During the Advent season, we not only think about family, friends or Christmas, but also (finally again) really good series. Apart from classics like “Game of Thrones”, “Gilmore Girls” or “Stranger Things” we have small but useful tips and our favorites for the Christmas series marathon ready.
1.Dash & Lily
Cynical Dash and cheerful Lily only communicate through a red notebook in New York at Christmas. While Dash finds the holiday season unbearable, for Lily there is no better time of the year. They exchange ideas via the notebook and send each other across Manhattan on assignments, discovering that they have more in common than they first thought. Super cute and heartwarming.
On Netflix
2. Atypical
The family comedy tells the coming-of-age story of 18-year-old autistic Sam. In search of a partner, he throws himself into teenage dating. This, in turn, does not go unnoticed by his concerned mother Elsa, who worries about the emotional well-being of her independence-seeking son. Great, heartwarming and funny series starring a terrific Keir Gilchrist.
On Netflix
3. Heartbreak High
With the reboot of the ’90s Australian teen series Heartbreak High, Netflix immerses viewers in the dramatic everyday life of Amerie, who becomes an outsider after being discovered and falling out with her best friend Harper. This leads her to befriend two misfits, Quinni and Darren, as she desperately tries to restore her reputation. It goes without saying that sex, love and heartbreak shouldn’t be missing, right? For everyone who wants to feel like a teenager again.
On Netflix
4.Wednesday
Wednesday Addams is a student at the unique Nevermore Academy, a prestigious boarding school for outcasts. As she tries to reconcile her new and very complicated relationships and friendships at school, she tries to solve a series of murders and a mystery that involved her parents 25 years ago. For everyone who likes it a bit dark and has a little penchant for the morbid. For everyone else too.
On Netflix
5. The White Lotus
The miniseries “The White Lotus” follows the work of the employees of a fictional five-star Hawaiian vacation resort and the pampered guests. With each passing day, the dark revelations in the supposed paradise are piling up. Entertaining and there is a bit of a holiday feeling in winter on top.
On Amazon Prime and Sky
6. Motherland
Anyone who has children knows that being a mother is anything but an easy undertaking. Julia notices that every day. As a mother of two, she maneuvers through life in the British middle class – between alpha mothers, fathers who are children themselves and other obstacles. With a lot of humor and merciless honesty, the BBC comedy series “Motherland” shows the everyday life of mothers and fathers.
On RTL +
By the way: If you don’t feel like parents and children, the series of the same name Motherland: Fort Salem we can also recommend. The series is set in an alternate reality of America where the witches escaped persecution through a deal with the US government. Three young women who practice magic are at the center of the series.
On Amazon Prime Video
7. Crashing
In order to save money, six young people between the ages of 20 and 30 are moving into a closed hospital. In return, they should take care of the maintenance of the hospital and comply with strict regulations.
On Netflix
8. Derry Girls
16-year-old Erin is growing up in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. Despite grim political circumstances, Erin has the same worries as teenagers in other parts of the world: she is in love with a boy who doesn’t share her feelings. Season 3 is currently running.
On Netflix
9. The English
In the miniseries, Emily Blunt, as an English lady, is looking for her son’s murderer in Wyoming, while the Native American scout Eli is looking for the land he had been promised in Nebraska. In a lawless world, the unlikely couple becomes more than best friends. A highly acclaimed series, not only for western fans.
On Amazon Prime Video and magenta TV
10.GLOW
The “Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling”, GLOW for short, show us that there is another way of doing girl power. And that women in the 80s don’t always have to dance around “baby”-like. Even if the story takes place about 30 years ago, the topic is still relevant. We should all be brave(r). And proud of us! Maybe we won’t start with wrestling right away, but watch these ladies do it first…
On Netflix
11. Catastrophe
The first season revolves around – surprise! – a catastrophe: Sharon and Rob get to know each other briefly and, according to their own statements, sleep together 25 times within a week. However, they take the issue of contraception lightly, so that Sharon becomes pregnant – and the adventure begins. What sounds too crazy to be true develops into an unusual and humorous love story in sitcom format. Perfect for switching off in between.
On Amazon Prime Video
12. Grace & Frankie
The story of Grace, Frankie, Robert and Sol couldn’t start more offbeat – and yet we can’t keep our hands (and eyes) off her. With a lot of charm, wit and honesty, she brings us closer to how beautiful it is to age. And how important it is to be there for each other. Including joints, vibrators and sweet potato lube.
On Netflix
13. Red Oaks
In the mid-eighties at a golf club in New Jersey: David Meyers studies at college, works at the golf club and deals with growing up in the then analogue world. What may sound dusty reminds us all of where we once were. Namely exactly at the point of David, who gets advice and tips from all sides and still remains confused. A big plus of the series are its multifaceted and intelligent characters, who accompany David through a turbulent time with humor.
On Amazon Prime Video
14. Modern Love
The literary basis for this series was the column of the same name in the “New York Times”: Among other things, it is about a special friendship, an unconventional new family, a marriage that threatens to fail and a date that maybe wasn’t one at all. We love the stories that are told – not only because Anne Hathaway captivates us as always, but also because the series shows that there is no such thing as “normal” when it comes to love. Ah!
On Amazon Prime Video
15. Working Moms
This series shows what we all know only too well: balancing children, work, love and life. How four mothers return from maternity leave to the world of work is told here with charm and in a comprehensible way. Including postnatal depression, breast pumps and nasty nannies – and with a lot of humor.
On Netflix
16. The Politican
The main character Payton comes from a wealthy family and wants to aim high: directly as President in the White House. The series “The Politican”, in which Payton fights his way through high school – with everything that entails, shows that this is not as easy as one might imagine. Plus a lot of humor mixed with absurdities and drama. Very engaging!
On Netflix
17. A special life
This series tells the story of Ryan, a gay young man suffering from a disability. By chance, he gets hold of a popular internship position – and takes the viewers along on his extraordinary path to self-employment. With all the hurdles that go with it, but also a lot of humor. We have taken Ryan deep into our hearts!
On Netflix
18. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Kimmy Schmidt lived in the clutches of a cult for 15 years. After being rescued, she now has to learn what it means to lead a “normal” life in New York. Sounds funny, it is. In addition to exaggerated naivety and weird actions that the story brings with it, she also shows social aspects with a critical eye. You have to get involved, but then very worth seeing!
On Netflix
19.Casual
A bit like “Two and a half men”, only better: “Casual” is all about the newly divorced Valerie, who moves in with her daughter Laura with her brother Alex, who is a bachelor, as he is in the book. While Laura tries to grow up, Valerie and Alex want to break out of being single and experiment with modern dating options. Chaos pre-programmed!
On Amazon Prime
20. The Wheel of Time
If you’ve seen Lord of the Rings a thousand times, this series is a welcome change. That’s what it’s all about: When the world was created, the wheel of time was also created. Each of its seven spokes embodies an age that follows one another in constant change. This world was brought to the brink of ruin long ago by the Dark King Shai’tan, and his followers continue to wreak havoc on the world millennia after their master was imprisoned. The shepherd Rand al’Thor and his childhood friends Perrin Aybara and Matrim Cauthon are born into this. After an attack on their home village by the evil Trollocs, minions of the Dark One, they begin an adventure together with Moraine, a sorceress or Aes Sedai, in which they play a far more important role in the fate of the world and in the fight between good and evil become than she ever dreamed…
On Amazon Prime Video
21. The Queen’s Gambit
Orphan Beth Harmon learns to play chess from caretaker Mr. Shaibel (Bill Camp) in the 1950s. Beth quickly shows an extraordinary talent. When she is finally adopted, she takes part in chess tournaments and has a steep career. While she is also causing more and more international attention in increasingly highly paid competitions, the pressure is growing – until she threatens to lose herself in medication and alcohol and thus ultimately not only jeopardize her promising career…
On Netflix
22. Christmas at home
Johanne is single and actually quite happy with it. Unfortunately not your family. When you turn 30, it’s high time you found a boyfriend. As every year at the first advent, all the relatives get together and Johanne knows exactly that she has to react immediately to the constant question about her love life. But this year everything will be different. Johanne explains that she is happily taken and will bring her partner for Christmas. All she has to do now is find it quickly. After all, she has 24 days…
On Netflix
23. 30 degrees in February
Four unique stories about a handful of Swedes who trade the snow and cold of Scandinavia for the paradisiacal beaches of the Thai island of Phuket. The beginning of an adventure that will change her life forever… A Nordic gem full of humour.
In the Arte media library
24. Thieving magpies
A grieving teenage girl unexpectedly befriends two classmates at her new high school with Kleptomaniacs Anonymous. A great coming of age series about friendship and with beautiful music by Kat Cunning.
On Netflix