The best new shows to binge-watch this summer

On family vacations, the adults usually spend our evenings together in the living room (along with some ice cream, wine, and whiskey) after the kids have been put to bed. In the past, it wasn’t unusual for us to waste most of our nights scrolling through Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Redbox, trying to agree on something for the six of us to watch.

This year, however, we did something genius.

Months before we left for Hilton Head Island, we decided we’d pick one TV show to binge-watch the week we went away. When The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt premiered on Netflix in the beginning of March, we all agreed not to watch it until we were together in South Carolina.

Because I successfully avoided all reviews and cast interviews for fear of spoilers, I almost peed my pants during the first episode’s opening sequence. Do yourself a favor: Don’t Google it. Wait until you’re ready to watch the whole episode — and then prepare to be song fucked.

I will say that the first couple of episodes are stronger than the last few, but each is jam-packed with really brilliant jokes. If you laugh too loudly you may actually miss the succeeding one-liner.

(For those of you who’ve already watched The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, here’s a list of the best sight gags and the many 30 Rock references.)

Looking for some other TV shows to binge-watch this summer? Here are a few on my list:

Bloodline (available on Netflix)

I can’t help but think of Dexter when I see photos from Bloodline, a dramatic thriller that takes place on the Florida coast. Water! Boats! The Rayburn family has some dark secrets, but they’re probably not hiding the fact that one of them is a serial killer. Probably.

Orange is the New Black (Season 3 available June 12 on Netflix)

Who doesn’t like Orange is the New Black? I’ll admit that I find Piper Chapman’s character insufferable, so I was relieved when season 2 dedicated a significant amount of time to the stories of her cellmates. I’m doing my best to avoid any spoilers for the upcoming season, so I can only hope that there’ll be less of Piper (and Alex — ugh!) and more of Nicky, Taystee, Crazy Eyes, and Red.

Marvel’s Daredevil (available on Netflix)

I’m not necessarily a fan of comic books and superheroes, but I do love Charlie Cox. Have you seen him in Stardust with Claire Danes? It’s one of my favorite movies. Another reason to watch Daredevil? Vincent D’onofrio. For me, this show’s all about the cast — plus, it’s gotten really great reviews.

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (available July 31 on Netflix)

Before Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp starts streaming, do yourself a favor and watch the original 2001 indie comedy about the last day of camp in 1981. The TV series is a prequel, but it features all of the same actors (Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, Janeane Garofalo, and more) reprising the roles they originated 15 years ago. If it was absurd to imagine them as teenagers then, it must be hysterical now.

Have you binge-watched any of these shows already? What’s on your summer must-watch list?

(Top four images via Netflix; Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp image via Variety)