26 Streaming TV Shows You Can Binge and Finish During the Fourth of July Week (Photos)
Enjoying some time off for Independence Day this year, but stuck inside without a barbecue to attend? It’s a perfect time to binge some great TV, thanks to streaming services like Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu and Amazon Prime. But sometimes you want something short, rather than to get sucked into a seasons-long TV show. Here’s a list of binge-worthy shows you can finish in just a couple days.
“Altered Carbon” (Netflix)
A gritty sci-fi murder mystery, “Altered Carbon” takes place in the distant future, where consciousness can be downloaded and people can switch bodies to live forever — if they can afford it. Action-packed and twisty, “Altered Carbon” is a great 10-episode mystery to work through on your days off.
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime)
Amazon’s period comedy about a housewife turned stand-up comedian took home Golden Globes in 2018 for best comedy TV series and best actress in a comedy series for star Rachel Brosnahan. The funny, expertly cast comedy with 8 hour-long episodes to keep you busy for a couple days.
“Lost in Space” (Netflix)
Netflix rebooted the 1960s sci-fi TV show “Lost in Space,” creating a more modern version of the Robinson family that feels grounded, while still “out there” in a similar way as the original. Parker Posey is also a standout as the slimy Dr. Smith in the 10-episode first season.
“The Runaways” (Hulu)
The first Marvel show to make it to Hulu is a refreshing change from the Netflix takes. It follows a group of teenagers as they realize not only that they’re special, but that their conspiratorial parents are not to be trusted. At 10 episodes, it’s a quick watch and an interesting take on superhero TV shows.
“Ozark” (Netflix)
“Ozark” follows a financial planner who launders money for a drug cartel. To avoid getting himself and his whole family murdered, he concocts a scheme to head to Missouri to launder a huge amount of money as fast as he can. If you’re craving the sort of dark, crime-ridden drama you need to check out Netflix’s “Ozark” — it’s like “Breaking Bad” if the whole family was involved.
“Glow” (Netflix)
Jump back to the 1980s to follow the creation of the “Gorgeous Women of Wrestling” in Netflix’s latest comedy. Alison Brie of “Mad Men” and Betty Gilpin of “Nurse Jackie” lead a hilarious cast of inexperienced women trying to figure how to wrestle, under the leadership of an extremely unrefined Marc Maron. It’s a quick and funny run at 10 episodes.
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“Luke Cage” (Netflix)
Spinning off from “Jessica Jones,” Luke Cage takes superheroes to Harlem with a different tone from Netflix’s other Marvel series. There will eventually be more of Luke Cage, but for now the complete first season is a contained story that expands the Marvel universe with perspective that’s especially poignant in the current American political climate.
“The Night Of” (HBO Go, HBO Now)
HBO’s short miniseries starts with an accusation and a murder, and spirals from there. Naz is a Muslim kid arrested for a murder he can’t remember if he committed, and even before his trial, the situation ripples out to affect everyone even remotely related to him or the crime. It’s a dark and dramatic look into the criminal justice system that goes beyond the usual police procedural.
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“The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (Netflix)
Looking back into the American zeitgeist of 1994, FX’s drama adaptation of the trial of the century is an enthralling 10 episodes. It’s brilliantly cast and captures the moment, with all its bizarre and upsetting ins and outs, extremely well.
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“The OA” (Netflix)
Diving deep into the “strange and mysterious serialized show” category is “The OA,” about a kidnapped blind woman who returns to her hometown with the ability to see. The series gets even weirder after that, constantly posing mysterious questions about the woman’s powers and her kidnapping. The strangeness only escalates, so binge now for a mystery to solve ahead of the show’s second season.
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“Black Mirror” (Netflix)
There are actually four seasons’ worth of episodes of “Black Mirror” available on Netflix, but at only six episodes each, the series is just contained enough that you can get through the whole thing in a long weekend without much to do. It’s addictive enough to happen, as “Black Mirror” puts a “Twilight Zone” twist on modern technology and human relationships.
“Fleabag” (Amazon Prime)
British comedy “Fleabag” is only six episodes long, which makes it a perfect binge for a snowy Saturday or a lazy Sunday. Following Fleabag, a cynical, apathetic, perverted woman fighting to deal with modern life in London, the show gives a different take on modern comedies and dealing with issues like depression.
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“The Jinx” (HBO Go and HBO Now)
The story of Robert Durst is a strange one, filled with disappearances, murder, dismemberment, and bad disguises. The six-episode documentary miniseries goes through the story of Durst’s early life and the disappearance of his wife, through two other deaths, and ends with a possible bombshell break in the case. It’s the kind of binge watch material that’s hard to pull away from.
“The Fall” (Netflix)
This British police procedural about a detective hunting a serial killer stars Gillian Anderson of “X-Files” fame and Jamie Dornan of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Though it covers three total seasons, the shorter series of BBC shows means the grand total is just 17 episodes.
“Band of Brothers” (HBO Go and HBO Now)
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks produced this drama that follows the 101st Airborne through the European Theater in World War II. Intense, personal and powerful, the 10-part series tells the story of the war in a way that few other movies or series have captured.
“Making a Murderer” (Netflix)
This intensive documentary series covers the story of Steven Avery, who was exonerated of a rape accusation before being arrested for murder. The documentary covers the sorted story of the crime, the investigation, and the prosecution over 10 episodes, raising plenty of questions about whether Avery is guilty along the way.
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“Crazy Head” (Netflix)
British horror-comedy “Crazy Head” is about two women who can see demons. At first they think they’re crazy — but then they realize the demons are real. Over six episodes, Amy and Raquel battle the forces of evil, making it a funny experience that’s easy to knock out in a hurry.
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“11.22.63” (Hulu)
Adapting Stephen King’s novel of the same name, “11.22.63” sends James Franco back in time from 2016 to the 1960s. The plan: stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy and rewrite the entire future of America for the better. The entire story is perfect weekend material, covered in just eight episodes.
“Big Little Lies” (HBO Go, HBO Now)
HBO’s scandal- and rumor-fueled dark comedy “Big Little Lies” also became a whodunit as its drama unfolded. With a star-studded cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgard and Laura Dern, and clocking in at only seven episodes, “Big Little Lies” is a quick, high-quality watch.
“The Young Pope” (HBO Go, HBO Now)
Jude Law is the first American pope in a dark comedy about religion, authority, politics and backstabbing. “The Young Pope” has its surreal moments as Law’s Pius XIII tries to deflect the machinations of the cardinals around him and figure out what to handle being His Holiness.
“The Keepers” (Netflix)
Netflix’s latest lengthy true crime documentary sets out to try to find the killer of Sister Cathy Cesnick, a Catholic nun and teacher who died in 1969. The show quickly uncovers a sprawling, horrific tale of sexual abuse at a Baltimore Catholic school that might have led to Sister Cathy’s murder, and possibly a cover up.
