What to binge-watch next: 27 brilliant TV series as recommended by mums

Remember back in the olden days when you used to have to wait a week between episodes of your favourite show? And if you missed it you’d have to rely on a friend or the synopsis in the TV guide to tell you what happened? Then along came DVD boxsets and you could stay up until the small hours watching “just one more” and binge-watching became a ‘thing’. These days thanks to streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer you don’t even need to buy the DVDs because countless shows are there at your fingertips. Great news for those of us with small children who spend a lot more time in front of the telly than we used to. But with so many shows to watch it can be hard to know where to start. I asked my parent blogger friends for their recommendations on binge-worthy, must-watch series. Here’s what they had to say. Shows are listed alphabetically.

What do you think? Do you agree with their recommendations? What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments below, tweet me on @cardiffmummy or come hang out on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page which is where most of the chat is. 

Better Call Saul (Netflix)

As recommended by Lynn, mum of two, from Glasgow. She blogs at Glasgow With Kids

“I’ve been watching Better Call Saul on Netflix. It’s a prequel to Breaking Bad based on Saul, the only character in Breaking Bad that was actually likeable. It’s funny (and so much more enjoyable than Breaking Bad) and dramatic and I’m absolutely loving it. I can’t stop watching it!”

Better Things (BBC iPlayer)

As recommended by Zoe, mum of four, from Edinburgh. She blogs at My Little Wildlings 

“Better Things is about a single mum, Sam, who is an actress trying to keep her career afloat while raising her three daughters alone. It’s my kind of humour and has been a good change from the recent thrillers.”

Big Mouth (Netflix)

As recommended by Beth, mum of three, from Shropshire. She blogs at Twinderelmo 

“It is deliciously rude, jaw-droppingly vulgar but oh so funny! It’s a cartoon about almost teens who get their own hormone monsters. It’s an eye opener for those with older kids who are about to go through puberty. I watched both series in a few days and couldn’t stop howling with laughter – it’s definitely not for the faint hearted!”

Cold Feet (Netflix / ITVHub)

As recommended by Abi, mum of two, from Essex. She blogs at Something About A Baby 

“I’m binge watching Cold Feet at the moment (it was first aired in the late 1990s and early 2000s). I remember my mum watching it when I was a teenager, but it didn’t appeal to me then. It follows the lives of six friends, their relationships and now their children’s too. I sobbed when one of the main characters died. They revived it a few years ago and a new series has just started too. I watched series 1-6 on Netflix and series 7 is on itvhub. Series 8 has just started on ITV.”

Friday Night Dinner (Netflix / Channel 4)

As recommended by Eileen, mum of three, from Dumfries. She blogs at Your Money Sorted Coach 

“We have just finished a mega binge fest of Friday Night Dinner on Netflix and Channel 4. It’s hilarious entertainment about two brothers, who have recently moved out, but who go home to their parents for dinner, every Friday (funnily enough!). Teenage angst, embarrassing parents and sibling rivalry make this a true laugh out loud comedy, enjoyed equally by our teenagers and us.”

Good Girls (Netflix)

As recommended by Neelika, mum of two, from London. She blogs at NelC3 

“I’ve just watched Good Girls on Netflix. It’s so easy to binge watch. It’s about three regular mums who need financial help, for their own personal reasons, and decide that the only way to get money quick is to rob a supermarket. Their bad decisions escalate so that they do one crime after another. This isn’t a hard, gritty series, but a fun and humorous one, demonstrating the versatility of these women – it’s funny. I can’t wait for season 2, out in March 2019.”

Grey’s Anatomy (Amazon Prime)

As recommended by Nadia, mum of one, from London. She blogs at Scandimummy 

“I recently watched Grey’s Anatomy on Amazon Prime. I had watched the first few seasons when they first aired on TV many moons ago but life got in the way and I had never seen the rest. I just got hooked and I’m so impressed with how the writer Shonda Rhymes has managed to keep the many storylines going through 15 seasons in such detail that she must have pictured the whole thing from the beginning. Set at Seattle Grace Hospital it follows a group of interns through their careers and more. It’s full of both drama and romance.”

Grimm (Netflix)

As recommended by Laura, mum of two, from Southampton. She blogs at Savings 4 Savvy Mums

“We’re watching Grimm. It’s a cross between Buffy and NCIS. Funny, witty with monsters and a super human. You can expect a lot of action and bum kicking. The main character is a cop who can see monsters. Like Buffy his friends are a mix of humans and super naturals who help him save the day. It can get dark and it does get a bit violent but it’s very lighthearted at times as well.”

Jane the Virgin (Netflix)

As recommended by Louise, mum of two, from Cheltenham. She blogs at Pink Pear Bear 

“I love Jane the Virgin on Netflix. I didn’t think I’d get so invested in it but I watched all five series in a very short time and am eagerly awaiting the new one. Jane is a virgin and gets accidentally artificially inseminated at a smear test. It’s the most ridiculous plot and storyline but all the characters have so much heart and it’s very funny and also sad in places with a lot of cliffhangers and a massive love triangle. I loved it so much! But my husband wasn’t keen at all. It’s based on Latin American soap operas but very American. I loved the relationships between the characters and it’s a strong female-heavy cast.”

Kath & Kim (Netflix)

As recommended by Lynn, mum of two, from Glasgow. She blogs at Glasgow With Kids 

“I’ve just binged all of Kath & Kim on Netflix. It’s an Australian sitcom about an optimistic mum, Kath Day-Knight, & her hideously spoiled grown up daughter, Kim, and their partners and friend. Once you get used to the uber-Aussieness of it, it is absolutely hilarious. It’s the funniest thing I’ve watched in ages. Possibly ever.”

Killing Eve (BBC iPlayer)

As recommended by Frances, mum of two, from Kent. She blogs at Whinge Whinge Wine

“We did Killing Eve last week. BBC dramas on iPlayer are usually a good shout. It’s well scripted and exciting with interesting complex characters and plenty of twists. I’m not into gratuitous gore and it’s good for being thrilling without too much squeamish stuff – most of it is left to your imagination.”

Kim’s Convenience (Netflix)

As recommended by Sinead, mom of one, from Birmingham. She blogs at SineadLatham. 

“Set in a Canadian convenience store (as if the title didn’t give it away) we see a Korean family living and working together. There are some real belly laughing moments as we see the difference in cultures clash.”

Life In Pieces (Amazon Prime)

As recommended by Debbie, mum of two, from North East England. She blogs at My Boys Club 

“I’m binge watching Life in Pieces on Prime. There are four short stories in each episode – all with inter connected characters from an extended eccentric family. And just 20mins an episode too… and so funny.”

Line of Duty (Netflix)

As recommended by Lauren, mum of one, from Norfolk. She blogs at Dilan and Me 

“I started watching Line of Duty the other day and I’m already on season three. It’s about the anti-corruption squad within the police force and them busting ‘bent coppers’. I missed it when it was on TV but a few people mentioned it recently so I thought I’d give it a go. It’s really gritty and a bit shocking in places, so many twists and turns so I’ve been gripped. It’s quite similar to Luther for people who enjoyed that.”

Luther (Netflix / BBCiPlayer)

As recommended by Emma, mum of two, from Northampton. She blogs at Life In The Mum’s Lane 

“I have just binge watched Luther. I watched series one to four on Netflix and just finished series five on BBC iPlayer. It is a British detective programme and features Idris Elba – enough said! He plays a self-destructive detective who has amazing instincts but doesn’t always play by the rules. The firsy series is amazing and you’ll be hooked. Series four was a weird two-episoder and I’m still bereft by the end of series three. It’s sell worth a watch.”

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (Netflix)

As recommended by Jenni, mum of two, from Edinburgh. She blogs at The Bear and Fox 

“I’m binge watching Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries on Netflix. It’s set in late 1920s Melbourne and features a sassy, feminist lady detective who has the Detective Inspector wrapped around her little finger (cue lots of sexual tension). I love it for the characters and the costumes, and because I love a good whodunnit.”

Orphan Black (Netflix)

As recommended by Jessica, mum of two, from Wolverhampton. She blogs at Beauties and the Bibs 

“We are currently watching Orphan Black on Netflix. It’s one of those programmes that has loads of twists and turns. It follows Sarah, who is a clone. She didn’t know this for many years but it came to light when she took on someone’s identity who died by suicide in front of her, who she learns later on is actually her clone. I love this programme as it keeps you on the edge of your seat. It has a fantastic mix of humour, crime and action. The main actress Tatiana Maslany is fantastic – she plays nearly every character in the show.”

Outlander (Amazon Prime)

As recommended by Natasha, mum of three, from Cambridgeshire. She blogs at Mummy and Moose.

I love Outlander on Prime. It’s about a woman from the 1940s who accidentally travels in time to the 1740s. It follows what happens to her there and eventually her daughter.”

Peaky Blinders (Netflix)

As recommended by Vicki, mum of two. She blogs at Tippytupps 

“I’m watching Peaky Blinders on Netflix with hubby which is gritty and violent but full of history. It’s about a mob family who come back from the war and take over Birmingham. It’s actually based on a real family from the 1920s.”

Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix)

As recommended by Emmy, mum of one, from Preston. She blogs at Misadventurous Mummy 

“Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant are a suburban couple of realtors until one day out of the blue she has become a zombie. They are trying to keep their lives normal but obviously not very successful. Absolutely hilarious.”

Sex Education (Netflix)

As recommended by Jenna, mum of two, from South West Wales. She blogs at Then There Were Three 

“Sex Education is about a socially awkward teenage boy whose mum is a sex therapist. He teams up with a high school classmate to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school. There’s only one series so far but I’m hoping there’s more. It’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. I just love the humour in it, and the fact that it’s probably relatable to a lot of teenagers too who need advice about sex. A lot of it is filmed in South Wales too.”

The Crown (Netflix)

As recommended by Helena, mum of two, from North East England She blogs at Babyfoote 

“I’ve just finished the last episode of season two of The Crown. It’s a Netflix original about the early years of queen Elizabeth II’s reign. It’s absolutely gripping, gorgeous telly and so well cast. I am really curious about how the total change of cast is going to work for seasons 3 and 4.”

The Good Place (Netflix)

As recommended by Hayley, mum of three, from Chester. She blogs at Miss Many Pennies 

“We’re loving ‘The Good Place’ on Netflix at the moment. It’s a comedy series about the afterlife. It’s really easy to watch, funny, with likeable and relatable characters. Eleanor (the main character) wakes up in ‘the good place’ after she dies and soon realises she’s been mistakenly sent to the wrong place. She then tries to learn how to be a more ethical and ‘good’ person so she doesn’t get found out and sent to the ‘bad place’. We watched the first two series in about a week and the third series is weekly episodes now.”

The Man In The High Castle (Amazon Prime)

As recommended by Janet, mum of two, from Harrogate. She blogs at Falcondale Life

“I really have to recommend The Man in the High Castle on Amazon Prime. It’s set in the 1960s in an alternative world where Nazi Germany has won the Second World War. The USA is divided between the Nazis and the Japanese. The resistance have some pretty dark and thrilling adventures and the cinematography is stunning. It’s great drama but also dystopian sci-fi at times. The characters are great.”

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel (Amazon Prime)

As recommended by Jacinta, mum of three, from the US but living in London. She blogs at Jacintaz3 

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is a must-watch. It’s about a woman who’s trying to find her way in stand-up comedy after her husband leaves her. It’s witty and also has an underlying social message about the time it’s set in. It’s from the makers of Gilmore Girls which I absolutely recommend too. It’s amazing.

Tidying Up With Marie Kondo (Netflix)

As recommended by Sophie, mum of two, from West Yorkshire. She blogs at Mama Mei and Yorkshire Families  

I’ve just watched four episodes of the Netflix Kon Mari series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. It’s a game changer already, fun to watch and simple to implement especially as I’m a visual learner and don’t read many books.

You (Netflix)

As recommended by Kate, mum of two, from South Wales. She blogs at Kate Lili

You on Netflix is brilliantly original, just the right amount of creepy, and gripping. Like flicking the pages of a thrilling novel, it makes you anticipate the next episode with excitement. It’s about a man who stalks a woman without her realising and they have a relationship.