Still on winter break? Enjoying the first week of the new year? Wondering what to put at the top of your Netflix streaming queue? Here are my suggestions:

Drama

1. Survivors
I’m a sucker for post apocalyptic stories so watching this show which begins the day before a deadly flu virus that wipes out the majority of the living was right up my alley. The show is only two seasons as it was cancelled and I’m not sure if the writers knew or not about the cancellation before writing the season two finale but I’m satisfied with where it left off. It closes the door to a chapter nicely so go ahead and check out this series. I loved the characters, the tension, everything about this. So good!

2. The Returned
This is a French drama so there are English subtitles but before you groan, you’ll be so engrossed in the story that it won’t even matter. If you like Resurrection on ABC, this show is even better so be sure to watch!

3. The Walking Dead
I really don’t know what you’re waiting for if you haven’t started this show. Even if you don’t like zombies, watch because this show is not even about the zombies. You’ll see them but there’s such compelling storytelling and such unforgettable characters, there’s so much more to this show than whatever it is you’re expecting. And my goodness, read the comics as well because it just makes the viewing experience all the more exciting!

4. The Vampire Diaries
Okay. So. I’m not going to lie, the first half of the first season was rough. But my God, this show not only gets good but becomes absolutely phenomenal. Everything you didn’t think mattered matters. Everything comes full circle. So much gets pulled right from under you. This show becomes a master class in storytelling. It really does. I promise you. Keep watching. Yes, you may get tired of the love triangle. It’s there to stay. Get over it. I have to remind myself of this every week. Aside from that, this show brings it every single week and my goodness I have nothing but good things to say about this show. WATCH. I recruited a few TVD viewers in my day. You know. As one does. And I’m nowhere near done.

5. White Collar
I’ve been watching this show since before it premiered, thanks to NBC Universal inviting me to the set of the show back in 2009 and I’ve been in love with this show ever since. It ended last year and the show consists of 5 short seasons so go on and watch this smart, incredibly savvy show that you’ll be highly entertained by.

6. Parenthood
My favorite show on television for the past few years has been without a doubt, Parenthood. I love this show. Love. This show is everything. I’m not a cryer but I have cried during multiple episodes. That’s how phenomenal this show is.

7. Scandal
If for some reason you haven’t started watching this yet, now would be the time. Also, I’m not even ashamed to say it. Huck is my favorite character! Watch and then tell me who yours is!

8. Haven
No, I haven’t read the Stephen King novel for which this show is based on but I am excited to once the show ends. I was skeptical throughout the entire first season but enjoyed it enough to keep watching and I’m so glad I did. And yes, I do think about what troubles I would never want and the ones I think I could handle haha. Oh and man on man, it’s not on Netflix yet but just wait until you get to season five. Emily Rose shines in a way she wasn’t able to do in previous seasons and it is glorious.

9. The Following
This show is not for everyone. It’s gruesome. It’s disturbing. It’s about a serial killer and his cult. So. If you think you can handle it, go for it. Having watched it, I still can’t believe I saw what I did in this show. Ha ha.

10. Being Human
I’ve watched the U.K. version but I much prefer the U.S. version. Season one is good. Season two is great. And man, each season just gets better and better. This show is very character driven but also has incredible storytelling and is just overall so compelling and has made such an imprint on my heart and I know that sounds cheesy but this show is such an emotional punching bag. I love it.

11. Continuum
Time travel, need I say more? Well, yes, I can. Take it one episode at a time and pay attention. That’s all you need to know. This show is great!

12. Jericho
There are only two seasons of this show so if there’s any show to start off with and binge through quickly, this would be the one to watch. What happens after a nuclear blast in a small town? Watch Jericho.

13. Rescue Me
This is a bit racy but aside from that, wow. One of the most gripping and under appreciated dramas about post 9/11 America set in a firehouse, following the firefighters, one of which in particular, Tommy Gavin who is going through. I am speechless when I think about this show. It will make you an emotional wreck. Be prepared. Also, it’s hilarious.

14. Eureka
It took me a number of times to watch and finish the series premiere but after that first episode, I was in! And I am so, so, so glad that I took the plunge and watched this show that so many trusted TV friends told me I would love. They were right. This show is probably one of my favorite shows ever. It’s funny, it’s smart, it’s original, it’s compelling. It’s everything.

15. Switched at Birth
Season 4 begins this month on ABC Family so do yourself a favor and record season 4 so you’ll be ready to watch after binge watching the first three seasons. I love this show. It’s the show you didn’t know you needed in your life. Oh man, I love this show. I admit, there’s a point in the series when Daphne becomes unbearable but thankfully that didn’t last for long.

16. Nikita
I’ve been watching Nikita since the very beginning and must say this show gets better and better every season. I also must say that this show put Lyndsy Fonseca on the map for me as one of my favorite actresses and my love for Maggie Q of course only grew and boy was this such a fun adventure to go on every week. I really miss this show. What’s great though is this show was able to conclude itself appropriately since the writers knew that the show would be coming to an end. So. Go ahead and watch and thank me later!

Dramedy

17. Hart of Dixie
I know it’s January but if you can hold off to watch this during the Summer with a nice homemade lemonade on hand and your favorite summer fruits and snacks and food with the summer light peaking in, that just makes the viewing experience even more fun. Matching the tone of the show almost. This is such a fun, light show that I wasn’t immediately won over by it but I grew to love it and am so glad that I stuck with it. It’s good in the beginning but it’s even better as time goes on and you grow to love and hate certain characters. This is very much a character driven show and the writers take their time with the character arcs and it works so well. It’s so worth sticking with. It’s like this small town full of people becomes a second family and that may sound odd but it’s so true.

Comedies

18. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Now this show is not for everyone. It’s politically incorrect but if there’s a word that goes even beyond that, that’s what I would use to describe this show. And what’s amazing about this show is that it gets better and better and better as each episode goes on. If you’re looking for a good laugh, this is the show to watch.

19. Better Off Ted
Everything I said in my review of the season one DVD back in 2009 remains true today. This show is terrific. It’s offbeat and politically incorrect aka fearless and thought provoking and everything a smart comedy should be.

20. New Girl
What’s better than starting to binge watch a show you’ve seen a handful of times on TV? Turning on Netflix and watching the show when your sister is home from college and getting her into it too. #Winning.

Notable Mentions:
Lost Girl for fans of fun and fae, Ugly Betty for anyone who wants a good laugh, and Arrow for comic book fans and the like!

Update: It has come to my attention that Fringe is not on this list! I really don’t know how this slipped my mind! I am a HUGE Fringe fan (As long time readers know. First time visitors, feel free to enter “Fringe” into the search box.) and I was just recommending Fringe (and a few other shows) to my Aunt during Christmas as a show to check out which is what inspired this post in the first place. Ha! Usually, I wouldn’t add onto lists after I’ve posted (there are SO many amazing shows to list here, it was so hard cutting it down!) but Fringe is definitely worth editing this post to mention because it should have been here all along. This show is so sharp and reinvents itself every season (Eureka does too, which I mentioned above) and is truly one of my favorite sci-fi shows to watch so please do yourself a favor and get to watching Fringe! Blue. Red. Which is your favorite? You have to watch to know what I’m talking about! 🙂

Have you binge watched any of the above shows? If not, do you plan on it? What are you currently binge watching on Netflix?