Staycation Binge List: The Long Haul

It’s the end of the year and you probably have some extra vacation days that you need to take before January kicks in. But this year is different. This year, you’re stuck at home with nowhere to go. Sure, you can travel locally, but what are you going to do once you get there? It’s not like there are many socially distanced activities you can indulge in while on holiday. So what do you do?

Have no fear because we’ve got you covered with some of the best TV to binge on this holiday season.

If you’re on the lookout for your next binge then boy do we have the list for you! In this first list, we’ve pulled together our favourite multi-season shows for you to veg out with. The shows on the list span all genres from action, to drama, sci-fi and comedy, and all with a handy approximate total binge time.

So, prepare yourself. This is The Goggler Staycation Binge List.

Phillip Pullman’s story about a girl and her daemon searching for the truth about her universe (and multiple others) is a great watch if you’re looking for some light fantasy fare. The series is also great for young children, so no need to chase them out of the room on your binge watch. The final episode of Season 2 airs December 29th so you’ve got time to catch up before that.

Click here for our full review of HBO’s His Dark Materials.

If you don’t know it (where have you been?!) Netflix’s The Crown is a “soap opera” about the British monarchy, specifically, Queen Elizabeth II. Beginning at the beginning, the series attempts to pull the curtain back on the inner workings of the palace, filled with intrigue, politics, politicking, and family. Sure the series is *probably* *mostly* dramatised, but it all makes for some bloody good TV all the same.

Click here for why we think The Crown is so damn appealing.

Click here for our review of fourth season of The Crown.

If you’re looking for a deep, multi-layered TV series then Suburra: Blood on Rome might be worth your time. Set in Rome, the series explores the layers of corruption and the complicated relationships between the Vatican, local government, the mafia, and local gangs in the Eternal City. Complex, riveting, and brave, Suburra is a series you don’t want to miss if you have the time.

Click here for our review of Suburra: Blood on Rome.

The Long Way series (Long Way Round, Long Way Down, Long Way Up) is worth taking as one long piece, despite being three different shows. The central theme of the series follows Ewan McGregor, and his friend Charley Borman, as they go on an adventure by riding motorcycles across long spans of the planet. From London to New York (Long Way Round), Scotland to South Africa (Long Way Down), and from the southernmost tip of South America to Los Angeles (Long Way Up). The series takes us on a ride of a lifetime. It’s all adventure, friendship, self-reflection, and fun. If you’re not a motorcycle guy, you will start wishing for one by the end of it all.

Click here for our review of Long Way Up.

If you’re tired of the usual superhero tropes, then The Umbrella Academy is the show for you. Yes, it’s about a family of superpowered humans, but heroes they are not. The comic series, which was created and written by Gerard Way (of My Chemical Romance fame) and Gabriel Bá, is adapted to the small screen so brilliantly, showcasing a deep understanding of all the ins and outs to craft something that is both a caricature and a celebration of the genre.

Click here for our review of the second season of The Umbrella Academy.

Netflix’s Dark is one of those rare shows that mixes family drama, science fiction, and time travel to great effect, pitting father, against son, against neighbour, against grandmother, against daughter. Starting off with a kidnapping and escalating to a world ending apocalyptic event, if you’re looking for a story that is complex, heavy, and well told, then this German language series is for you.

Click here for 5 Reasons You Should Be Watching Dark.

Hulu’s  Ramy tells the story of an Egyptian – named Ramy – who lives in New Jersey with his parents and younger sister. The series is a wonderful snapshot of the new immigrant American story – where not only are they immigrants to a country that has recently decided that not being American is a bad thing, but also of being a different religion from everyone else. The wrong one. Ramy is a 21st century look at the story of a young man trying to find his place in the world, and in his religion. It’ll make you laugh, feel, think, and cry. And all in the relatively short 30ish minute runtime.

Click here for our review of the first season of Ramy.

Click here for our review of the second season of Ramy.

A food travel show may be the second worst thing to watch in this time of COVID-19, where traveling is a distant memory. Think of Somebody Feed Phil as research. Hosted by Phil Rosenthal (the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond), the series doubles down on his childlike glee at every new thing he puts into his mouth. The authenticity of Phil’s reactions, charm, and wit is what really drives this show. Sure good looking food in Marrakesh or San Francisco is great, but watching Phil eat is the fun of the show.

Click here for our review of the third season of Somebody Feed Phil.

Money Heist is a Spanish crime drama series that tells the story of a group of strangers who, under the guidance of The Professor, break into the Royal Mint of Spain. Over the course of these episodes, we learn about the plan and its execution. We learn about the crew. And we learn about the cops who are trying to stop them. This is the best game of cat and mouse on television right now. This is not Michael Bay. This isn’t Bad Boys. What this is, is Michael Mann’s Heat. Guns going off have consequences, either physically or mentally. Guns being fired means an escalation. Of attention, of response, of emotion. And with one final season coming, this is the perfect opportunity to get on the train.

Click here for our review of the fourth season of Money Heist.

There are two ways to watch HBO’s Westworld. The first is to get completely involved. Read all the recaps and theories. Follow the maps, and timelines, and everything else the internet throws up at you. The second, is to just sit there and let this exquisitely crafted story wash over you. Enjoy all the little rabbit holes it takes you into. Soak in the permutations and character developments. Watching this feels like you’re reading a great novel.

Click here for our review of the third season of Westworld.

First things first. Despite HBO’s The New Pope having a new title, it is still very much the follow up to 2016’s The Young Pope, picking up immediately after the end of the first series, as the Vatican finds itself in a precarious position. Much like The Young Pope, the series is a show about palace intrigue, secrets, and ego. And much like the original series, The New Pope has got itself a healthy dollop of blasphemy. Featuring Jude Law as the former and John Malkovich as the latter, the series is tightly scripted, and beautifully produced, and one you should not miss.

Click here for our review of The New Pope.

With The Mandalorian, Jon Favreau has created a true genre piece. The series opens in a frontier cantina and we’re introduced to our protagonist by way of a deliberately devised piece of fan service. It is poetic in its execution. Acknowledging its heritage and its place in a wider narrative before quickly moving along in order to set the series up as something that stands apart. And with Season 2 coming to a close, Favreau has proven that this is no one trick pony, and that there is yet life in the Star Wars universe.

Click here for our review of season one of The Mandalorian.

Click here for our episodic recap of season two of The Mandalorian.

Based on a series of books of the same name, The Expanse tells the story of a group of antiheroes in a world where humanity has colonized the solar system. It’s got big space battles, an amazingly diverse cast, and constantly shifting storylines. If the description of “Game of Thrones in space” is something that excites you, then The Expanse is definitely one to watch. And with Season 5 airing now, you may have just a few days to catch your breath before you jump back in to binge the fifth season.

Click here for 10 Reasons Why You Should Be Watching The Expanse.

Narcos tells the (mostly) true story of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and the American DEA agents trying to shut him down. Featuring Pedro Pascal, and the enigmatic Wagner Moura as Escobar himself, the series will show you what it took for the man to become the legend. GIve it the time and you’ll be speaking (well, mostly swearing) in Spanish in no time. There are also a lot of depictions of drug use (obviously!), violence, and nudity so keep that in mind when you’re watching this on the big screen at home.

And if you still haven’t had your fill of South American drug adventures, then the follow up Narcos: Mexico keeps that story going, this time with the focus being on the Mexican drug cartels. Some of the characters cross over, but this series focuses entirely on the war on drugs after Pablo Escobar, and the rise of the Sinaloa drug cartel. Narcos: Mexico feels so much like Narcos that it’s easy to forget that it (technically) is a different show. You don’t need to watch Narcos before jumping into Narcos: Mexico, but you really should.

Amazon Prime Video‘s The Boys is one where you would want to send the kids out of the room. Immensely violent, bloody, and rude, the series about a literal gang of anti-heroes out to expose (and maybe kill) some a**hole superheroes is a great form of cinematic superhero counter programming. Based on comics by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, this series will go some way to alleviating any superhero fatigue you may have, or at least feel some schadenfreude at seeing some corporate superhero shills get their comeuppance.