Although I will always be Summer’s number one fan, there is a certain beauty to Winter that even I cannot deny. There is something about the changes in weather (depending on where you live), season, and time that brings forth new energy all its own.
Even if you live in an area that does not see a ton of change in weather between seasons, the anticipation of the upcoming holidays or start of a new academic year still brings a bout of excitement. What stays constant throughout all four seasons, however, is the plethora of great television shows and movies that we have access to, and how happy they make me.
The winter is the perfect time to get into a new show. On my side of the world, it gets darker a lot faster and the brisker air tends to keep people indoors more often. If you are anything like me, one of your favorite things to do on a winter night in is cozy up to a few episodes of a good TV show on-demand or movie on Netflix.
Seeing as winter and the holidays is a particularly active time for Hollywood (a lot of new television shows have their first premieres and movie studios want to sell out big holiday box office weekends), there are even more options to choose from than usual. Whether you are down for a scare, a laugh, or to clutch onto a box of tissues, there is sure to be something on TV that you will love this season.
Grab a warm drink, find the best blanket you own and keep reading for the ultimate list of winter shows to add to your watchlist.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix)
This new hit drama comes from the same producer minds that brought the CW’s Riverdale to life and centers on Sabrina Spellman, a young witch discovering the strength of her powers. The classic coming-of-age tale takes a darker route as Sabrina must reconcile being half-witch and half-human while battling the evil and Satanic forces trying to take over her. Although it features the namesake of the popular ‘90s show Sabrina the Teenage Witch, this version is based on the original comic book series and takes a drastically more sinister twist on the beloved character. While the show itself is not incredibly scary, I’d recommend an extra pillow to hide behind, just in case.
American Horror Story: Apocalypse (FX)
Keeping with the spooky theme is a fan favorite show, American Horror Story. Now in its’ eighth season, the Ryan Murphy helmed show continues to thrill audiences all over the world. This season it’s all about the apocalypse, and what is to come of society afterwards. AHS is known for wild twists and turns and this season truly does not disappoint. From the exceptional cast (Sarah Paulson, Joan Collins, Evan Peters, Kathy Bates, and more) all dripping in gothic era style clothing to the alluring and seductive mystery of a masked murderer, Apocalypse has been one of the creepiest seasons of the show to date.
This Is Us (NBC)
All the way on the other end of the spectrum is NBC’s glorious drama This Is Us. This show...this show, this show, this show. This show is perfect. It takes a seemingly simple narrative of three siblings dealing with the aftermath of their deceased father, and transforms it into the most universal, humourous, relatable, heartbreaking and heartwarming show on television. Currently in its third season, I recommend you start watching this drama from the top if you have not gotten into it already. All of the background from seasons one and two is not necessary to understand the plot of season three, but the more This Is Us you get to watch, the better. Trust me. Oh, and grab tissues. LOTS.
A Million Little Things (ABC)
Trickling behind This Is Us on the “all the feels” scale is ABC’s new drama, A Million Little Things. It follows a group of friends who are left shattered after a member of their circle suddenly dies by suicide. Confused and horrified, the group comes to the realization that after marriages, children, addictions, and personal struggles, they all really don’t know each other as much as they thought they did. In honor of their deceased friend, they commit to changing that. The motto of the show is that friendship isn’t one big thing, it is a million little things, which is certainly a message that all of us can learn from. It’s always important to check in on people, even the ones you think you know inside and out-even the ones who seem the strongest. There really are a million little things that make up a friendship, a relationship, and a human being. It’s impossible for us to tune into each one of these things, but it is important for us to acknowledge and honor as many of them as we can.
Busy Tonight (E!)
Let’s just state the facts, there are not enough women in late night television. For those of us who do stay up at night and love to tune into political or comedic shows that recount what is going on in society, all of our options seem to be hosts with the first name “Jimmy.” Not anymore! Busy Phillips, actress, comedian, and Instagram Storyteller, now has her own talk show. The half-hour, live studio audience style is similar to many other late-night shows, but features Busy as she recounts hilarious and unfiltered tales of whatever is trending in the news cycle. She also interviews celebrities, plays an assortment of games, and gets remarkably candid with her audience, a.k.a us. I would definitely recommend tuning in to this fresh take, one that should be seen on television way more often.
Been So Long (Netflix)
So I’ll just be honest, this movie is a little…strange. But, that’s one of the things that makes it perfect for a movie night in. The characters, the story, the structure-none of it is typical so you are guaranteed to enjoy it if you like watching something unique. The musical, romantic comedy follows Simone, played by Michaela Coel (a literal genius who also helms the television show Chewing Gum on Netflix’s streaming service); a fierce single mother dedicated to her wheelchair-bound daughter who runs into a charming but mysterious man at a bar. The two hit it off and eventually spend a night together, but since it is a film and nothing is ever that easy, the truth of their pasts come out and start to clash. While this explanation seems pretty simple, please note that there is also a dancing, murderous stranger, an entire musical number that takes place in a kebab shop, and hysterical song lyrics about dying vaginas.