For many, summer entails finally having time to do the things you couldn’t do during the school year. Without the pressure of midterms and the stresses of all your responsibilities, one can finally … dare I say it? Relax! Even if you’re taking summer classes or have a full-time internship, you should take time to enjoy yourself and watch some TV. We’ve compiled a list of TV shows we think would perfectly fit any mood you’re in this summer.
“The West Wing”
For anyone with a summer internship, especially a political one, this is the show for you. Created during a more idealistic and hopeful time in American politics, this show follows the office of President Jed Bartlet, with his fast-paced staff of ambitious and intelligent advisers. Allison Janney also plays the most beloved press secretary of all time, and the character just happens to be a UC Berkeley alumnus. “The West Wing” manages to warm your heart in a way that no political show has ever done. If you’re dying to watch other shows that take place in an office because you can’t get enough of your own internship’s office, you could try “The Office” (U.S. or U.K. version, both are great) and “Parks and Recreation” as well!
“The Big Family Cooking Showdown”
If you love “The Great British Baking Show,” or “TGBBS” this is the show for you. Season six winner of “TGBBS,” Nadiya Hussain, is back on our screens as a host of this family cooking show. This show essentially follows some adorable British families as they compete against each other in a cooking challenge. What makes this show endearing is that the families bicker, have their quirks, make fun of each other and, most of all, bond through their love of cooking together. It’s beautiful and makes you hungry, and it might remind you of the time you’re spending with your own family over the summer.
“The Crown”
Still a little emotional about the royal wedding? Well, look no further than “The Crown.” This award-winning drama has been much talked about and truly deserves the hype it gets. It follows Queen Elizabeth II and her journey from princess to queen at a young age, as well as her various family members. If you’re a big fan of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (formerly Meghan Markle) and want to see what kind of family she’s marrying into, check this incredible show out. The next season is going to feature big talents such as Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret and Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth to embody the characters growing up. Who knows? They might eventually cover Diana and Meghan’s lives in future seasons! Of course, if you only care about the royal family because of Meghan (and truly couldn’t care less about the Brits), you could just watch “Suits.”
“Dear White People”
Yeah, you probably want to forget about college life instead of watching a show about it, but season two of “Dear White People” just came out and it deserves more hype! For all those who’ve seen the first season, they’ll know how incredibly powerful the message of the show is. It’s thought-provoking, handles complex issues with care and highlights the struggles of Black students at a predominantly white Ivy League school. Being away from Berkeley doesn’t mean you should just forget about social activism, so we think you all should watch this show this summer.
“Big Little Lies”
For all you NorCal kids who can’t get enough of the beautiful coastline this summer, journey to Monterey Bay with the ladies of “Big Little Lies.” We don’t want to spoil anything, but this show is so good our Lord and Savior, Meryl Streep, is coming to the small screen to act alongside an already killer cast. It’s binge-able, suspenseful, powerful and aesthetically pleasing. You definitely want to get hooked on this show this summer.
“Phineas and Ferb”
There are 104 days of summer vacation (do we actually get that much?), and school comes along just to end it, so the annual problem of our generation is finding a good way to spend it. … LIKE MAYBE rewatching one of the best TV shows Disney has ever put out? Sorry, we couldn’t resist adding this show to the list. Every episode literally takes place in summer. Phineas and Ferb and their friends are doing cooler things than we could ever dream of doing. Their inventions are incredible! If they went to UC Berkeley, then we wouldn’t be surprised if they never went back to school — honestly, though, do they ever go back to school?
Whatever you’re up to this summer, there’s nothing better than getting hooked to yet another TV show. We at the Clog want to help you feel less guilty about binge-watching by helping you find shows that are somewhat relevant to your summer lives. Happy watching!
