Screenshot: Fleabag/Prime Video
Movies seem to be getting longer, but TV shows are getting shorter. As recently as 10 years ago, it was the norm for top-rated shows to produce 22 episodes or more every season. These days, that’s more or less a thing of the past, and only broadcast network shows even seem to bother with a consistent annual release schedule.
Aware of the powerful draw of binge-watching, services like Netflix and Hulu are increasingly opting for shorter, self-contained seasons that allow creators to conclude their stories on a satisfying note—and if the show is a hit, they can always pull a new season’s worth of plot from between the couch cushions.
What makes for a binge-worthy show? It needs to be self-contained, with an ending that doesn’t leave you feeling like your time hasn’t been wasted. Most of these shows I’m recommending here have concluded; the handful that are returning would still be (almost) entirely satisfying, even if they weren’t. And all of them can be binged in a single day—if not a single sitting.
