WEB EXCLUSIVE 

Stuck at home and needing something to keep you occupied? Here are some binge-worthy shows you may want to consider for your next quarantine watch party.

‘Shameless’

by Kaden Bryant

Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video

“Gallaghers are a lot of things, but no one says we back down from a challenge.” That’s a significant quote that proves to hold more meaning than it may initially appear from the hit television show, “Shameless.” “Shameless” is from the perspective of a struggling family, the Gallaghers, that are desperate to make ends meet. They live in the Southside (“the ghetto”) where their father, Frank, is a selfish drunk who neglects his six children, causing the eldest daughter, Fiona, to take control despite her young age. The show is centered around the six siblings making difficult sacrifices in order to support each other with the little resources they can obtain.

“Shameless” represents the truth behind what it’s like to be in an impecunious household where you’re required to make the most out of whatever substandard circumstances life hands you. It’s a unique display, seeing that most shows don’t have nearly as many realistic representations and in several different aspects. The message that the Gallaghers exhibit is distinctive, a truly practical portrayal of the importance of unity in even the darkest of times.

I think the biggest reason “Shameless” is so captivating is because it doesn’t exactly have any filter. The dialogue is raw and realistic— something people love to see since current shows have had a limited area of what’s considered acceptable and what’s not. Individuals have increasingly become more sensitive to what used to be deemed as harmless topics, causing these kinds of scenes to be so rare. It has all sorts of experiences that aren’t commonly talked about. The series aids in making people not feel as alone in the problems they have that are out of their control. Coexisting with deadbeat parents, sexuality confusion, living as a teenage parent, poor mental health and even struggling to put food on the table are scarce subjects that self-conscious teens are too fearful to express. A lot of people are scared to open up about these matters because they feel lonesome in their struggles. “Shameless” helps humanity feel understood and heard in a world that pushes us toward self-isolation. Watching this show is most definitely worth your time.

‘The Office’

by May Frangoul

Available on: Netflix

Working in an office might seem like a boring job to have, but that’s not always the case when you’re in Scranton Pennsylvania, at the Dunder Mifflin paper company. This popular television show takes on the lives of office workers and their childish boss, none other than Michael Scott (Steve Carrell). The show is in a documentary style where the camera moves when the characters move and interact with each other. It gives the audience the feeling as if they’re with the characters on screen.

“The Office” is a feel-good comedy show that is sure to give the viewer a good laugh with its different range of characters. There are a total of nine seasons and it’s worth one’s time to sit down and have some laughs. It’s the kind of show where someone could watch it at any time of the day. Episodes go from Michael Scott’s antics to the more personal lives and struggles the other characters face. It’s a good balance in the show, so it’s never too comedic or serious for long.

‘The Fosters’

by Kaitlyn Jeffcoat

Available on: Netflix

The show follows a family of four as they foster two children and must adjust to their new circumstances. Every actor in the cast for “The Fosters” is exemplary at playing their role, and the show handles heavy topics with a delicate hand. One instance that stands out to me is an episode about suicide. At the end of the episode, the show played a clip with the actors encouraging teenagers to seek out help with a hotline if they felt they needed it.

The show is definitely worth your time. Even though it runs a little long, the ending is worth it. With twists and turns in every drama-filled episode, it will leave you on the edge of your seat. Plus, the whole show gives the viewer a glimpse into the foster care system and the ways that it can be harmful to children. For viewers who aren’t familiar with the type of situations many children can find themselves in, this is definitely an eye-opener.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’

by Hannah Warner

Available on: ABC, Netflix, Hulu

The show follows Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) through her intern year at Seattle Grace Hospital as a surgeon and she and her friends face many challenges and surprises. As the seasons continue, people leave, some die, some stay and they eventually become residents and then attendings. While watching the show, you become attached to the characters and so many unexpected things happen, it is just so easy to get sucked into it. You never know what is going to happen and if you like drama, this show is for you.

However, the show is not the most realistic medically, so if you are looking for a real medical show, “Grey’s” may not be the option for you. The show is geared towards the drama and characters more than the actual medicine.

Some would say that sixteen seasons is too much, but the show does a really good job keeping the viewer on their toes and keeping things interesting. So, sixteen seasons seems fitting for the show, and the perfect way to stay occupied for weeks of social isolation.

‘Jose do Egito’

by Carolina Santos Plaza

Available on: RecordTV

The Brazilian version of the story of Joseph from Egypt keeps you at the edge of your seat and takes a pivot turn that makes the series exciting. This series starts with Jacob (Celso Frateschi) and his twelve sons, including Joseph (Ricky Tavares). The series is really well made: the locations and costumes are accurate. The soundtrack helps the viewer feel what the characters are feeling. There is a scene that is one of my favorites, when Joseph sees his brothers in Egypt after many years; it’s amazing how you can see through his eyes the feeling of betrayal and sadness.

This series is worth your time, even if you are not Christian or Jewish. The cast is amazing, and the storyline is even better. The journey of Joseph in Egypt and falling in love with a girl that is forbidden is captivating. Be ready to fall in love, to cry and to feel all the other emotions. This series can be seen with English subtitles, in Portuguese or in Spanish, but you better grab a tissue box. 

‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’

by Jayson Metevier

Available on: Netflix, Hulu, Tubi

“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” is one the most outrageous and joyous series I have ever watched. You owe it to yourself to experience it. Describing what JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is about is much harder than describing its pedigree. It’s one of the most influential and famous mangas ever, which was finally adapted into an anime in 2012. Many of the character concepts, images and ideas—like “Stands,” a physical manifestation of a psychic power—have become frequently used in other anime, manga, and even games. Hirohiko Araki, “JoJo’s” writer and artist, is so well known that his work has even been shown at the Louvre. That alone was enough for me to give the show a try, but I had no clue what I was actually in for.

“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” follows the story of the Joestar family, starting off with Jonathan, a mild mannered Englishman who holds a rivalry with Dio Brando, his adopted brother. Because of a cursed mask, Dio becomes a vampire, and Jonathan swears to stop him. After learning a fighting move called the “Ripple,” this then allows Jonathan to kill vampires by punching the sun into them (yes, the sun), he then goes on a quest to defeat Dio for good. How does this extremely weird concept get weirder, you may ask? Well, you’re in for a wild ride.

When you watch “JoJo’s,” you’re never going to be bored. As you spend time with the current protagonist’s group of friends and allies, seeing them learn to work together, trust each other, and learn how to use their powers in creative ways, even the more out-there villain plots seem intimate and understandable. The idea of a serial killer with psychic powers in a sleepy town who murders women for their hands is, on its face, completely bonkers. In terms of things that happen in the “JoJo’s” universe, it’s just another day.

This doesn’t even touch the beauty of Araki’s art and his references to high fashion, or his obsession with American pop music, which he names many characters and Stands after. Although the series is long, you’re able to see how Arakis’ work begins to develop and grow into a stronger series. Starting his characters off with extremely buff bodies the beginning to slim them down and become more automatically correct. Not only does the art style change, the general pattern does. Instead of spending around two episodes on a fight and repeating it over and over until the boss fight, Araki spends more time on developing characters’ stories and allowing readers/viewers to gain a stronger connection to these characters.

On the whole, “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” is an invitation into a melodramatic, technicolor world, and you should give yourself the gift of seeing it for yourself.