11 TV shows you can finish in under 24 hours [guest post]

Sabienna Bowman has been covering entertainment news since 2010. She currently writes for Bustle, Reelgood, and PopSugar.

One of the best things about the streaming age is how easy it is to lose yourself in a new TV show whenever you want. Deep dives into long-running shows like The Walking Dead or Breaking Bad can be fun, but they also require a serious time commitment. Sometimes you want to settle in on your couch with a pizza and know you can finish an entire show in a single day. Luckily, the major streamers and networks alike are jumping on the shorter-seasons bandwagon that makes catching up a breeze. There are also quite a few series that are designed to be one-and-done masterpieces.

Whether you’re looking for an engrossing drama or a hilarious comedy, any one of these 11 shows will be perfect for your next binge.

Good Girls
Good Girls is an under the radar treasure on Netflix about three women in need of cash fast who end up laundering money for a gang. Starring Christina Hendricks, Mae Whitman, and Retta, the 10-episode first season is an engrossing ride that’s by turns thrilling, funny, and deeply moving. Once you start watching these women’s journey, you won’t be able to stop.

You
You’ve heard the buzz, and now it’s time to watch Penn Badgley’s stalker drama for yourself on Netflix. The twisted series is a bit like Dexter, but it’s way more tongue in cheek. Clocking in at ten episodes that all run under an hour, you can dive deep into Joe’s obsession with Beck and be done before work on Monday morning with ease.

Catastrophe
With three seasons and 18 half-hour episodes, Catastrophe will take you on a journey as a random one-night stand evolves into a not-so-perfect marriage. This comedy is a warts and all look at what it takes to be in a relationship that will make you laugh and maybe even cry a little bit. Now available on  Prime Video!

Jack Ryan
Season one of Jack Ryan is eight hours of John Krasinski being the action hero we all deserve on Prime Video. He does crossword puzzles and gets embroiled in international incidents. It’s a perfect popcorn TV show for a rainy day when you don’t feel like rewatching The Office, but still want a Jim fix.

The Umbrella Academy
Think the X-Men, but more emo and with better music. The 10-episode first season on Netflix is a fast-paced, weird, and unique superhero show that will leave you begging for more. Thanks to an incredible cast led by Ellen Page, this strange series is just as much of a family drama as it is a supernatural romp.

Russian Doll
Orange Is the New Black‘s Natasha Lyonne is brilliant as a woman who just can’t stop dying on her birthday. Russian Doll is the rare show that’s at once heady and hilarious. Best of all, this existential journey wraps up in a tidy eight episodes that never run over 30 minutes each. You can check it out on Netflix.

Homecoming
Julia Roberts makes an excellent case for adding TV star to her résumé with this Sam Esmail directed thriller. It’s about a woman who mysteriously can’t remember much about her time working for a shady agency that’s in charge of reacclimating soldiers to civilian life. The mystery unravels throughout 10 nail-biting 30-minute instalments on Prime Video.

Bodyguard
The homegrown thriller is an adrenaline ride that never lets up. Seriously, the show may have the most intense opening scene of all-time. Starring Game of Thrones‘ Richard Madden, Bodyguard follows an ex-soldier who is tasked with protecting a politician who he fundamentally disagrees with on every level. However, the premise goes deeper than that as the six-episode season progresses. You can watch the hit show on Netflix.

Ordeal by Innocence
Agatha Christie’s novels make perfect miniseries material as evidenced by the twisty Ordeal by Innocence available on Prime Video. The stylish murder mystery unfolds throughout just three episodes, making this a short and sweet binge that’s perfect for anyone looking for a crime drama with a bit of flair.

Killing Eve
The cat and mouse game between MI5 officer Eve and unrepentant psychopath Villanelle is a delicious ride that will take you from London to Paris to Russia in a matter of episodes. The critically-acclaimed drama more than lives up to the hype, and you’ll speed through the eight-episode first season in no time on BBC iPlayer.

Barry
Only Bill Hader could make a hitman moonlighting as an actor a totally believable premise for a comedy. Barry‘s eight-episode inaugural season is a bloody good time on NOW TV.

Go ahead and cancel your plans, because your day is officially booked.

Happy Streaming!