10 TV Shows That Were Worth Watching Despite The Fact I Had Several Seasons To Catch Up On

Finding the perfect show to watch can be a struggle, and settling into a show with several seasons is a big commitment, but some shows are worth it. It’s a common struggle for modern audiences in the age of streaming. What should I watch next? Despite having a lengthy watchlist, it’s easier to pick out something with short 20-minute episodes to make you laugh, or potentially the latest murder mystery documentary.

However, there is a growing number of shows that you’d like to get around to, and they keep getting pushed back. I have the exact same issue. But, there are some shows that are worth settling into, and taking up your next massive binge. They may have 40-minute episodes and 15 seasons, but these shows are too good to miss, and well worth the time they take to watch the whole series.

10 Supernatural

First on the list is Supernatural. Yes, Supernatural is a show with 15 seasons, 327 episodes, and a remarkable number of cosmic twists to wrap your head around, but the series is one that needs to be seen to fully appreciate. Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are the perfect casting as two strapping young brothers on a mission to save the world from every monster, demon, and supernatural force that could threaten the end.

From the chemistry, to the stories, and the epic cliffhangers between seasons, watching the show on streaming is the easiest and most satisfying way to get absorbed in the world of Supernatural. People who watched the show as it came out had to wait 15 years from seeing Sam pick up his brother from college until the day that they finally came to the end of the road. The show is thrilling, and full of emotion, laughter, and clever writing from start to finish.

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9 Suits

Suits recently began trending on Netflix, and there is a good reason why. The show is outstanding. The elaborate lies set up by Harvey Specter and Mike Ross as they attempt to game the system and put their considerable intelligence and confidence to the test is spectacular. Most legal dramas have a slow and steady pace, but Suits has a way of making every episode fresh and exciting.

The characters, the relationships, and the legal proceedings all combine to make this show absolutely stunning and a joy to experience. The series does experience a slight dip in quality after season 7, when Mike and Rachel leave the show, but it honestly holds its own better than most shows that lose two major core cast members. All nine seasons of Suits make for incredible viewing, and the series will have you hooked before the end of the first episode.

8 Game Of Thrones

Ok, so, Game of Thrones certainly suffers from one of the least satisfying finale’s of any show, but the journey through the eight seasons leading up to that moment are some of the most gripping TV around. This show broke all the rules when it came to creating a successful show. From the sudden and gruesome deaths of central figures, to the political intrigue, Game of Thrones is an incredible piece of art.

I was behind the curve when it came to jumping into the show, but when I did, it was a complete rush to catch up to major moments that had become the center of heated discussions, such as the Red Wedding, and the introduction of Ramsay Bolton. The series is also one of the most visually stunning and appealing shows on TV, with career-defining performances from several of the core cast, and an epic fantasy adventure.

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7 Mad Men

Mad Men can be a tricky show to start with, but once you get part way through season 1, the allure of Don Draper takes over. Like Suits, the show that simply follows an advertising company in New York set during the 1960s could come across as boring. But, with characters like Don Draper running the show, the show constantly takes unexpected twists and turns that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

I went into the show not fully knowing what to expect, but knowing that I enjoyed Jon Hamm’s work in a broader sense. However, until you watch Mad Men, you have not seen Hamm at his best. The show shows a darker side to the glitzy world of advertising, in an era where these gifted wordsmiths were held up like rock stars. The show explores this odd bubble in history in a way that is incredibly satisfying and engaging throughout.

6 Doctor Who

So, Doctor Who is an odd one. Technically, the show is more than 60 years old, having started in 1963. However, the series has gone through a couple of revivals, with the first in 2005, and the most recent in 2023. I began watching Doctor Who in 2005 with a friend, and I was immediately hooked on the world of sci-fi, drama, and adventures through time. However, it wasn’t long before I realized there were a whole 40 years worth of earlier stories that I had yet to explore.

The show is drastically different in the 1960s, but the elements that make up the core and soul are still present. In addition, the show introduces new leading characters every few seasons, and it travels through decades, while the story explores other random points in history and the future. For die-hard completionists, like myself, the classic era of Doctor Who can be accessed on several platforms, including the BBC iPlayer for those in the UK and BritBox for the rest of the world.

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5 Smallville

When I was growing up, I had a keen interest in superheroes, and I watched a lot of animated superhero cartoons. But, one show seemed particularly enticing, and I wasn’t quite old enough to watch it. Smallville was a series about the early days of Superman, before Clark Kent ever donned the suit. My older brother had the DVD box set at home, and I would flip open the case, and read the episode synopsis with glee.

Stories about kryptonite creating superhuman threats, and Clark navigating the struggles of his social life, family life, and budding romance were tantalizing. So, of course, as soon as I was old enough, I sat down and binged the entire show. The show is a perfect coming-of-age, teenage drama with superheroes in the mix, and it’s well worth watching for any fans of superhero stuff in general.

4 House

For whatever reason, House didn’t cross my radar when it first came out. I was aware of Hugh Laurie for some of his earlier comedy stuff, and I enjoyed medical dramas and medical comedies, but House was nowhere in sight. However, the show is now my favorite medical drama of all time, and I highly recommend watching all eight seasons for yourself.

The show has spectacular acting from Laurie and the rest of the crew, compelling medical mysteries, and some of the most brilliant season finales of all time. The show also pulls at the heart strings frequently, with Dr. House’s struggles with addiction and other demons from his past. It’s enhanced even further by the fact that it’s a loose adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes stories, with House playing the flawed antagonistic hero, and his good friend Wilson, always standing ready to help.

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3 Seinfeld

Seinfeld was well before my time, but it’s always good to have a fun, light comedy series on hand when there is a spare 20 minutes. The show that is famously about nothing fills that role to a T, and it makes for a great background noise show. Once again, the actors make this show what it is, with Jerry Seinfeld and Julia-Louis Dreyfus delivering some incredible lines throughout.

The show is a simple sitcom from the 1980s and 1990s that consistently delivers fun and folly in equal measure. Similar to Friends, the show revolves around a core cast and their misadventures as young adults dealing with the complexities of life. With nine seasons to dive into, the show is a perfect choice for any watchlist.

2 The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead is another series that does suffer from some major highs, and some pretty rough lows, but throughout the show’s 11 season run, it always had heart. The series features a wonderful ensemble cast, and takes a close look at life in the apocalypse. From struggling to trust other humans to be decent and kind, to rebuilding a home and a community, the show tackles some meaty storylines.

While there are whole seasons that lull in quality and pace, the beginning, the middle and the end are all great. It’s just a couple of minor bits that are added in between, and without needing to wait a week between episodes, even these slower moments don’t become too overwhelming. For a show that will make you feel genuinely connected to the characters and then break your heart, this is it.

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1 Parks And Recreation

Another fun and easy show, Parks and Recreation, didn’t pique my interest in an era where I was watching Scrubs, The Office, and several other sitcoms. However, years later, after enjoying other works starring Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, and Adam Scott, I decided to give it a shot. The show is honestly one of the funniest sitcoms on TV, and introduced me to a bunch of new actors that deserve more attention.

The premise may seem mundane, but The Office is set in an office that sells paper. Parks and Rec follows a similar style of humor, but the cast makes it different and distinct in a way that is well worth digging into. And with seven seasons of the show to binge, there is plenty of time for the characters to develop and become just as beloved as your already favorite sitcoms.