaner. In Insecure, Issa Rae tells a relatable story of a failed romance in the midst of a quarter-life career crisis. If you think in absolutes, this show will open your mind to the grey areas of love, friendship, and identity.
The Good Place
Do you consider yourself a “good” person? The Good Place portrays a heaven where only “good” people go – until Eleanor (Kristen Bell) is mistakenly sent there. It’s an extremely self-aware show that leaves you no choice but to think about your own thoughts and actions.
The OA
A blind girl goes missing for seven years — and when she returns, she’s able to see. Who is she? What happened? Get ready to be sucked into a story that’ll make you question everything about reality.
Brain Games
This series by National Geographic explains it all. You’ll start to reconsider what makes you think, act, feel, and remember certain things. Not only that, you’ll discover how shockingly often your own brain can trick or fail you.
Making A Murderer
Making A Murderer dissects the case of Steven Avery, who spent 18 years in prison for a murder that he didn’t commit (or did he?). This show will put you in the detective’s chair, weighing one truth against another.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Misogyny is a sensitive topic most people try to avoid, but The Handmaid’s Tale dives into it full force. Based on a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, this Hulu adaptation will make you think about free will, rape, societal hierarchies, and the resilience of a woman’s spirit.
Bojack Horseman
Unapologetic, satirical, and downright hilarious, Bojack Horseman celebrates so many different character tropes while being able to dig a few layers deeper. Like Rick and Morty, it’s an animated series with “adult” themes like depression and addiction, centered around an ex-Hollywood star you’ll love to hate and hate to love.
Big Little Lies
Based on a novel by Liane Moriarty, this mind-boggling miniseries is reminiscent of Real Housewives, but with way darker undertones. You won’t be able to watch Big Little Lies without wondering what kinds of skeletons others bury in their picture-perfect closets.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
