"Watchmen," "The Mandalorian," "Community": Our Best Binges (Part Four)

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Hulu / fourteen seasons)

I don’t think anyone understands exactly how much of this show I’d have to watch in order to get tired of it, and that’s probably because it’s never happened.  The very definition of the “anti-sitcom,” these characters never learn a damned thing, and that ignorance has given me some of the most consistently absurd laugh fodder I’ve ever experienced.  The characters may be hopeless, but the people writing this stuff “get it,” and episodes like “The Gang Turns Black” and “Mac Finds His Pride” prove it. Plus, “The Gang Gets Quarantined” is pretty relevant right now, too.  Hulu gets the reruns, but FXX isn’t through with Sunny yet.  Personally, I wouldn’t mind following this crew through adulthood and right into their senior years.

Watchmen(HBO / one season)

Damon Lindelof’s televised continuation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ seminal graphic novel of the same name was groundbreaking in its own right, and it finally gave fans of the both the motion comic and the motion picture somewhere to go after the finality of those two iterations.  A daring and well-executed mix of modern-day social issues, actual Black history and Moore’s unique universe, and thrilling kick-ass performances from Regina King and Jean Smart, Watchmen created an experience that truly made me one wonder why more television isn’t, well, smarter.   The bar has been raised, friends.

Stranger Things (Netflix / three seasons)

Every time I describe Stranger Things to someone, I feel obligated to mention that each season is kind of a slow burn in the beginning, but once you pass those first couple of establishing episodes, things do in fact get much stranger.  That’s still true, and now that this quarantine has planted our butts firmly on our couches for the foreseeable future, there isn’t much reason not to take that journey.  Even if you weren’t around in the Eighties, this thing is filled with more nostalgia than your grandpa, and more classic toys than The Goldbergs.  Strangest of all, every season is legitimately better than the one before it.

The Mandalorian (Disney+ / one season so far)

Don’t let this awesome picture (above) confuse you.  The Mandalorian is no cartoon.   In fact, it’s the first live-action TV series in the Disney Star Wars universe, and the same man who brought Iron Man (once one of Marvel’s most meh superheroes) to the big screen, Jon Favreau, is responsible for this masterpiece and the subsequent phenomenon known as “Baby Yoda.”  This one is everything your dad loved about Star Wars combined with everything your girlfriend loves about green frog babies in cute robes.  It’s a win-win.

Community (Hulu / six seasons)

We never did get the movie that Abed promised us, but we did get six seasons of straight up magic, and Hulu’s got every single episode.  Created by, I’ll say it, one of the best TV writers of all time, Dan Harmon -- who eventually brought us Rick & Morty -- and executive produced by the Russo brothers -- the same duo that brought us 10 years of hit Marvel movies -- Community is the gift that has literally never stopped giving.  Every paintball fight, every game of Dungeons & Dragons and every Chang-based pun add up to an emotionally intuitive, back-to-back laugh fest that will forever be worthy of my undying loyalty.  I can’t think of a better way to spend one’s time during this mind-numbing exercise in self-control than to spend it with Greendale’s favorite study group; the one that never studies.

And now, in no particular order here are some honorable mentions that could have been included in parts one, two, three or four of this series.

When They See Us (Netflix) / American Son (Netflix)
These two should honestly be shown in schools.  But the schools are closed at the moment, so watch them now with your kids.

Sherman’s Showcase (IFC)
Fun. Black. Hilarious. Exactly the levity we need in these dark times.

Brockmire (IFC)
Front to back one of the most unique experiences TV has to offer.

Atlanta (Hulu)
If you haven’t seen or heard of Atlanta, you need to figure out why.

What We Do in the Shadows (FX / two seasons)
Maybe I have a thing for vampire shows.  Maybe this show’s just amazing.

Black Monday (Showtime)
I haven’t given this cocaine-fueled 80’s dramedy (which had an epic first season) the love that it truly deserves, but for now, I’ll just make sure you know to watch it.  Don Cheadle, Regina Hall and Andrew Rannells are worth every second.

I know everyone won’t agree with all of my Must-Stream TV choices, but I dare you to sit through at least one season of each show on this list.  I think you’ll find that there’s more joy and levity in there than anticipated, and just enough fictional people problems to distract us from own, very non-fictional ones.  Again, stay home, stay sanitized and stay safe out there.

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