As we enter the final weekend of November and the days get shorter (for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere), now is the perfect time to hunker down and watch some quality entertainment on Netflix.

Trouble is, Netflix has an extensive and ever-expanding catalog, so deciding what to watch is tricky. That’s why I’ve put together this list of three shows that I think you’ll love binging this weekend.

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Master of None

Master of None is a Netflix original that was hugely popular when it debuted in 2015, but it’s become lost among the sea of shows released since then. I think it still holds up perfectly. Created by Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang (and starring the former), the show is about everyday topics like dating, family, and career. Ansari plays Dev Shah, an actor navigating his way through life in New York with his friends Arnold (Eric Wareheim), Denise (Lena Waithe), and Brian (Kelvin Yu).

It’s not the most revolutionary premise, but that’s not the point. The charming, funny, and flawed characters are a joy to spend time with. We see Dev go on bad dates, ponder his immigrant parents’ sacrifices, encounter racism in auditions, and more. One of the show’s triumphs is that it handles these heavy topics with nuance and lightheartedness. The themes are universal, even if you don’t relate to Dev’s exact situation.

The second season of Master of None opens in Italy, which is a triumph (it’s not hard to make Italy look beautiful), before moving back to America after a few episodes. The third season is shorter and puts the focus on Denise and her wife Alicia (Naomi Ackie). It’s still good, but very different—the tone becomes more serious, which feels a bit jarring when you’re binging the show. Overall, though, it’s all worth watching.

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The Cuphead Show!

Cuphead is a much-loved run-and-gun action game inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, complete with hand-drawn animation and jazz music. It’s also very challenging, so it’s not ideal for newcomers to the genre. If you’re looking for an easier entry into the universe, you’re a fan of the game who wants more, or you just want to watch something breezy, check out The Cuphead Show! on Netflix.

The animated show follows the adventures of anthropomorphic cup brothers Cuphead (Tru Valentino) and Mugman (Frank Todaro). The opening episode sees the Devil (Luke Millington-Drake) trying to capture Cuphead’s soul at a twisted carnival. The Devil is a recurring threat, but really the focus is on the two brothers getting into all sorts of shenanigans across the colorful Inkwell Isles.

Considering most episodes last around 15 minutes, The Cuphead Show! makes for a perfect weekend binge, with its silly stories and great visual style. It might seem a bit weird to watch a cartoon based on a game inspired by cartoons, but I have no qualms when the end result is as fun as this.

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The Madness

I discovered the brilliant Colman Domingo in AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, and now I happily watch anything he’s in. That includes The Madness, a conspiracy thriller series in which he stars as Munice Daniels, a pundit who finds a body in the Poconos and is accused of murder. Munice sets out to investigate what happened and to clear his name, all the while dealing with the danger that is surrounding him.

With a decent script, a tight pace, and Domingo’s endless charisma, I happily sped through all eight episodes and I was sad when it was over. The supporting cast, including Marsha Stephanie Blake as Elena Daniels (Munice’s estranged wife) and John Ortiz as Franco Quinones (an FBI agent), are great too.

The Madness is a limited series, meaning you don’t need to commit months of your time to see the entire story. While Netflix has renewed some limited series, it’s not necessary here. The show is contained and enjoyable as is, and I urge you to put it on your weekend watchlist if you’re in the mood for some thrills.

If you’re traveling for the holiday season, you could download these shows to your Netflix account. That way, if you find yourself without an internet connection, you still have hours of entertainment at your fingertips. There are plenty of great Netflix movies worth downloading too.

Subscription with ads

Yes, $8/month

Simultaneous streams

Two or four

Stream all of these brilliant shows, along with plenty more licensed and original programming, with a monthly Netflix subscription.