Daily Times

As the year comes to an end and we curl up in our warm sweaters and hoodies next to our heaters, a good series to binge watch alone or with friends and family is what everyone wants with a nice cup of piping hot chocolate and a bowl of freshly-popped popcorn.

The holidays call for long naps and movie marathons that last long into the night as you lie in that perfect cocoon of warmth created by your quilts and blankets. Here are five shows you absolutely must watch this holiday season if you have not already.

‘MERRY HAPPY WHATEVER’ — the perfect sitcom to unwind to after a long hard day and especially perfect for the holidays, the show has two main leads that fans of old-school Disney will love. Ashley Tisdale and Bridgitt Mendler play sisters in this eight-episode web series that revolves around one very close-knit family and their holiday traditions. The show has a very Disney vibe to it while keeping things sophisticated and new that will make viewers reminisce about simpler times. Family drama, humour and Christmas is at the heart of the show.

‘YOU’ — a show with just the right amount of mystery, drama and suspense, ‘You’ takes you on an emotional rollercoaster filled with twists and turns that will leave you gasping or wincing, depending on how much of a thrill-seeker you are. The show delves into the mind of a man who is obsessed with a girl and the lengths he is willing to go for her, it offers an explanation for what goes on in the minds of serial killers as well as stalkers. A true depiction of what obsession can actually do to a person, it shows a seemingly ordinary man going to extraordinary lengths in order to preserve his relationships. The fact that the main lead is played by Penn Badgley who played Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl is an added bonus. Now returning for its second season, “You” has been termed as a must-watch for fans of psychological thrillers by many.

A show with just the right amount of mystery, drama and suspense, ‘You’ takes you on an emotional rollercoaster filled with twists and turns that will leave you gasping or wincing, depending on how much of a thrill-seeker you are. The show delves into the mind of a man who is obsessed with a girl and the lengths he is willing to go for her, it offers an explanation for what goes on in the minds of serial killers as well as stalkers.

‘FULLER HOUSE’ — a spin-off of the hit 90’s sitcom, Full House, this show is set a few years into the future in the age of social media and a time when most of the kids we grew up watching now have children of their own. The show revolves around D.J, Stephanie and Kimmy as well as their children. Keeping true to the idea of the original series, Fuller House has family, love and hope as its main recurring themes and is a great show to watch and unwind with.

‘THE CROWN’ — although some might term this show as relatively slow-paced, it has a unique way of making one feel connected to history. Tracing back the history of the British royal family to the coronation of the present Queen Elizabeth, the show delves into the lives of the royals in both a personal as well as professional way. Now returning for its third season, The Crown is bound to be a treat for history buffs as the characters of people like Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten are explored in detail and we also see glimpses of the queen’s sister. In addition to the show’s stellar cast, the direction and production is sure to win hearts.

‘PATRIOT ACT WITH HASSAN MINHAJ’ — now running its fifth season on Netflix, Patriot Act combines the concept of a late night show with a talk show on global news. In each short episode, Hassan Minhaj takes one piece of global news and shares his own thoughts and views about it while keeping it light and interesting. The show is a must-watch simply because of the unique and fun way je dissects each piece of news and manages to keep viewers hooked even if news shows are not their cup of tea. If you’re looking for something fun as well as informative to watch this holiday season, this show is a must-watch.

The writer is a marketing student and can be reached at minaalmohsin@hotmail.com