Lost (2004-2010)
Seasons: 6
What it’s about: “Lost” is about a group of people who land on a mysterious island after a plane crash, but the island has a life of its own. The show becomes less about getting off the island, and more about what the characters learn all about themselves.
Why you should watch it: “Lost” is amazing. The first three seasons balance the want to get off the island with the desire to learn more about the island. There’s more mystery in one episode of this show than a whole season of “CSI: Miami.”
Estimated time commitment: 5 months. The show can get kind of heavy, so multiple breaks may be needed after season three. Plus the first three seasons are each 22-plus episodes, but after that, devoted fans can fly through the last three seasons in a weekend.

Arrested Development (2003-2006, 2013)
Seasons: 4
What it’s about: Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together. It’s “Arrested Development.”
Why you should watch it: The Bluth family is hysterical. They’re all narcissistic to a point where they can’t see beyond their own desires and end up screwing over the rest of their family. This is a show for those who like their comedy dry.
Estimated time commitment: 1 and a half months. It doesn’t take long to finish this series, but sometimes you may find that a break is needed from the characters.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Seasons: 5
What it’s about: Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher, recently learns that he’s been
diagnosed with cancer and begins to cook crystal meth in order to support his family. In the words of creator Vince Gilligan, it’s about a man who goes from “Mr. Chips to Scarface.”
Why you should watch it: This show was made for Netflix binge watching. On a week-by-week basis, “Breaking Bad” is too slow to maintain the momentum that its die hard fans tell you about any chance they get. It’s one of the best serialized stories ever told.
Estimated time commitment: 1 month. It goes by too fast.

Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)
Seasons: 5
What it’s about: The story of Dillon, Texas, a small town that loves its high school football team almost as much as it loves the players. This drama centers on head coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his family, as they navigate the poignant politics of the high school football world.
Why you should watch it: It’s the best show about sports out there. And for those who don’t like football, don’t worry, it’s the soapiest show since “The O.C.” ended, yet you can seem really manly while watching it. So, yeah, football and testosterone.
Estimated time commitment: 2 and a half months. The show can get a little heavy handed at times and can require a break. However, you always feel like you’re going home once you press play again.

The West Wing (1999-2006)
Seasons: 7
What it’s about: A behind-the-scenes look at the White House from the perspective of the President’s inner circle.
Why you should watch it: It’s a great conversation starter when speaking with grandparents or teachers that you’re trying to impress. Honestly though, “The West Wing” is rightfully credited with beginning TV’s golden age. It established the television landscape that led to landmark shows such as “Breaking Bad,” “Mad Men,” “Game of Thrones,” “Six Feet Under,” “Homeland,” and “Dexter.” It’s also a bit like a modern day “Game of Thrones”–dripping with drool-worthy politics and schemes. It’s also extremely well written, penned by Aaron Sorkin – the man behind “The Social Network.”
Estimated time commitment: 6 months. There’s seven seasons each with twenty plus episodes and sometimes the endless politicking can get a little heavy, which can demand frequent breaks from the viewing sessions.

Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003)
Seasons: 6
What it’s about: The story of a group of close-knit friends in a idyllic Massachusetts seaside town.
Why you should watch it: It’s the ultimate 90s show. It’s also refreshing to see a teen show that deals with real teen situations instead of rich Manhattanites getting into inappropriate mischief (see “Gossip Girl”). But for the people who live for that, the creator is also the writer of “Scream” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer” so the series is full of self-referential comic relief. You can finally chime in on the Pacey versus Dawson debate (hint: Pacey’s the best) and laugh at the atrocity that is 90s and early 2K fashions.
Estimated time commitment: 2 months. You just can’t stop watching it.

Orange is the New Black (2013-current)
Seasons: 1
What it’s about: A New York based socialite, Piper Chapman, spends 18 months in a state prison for smuggling drug money for her international drug dealing ex-girlfriend, 10 years previous.
Why you should watch it: It’s basically “Lost” but set in a women’s prison. The characters are all really well written and complex, especially Sophia (Laverne Cox), a transgender hairdresser, Red (Kate Mulgrew), the prison chef, and Alex (That 70’s Show’s Laura Prepon), the drug-dealing ex-girlfriend.
Estimated time commitment: 1 week. So far there’s only thirteen episodes, but they’re all brilliant.

Grey’s Anatomy (2004-current)

Seasons: 10
What it’s about: A night-time soap about the inner workings of the surgical team of Seattle’s premier hospital.
Why you should watch it: The first three seasons are brilliant. They bring together a cast of wonderfully diverse and complex characters that will have you loving or hating each and every one of them. Also the soundtrack is killer and could set the mood for a romantic evening for two. Hint, hint.
Estimated time commitment: 1 and a half months. You’ll stop watching after season three when the show kicks off its two most interesting and complex characters, and then all of the med school graduates start acting like hormonal teenagers and the soap opera conventions become more obvious and you can see the writers struggling to find plotlines.

Scandal (2012-current)
Seasons: 2
What it’s about: The fierce Kerry Washington plays the just-as-fierce Olivia Pope. Olivia’s a high profile Washington fixer with a crisis management firm—they’re gladiators in suits. She can fix any problem, big or small, while juggling a personal life that includes an affair with the president and rigging elections.
Why you should watch it: It’s so bad–the plotlines are convoluted and unnecessarily twisted–that it’s good. “Scandal” exists in that universe that looks a lot like our own, but is nothing like it: also known as the universe of guilty pleasure TV. Nearly every character is morally bankrupt to a point that makes Detroit look economically healthy, yet the audience can’t stop rooting for these characters.
Estimated time commitment: 2 weeks. You’ll fly through these faster than Olivia can solve a crisis about an extramarital affair.

Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)
Seasons: 1
What it’s about: Two groups of teenagers in the 80s.
Why you should watch it: Ever wondered what James Franco, Seth Rogen, and crew looked like in high school? Here’s your chance to fulfill that dream. It’s also hysterical.
Estimated time commitment: 2 weeks. There’s only one season and it has the addictive quality of Chewy Chips Ahoy.