By Charlie Besso

As a seventeen year old ambivert, I have spent more than my fair share of time indoors binge watching television, and in light of the world’s present lockdown, I have compiled a list of my favorite shows-each having six or more seasons. These series are not only lengthy, but they are all from the “pre-Netflix originals” era, meaning we get to binge watch consecutive episodes that our parents would wait weeks for. So if you feel you may have burned through all the “good” shows, you might have missed these gems. Plus, if you’re into that early 2000’s aesthetic, then these are also sure to hit home.

Skins (2007-2013)

The best way i could describe this show is the English, OG version of Euphoria. Set in Bristol, England, Skins offers an unfiltered look into the everyday life of high schoolers. Filled with drugs, sex, partying and with each episode focused on a different character’s story, this is definitely one of those shows that will give you a personality change and make you appreciate the unpredictable messiness of adolescence. 

Weeds (2005-2012)

Ya’ll, this show is literally all you need. A mix between Shameless and Breaking Bad, Jenji Kohan’s Weeds is not a show you want to miss. Set in the cookie-cutter community of Agrestic in Southern California, the show follows the life of Nancy Botwin, a newly widowed mother who turns to selling weed in order to keep her family a float. This show truly captures the notion that hardship brings us together, and it is a perfect halfway between raunchy comedy, drama, and suburban wholesomeness beyond comparison.

Glee (2009-2015)

This one you have probably heard of if you haven’t watched it already. Glee is basically high school musical but without the Disney channel filter. It blends cringeworthy musical numbers, performed by actors who look suspiciously old, with a dry self-mocking humor that makes it all worth while. This show could best be described as extra, but the playful and innocent(ish) nature of the show as well as the onscreen chemistry between Lea Michelle and Cory Monteith will warm your heart and get you singing in the shower again. 

Girls (2012-2017)

It’s rather difficult to sum up this show in so few sentences, but I’ll give it a go. The plot is centered around four twenty something millennials living in New York and the ins and outs of friendships as well as love. Though I shouldn’t find much to relate to, as a teenage boy in a small town, the character development and complexity depicted in the characters’ interactions go far beyond a superficial level. Lena Dunham’s raw depiction of life after college and the inevitable growing pains preceding adulthood is a reminder that grown ups are just as lost as kids.

Mad Men (2007-2015)

Taking place in 1960s New York, Mad Men spills the tea on the dark secrets of “ad men” during the supposed golden age of advertising. Depicting the impact of wartime, sexism, and alcoholism at their peak in the workplace, watching Mad Men offers viewers such a unique view of an otherwise unheard narrative. On top of the immersive 60s aesthetic and cinematography, the show has an amazing cast that includes John Hamm, Elizabeth Moss, Kiernan Shipka, and more.

Each of these shows marked me in different ways, and honestly, I totally stole some of the characters’ personality traits to rebranded them as my own. In all seriousness, I am so thankful for what I’ve learned from watching these programs. A big reason I feel so strongly about them is that they were sort of the trailblazers of the antihero tv revolution. They spread the message that people who might have been antagonists or side characters in typical programming can be the protagonist. Reminding us that, regardless of how different you are, you’re the main character to someone’s story. So roll down your window, crank the indie music, and let the world know.