What to binge during holiday travel
The holidays are a great time to catch up on buzzworthy shows you haven’t watched yet. If you’re traveling, you might be killing time in airports or on the road. And if you’re spending time with family, you might be searching for something to watch that will suit a range of tastes. The following Netflix originals can be downloaded to smartphones and tablets for off-line viewing.
International Sitcom: Family Business
Total binge: Six 30-minute episodes (3 hours)
Watch it with: Chill parents and siblings
When Joseph (Jonathan Cohen) gets a tip that France is about to legalize cannabis, he and his friends scheme to turn his father’s kosher butcher shop into Paris’s first cannabis store. But nothing goes according to plan, of course. With an intergenerational and multicultural cast, the high jinks of “Family Business” feel grounded in reality, with just enough suspension of disbelief to warrant the antics.
Mystery Box: Russian Doll
Total binge: Eight 30-minute episodes (4 hours)
Watch it with: Your aunt that loves puzzles
The logline of “Russian Doll” – a woman keeps reliving her 36th birthday party – doesn’t foretell the most original premise, but the 8-episode series has some singular storytelling and performances. Created by Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler, and starring Lyonne, the show is simultaneously whimsical and heartbreaking. Unlike other shows that go down a rabbit hole of identity, mortality and other questions of the human condition, it’s a perfectly succinct and satisfying watch.
True Crime: Murder Mountain
Total binge: Six 45-minute episodes (4.5 hours)
Watch it with: An S.O. who is obsessed with serial killers
If you’re looking for something a little serious, this docuseries covers the evolving community and culture of California’s Humboldt County, well-known for its production of black market cannabis since the 1970s. As local farmers grapple with the challenges and frustrations of a newly-legal market, viewers learn about the dark side of the Humboldt, including unusually high numbers of missing persons and murders.
Game Show: Nailed It!
Total binge: Twenty-five 35-minute episodes plus one 12-minute bonus episode (15 hours)
Watch it with: Kids of all ages
With three regular seasons and one holiday season, you’ll definitely want to stock up on some sweet snacks as you binge this baking competition show. Featuring the delightful hosting talents of comedian Nicole Byer and chocolatier Jacques Torres, “Nailed It!” puts amateur bakers to the test in cake decorating challenges. It’s basically a “Pinterest Fail” photo come to life.
Adult Animation: Big Mouth
Total binge: Thirty 30-minute episodes plus one 45-minute holiday special (16 hours)
Watch it with: The friends you grew up with
A raunchy cartoon about hormonal pre-teens that’s sweetly relatable with nuanced depictions of relationships, sexual identity and consent? With an all-star voice cast led by the frantic energy of co-creator Nick Kroll (“The League”, “Kroll Show”), this animated series is foul-mouthed and funny.