10 reality shows you need to binge right now

Prior to 2020, finding time to finally start watching season 1 of a long-running TV series seemed more daunting than the line at Trader Joe's. But now that you're stuck at home, why not allow yourself to be sucked into a program you might normally feel guilty about watching? From family-friendly baking competitions to trashy dating shows, there’s a binge-worthy series for everyone.

RuPaul's Drag Race is like all your favorite reality competitions combined — only fiercer. A group of queens battle it out to be crowned America’s next drag superstar by showing off their makeup, singing, dancing, modeling, sewing, acting, lip-syncing, comedy, and celebrity impersonation skills. There's also tons of juicy drama and heartfelt discussions about acceptance and social issues. Drag Race has introduced the likes of Shangela and Trixie Mattel, who've gone on to mainstream success, and helped popularize slang that has gagged the pop culture lexicon (Ever spilled tea, thrown shade, or read someone for filth? Yas, queen. Werk!). We recommend starting from the very beginning, but don't let the hazy filter of season 1 cloud your judgment; the show only looks better with age. And, of course, if you’re not also watching companion series Untucked (where the best fights happen), you’re only getting half the story.  Seasons 1-6 are available on Hulu, while seasons 1-5 are available for free with an Amazon Prime membership with the rest available for purchase. —Jillian Sederholm

We understand recommending binging something that both celebrates travel and getting as close to another human being as possible might seem like an odd choice in these strange and unprecedented times of isolation, but Love Island is so ludicrously fun and addictive that it’s worth any FOMO that comes along with it. Head to Hulu and opt for the U.K. (and original) version of this sexy series, but be sure to turn on closed captions or you’ll get lost trying to decipher regional accents. With 6 seasons of up to 50 episodes to get through, and oh so many ridiculous characters, catchphrases, and catastrophes along the way, there’s probably more fun to be had watching this bevy of beauties fail at finding love than you would’ve had on your COVID-canceled trip to Mexico, anyway. Trust us, babes, you’ll be declaring “I’m loyal” in no time. —Ruth Kinane

The only thing better than binge-eating freshly baked goods, is binge-watching people whip up freshly baked goods, so put your own banana bread baking on hold and pop on an episode of The Great British Baking Show (or Bake Off, for true fans — if you know, you know). With 7 seasons available to stream on Netflix, your appetite for wholesome kitchen content should be appeased for at least a week, as you gorge yourself on bread, dessert, and pastry weeks with (the fabulously named) Paul Hollywood and company. Watch in awe as a tent full of quintessentially British bakers fold, whisk, and proof their way through rigorous baking challenges in hopes of being crowned star baker. It’s a jolly good time. —RK

The concept: 20 single women vie for a shot at love with two Jersey Shore stars who used to print money by fist-pumping at the club. That's why it's no coincidence Double Shot at Love With DJ Pauly D and Vinny is gearing up for season 2. But before you get your hair gel out, make sure to binge all 14 episodes of pure madness from the spin-off's inaugural season on MTV. It'll make you happy you quarantined alone. —Omar Sanchez

Never has it been more important to know how to thrive on your own than during quarantine, so why not learn how to outwit, outplay, and outlast from the best? One of the first reality-competition shows to hit the airwaves, Survivor pits contestants against one another in challenges that test their mental and physical limits. The most recent season, Survivor: Winners at War, featured some of the most impressive contestants to ever play the game over the show's 40-season run — and is currently streaming for free on CBS.com, giving you the best bang for your primal survival buck. Once you're hooked, you can go back and binge previous seasons on CBS All Access, Amazon Prime, and Hulu — and catch up on all of EW's Survivor coverage here. The tribe has spoken. —OS

If you haven’t discovered the hot mess express that is TLC's 90 Day Fiancé and its many spin-offs (Before the 90 Days, Happily Ever After, What Now?, The Other Way, etc.), now’s your chance to hop on board! The original series is a social experiment that follows international couples who, after securing a K-1 visa, are brought together in the United States where they attempt to work through cultural differences, determine if their love is real, and have just 90 days to wed. Watch the first 5 seasons on Hulu (and the other iterations of the show available on TLC.com with your cable subscription), to get relationship tips from couples who have never met in person to apply to your own Tinder matches during the pandemic. —OS

While some weren't sure rebooting Queer Eye back in 2018 was a good idea, the adorable fivesome of Antoni Porowski (food), Tan France (fashion), Karamo Brown (culture), Bobby Berk (interior design), and Jonathan Van Ness (grooming) stole America's hearts. The Queer Eye team has made us bawl more times than we can count as they uncover the deep-seated issues in their makeover subject's lives (and sometimes our own) that keep them from being the best they can be. Before season 5 in Philadelphia hits your queue on June 5, travel back with the guys to Atlanta, Japan, and Kansas City, as every heartfelt tearjerker is available on Netflix. No avocados required. —OS

MTV's Are You the One? is another dating show, but this one secretly pairs contestants into couples using an algorithm consisting of in-depth interviews, questionnaires, and compatibility testing to help a group of singles find “the one” — while living together in paradise, of course. Unlike our other binge suggestions, this series has one season in particular that makes for a fascinating rewatch: Season 8 featured an all sexually fluid cast, which was a groundbreaking change to the dating game format. Check out all 8 seasons on MTV.com or Amazon Prime. —OS

For those of you who can't stop posting dinner pics on Instagram while learning how to cook, Nailed It! will make you feel right at home. In this baking-competition series, rookie bakers try their hardest to make professional-level pastries with usually mediocre to disastrous results. Interestingly, instead of berating the bakers and their creations, the judges are kind and encouraging. It's the baker's support group you never knew you needed! Watch all four seasons on Netflix. —OS

If you're bummed that your summer vacation plans got canceled, let Bravo's Below Deck whisk you away to exotic locales — and suck you into all of its drama. The series chronicles the lives of a good-looking yacht crew who caters to rich (and sometimes famous) guests during their luxurious adventures at sea — whether cruising around Croatia, Thailand, the South of France, or the Bahamas. In a recent episode of the franchise's newest installment — Below Deck Sailing Yacht — Captain Glenn and chief stew Jenna got into it after he told her to "tone it down" when it came to her PDA with chef Adam, which is probably very relatable for anyone who's been in quarantine with a couple. Binge all seven seasons of Below Deck and season 1 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht on Bravo.com, or Amazon Prime. —OS