TV Shows to Watch during Self-Quarantining

I recently posted an article about my favorite movies, so I thought that it would be fun to write one about my favorite TV shows as well. A lot of these shows are fashion focused (surprise), but all of them are drama filled and lots of fun.

The Real Housewives of New York City

There are not enough words to express how much I love this show. In times of crisis, this one is a great mental distraction! This reality TV show follows a group of women (some have been there since the beginning, others go and some are new) who live in New York City. Don’t be fooled by the title, because in the current cast, none of these women are housewives, or are even married. In typical Bravo fashion, it’s filled with lots of catfights and cocktail parties. However, it gives viewers a sneak peek into the lives of the wealthy in Manhattan, and from time to time, shows the strong and powerful bonds that form between the women.

Gossip Girl

This is my favorite show of all time. I have re-watched this show countless times, and I absolutely love it. The show, which ran from 2007 to 2012 on The CW, follows the lives of a group of Manhattan elites from high school to adulthood (which is when they all mysteriously drop out of college in season 5) and beyond. It’s soapy, glamorous, fashionable, emotionally draining, and at times, completely too much. If you decide to watch, my favorite episodes are 2x01, 2x25 and 6x10. Also, there’s a reboot coming out on HBO Max in 2020 (hopefully, but it will likely be delayed now). While the original cast won’t be part of it, it will still take place at Constance Billard School for Girls on the Upper East Side. Hopefully, it will be just as drama and fashion filled as the original.

Mad Men

This one is a stark contrast from all of the other shows on my list, taking on a more serious tone. It takes place during the 1960s, following advertising executive Don Draper, along with his co-workers and family. Though Don is great at advertising, he (and most of the other men on the show) is somewhat morally flawed. He has countless affairs throughout the run of the show, however, this behavior can be somewhat credited to the era it is set in. I’ve always been fascinated by the sixties, especially the Kennedy Administration era, and this show does a great job recreating the culture of that time. It takes more effort to watch than reality TV, but it’s TV of the utmost quality that is fun to watch and analyze.

Big Little Lies

The storytelling and filmography are amazing, and this is perhaps the most suspenseful and captivating show I have ever watched. Set in picturesque Monterey, California, it follows mothers Madeline, Celeste, and Jane. Throughout the show, each layer of the characters is uncovered, revealing that nothing is ever as perfect as it seems. The relationship between the three women is empowering and intriguing, never ceasing to entertain. Though the show is filled to the brim with drama, there is also room for some fantastic fashion moments. The last episode of the first season features an Audrey and Elvis themed fundraiser party, where all of the women of Monterey come dressed as their favorite Audrey Hepburn character. My favorite costume is Madeline’s (Reese Witherspoon), complete with tassel earrings and pink fuzzy shoes.

Sex and the City

Funny, charming, and fashionable, Sex and the City is a definite classic. The show follows Carrie Bradshaw, a New York City sex columnist, and her three best friends, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha. It gives a glimpse into New York in the late 90s to early 00s, full of cocktail parties, gallery openings, and dinners at then-trendy restaurants. I’ve re-watched it countless times, and I can’t get enough of Carrie’s Manolo’s or Charlotte’s Park Avenue apartment. There is truly no other show like it.