Our weekend plans no longer look like what they used to. Months into the pandemic, and many of us are still spending a lot of our time indoors. Thankfully, there are plenty of streaming options to keep us occupied, from classic TV shows to more recent series. Sometimes, however, you're looking for something that can be digested more quickly, whether over the course of a weekend or even in one sitting. We scoured the streaming services to deliver the best one- and two-season series we could find. Here are 17 amazing TV shows you can watch from start to finish this weekend. And for a more epic streaming experience, check out The 20 TV Shows Streaming on Netflix That Have the Most Episodes.
1 | The Queen's Gambit
Phil Bray/NetflixWhere to watch: Netflix
Think chess is boring? This recently dropped Netflix drama will change your mind. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as a prodigy in the game of strategy, who has to master her own demons as she takes on the best in the world. With just seven episodes in the miniseries, you'll have time to blow through all of them and dust off your board to play a few games before Monday morning arrives. For more TV recommendations sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
2 | Ted Lasso
Apple TVWhere to watch: Apple TV
One of the surprise hits of 2020, Ted Lasso is based on a series of commercials featuring Jason Sudeikis as a clueless American football coach who's hired to manage a U.K. soccer team. But even with that somewhat unexpected source material, the sports dramedy soars, providing enough feel-good moments to propel you through the next week via Ted's goodhearted determination and the equally lovable cast of characters who surround him.
3 | Bridgerton
Liam Daniel/NetflixWhere to watch: Netflix
Grey's Anatomy and Scandal fans, this is the period drama for you. The mastermind behind those shows, Shonda Rhimes is also the producer behind Bridgerton, an adaptation of a series of romance novels set in Regency England revolving around a wealthy family and lower-class neighbors. The costumes are sumptuous, the drama is juicy, and the love scenes are steamy—like, don't-watch-it-with-the-kids-in-the-room steamy. So enjoy, but don't say we didn't warn you. And for more love stories to add to your list, This Is the Best Romantic Comedy of All Time, According to Critics.
4 | The Flight Attendant
HBO MaxWhere to watch: HBO Max
The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco takes a dramatic left turn from the sitcom with The Flight Attendant, a darkly funny and surprisingly moving thriller. She plays Cassie, the airline employee of the title, who gets caught up in a dangerous web of corporate intrigue after the dashing passenger she spends the night with ends up dead. As she skirts bounty hunters, law enforcement, and her own mysterious past, you'll be way too eager for answers to resist clicking "next episode."
5 | Party Down
StarzWhere to watch: Hulu and Amazon Prime
If you've somehow missed out on the short-lived, fantastically funny Party Down, you are long overdue for a marathon of its 20 pitch-perfect episodes. This sitcom about caterers in Los Angeles had one of the all-time greatest comedy casts, including Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Ken Marino, Martin Starr, and more. And for other great sitcoms you might have missed, revisit these 17 Underappreciated TV Comedies That Are Available to Stream Right Now.
6 | Forever
Amazon VideoWhere to watch: Amazon Prime
The less you know about Amazon's wonderfully weird Forever, the better. Saturday Night Live alumni Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph star as a married couple, and by the end of the first episode, things have taken a turn. That's about all we want to reveal. Just give it a shot. With eight half-hour episodes, you can experience it for yourself in one go. And if you want to make the most of your Amazon Prime subscription, These Are the Best Amazon Prime Shows to Stream While in Quarantine.
7 | Watchmen
Warner Bros. Television DistributionWhere to watch: HBO
The acclaimed comic series of the '80s became one of the greatest modern series on television. HBO's Watchmen, a sequel to the comics, ran just nine episodes. But while it was disappointing to hear the series would only last one season, creator Damon Lindelof told a rich and complete story, gorgeously rendered with stunning visuals and a stellar cast, including Regina King, Jeremy Irons, and Hong Chau. And for other recent hits to catch up on, check out these 10 New Movies You Can Stream Early at Home.
8 | The Fall
BBCWhere to watch: Amazon Prime
The rare three-season show on this list, The Fall is a British-Irish series you can speed through over the course of one weekend. It follows Gillian Anderson's detective Stella Gibson in a cat-and-mouse game with serial killer Paul Spector, played by Jamie Dornan–and you'll want to finish all 17 episodes as quickly as possible.
9 | Unbelievable
NetflixWhere to watch: Netflix
If you can handle slightly heavier viewing, Netflix's limited series Unbelievable stars Toni Collette and Merritt Wever as detectives investigating the sexual assault of a teenage girl, played by Kaitlyn Dever. All eight episodes are deeply compelling, with critics praising the series for its compassion and realism. It's not the breezy watch of other shows on this list, but it's well worth seeing.
10 | Fleabag
BBCWhere to watch: Amazon Prime
British series are often the easiest to devour in one fell swoop. Phoebe Waller-Bridge's acclaimed dramedy ran for two six-episode seasons, which means you can get through it without even taking a meal break. The critically-adored series stars Waller-Bridge in the title role, a chaotic mess of a woman you'll end up falling in love with. And for more award winners to catch up on, here are 23 Emmy-Winning TV Shows You Can Stream Right Now.
11 | Firefly
20th TelevisionWhere to watch: Hulu
Joss Whedon's iconic series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel have proven to be popular streaming options throughout quarantine, and with good reason. If you're looking for a Whedon show you can watch in one weekend, however, your best bet is Firefly, his beloved cult sci-fi series about a ship of misfits and outlaws. (You can also squeeze in the follow-up film, Serenity, though you'll have to pay to rent it.)
12 | The Get Down
NetflixWhere to watch: Netflix
Most Netflix original series get a little more time to find their audience, but sadly, The Get Down only lasted one season of 11 episodes. On the plus side, you can easily watch this show, about the rise of hip-hop in late-'70s New York City, over one weekend. The killer soundtrack will get you hooked, as will the performances from the phenomenal cast, including standout Justice Smith.
13 | 11.22.63
HuluWhere to watch: Hulu
Based on the Stephen King novel, Hulu's limited series adaptation of 11.22.63 stars James Franco as a man who goes back in time to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy. All eight episodes are thrilling, mind-bending, and, at times, surprisingly moving. Don't be shocked if you find you've watched the whole thing in one day. And for more great original shows on this streaming service, These Are the Best Hulu Shows to Stream While in Quarantine.
14 | Good Girls Revolt
Sony Pictures TelevisionWhere to watch: Amazon Prime
It's a tough time in media right now, but there were different challenges facing women in journalism in the late '60s. Based on real-life events—and Lynn Povich's 2013 book—Good Girls Revolt follows the female researchers at a news magazine, as they demand to have their work recognized. Despite good reviews that compared it to Mad Men, the series only lasted for 10 easy-to-watch episodes.
15 | The Comeback
Warner Bros. Television DistributionWhere to watch: HBO
Lisa Kudrow delivers the greatest performance of her career as TV star Valerie Cherish, who refuses to be a has-been. While The Comeback was long considered a one-season wonder following its 2005 run, the satirical mockumentary returned for an even better second season in 2014. You can watch all 21 episodes on HBO—though you may want to take a quick break between seasons to honor the fans who waited nine years.
16 | Bunheads
Disney–ABC Domestic TelevisionWhere to watch: Hulu
If you've watched and rewatched Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, it's about time you gave Amy Sherman-Palladino's lesser known series a shot. While Bunheads had something of a cult following, the show only lasted one season. You'll watch all 18 episodes—in which Sutton Foster plays a Vegas showgirl who ends up stranded in a small town and starts teaching ballet—and feel retroactive anger that it didn't last longer.
17 | Great News
NBCWhere to watch: Netflix
30 Rock writer Tracey Wigfield created Great News, which shares some DNA with the more famous series—including producers Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, and David Miner—but never really got its due. Luckily, you can easily stream its two seasons in one weekend, and appreciate what others missed out on when the show was airing: a hilarious ensemble cast and some of the best joke writing on TV.
