As lockdowns force millions to stay home, and live television faces interruptions, our TV writers have curated a list of 50 irresistible binge-watches to help you through self-isolation. These picks prioritise entertainment over intellectual rigour, ensuring you remain glued to your screen for hours on end.
At the top of the list is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a show that redefined the teen drama genre. Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as Buffy Summers, a seemingly ordinary high school student who is actually the Chosen One, destined to battle the forces of evil emerging from her hometown's Hellmouth. Despite her extraordinary burden, Buffy refuses to work alone, relying on her Watcher Rupert Giles (Anthony Head) and the loyal Scooby gang, including Willow and Xander, to save the world each season.
The series, created by Joss Whedon, is praised for its witty writing and clever metaphors, such as Buffy's doomed romance with vampire Angel (David Boreanaz) and her later turbulent relationship with Spike. Standout episodes like the musical 'Once More With Feeling' and 'Innocence' demonstrate the show's ability to find human truths within supernatural tropes. With seven seasons, Buffy remains a favourite, and an upcoming reboot from writer Monica Owusu-Breen is already generating anticipation.
Another essential binge is Inside No. 9, a horror-comedy anthology from Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Each half-hour episode introduces new characters in a confined, cursed space, from a house to a car, with the eponymous number 9 as the common thread. Shearsmith and Pemberton, known for The League of Gentlemen, write and star in every instalment, crafting 31 cleverly twisted tales that keep viewers guessing until the final moments.
The show's signature is its shocking conclusions, which often reinterpret everything that came before. For newcomers, the entire back catalogue can be overwhelming, but repeat viewers will appreciate how skilfully the clues are planted. These two series exemplify the best of binge-worthy television, offering a mix of nostalgia, innovation, and sheer entertainment to brighten the long weeks ahead.
