Best Shows to Binge Watch Over Thanksgiving

One way to escape the holiday questions of “What exactly is it that you do again?” and “Who are you dating these days?” is to camp out in your childhood bedroom behind the glow of your laptop. Rather than mingle with high school acquaintances or embark on an awkward encounter with an ex in the organic grocery aisle, ELLE.com editors are setting up shop with all of the TV and snacks you can imagine. Here, our favorite TV to binge on and junk food to snack on. ‘Tis the season!

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The Great British Bakeoff + Homemade Popcorn

Watching British people bake desserts and be nice to each other in a food competition show is a good way to calm down and reduce tensions during a stressful holiday full of relatives who may not see eye-to-eye with you on political issues.

And homemade popcorn—popped in canola oil on the stove with just salt on top—is the best snack. It’s easy and relatively guilt-free, to offset all the elaborate sweets being served, IRL and on screen. —Alyssa Bailey, news editor

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Terrace House + Instant Ramen

Holidays are hectic, and if you find yourself wanting to plug your fingers in your ears and screech “Lalalalalalalala,” here’s a TV curative. Terrace House is the opposite of clashing personalities with a whole bunch of baggage; instead, it’s a gentle Japanese reality show in which six strangers live together and go about their respective lives. If there is any drama, it’s respectfully hashed out at the dinner table, and bad-faith members often depart of their own accord (wouldn’t it be nice?).

To match the comforting soul-food of Terrace House, pick up some instant ramen; the cast members will often throw some on the stove as a snack, and it’s honestly basically a meal. —Estelle Tang, culture editor

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Bodyguard + Chips and Dip

Bodyguard is a thrilling and stressful binge watch—it’s twisty and political and slightly problematic and very, very sexy. In that way, it’s a bit like the first season of Homeland. Bodyguard stars Richard Madden (whom you probably know as Rob Stark from Game of Thrones), who plays David Budd, an ex-military who is assigned to protect the Home Secretary, Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes). That’s a very loose sketch of what this six-part miniseries is about and if I try to explain more I’ll be here forever. Just watch it.

And because it’s a bit stressful, I suggest pairing it with salty, trashy comfort food and slightly effervescent natural wine. Cape Cod 40% reduced fat potato chips, sour cream and onion dip made from sour cream and Liptons onion soup mix, plus biodynamic orange wine. —Leah Chernikoff, executive director

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How to Get Away With Murder + Wine

I recently started following Kendrick Sampson on Instagram (woke thirst traps are his specialty) and was reminded A) of his story arc on How to Get Away With Murder and B) that I really miss watching the questionable antics of that crazy bunch of law school students. So this holiday season I’m heading straight to Netflix to catch up on the past few seasons.

My snack: a glass of wine, inspired by Annalise Keating’s love of booze. —Nikki Ogunnaike, style director

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Atlanta + Leftovers

Let’s get one thing out the way: Everyone knows Thanksgiving leftovers are the best part of the holiday. But sitting down with a plate full of leftover mac and cheese and candied yams (yes, touching, SUE ME) while catching up on the gem that is Donald Glover’s dramedy Atlanta brings me just a little bit closer to heaven.

The show is as urgent as it is hilarious (a black Justin Bieber?) and beloved for its social commentary and awareness. —Nerisha Penrose, assistant editor

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This Is Us + Birthday Cake Truffles

This Thanksgiving I plan to binge on season 3 of This Is Us because I am behind and I just can’t resist the wholesome, feel-good family drama. I want to exist in a world where Jack exists.

Also, I’m going to snack on some Milkbar Birthday Cake Truffles because this show requires a lot of comfort and these little fluffballs of sugar and sprinkles are the ultimate dessert. Leave me alone to ugly cry and stuff my face with two…or three…of these. —Kristina Rodulfo, senior beauty editor

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Riverdale + Ben and Jerry’s

I don’t know if it’s KJ Apa’s abs or Betty Cooper’s perfectly cinched ponytail, but I can’t stop watching Riverdale. The first two seasons are on Netflix and you can watch the third season for free on the CW app. Serve me nine episodes in a row with a pint of Phish Food from Ben & Jerry’s and I’m. In. heaven. —Holly Rhue, weekend editor

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Back + Cheez-Its

Part family sitcom, part thriller, Back is an excellent vehicle for British cringe-comedy duo Mitchell and Webb. Underachiever Stephen (David Mitchell) has inherited the family pub after his father’s death. But there’s a stranger at the funeral. Andrew (Robert Webb) claims to be one of Stephen’s 30 foster siblings, all grown up and annoyingly successful. Has he arrived to reconnect and grieve? Or is he an imposter after control of the pub? Maybe the dysfunction will feel relevant to your own gathering. Or maybe introducing your dad to Mitchell and Webb is the first step in the healing process.

If, like me, your snack sign is cheese, this recipe for homemade Cheez-Its has like five ingredients, makes about a hundred, and tastes ten times better. Still, store bought Cheez-Its are better than no Cheez-Its. —Kat Stoeffel, features director