Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash
By Kayla Brown, Arts and Entertainment Editor
Finals often bring stress, anxiety and a dozen other emotions, especially when we’re in the middle of a global pandemic with online classes and a constant onslaught of work.
Sometimes the stress and anxiety can become too much and you just need a break, something low-stress and low-brain powered. For some, this could be playing volleyball on the sand courts or taking a walk around campus with friends, but for others, this could be something like binge-watching a TV show. If this is you, I have you covered.
Below are eight TV shows, with at least three seasons, that will keep your mind off finals and give you that much needed break:
“Schitt’s Creek” (Netflix, 6 seasons)
The Emmy award winning show follows Johnny and Moira Rose and their two grown kids, Alexis and David, as they lose all their assets except for a small town, Schitt’s Creek, something they purchased as a joke. With this as their only option, the family moves into the town’s local inn and must adjust to living life without their wealth. Using humor, very relatable quotes and a strong cast, the show gives viewers the perfect sitcom.
“Chrisley Knows Best” (Peacock TV, 8+ seasons)
“Chrisley Knows Best” shows the everyday life of real estate mogul Todd Chrisley, his wife, Julie, and their crazy family. The family consists of Todd and Julie, their five kids, their granddaughter and Todd’s mom, a fan favorite. The show focuses on Todd’s overbearingness, need for perfection and overall extra behavior, which leads to all the drama that viewers live for. It provides humor, relatable but also completely unrelatable experiences and hours of drama.
“Boy Meets World” (Disney +, 7 seasons) and “Girl Meets World” (Disney+, 3 seasons)
“Boy Meets World” follows Cory Matthews as he takes on the world with his best friend, Shawn, his eventual wife, Topanga, and of course, the wise teachings of Mr. Feeny. Over the years, Cory deals with love, school and coming into his own as the middle child. In 2014, Disney created a spin-off that follows Cory and Topanga’s daughter, Riley, as she encounters similar experiences, but to a more contemporary extent. Both shows convey the importance of friends, family and role models and give solid real life advice.
“Melissa & Joey” (Hulu, 4 seasons)
Councilwoman and bachelorette Mel Burke becomes the primary guardian of her niece, Lennox, and nephew, Ryder, after their mother goes to jail and their father disappears. Needing extra help around the house and raising the kids, Mel hires Joe Longo as a “manny.” The show provides us with the often amusing and tense relationship between Mel and Joe, the trials of being a manny/having a manny and the issues that arise when raising teenagers.
“Community” (Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime, 6 seasons)
After his degree is revoked, lawyer Jeff Winger enrolls at Greendale Community College to make up the credits. While there, he invites one of his classmates to study for Spanish as a way to impress her, but she is not the only one who shows up to the study session. From this study session, they form a study group, which eventually progresses to friendship and eventually, family. This show features epic paintball battles, the dynamic duo of Troy and Abed and everyday college fun.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Hulu, 7+ seasons)
This show follows the members of Brooklyn’s 99th precinct after the arrival of new captain, Raymond Holt. As with every workplace, there’s office romance, constant competition and over-the-top holiday traditions that viewers never get sick of. There’s so much to love about the show from the pranks to the singing to find a killer to Doug Judy and everything between.
“Big Time Rush” (Netflix, 4 seasons and a movie)
Recently added to Netflix, “Big Time Rush” may bring you back to your middle school years, when it was on Nickelodeon. The show follows the band of the same name, made up of four hockey players from Minnesota, as they move to LA to become famous. Over the course of four seasons, the band deals with a manager, who calls them “Dogs,” an enemy, who goes as far as to kidnap them to keep them from succeeding, and the fear of being replaced by the “British Invasion.” The show is funny, relatable and can give you some songs to add to your summer playlist.
With finals on the horizon, these shows can be just the thing to give you a much needed break and get you through the end of the semester.
