All moms need time to relax and unwind after our crazy days – and Netflix is a great way to do just that! Whether you work from home, work full time outside of the home, or are a stay at home mom, life is busy. At the end of a long and full day, we need a way to de-stress and unwind. Each of us may choose to do this in a different way, but sometimes you just need a good show you can binge watch.
I’ve compiled a list of my favorite bingeworthy Netflix shows for moms. These are a variety of genres including comedy, supernatural/Fantasy, and feel good shows. I hope you enjoy them just as much as I do!
Comedy
Girls 5 Eva
I only just discovered this show a few months ago, but I immediately fell in love with it. Starring pop singer Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, Ashley Park, and Hamilton sensation Renee Elise Goldsberry, Girls 5 Eva follows a one-hit-wonder 90s girl band who gets a second chance at fame. This show has brilliant writing and is hilarious! If you’re an 80s baby and grew up with 90s girl bands like Spice Girls, you will love this show.
Derry Girls
I’ve binged this show multiple times because I love it so much. Derry Girls follows 16 year old Erin and her family and friends, who are living in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. The actors in this show are fantastic; their comedic timing is ingenious and each episode makes me laugh out loud. I’ve laughed so hard watching this show that I’ve cried! The plot follows Erin and her friends and family as they go through typical, day-to-day situations, and the wittiness in the writing and the comedic genious of the actors really brings this show to life. If you need a mood boost, this is the show to watch!
Dead to Me
Linda Cardinelli and Christina Applegate are a dynamic duo in this hilarious show about friendship, grief, and secrets. Despite the fact that the show opens with the death of Applegate’s husband, the quirkiness of Cardinelli’s character brings humor into the storyline right away. The situations these two find themselves in are not at all normal, but that’s part of what makes it so hilarious.
Supernatural/Fantasy
A Discovery of Witches
If you love stories with witches and vampires, you’ll want to check out this one. A Discovery of Witches follows Diana Bishop (played by Teresa Palmer), who is seeking to unlock the secrets of an ancient manuscript. But in order to do so, she must enlist the help of a vampire, whom witches have never trusted…However, did I mention that he’s a GORGEOUS, enigmatic, smooth-talking vampire? If you like some eye candy in your television shows ladies, Matthew Goode is here for you. And, you know, he’s a great actor too.
The Witcher
More male eye candy! Hello, Henry Cavill! I mean…such a great show! *Ahem* Where was I? Like A Discovery of Witches, The Witcher is based off of a book series. It follows monster hunter Geralt of Rivia (Cavill) as he travels from town to town trying to make the world safer. Along the way he encounters a young girl who needs his help, and a mage (witch) whom he forms a strong connection with. And we can’t forget his adorable and hilarious bard companion. The Witcher is a great series if you love supernatural shows with monster hunting, strong characters and story lines, romance, and a bit of humor.
The Umbrella Academy
This show is based on a comic book series that was originally published in 2007. I had never heard of it before, but the previews for the show intrigued me. The Umbrella Academy follows a dysfunctional family of adopted siblings who have super powers. In the television show, after being apart for many years, the siblings come back together and must unite to save the world. Each sibling has a VERY distinct personality, which is part of what keeps you coming back for more. My favorite character is Klaus (brilliantly played by Robert Sheehan!). Any moms whose children have watched the Nickelodeon show Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, and Dawn will recognize Aiden Gallagher, who plays Number Five (yes, that’s his character’s name). The Umbrella Academy is a fun show with some very flawed characters who, despite their differences and negative feelings toward each other at times, come together to save the world. Kind of.
Feel Good
Gilmore Girls/Gilmore Girls A Year in the Life
I don’t think you can find a better feel good show than Gilmore Girls. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve rewatched this entire show, plus A Year in the Life.
If you’re not familiar, Gilmore Girls tells the story of a thirty-something year old single mother and her teenage daughter, who live in the quaint town of Stars Hollow, CT. The show follows their every day lives as they both go through ups and downs in relationships, work, school, and family.
It’s a heartwarming show that has relatable characters and scenarios. Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel are outstanding in their roles as Lorelai and Rory, respectively. Also, if you’re a caffeine addict who also loves watching movies with as many snacks as possible, Lorelai and Rory are your spirit animals.
The Letdown
If you want a show that truly portrays motherhood in all it’s glory, you’ll want to watch The Letdown. I have never seen a show that more accurately shows what it’s like to be a mom.
Our main character, Audrey (played by Allison Bell), is a new mom struggling to handle it all. Her career-focused husband, self obsessed mother, and care free best friend are making it more difficult for her, despite Audrey needing help from each of them. The Letdown is a wonderful show to which all moms can relate.
Emily in Paris
This one is just a fancy-free fun show to watch. Lily Collins shines as young American Emily, who’s marketing firm sends her to Paris to provide their Paris firm a new perspective.
Emily in Paris is a charming show that follows Emily as she struggles to learn French, understand French culture, find romance, and survive in a new job and environment. It’s a fun show that will keep you smiling and leave you feeling good. Oh, and, Ashley Park (mentioned above in Girls 5 Eva) plays Emily’s best friend and she is brilliant!
The Great British Baking Show
I’ve saved the best for last! Never has a show made me more happy than this one. Bake Off (as it’s called in England) is a British baking competition with competitors who come from all stages and walks of life.
Each season, 12 at-home amateur bakers gather in the tent to compete against each other each week in order to be crowned the winner and earn the title of best amateur baker. If you ever watch American cooking or baking competitions, you will see competitors who can be very petty, selfish, make rude comments to their competitors, and are extremely competitive. But GBBO is the opposite of that, which makes it so much fun to watch. The competitors, judges, and hosts become like a family and truly support one another. They laugh and cry together, help each other with their bakes, root for each other, and celebrate each other.
Even though I know who the winner is, I have gone back and binged previous seasons because it’s so fun to watch and I always feel so happy while watching it. (The newest season just started, with episodes airing once a week, but you can go back and binge previous seasons.)
