The summer is almost here! Are you ready? My kids get out next week and the weather is starting to heat up here in Tennessee. Soon, we will be going to the pool on a regular basis, BBQing in the back yard, and being a little more low key than we are during the school year.

I am also pretty excited at all the amazing shows that have been added to Netflix or will be sometime this summer. Netflix has really stepped things up, and I love it!

So whether you are not sure what to watch after the Game of Thrones finale or you are in desperate need of some good binge-watching, here is my guide of what to watch on Netflix and Hulu this summer:

The Society

This show will suck you in right away! And once you finish, you will want the second season to start as soon as possible. The Society is a teenage drama, that seems to start out like any other teenage drama. The teenagers leave for a field trip, but have to turn around, and once the buses drop them back off, they soon learn that everyone else from the small town has disappeared. Think Lord of the Flies meets Pretty Little Liars.

Wine Country

This movie is super fun! Six friends take a weekend trip together to Napa Valley to celebrate one of their 50th birthdays. These ladies are so funny, and most of them have been on Saturday Night Live at one point so you know they know how to make you laugh.

Workin’ Moms

This is a Canadian television show about, working moms. There is humor and there are a lot of moments that many will relate to, especially if you are a working mom. Can’t wait for more seasons to come on Netflix.

Derry Girls

Derry Girls takes place in 1990s Ireland. Follow Erin and her friends as they try to deal with teenage issues, amidst the political conflict of Northern Ireland in the 1990s. This is a super quick series you can finish in one night but then, you will want more.

Dead to Me

Dead to Me is amazing! Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini work so well together. The set up of this show is that Jen, Christina Applegate has just lost her husband and meets Judy, Linda Cardellini at a grief group. The two become friends and things go from there. What I love about this one is that every episode there is a new reveal. You can also finish this in a weekend as the episodes are short.

Outlander, seasons 1-2

Finally! Outlander is an amazing show about a time-traveling nurse from the 1940s. However, up until now, it wasn’t available on Netflix streaming. Outlander will be on Netflix later this month, just seasons 1 and 2. But if you haven’t watched the show already, you should. It’s amazing.

Black Mirror, season 5

For my science fiction nerds, Black Mirror is coming back for season 5. I am so happy about this! Black Mirror is pretty much Twilight Zone for the technical age. If you want to start this series, do not watch episode 1 of season 1, just skip it. That episode turns people off of the series and doesn’t even really show what the series is about. Start with the 2nd episode 🙂

Dark, season 2

For those that really love time travel and crazy stories, Dark is a great choice. Dark is a German show, so you will either need to watch with subtitles or with English dubbing. The show is pretty much Stranger Things meets Back to the Future. And season 2 will be on Netflix in June.

Stranger Things, season 3

Speaking of Stranger Things, we are going to get a third season on the 4th of July. Stranger Things is about a young boy who goes missing in the 80s, with a very ET meets Stephen King feel. If you haven’t started this series, this summer is the time to do so.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

Whether you are pcsing this summer or not, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo can get you in the decluttering mood. Watch Marie Kondo work with families to see what brings them joy and get rid of what doesn’t to make their homes a more relaxing place. Although this came out quite a few months ago, this summer is the perfect time to watch and get inspired.

After missing for seven years, a young woman comes home, with new abilities and a mission. OA is quite the adventure ride and the 2nd season just came out. If you like crazy stories that keep you guessing, you will like this one.

Russian Doll

Watch Natasha Lyonne, of Orange is the New Black, in this comedy-drama about a woman who gets caught in a time loop. At the end of her birthday party, she dies, then comes back to the same day. She gets stuck in this never-ending loop. This series is pretty bizarre but quick to watch as well. And don’t forget, the last season of Orange is the New Black will be out the end of July.

Have you watched any of these shows? What are you most excited about this summer?

Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Originals to Add to Your Binge Watching List

I don’t always binge watch a television show, but when I do, I get lost in the story, make friends with the characters and keep myself busy!

Back in 2007 during our first deployment, I discovered binge watching. Doing so was a little different back then. We were overseas, and I am not even sure Netflix had a streaming service yet. We used Netflix DVD (four episodes at a time,) rented DVDs from the library, found a show on YouTube or some other online site. Binge watching wasn’t as easy as it is today.

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There are so many options now, Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu not only have television shows from regular and cable networks, but they all have their own shows too. And these shows are pretty good. I remember when we first got Hulu, that was not the case.

So here are some excellent original shows from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon to add to your binge watching list!

Netflix is a king of the original series! You can pay between $7.99 and $13.99 for monthly streaming.

1. Alias Grace

This Maraget Atwood adaptation is only six episodes long, but you won’t be able to watch just one. The story is based on a true story of a young woman, Grace Marks, accused of murdering Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery in 1843 Canada.

2. Stranger Things

This show might make you jump, but it is on point with its portrayal of the mid-1980s. Think of this as a mix of ET, the Goonies, and Stand By Me. With Winona Ryder.

3. Ozark

Jason Bateman, a financial planner, and his wife, Laura Linney play a couple on the run. They hide out in the Ozarks along with their two children. This show reminded me a lot of the show Weeds, with a pretty interesting setting.

4. Arrested Development

While only the 4th season of this show is a Netflix original, this series is so binge-worthy. About a family in Southern California, and the son who is trying to keep them all together after the father goes to prison. Remember, there is always money in the banana stand. There will be a season 5 coming out next May!

5. Black Mirror

Think Twilight Zone for the social media age. Each episode will make you think twice about how you interact with technology. Do yourself a favor though and skip the first episode of season 1. People get stuck on that one, and I think it is awful. The rest? Totally worth watching. Netflix took over this British show in season 3 and season 4 should be out soon.

With Hulu, you can stream shows and movies, watch new shows a day after, and depending on your plan, even watch live tv. You can pay between $7.99-$39.99 a month or add extra channels for more choices.

1. The Handmaid’s Tale

Let Elisabeth Moss bring Margaret Atwood’s most famous book to life with this dystopian series based in Gilead, what used to be apart of the United States. Season two will be coming out in April too.

2. 11 /22 /63

Stephen King wrote a not so scary novel about a man who goes back in time to try to save JFK and Hulu made the book into a series with James Franco. While some of the show is different than the book, the series was still very enjoyable.

Amazon Prime is the best. Free shipping and more! You can pay the $99 a year, $10.99 a month or just $8.99 for streaming video only.

1. The Man in the High Castle

This show is based on a Philip K. Dick novel about what would have happened had World War II ended differently. This show takes place at a very different time than what is in our history books. The Man in the High Castle will keep you guessing and season 3 will be out sometime in early 2018.

2. Lore

If you like creepy things, Lore might be a good show for you. This series, based on a podcast of the same name is all about crazy things that have happened in history. From real-life Vampires to scary dolls.

3. Good Girls Revolt

While Amazon only produced one season of this show, it is worth watching. Good Girls Revolt is the story of a group of female researchers at “News of the Week” during the late 1960s. All they want is to be treated fairly, but is that even possible? I love the setting, the costumes, and the characters on this show which is based on a book by Lynn Povich.

What are your favorite original shows to watch from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon?

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What to Watch on Netflix This Summer