Best Valentine's Themed TV Shows To Binge Watch
Sometimes, the best way to enjoy a romantic night with the person you love is to stay in, order some take out and binge watch your favorite television shows. With the hectic pace of getting to a restaurant on a busy holiday, making reservations, parking and traffic, instead enjoy this quiet evening at home for a truly romantic night for two. Whether you’re already binging watching some of your favorite programs or you’re looking for a new show to fall in love with, here are a few suggestions of some great shows to binge on Valentine’s Day.
“I Love Lucy”
Step back in time and binge one of the best sitcoms to ever hit the airwaves. There are 101 episodes available to stream on CBS All Access, so you can really dig in to a long binge-filled weekend of wacky Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz antics. You’ll fall in love all over again as you laugh together over this true Hollywood classic featuring one of television’s most beloved actresses. You’ll probably find a few episodes you’ve never even seen before!
“How I Met Your Mother”
So you probably won’t be able to binge all nine seasons at one sitting, but this sitcom is still a great show to spark some romance. It’s always fun to watch Ted’s antics as he continues to attempt to find his true love, but it’s the love between Marshall and Lily that can really inspire a romantic night. Find a few of your favorite episodes, or start binging on the first season, then trace the journey of your favorite hapless romantic as he eventually meets the mother of his children.
“Pride and Prejudice”
While it’s a mini-series, you can still binge six episodes of the definitive classic featuring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. As one of the most romantic novels of all time, this miniseries features all the stories as Elizabeth Bennet charms the handsome Mr. Darcy in a picturesque English countryside. With romantic costumes, beautiful scenery and Jane Austen’s classic story, this 1995 Emmy award-winning miniseries from the BBC is the perfect show to revisit over Valentine’s Day. Pop open a bottle of wine, put out a cheese and cracker spread and really enjoy this show together.
“Grace and Frankie”
If you haven’t seen this Netflix original, then you’re missing out. The show stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin who are forced to start their lives over when they find out their husbands, played by Martin Sheen and Sam Waterson, have been having an affair with one another for the past twenty years. A great show for anyone who grew up watching these truly talented actors, if you happen to be single over the holiday, or if you just want a great new show to binge on. There are only 13 episodes, so it’s perfect to watch the whole first season in one day.
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
Another Netflix original to consider for your binge watching is “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” the breakout hit of 2015. The second season will be premiering soon, so this is the perfect opportunity to get to know Kimmy Schmidt ("The Office's" Ellie Kemper) and to fall in love with her optimistic attitude. The series features a young woman who is rescued from a doomsday cult after having lived underground for 15 years. When she emerges from the underground bunker, she struggles to figure out life all over again. The series was created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock ("30 Rock") and also stars Tituss Burgess and Jane Krakowski with a cameo or two from Jon Hamm.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
Ok fine, this is not a romantic show at all. In fact, this hilarious show is probably the most anti-Valentine’s Day series to binge watch, but it’s perfect for anyone that is soured on the holiday and wants to enjoy laughter in place of romance this weekend. This series, now in its 11th season, is available to stream all over the web, and you’ll laugh over and over again as you watch these unlucky characters come up with zany plan after zany plan. All the characters in this series are miserable, awful people, and it’s a true joy to watch them stumble over and over again. If you’ve never seen this often over-looked series, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to binge its brilliance.
Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.