Netflix has long stood as a reliable streaming platform in the ever-expanding world of online entertainment. With a diverse mix of shows that previously aired on other networks and award-winning original content, Netflix offers programs for everybody: irreverent comedies, dark superhero sagas, and cartoons about an anthropomorphic horse struggling with depression. Here is a list of reliable television series that are not only easy to binge but easy to return to countless times.

1) 'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'

Based on the popular children's series by Lemony Snicket, this Netflix adaptation is a macabre adventure series that continually asks you to look away.

This darkly comedic series is full of razor-sharp wit, crazed villains (led by an almost unrecognizable Neil Patrick Harris), and an ongoing lesson that children are more intelligent and capable than adults could ever know.

Favorite Episode - Season 1, Episode 1: "The Bad Beginning: Part One" is a solid opening episode that delivers on all the aspects that make the show great. It has outlandish costumes, detailed cinematography, and comedic timing, and is punctuated by moments of true concern for our heroes Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. It is a masterful balance of comedy and tragedy and a fantastic show opener.

Best Season to Binge - Why not binge it all? Season two was just added to Netflix and it is just as stunning as the first.

Cast - Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Warburton, Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, Presley Smith, and K. Todd Freeman.

2) 'Stranger Things'

It is a show that has spurred a slew of Halloween costumes and fandoms, "Stranger Things" became an instant hit thanks to its nostalgic imagery and genuinely thrilling lore. Immediately reminiscent of classic films like "Stand By Me" and "ET: The Extra-Terrestrial," the show's decision to focus on children as they handle monsters, supernatural powers, and romantic entanglements is what makes it so watchable.

If you're one of the last five people on the planet who hasn't gotten around to this one, now might be a good time to start.

Favorite Episode - Season 2, Episode 2: 'Chapter Two: Trick or Treat, Freak' has all the parts of what makes "Stranger Things" so delightfully engrossing. The boys dress up as Ghostbusters for Halloween and welcome the new kid, Max, into their fold, Will continues to fall backward into the Upside Down, and Nancy gets wasted at a party while fighting to overcome trauma from the previous season.

Best Season to Binge - The first season remains the best, but there are only 17 episodes (which is nothing if you're a master binger). Just make sure you power up with some Pure Fuel before you settle in.

Cast - Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Noah Schnapp, and Sadie Sink.

3) 'Schitt's Creek'

"Schitt's Creek" is one of Netflix's hidden gems: a wealthy family goes broke and has to retreat to a town they once bought as a joke. Created by Dan Levy, with an unparalleled cast led by Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy, this Canadian series has the bite of a Christopher Guest film set in perfectly sized twenty-minute episodes.

Favorite Episode - Season 3, Episode 13: 'Grad Night' is one of the most heartwarming episodes of the series but doesn't lack for comedy. This episode is a testament to what the show does best: highlighting the oddities of the Rose family while proudly showing how far they've come.

Best Season to Binge - I believe the show only gets better from season one, so binge away. The episodes are breezy and short, which typically leads to a viewing marathon you can't easily break away from.

Cast - Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Levy, Annie Murphy, Chris Elliot, Emily Hampshire, and Jennifer Robertson.

4) 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'

If I pitched the idea for a show about a kidnapped woman trapped in a cult for 15 years before finally escaping and exploring New York City with the stunted maturity of a tween, you would probably think I'm describing a documentary crime series like "The Keepers." But this Tina Fey-produced comedy is overflowing with optimism and the quick joke-a-second writing style of "30 Rock." With memorable catchphrases and peculiar characters, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" exists in a world of its own.

Favorite Episode - Season 1, Episode 2: 'Kimmy Gets a Job!' lightly expands on the characters introduced in the first episode but is free from the exposition necessary to a pilot. Kimmy tries to throw a kid's birthday party to keep a babysitting job, and tries to convince Titus to finally pursue his dream job, which leads to Titus shouting, "But I already did something today!"

Best Season to Binge - Episodes are short and there are only three seasons, making it a shorter binge than other, behemoth marathons like "F.R.I.E.N.D.S" and "Seinfeld" (which are classics in their own right).

Cast - Ellie Kemper, Carol Kane, Jane Krakowski, and Tituss Burgess.

5) 'Gilmore Girls'

"Gilmore Girls" is an undeniable touchstone in recent television history.

This smart, female-driven show follows Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) as a single mother raising her daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) in the small, charming town of Stars Hollow. More like sisters than mother and daughter, Rory and Lorelai talk a mile a minute, make enough pop culture references to fill a book, and drink an impossible amount of coffee. This is comfort TV at its best.

Favorite Episode - Season 3, Episode 7: 'They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They?' is a classic episode for a multitude of reasons. The kookiness of Stars Hollow is in full effect for the town's 24-hour dance marathon, Lorelai and Rory's banter is better than ever, and the love triangle that has slowly been brewing between Rory, Dean, and Jess begins to cause real drama.

Best Season to Binge - Every season is binge-worthy in some way (disregarding season 7 and the mixed blessing that is the Netflix Special, "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life"). Personally, my favorite season to re-watch is season 3. It has a lot of spectacular episodes, continues to build on an impressive first two seasons, and heavily features Milo Ventimiglia, who recently starred in the drama series "This Is Us."

Cast - Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Keiko Agena, Scott Patterson, Kelly Bishop, Edward Herrmann, and Melissa McCarthy.

6) Breaking Bad

"Breaking Bad" centers on two criminals as they spiral deeper into the dark world of drugs, crime, and murder. It is also one of the most engaging dramas ever shown on television and revolutionized the way anti-heroes were seen on screen.

Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul manage to deliver moments full of pain, humor, and haunting intensity.

Favorite Episode - Season 5, Episode 14: 'Ozymandias' is powerful and crushing, and is perhaps the most written about episode in "Breaking Bad" history. Tightly plotted and cinematically executed, this is a prime example of television holding equal worth with film.

Best Season to Binge - For first timers, you definitely need to watch this whole show. For a quicker re-watch, I'd recommend seasons 2-4. They have arguably the highest emotional points in the series, and season 4 is near perfect.

Cast - Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, Giancarlo Esposito, Jonathan Banks, and Bob Odenkirk.

7) 'LOVE'

"LOVE" is a mixture of mumblecore, hard truths, and characters that almost challenge you to like them, "LOVE" is a Judd Apatow project like no other. Featuring Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust, "LOVE" follows a pair of twenty-somethings who like each other more often than they like themselves. These perfectly cast leads are surrounded by a great cast of secondary players, including the adorably indomitable Claudia O'Doherty. This show has ebbs and flows of dramatic angst but works best as a gently comedic story of two flawed people leaning on each other as they find their footing in the world.

Favorite Episode - Season 3, Episode 5: 'Bertie's Birthday' is a showcase of O'Doherty's talents as a winning comedienne.

Finally out of the shadows with an episode all her own, Bertie tries to rope in friends for a birthday get together before resigning to a night alone. A simple Facebook greeting from friend-of-a-friend Chris transforms her night into the one she deserved all along.

Best Season to Binge - "LOVE" is an easy show to watch but doesn't demand constant viewing like "Breaking Bad" and "Gilmore Girls." Season 1 is the best, but it's simple enough to finish off all three within a couple of weeks if you like what you see.

Cast - Gillian Jacobs, Paul Rust, Claudia O'Doherty, Mike Mitchell, Chris Witaske, Iris Apatow, and Tracie Thoms.

8) 'Bojack Horseman'

Will Arnett voices a washed-up sitcom star battling with alcoholism and drug addiction while his agent tries to get him back on track.

Oddly enough, "Bojack Horseman" probably features just as many animal puns as it does remarks on mental health, and that's an achievement worth noting. Ever since The Simpsons aired back in 1989, cartoons have long proven themselves as more than just children's entertainment. But animated shows hardly get as probing and dark as Bojack Horseman.

Favorite Episode - Season 3, Episode 4: 'Fish Out of Water' forces the ever-talking Bojack into silence as he goes underwater for a movie premiere. This episode is game changing, not just for the series, but for what animated shows can do when dialogue is stripped away.

Best Season to Binge - Season 1 stumbles a bit as the writers figure out what works, but seasons 2-4 feature consistently solid episodes and continue to raise the bar.

Cast - Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Aaron Paul, and Paul F. Tompkins.

9) 'Parks and Recreation'

Politically sharp, unapologetically silly, and wholesome as heck. It's as simple as that.

Favorite Episode - Season 7, Episode 13: 'One Last Ride, Part 2' is the series finale this show deserved. As the credits run and the Traveling Wilbury's sing "The End of The Line," the words really capture the essence of the whole show:

"Well, it's all right, doing the best you can. Well, it's all right, as long as you lend a hand."

Best Season to Binge - When it first aired, "Parks and Recreation" tried to replicate the template of "The Office," borrowing the found footage format and the awkward tension. But once it knew what it could be, the characters softened to the audience and towards each other until they became a true family. For this reason, the best seasons to binge are 2 and beyond.

Cast - Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Jim O'Heir, Retta, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, and Rob Lowe.

10) 'The Office'

Highly memorable and reliably funny, "The Office" boasts a stellar cast, a variety of characters, and innumerable human moments that often feel a little too realistic for comfort. Spanning nine seasons and filled with ever-evolving plot lines, "The Office" managed to capture the minutiae of everyday life. Though it is broader than the original UK version, it still manages to carry on some of the drier wit common to British sitcoms like The IT Crowd and The Inbetweeners.

Favorite Episode - Season 4, Episode 13: 'The Dinner Party' stands as an iconic episode built from what makes the show great as a whole. This Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf-esque nightmare builds to Michael's tiny, treasured plasma screen TV getting smashed in a chaotic domestic dispute, and it makes me laugh and cringe every time in equal measure.

Best Season to Binge - The whole series is highly recommended, but the sweet spot for this show falls between seasons 3-7 if you're looking for a quicker binge.

Cast includes Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, and more.

What are your favorite shows to binge?
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