5 one-season TV shows you can smash out on the long weekend

Binge watching is the best watching.

It’s pretty amazing the things I’ll postpone to watch more TV: appointments, dinner dates, spin classes. But hey, it’s not my fault; you can blame those pesky streaming services for that. (“Play next episode?” Well I’m sure as hell not going to stop you.)

Everyone knows the best way to watch TV is to binge, and thankfully the stigma around cancelling plans to binge watch your new favourite show is all but gone. I totally get it, you’ve got a new obsession, and its name is Broad City. No harm done.

But lookie here, the long weekend is upon us. That means we’ve got a whole extra day for activities, making plans or inevitably… smashing out another season of TV. 

So here’s a round up of some of the best one-season shows to make that easier for you. You can thank me later. 

UnReal
Watch the trailer here.
Stream it from: Stan.

If you’ve ever wondered why all the contestants on The Bachelor are so crazy, this show might give you some answers. UnReal is a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos surrounding the production of a Bachelor-style dating program called ‘Everlasting’. And spoiler alert: it’s not all peaches and cream behind closed doors. 

It’s hard to surmise why this show is so addictive, but it might have something to do with where it comes from. UnReal was created by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, a former producer for the real-life US Bachelor series. It means that all the debauchery, drama and cat-fights played out on UnReal are probably spawned from really real things that happened on the show. UnReal is car-crash television so obvs you’re bound to love every second of it. 

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The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
Watch the trailer here.
Stream it from: Presto.

If you’ve already binge watched the hell out of Making A Murderer, this one should be next. The Jinx follows the escapades of Robert Durst, a multi-millionaire and accused killer from New York City. Durst has been investigated for a slew of murders, disappearances and downright strange behaviour over the past thirty years. But despite some pretty convincing evidence, Durst has never been convicted. 

The six-part HBO series examines the life of Durst in a gripping manner, shooting it more like an episode of True Detective with a lingering question mark planted firmly in the viewer’s mind: did he do it? It all comes to a head in perhaps the best final episode of any TV show ever. It’s worth the watch for this alone.

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My So-Called Life

Watch the trailer here.
Stream it from: YouTube.

Fondly remembered for launching the careers of Claire Danes and Jared Leto, is My So-Called Life. The oft-forgotten ’90s teen drama pretty much set the tone for two decades of ennui-ridden teens on television. (The O.C. wishes it could have packed the same punch into its four seasons that MSCL did in only 19 episodes.) 

This show was a revelation when it debuted in 1994, as it spoke to teenagers on their level, in their language and without unnecessarily stereotyping them. It was real, it was ugly and you sure as shit could relate to it. 

Following the life of average high schooler, Angela Chase, My So-Called Life brings high school drama, gay best friends, suburban boredom and unrequited love to the forefront. It does so with such brevity and class that it makes you wonder, to this day, why they decided to cancel it after only one season. MSCL also introduced Jordan Catalano to the world: the flannel-wearing, bad-boy musician you were born to fawn over. 

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Undeclared

Watch the trailer here.
Stream it from: YouTube.

Produced by Judd Apatow and airing from 2001 to 2002, Undeclared functioned more or less like a sequel to Apatow’s other one-season wonder, Freaks and Geeks. While Freaks offered viewers an honest and relatable portrayal of high school life, Undeclared ventures towards college, following six university freshmen on their journey towards adulthood. Our protagonists battle newfound responsibilities, unrequited love, homesickness and more, from a hilariously heightened perspective – which ultimately makes it all the more relatable. 

Featuring the familiar (albeit very young) faces of Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Jay Baruchel, this long-forgotten Apatow-produced gem feels almost like the spiritual prequel to now infamous Apatow productions. ThinkThe 40-Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, This Is The End and even Bridesmaids. It’s funny, a little stupid and features high-class cameos from Amy Poehler, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler. It’s also really fun to watch others struggle with their uni coursework while you’re procrastinating from your own.  

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Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Watch the trailer here.
Stream it from: Tenplay.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend follows the story of Rebecca Bunch, a high-powered (read: depressed) New York City lawyer who decides to pack up her things and move to the tiny town of West Covina in California for a fresh start. Oh, and just by coincidence, her high school ex-boyfriend Josh just ‘happens’ to live there. 

Created, written by and starring YouTube performer Rachel Bloom, this isn’t your regular television sitcom: it’s actually a musical. But don’t let that put you off! Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is smart, earnest and hilariously offbeat; it also features a bunch of sex-positive and catchy original songs that make Glee’s tiresome and over-the-top cover songs look like garbage. Seriously.