Great TV Shows to Watch Over the Holidays

Catch Up on Great TV During Your Holiday Time Off

Looking for great TV shows to watch over the holidays? One of the best parts of the season is the extra downtime to curl up and binge your next favorite series. Whether you’re relaxing between Christmas and New Year’s or need something cozy for those cold winter nights, I’ve got you covered with 10 shows worth watching. From laugh-out-loud comedies to gripping period dramas, here are my top TV recommendations for the holidays.

Great TV Shows to Watch Over the Holiday

Little Luxuries for Cozy TV Watching

Make your binge sessions even better with these cozy essentials. Everything you need for the perfect night in!

Table of Contents:

Derry Girls: Hilarious British Teen Drama

A British teen drama surrounding the Troubles in 1990s Northern Ireland, Derry Girls is three seasons of ridiculously hilarious quips and situational comedy paired with moments of poignant humanity. Of all the shows to watch in this list, Derry Girls is probably the most bingable. Bonus points for those of us who survived Catholic school, because there are so many nostalgic moments in the series surrounding that whole world. Screenwriter Lisa McGee, who you might know from her work on The White Queen, brought her personal experience and knowledge to the series, adding a level of authenticity rarely seen in such quippy series. Between social commentary and the accurate portrayal of “how truly fucking stupid teenagers are,” Derry Girls has me wishing there were 10 more seasons of the show.

Plus, the soundtrack and 90’s nostalgia is totally cracker.

Where to Watch: Netflix

Check out my Derry Girls board on Pinterest here!

A Discovery of Witches: Supernatural Fantasy for Historical Fiction Lovers

Available on Netflix, A Discovery of Witches is a three-series show based on Deborah Harkness’ All Souls book series (more on those here.) Full of supernatural fantasy, historical books, and Elizabethan time travel, with a side of romantic drama, this show is like the grown up version of Twilight mixed with Outlander in all of the best ways. I enjoyed the show before I read the series, and liked it even more after listening to the audiobooks. The attention to detail is great, and it is perfectly suited for historical fiction lovers and fans of the dark academia aesthetic.

Where to Watch: Netflix

House of Guinness: Historical Drama for Peaky Blinders Fans

From the creators of Peaky Blinders, House of Guinness is a Netflix original that tells the dramatized story of the Guinness brewing family. Set in 19th century Ireland and New York, the show follows the four adult children of Sir Benjamin Guinness immediately following the patriarch’s death. There are lots of familiar faces in the cast (Anthony Boyle, who plays Arthur Guinness, is also in Derry Girls, for example) and the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. I’ve watched it four times already!

Where to Watch: Netflix

Modern Family: Feel-Good Comedy with 11 Seasons

Shifting gears back to comedy, Modern Family has become one of my comfort shows over the past few years. There are eleven seasons so there is no shortage of episodes you can binge over the break. If you haven’t seen it before, it’s basically about the relationships within three related family households. A mockumentary style show, the writers do a great job of creating comedic confusion among the characters, and it’s cool to see the characters grow and develop over the years. Gloria is my favorite – she has so many great lines – but all the characters have funny dynamics, especially as the kids grow up. The whole series is available on Hulu.

Where to Watch: Hulu

The Gilded Age: Sweeping Period Drama from the Creators of Downton Abbey

From the creators of Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age is a sweeping period drama set in 1880’s New York City. The show illustrates the conflict between old money and new, along with the upper and lower classes, and all the intersections of those stratum. With a master class cast, this series is impeccably designed, directed, and acted. You’ll see many familiar faces in this show, and it is well worth re-watching to catch all the details once you catch up!

Where to Watch: HBO Max

Gilmore Girls: Iconic Fast-Talking Mother-Daughter Duo

Gilmore Girls is one of my go-to fan and winter shows, and the entire series is now on Netflix. The iconic series follows Lorelai Gilmore, an independent single mom, as she raises her Ivy League-bound daughter, Rory. Quick wit and banter ensue, along with lots of family drama, feel-good moments, and coffee. Lots of coffee.

Where to Watch: Netflix

Outlander: Epic Scottish Historical Romance with Time Travel

Ok, this is probably not a surprise coming from me for this shows to watch guide; I’m a huge Outlander fan. I could not have a great tv shows list without it.

If you’re looking for a period drama that marries history, fiction, and time travel, then Outlander is the show for you. It is a bit of a time commitment, but I honestly believe once you get hooked on season one, you won’t want to stop. Each season is so distinct, that it makes for a really unique viewing experience. Season one is, unsurprisingly, the most quintessentially Outlander, as it takes place entirely in Scotland. After that, the setting varies a bit. Season two has amazing gowns, so if historical costuming is your thing, it’ll probably be your favorite.

Want some more info on the series before you get started on it? I wrote a guide to frequently asked Outlander questions here.

Where to Watch: Starz

If you already know and love Outlander, be sure to check out the newest addition to the story’s universe, Blood of My Blood, a prequel about Jamie and Claire’s respective parents. I loved it!

Both Outlander and Blood of My Blood are available on Starz.

The Durrells in Corfu: Heartwarming Post-War Family Comedy

If you’re looking for a heartwarming post-war family tale featuring comical teenage angst, animals, and a welcome dose of whimsy, then The Durrells in Corfu is a great option amongst these shows to watch. This show follows the Durrells — Louisa, the widowed mother, and her four children (three sons, one daughter) — a British family who moves to Corfu, Greece after World War I. Unsurprisingly, comedy and chaos ensues, since the Durrell children had varying levels of interest in moving and no one speaks the language once they get there. The eldest Durrell son, Larry, is an aspiring writer played by Josh O’Connor, who just so happens to play Prince Charles in season three of The Crown.

It’s hard to say which of the Durrells are my favorite. Larry’s character is great, but so is the youngest son, Gerry, an aspiring naturalist who seeks to rehabilitate pretty much any animal that crosses his path. Margot, the middle child and only daughter, delivers one-liners with such ease that I think she may have to be my favorite. Regardless, the whole cast is great, the show is sweet, smartly written and funny, and the production is rather impressive. I highly recommend it — it’s included in Prime!

Where to Watch: Prime

New Girl: Feel-Good Sitcom Perfect for Holiday Laughs

Kind of along the lines of Gilmore Girls, New Girl is just a great feel-good show available on Disney +. With seven seasons of 30-minute episodes to watch, it is also supremely bingable. There are a number of great holiday episodes to watch if you want to stay on theme this holiday season. Of these, my favorite is season 2 episode 11 (“Santa”) where the group attempts to attend multiple parties in a single night – one of my favorite episodes of all the shows to watch here!

Where to Watch: Disney +

Schitt’s Creek: Riches-to-Rags Comedy That Gets Better Every Season

Schitt’s Creek is just such a gem of a show! It is one of my go-to comfort shows, for sure, and only gets better on the re-watch, so it has to be included in this guide of shows to watch this holiday season. The series follows the Rose family on a riches-to-rags arc after they lost all their movie rental business riches and move to the tiny town of Schitt’s Creek. The main four characters — the Roses — start the show as…not the best people, but throughout the series, they grow into their humanity. The one-liners and banter is impeccable, as well, so get ready to laugh as David and Moira try to fold in the cheese….

Where to Watch: Hulu

VEEP: Sharp Political Comedy With IRREVERENT Wit

While it may not be the best course of action to bring up politics at the holiday dinner table, I would argue that Veep is a great way to decompress after the holidays. I’ve been saving the last season of this show — it’s one of my favorites, and I was so sad to see it end — and will probably binge that over the break.

Veep is witty and fast-paced, circling the proverbial vice-president-not-president Selena Meyer, played by the amazing Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Between Selena, Amy (her right-hand woman), Gary (“bag man” and assistant), Mike (her somewhat competent speechwriter), and Dan (her advisor/opportunist staffer), the cast will leave you in stitches. Available on Prime.

Where to Watch: Prime

So which show are you starting first?
I’d love to know — tell me in the comments!

And if you’re looking for more cozy content recommendations, check out my book reviews and reading guides for even more winter entertainment ideas.

Binge-Watching Essentials

Ready to start your next series? Here are a few favorites to make your viewing experience even cozier.

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*This post was originally published on December 23, 2020. It was most recently updated on December 10, 2025.