12 Best TV Shows To Binge-Watch On Netflix This Summer

While spending a lot of time indoors may not be what a lot of people are eager to do this summer, just because the warmer season is here doesn’t mean that you have to spend all of your time out in the sun. For those who prefer to still stay inside with blissfully cool air-conditioning, Netflix is the perfect way to enjoy that time on the couch and get caught up on some of the biggest shows out there. Here are 13 great options to kick off your summer binge list.

“All-American” (Seasons 1-4)

Spencer James is a rising high school football player and A student at South Crenshaw High but gets the opportunity of a lifetime after he is recruited by coach Billy Baker to join his team in Beverly Hills. Forced to move in with Billy and his family to make his transfer legitimate, Spencer also struggles as he finds his footing with Billy’s son Jordan, the starting quarterback of the team, and Jordan’s sister, who struggled with demons of her own.

Why You Should Watch: The show, which is based on the life of Spencer Paysinger, a former New York Giant, not only features great music and a bit of high school football nostalgia for those who have been missing it since the end of “Friday Night Lights,” but it also masterfully tackles other issues outside of the football field, such as racism, addiction, mental illness and struggles within the LGBTQ community.

“Bridgerton” (Seasons 1-2)

Determined to find a suitable wife, Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest of the siblings and Viscount, begins searching for a debutante to meet his impossible standards—until Kate and Edwina Sharma arrive in ton from India. Edwina seems a perfect wife to fill the role of Anthony’s wife, and he begins to court her, but when Kate realizes his intentions are not to marry for love, which is important for her sister, she does whatever she can to stop the marriage from happening. However, as she and Anthony continue to spar, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another, which opens a whole new world of complications for them and their families.

Why You Should Watch It: While season two of the Shondaland series contained a lot less bodice-ripping than season one, it was still just as hot in its own way—and the storytelling, while liberal when compared to the original texts, is still just as top-notch. With Season 3 likely to not arrive until sometime in 2023, those hoping for more of the Regency era drama will need to watch as much as they can in the meantime.

“Emily In Paris” (Seasons 1-2)

Emily thinks she’s getting the hang of life in Paris, but while she may be better at navigating the city, she still has a lot to learn about relationships in the City of Light, especially after she stumbles into an unexpected love triangle with her neighbor and her first real friend in the city. However, when she decides to focus elsewhere, things get even more complicated in the form of both a new unexpected romance and new work drama.

Why You Should Watch It: This series is definitely one that is fun to binge because it is light and entertaining in nature—but also transports viewers to the famed city itself. If you need something to just pass a few hours with some light-hearted flair, then these two seasons are perfect for you.

“Ginny & Georgia” (Season 1)

Teenage Ginny and her family yearn to put down roots in a picturesque New England town after years on the run.

Why You Should Watch It: The series was a hit when it debuted in early 2021, and contains plenty of fun and intrigue throughout, as viewers are left on the edge of their seats trying to figure out just when the past will catch up with the mysterious new family in Wellsbury.

“Inventing Anna” (Limited Series)

A journalist works to uncover the truth about Anna Delvey, an Instagram-legendary German heiress who stole the hearts and money of New York’s elite, all while lying about who she really was and where she was from.

Why You Should Watch It: Shows that depict even fictionalized versions of real life people and noted scammers are always fun, and this one is no different. From looks at the glam life Anna lived and the ways she managed to skirt around some of the wealthiest people in New York without raising suspicions, to the unapologetic way she handles her life as a prisoner, viewers are in for a ride from start to finish.

“The Lincoln Lawyer” (Season 1)

Idealistic lawyer Mickey Haller runs his practice out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car, taking on both big and small cases across Los Angeles as he does so.

Why You Should Watch It: The show is a fun legal series, as it doesn’t quite capture as much of the same serious tone as other legal shows have—but it still also adds plenty of drama and mystery to the mix. It also has a great feeling of just desserts being doled out, which will be satisfying to watch.

“Ozark” (Seasons 1-4)

Financial planner Marty Byrde relocates his wife Wendy and two kids from Chicago to a summer resort community in the Ozarks after a money-laundering scheme goes wrong and forces him to take extreme measures in order to not only pay off a massive debt to a Mexican drug lord but also keep his family safe.

Why You Should Watch It: Having just dropped its concluding episodes in April, the show is one for those who love to be surprised at every turn. It’s hard to keep track sometimes of all the ways this series can have an unexpected twist, but each one is perhaps more satisfying than the last.

“Squid Game” (Season 1)

Hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children’s games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.

Why You Should Watch It: If you have a queasy stomach and can’t handle graphic violence, do not watch this show, which became a smash in Fall 2021. However, if you love a show that isn’t afraid to throw you for a loop or really screw with everything you thought you knew, this South Korean series is the one you need.

“The Umbrella Academy” (Season 1-2)

On one day in 1989, 43 infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven are adopted by billionaire industrialist Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who creates the Umbrella Academy and prepares his “children” to save the world. Fast forward to the present time, the six surviving members of the clan reunite upon the news of Hargreeves’ passing. They work together to try and solve the mystery surrounding their father’s death, but they keep finding themselves pulled apart by their divergent personalities and abilities—even as a global apocalypse threatens on the horizon.

Why You Should Watch It: If you want to get caught up on the show, this is the time to do so, as Season 3 premieres on Netflix on June 23rd.

“The Ultimatum: Marry Or Move On” (Season 1)

Nick and Vanessa Lachey encourage couples to put their love to the test while having encounters with other potential matches as they try to decide once and for all if they will get married or part ways for good.

Why You Should Watch It: If nothing else, Netflix has shown they know how to make messy dating-themed reality shows. “The Ultimatum” was no exception to the rule. The couples on the show had so much drama, and watching them will likely make anyone feel better about their own romantic life.

“Virgin River” (Seasons 1-3)

Seeking a fresh start, a nurse practitioner moves from Los Angeles to a remote Northern California town and is surprised by what—and who—she finds.

Why You Should Watch It: Season 4 of the series will air in July, making now the perfect time for viewers to get caught up on the show.

“You” (Seasons 1-3)

Joe and Love are married and raising their newborn son, Henry in the suburbs, as they both try to navigate their new dynamics, but quickly find old tendencies arising, as Joe starts obsessing over his new neighbor, Natalie, and Love ensures that her dreams are not torn away from her because of Joe’s behaviors. However, things don’t get better for the pair, as Joe then starts setting his sights on librarian Marienne, and Love also gets distracted by Natalie’s stepson Theo—and every secret about the pair threatens to upend everything in their lives.

Who You Should Watch It: This show is full of twists and turns and Season 3 is perhaps the best when it comes to the unexpected paths Joe and Love take.