11 TV shows you don't have to watch in order
We may be a binge-watching generation, but sometimes it may seem like too big of a commitment to start a series from the beginning or in order. We’ve all been there, you join the party too late, the hype has disappeared and you’re left to brave the drama all on your lonesome.
Well, no more. Our selection of the series that you don’t need to watch from the beginning or in order will ensure that you can join in those office chats without having to stay on the sofa for days on end watching every episode back-to-back and wondering if you could have been doing something more productive...
Rex FeaturesFriends
Everyone knows the basic story line in Friends , and while you may be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t seen all 10 series of the show (Comedy Central plays them on a loop), there are actually a rare species of human out there that hasn't ever seen a single episode. Cue shocked faces. All you need to know is, Rachel and Monica are school friends, Rachel and Ross were actually not on a break and well, yeah, the rest you can pretty much pick up.
Rex FeaturesHomeland
Each season marks a different attack against the US, so while it is possible to watch just the recent series of Homeland, the first two seasons are the most dramatic. But here's the basic principle, Carrie is a bipolar CIA agent and she has a knack for saving the day.
Black Mirror
Each episode is a completely different storyline. While they will blow your mind with the twists and the scary possibility that they might actually transpire to be our dystopian reality, you can watch one episode here without scratching your head with confusion.
Narcos
If you haven’t had the chance to watch the first two seasons of everyone’s favourite subtitled series, do not worry at all. You can actually just skip right ahead to the latest third season. All you need to know is Pablo Escobar is dead (not a spoiler, just history) and you’re good to go. It is basically a whole new storyline with a brand new cartel. It’s also much more exciting than season two – but that’s just one girls opinion.
Rex FeaturesThat ‘70s Show
While it’s SO binge-able (the episodes are only 20 mins), not much actually changes episode-to-episode. For die-hard fans, you know its true. They are a group of high school- turned-college(ish) students who chill in the main character Eric Forman’s basement. Worth a watch though if not for the LOLs then for the fashion.
Prison Break
While the first couple of seasons of Prison Break are actually the best, from season three onwards, Michael Scofield is thrown into a new prison where he tries to escape from and a different storyline in each. That being said, you are more emotionally involved after watching it from the beginning, so maybe this one shouldn’t be included in this list.
Modern Family
Modern Family is one of the best comedies and the episodes are fairly short. It is about three families, all connected, but the episodes do not necessarily need to be watched in chronological order. BUT there has already been nine series so it may be daunting to catch up.
Rex FeaturesThe Fresh Prince of Bel Air
One of the best things about watching The Fresh Prince of Bel Air is the 90s style that is MAJOR wardrobe goals. The context of the show is explained in the opening song and unless you have been living under a rock, you will know the words to it. As each episode is different day with a different (and hilarious) new dilemma for Will, they can be watched as and when you need some cheering up.
How I Met Your Mother
Not everyone’s cup of tea but HIMYM is comedy gold. It is based around a group living in New York – it is sort of the Friends of the 2010s. The protagonist, Ted Moseby is telling the story of, you guessed it, how he met his future children's mother. In the series, he is joined by Neil Patrick Harris who plays a womanizing bachelor Barney Stinson. It’s hilarious AND on Netflix.
Rex FeaturesWhite Collar
The dreamy Matt Bomer stars as a white-collar criminal turned FBI expert on all things art, securities and counterfeiting, but can he be trusted? That’s the basics, now enjoy!
Criminal Minds, Hawaii Five-0, NCIS, Law & Order etc.
These shows are of course very different but a unifying factor is definitely that each episode = a different crime (with some exceptions). But this generally means, it is not essential to watch from the beginning, unless you want to know a bit more about the personal lives of the detectives/task force etc.
