TV Shows for Every Mood: Discover Your Perfect Watchlist
“There’s so many more better TV shows than films coming out, in my opinion.”
Every Sunday, I create a TV show Quiz or Poll on my IG stories. It’s something light and fun for me to do, and my followers seem to enjoy it. The challenge here is to find shows that I know people have seen but also ones that I have seen (preferably more than once), so the questions can be more difficult or the Polls more controversial.
I started with a Friends Quiz after I bought a Friends Trivia game on Amazon. However, the questions weren’t fun at all and mostly unnecessarily hard – “who spoke first during episode x of season x” type of thing. I then figured; I can totally do this myself. I’ve seen Friends more times than is good for me so, why not. Now every Wednesday is Friends Quiz/Poll day on my IG stories. Where we debate, do we like Ross and Rachel or Chandler and Monica more, or who said: “I say more dumb things before 9 AM than most people say all day”.
Since I spend most of my time watching TV shows (not much of an outside person, to be honest), I thought, why not list a couple of my favorite go-to’s per mood because I know that sometimes you’re just in need of something very specific catered to your state of mind.
Here’s a list of TV Shows you can watch tonight:
When you’re in need of a good laugh:
Derry Girls
Set in Northern Ireland in the early 1990s, this comedy series follows a group of 16-year-old friends who attend a catholic school. Sounds pretty serious but it’s not. This show really has no business being so funny. If you’re in the mood for something light and silly, this is the answer. I stream Derry Girls on Netflix.
Two and a Half Men
I first watched this when it first aired back in the early 2000s. When I decided to re-watching it, I was a bit hesitant to see how it had aged. Now I do have to say some jokes they could’ve done without, but I was surprised to see how much of the show is still ok, to be honest. Sure Charlie is an alcoholic scumbag 99.9% of the time, but with the supporting characters keeping him in line most of the time, I think it’s still a good laugh for when you need one. I watch Two and a Half Men on Amazon Prime.
When you’re not sure what you’re feeling:
Dead to Me
Let me first say this show is amazing and Christina Applegate has left her Married with Children days far, far behind her. The show starts with the main character’s husband dying, so it’s sad however, due to her sarcastic personality, the show is funny at the same time. Dead to me is written by women, and this reflects in the script and the relationships/dynamics of all characters. I really can’t recommend this show enough – laugh, cry, and all other conflicts of emotions combined. I watch Dead to Me on Netflix.
YOU
This show is one of these shows when you’re not sure what to feel. I think this is because you find out he’s the “bad guy” during the first second of the pilot. Am I rooting for him? Do I want him to get caught? Is he a horrible person? Not sure… because emotions are changing faster than the wind here. With a new season on the way, it’s worth getting invested and at least forming your own opinion on the matter. Are you Team Joe or Team any woman that comes into contact with him? It’s worth finding out ;). I watch YOU on Netflix.
When you’re in the mood for crime but also not really:
Why Women Kill
I love myself a good crime show, but sometimes you’re also in the mood for suspense but can’t really deal with all of the emotion. That’s where this show comes in. Why Women Kill is created by the same director as Desperate Housewives and Devious Maids, making it the perfect combination of light-hearted fun and, well, some people dying. Both seasons have an entirely different cast, so you definitely won’t get bored while watching this show. In the Netherlands, you can watch Why Women Kill on Videoland, but it’s also available on Apple TV or Amazon Prime in other countries.
White Collar
Similar to YOU, White Collar will leave you in a state of constantly wondering if rooting for a criminal to succeed will make you a bad person. Unlike YOU, this show is mostly about forgeries and other (less dark) con artist hobbies. If you’re looking for a show to commit to for a couple of seasons that doesn’t require too much concentration, this is it. I watch White Collar on Netflix.
When you want to feel some sort of thrill:
Hannibal
If someone at a party would ask me what my favorite show is, I think this show would be the answer (Probably only for the reason of sounding interesting, kinda like Rachel and her Dangerous Liaisons vs. Weekend at Bernie’s situation). Nevertheless, I think Mads Mikkelsen was a perfect choice for portraying Hannibal. Yes, you will see some gruesome murders that will haunt you forever, but in my opinion, it’s definitely worth it. The second season is a bit flat, so you might have some trouble getting through that one, but the third one totally makes up for it. Also, just a little side note: this show will 10000000% leave you in a conflicted state of why am I attracted to a C…. Let’s say bad person ;). I watch Hannibal on Netflix.
The Fall
Before Jamie Dornan was mister 50 shades, he already played another interesting individual. I almost didn’t want it, to be honest, because I absolutely hated Christian Gey, but I was told to put all my feelings aside and give the Fall ago. And I have to say I’m glad I did. The Fall is about a man who assaults and murders a bunch of women in Belfast while having a wife and children waiting for him at home. No spoilers here because this is the information you’re given in the first 2 minutes of the pilot. That is what makes this show different from any other crime show, to be honest. You’re taken on a journey to see what happens in the head of a psychopath before he commits his crimes. Expect a well-written show with lots of suspense and mixed emotions. Also, be prepared to start watching for Jamie Dornan and stay for Gillian Anderson. I watch the Fall on Netflix.
When you’re in need of a good hug:
Gilmore Girls
This is my comfort show that I will never, ever sway away from. When I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I turn on this show, and it feels like I’m being wrapped in a warm blanket. If you’re dealing with anxiety, this show is perfect since there are no suspenseful moments, not a lot of crazy plot twists, or playing with your emotions. It’s just a show that you watch for the incredibly written script, the chemistry between characters, and the multi-layered plot. I’ve re-watched this show more times than I can count, but every time I pick up on something new. I watch Gilmore Girls on Netflix.
Friends
If you haven’t seen this show by now, I think it’s pretty safe to say you probably never will (I’m begging you to prove me wrong). Even though some jokes may not have aged well, Friends is still my go-to when I want to relax after a day at work. What I love about this show is that there is an overall storyline, but you can easily turn on any episode and still understand what is going on. I encourage you to watch it. If only so you can finally understand all the Friends references and memes your co-workers use in daily conversation ;). I watch Friends on Netflix.
When you’re in the mood to step into a time machine:
Jamestown
There are a lot of movies and shows that try to show the story of English settlers when they first came to the USA. And even though the series focuses on the lives of three women who leave England for a new life in 1619 Jamestown, it also portrays the Native life and culture of the period. The Native characters are not simply a “sideline” but are highly nuanced and multi-layered. The show uses a cultural consultant, historians, and even a cast descending from the Pamunkey lineage. In the show, they also speak the Pamunkey language, which (according to Google) has been reawakened explicitly for this project after over 150 years. I love watching period dramas, but I’m always very disappointed when I find out they’re not entirely accurate. And even though, of course, Jamestown is glossier than life in the 1600s could possibly have ever been, I do have to say, as far as period shows go, it did teach me a thing or two about the beginnings of the USA. I watch Jamestown on Amazon Prime.
2. Downton Abbey
As I mentioned before, I love a good period drama. Downton Abbey is set in a Yorkshire country estate between 1912 and 1926 and depicts the lives of the Crawley family and their servants. While there are some crazy plot twists and drama, most of the show is also pretty laid back and focused on dynamics and character development rather than shocking the audience. Two things that stood out to me from a “huh, I never thought of that before until now” perspective were the moment the family first got a telephone installed in the house. Sure, I knew that there was a moment people lived without them, but I also never stood still by how much of a life-changing piece of technology t was back in the day and how it operated and was used. Not sure if I’m the only one that needs to see things on screen before absorbing this type of information and the emotions that go with it, but that’s a different story. Another thing that I failed to realize is that I always wondered why these people need THAT many servants. But when Ms. Crawley mentioned that by doing so, they also create employment opportunities for people in the village, that also gave me a little “Eureka-moment”. Be prepared to cry somewhere at the end of season 2. I know I haven’t still fully recovered from it. I used to watch Downton Abbey on Amazon Prime, but I believe they took it down a while ago.
When you’re in need of a good cry :
This is Us
I’m a very emotional person, so I will cry at almost everything. I leave the room when it's Holiday commercial season because otherwise, I won’t stop sobbing. So it might not come as a surprise that I never got to finish This is Us. I tried… I really, really did. However, if I have to base my opinion on the episodes I could get through, the show touched on a lot of different emotions, life challenges, and inner conflicts. All you need when you, please read this in the voice of that lady in Mean Girls, have a lot of feelings. I watch This is Us on Amazon Prime.
Parenthood
You will laugh, you will cry, and everything in between – Parenthood is a ride. What I love about this show is that it perfectly portrays the dynamics within a family. Everyone always knows what’s better for you; they always have an opinion on who you date and what you decide to do in your career – but you still love them. Parenthood has a lot of episodes, so if you’re ready to commit to a roller coaster of emotions, this show is it. I watch Parenthood on Amazon Prime.
When you’re looking for some outfit inspiration:
Younger
Is Younger a deep and complex show with lots of character development and intense dialogue? No. Does this mean that it’s any less interesting? Also no. Younger is perfect when you’re in need of an engaging but easy show to binge-watch. Also, not entirely unimportant, the outfits are great and, unlike a lot of shows (read Carrie Bradshaw), actually wearable for day-to-day life. On this website: https://wornontv.net/younger/ , you can even lookup every piece of clothing that they wear sorted by season and episode ;) Only one tiny disclaimer – some of the outfits are designer, so if you see a coat that you want, don’t be surprised if it turns out to be Gucci and 3000 euros (true story). In the Netherlands, you can watch Younger Videoland, but it’s also available on Amazon Prime in other countries.
Gossip Girl
Ah, speaking of designer clothes that most of us can only dream of owning. Gossip Girl follows a group of wealthy upper-class teens living on the Upper East Side. The storylines are incredibly dramatic. I’m also still not sure if 16-year old’s can do 90% of the stuff that they do on this show, but it sure is entertaining. If you’re looking for a show that is not very relatable, but you are in need of drama and nice clothes – Gossip Girl is it. I used to watch Gossip Girl on Netflix. I believe they removed It, unfortunately.
When you’re ready for all of the above:
Desperate Housewives
If I’m being honest, this ACTUALLY is my favorite show - my very own Weekend at Bernie’s. The show is centered around four women living in an idyllic street called Wisteria Lane. After one of their neighbors commits suicide, lots of secrets and thrust unravel, and their lives are never the same. As mentioned before, when talking about Why Women Kill, the storyline is both entertaining and overly dramatic but also funny and emotional at the same time. I don’t think there are a lot of shows out there that juggle character development (I’m looking at you, Bree van de Kamp) and multiple storylines while still being surprising but also warm at the same time. I watch Desperate Housewives on Disney+. (Also, I want to include an honorable mention = if you like this show and are looking for something similar, please check out Devious Maids)
