What’s On? A Guide to Good Winter Streaming

Winter weather keeps many of us at home for long stretches of time. It’s remarkable, isn’t it, how quickly a person can run out of things to do? Sure, you can read, and do a nice puzzle. Maybe mop. Eventually, though, you’ll want a little variety in your routine.

Online poker and other gaming services can hold your attention for a while, but it’s important to seek balance and variety.

This begs the question: Is there anything good on TV?

With streaming services, there is never a shortage of things to watch, but the extensive catalog of options can make it hard to find the perfect show. You can identify the right stream for you by figuring out what you want from the experience.

Escapism

Arguably, this is the most common reason anyone logs onto Netflix. You just want to step out of your head for an hour or two and get some distance from your problems and gripes.

While any show can technically satisfy this requirement, it might help to choose programming that is vastly different from your current circumstances.

If you are tired of the cold weather, a trip to the icy world of Westeros might not be the experience you are looking for.

White Lotus, on the other hand, could provide a compelling escape. Haven’t you seen it? White Lotus is an HBO original that features an ensemble cast. Two seasons deep at the time of writing, with a third on the way, it tells the story of guests at a luxury resort.

The first season follows several families as they vacation in Hawaii. While each family’s story arch is self-contained, there are frequent overlaps. The spoiled girls on vacation with their family, one of whom is played by Sydney Sweeney, cross paths with the unhappy newlyweds, one of whom is played by Alexandra Daddario.

While there are too many active storylines to identify a single “plot,” both seasons have elements of a crime or mystery story. In both cases, the first episode begins with one or more of the main characters at the end of their vacation, reflecting on a death that took place during their stay.

Who died? And how? You’ll have to watch to find out. Those with an aversion to violence needn’t worry. The show is not graphic, and there is a big focus on humor, with Jennifer Coolidge—featured in both seasons—stealing just about every scene she stumbles her way into.

Brushing Up on the Classics

Some shows slip right into the cultural canon. Even years after they’ve gone off air, people reference them constantly, to the point where you can feel left out for not having seen a show like Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, or The Sopranos.

Pick your poison. Breaking Bad, which you can find on Netflix, tells the story of Walter White, the teacher turned meth kingpin. While the show is ultimately an anti-hero crime story, it’s deeply psychological. Is Walt bad from the beginning or molded by circumstance?

Game of Thrones, which you can find on Max, is continuing to get the spin-off treatment. If you are interested in House of Dragon or any of the other new shows that are set to come out over the next few years, the original program is a great place to start.

It’s all about succession, but with a big emphasis on family life—including some family members who are…too close for comfort. You’ll know what we mean when you watch the show.

The Sopranos, also found on Max, has been off-air for a long time, but that doesn’t stop people from consistently calling it the greatest show of all time. It’s a mob story but with a surprising emphasis on slice-of-life moments.

Most episodes focus on the daily doings of Tony Soprano, a morally conflicted mob boss who tries—and usually fails miserably—to do right by his family and his community. Though most people are already familiar with the controversial ending, the journey getting there is still well worth your time.

Ongoing Programs

The winter could also be a good time to catch up on current popular shows so you can be ready when the next season drops. Some big ones are coming out soon.

Squid Game season 2 will release at the end of 2024. Squid Game is the exceptionally violent story of poor people given the chance to play a game that could win them millions of dollars or cost them their lives.

The superhero Daredevil is also set to make his long-awaited return to the small screen next Spring. Daredevil ran for three seasons on Netflix, back before Disney even had its streaming service.

The show was ultimately a casualty of Disney Plus, with the house that Mickey built understandably not wanting to compete with another platform for eyeballs when it comes to their popular MCU content.

You can catch up on Daredevil on Disney Plus.

There’s tons to see. What will you be watching this winter?