6 Shows to Watch During Your Finals Study Break.

Finals week—a time of stress, cramming for exams and writing essays. It’s a week that can become overwhelming for every college student, and sometimes you’re in need of a break. A couple minutes to focus your mind on something else and momentarily escape the stress. Here are six show recommendations for when you need to take a study break.

Insecure (HBO) - Amanda

When you need a break from studying and need a few laughs, Insecure is the perfect show. Issa and her best friend Molly try to slide their way through life, going through the most uncomfortable but real everyday experiences with work, friends, boyfriends and exes. Through three seasons their insecurities are exposed and lean on each other to help them get through the challenges they face as black women in modern day society.

Of course, there are episodes that have raw moments that make you reflect upon your own choices in life and where your future is going. Yes, you will feel personally attacked. These characters can be mirrored to some of the closest people in your own life and find yourself being a little bit too related to another character. If you continue watching the show after finishing those finals, the characters grow in their own ways, and we’re always here for character development.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Netflix)-Alexandra

Mystery Science Theater 3000, also known as MST3K, is the perfect show to watch when you need a good study break. It’s essentially a show that does nothing but make fun of bad movies, making it the perfect distraction from a stressful finals week. You’ll be laughing so hard you can’t breathe, and the characters’ witty banter will make you fall in love with them easily. There isn’t a real plot you need to follow or deep character development to invest in. I would definitely categorize MST3K as phenomenal mindless entertainment.

One season of the original series is on Netflix with 20 episodes to watch. In 2017 the show was revived as a Netflix Original Series and currently has two seasons to enjoy. (P.S. my favorite episode is from the original series’ season 6 episode 21 “Santa Claus.”)

Broad City (Hulu)- Aylissa

Watching Broad City is a great way to unwind during finals prep. Seeing Ilana and Abbi panic and run around New York City will definitely make you feel a little bit better about your procrastination situation. Since this power duo is always finding themselves in awfully uncomfortable predicaments, it will make you feel less crappy about your rapidly declining grades by comparison. This is a lighthearted, feel-good show and you will love it, I promise.

(P.S: This gif is you after listening to my recommendation and binging Broad City.)

Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix) - Nick

In my opinion, Santa Clarita Diet is so bad and cringy that it’s worth watching. The show’s about a California mom who mysteriously turns into a cannibal one night and starts eating people. Her family is, strangely, not too freaked out about this and they eventually help her kill people too. The acting is pretty terrible and the plot is all over the place, but for some reason it’s really addicting to watch. It’s really easy to start watching it and the episodes are no longer than 30 minutes. If you need a study break and want a quick laugh, this really dumb show is for you.

Queer Eye (Netflix) - Lauren

Looking for the ULTIMATE mood booster, motivator, good-karma-giving show to binge during finals week? Well, the Fab 5 has you covered! Queer Eye might be one of the easiest shows to binge watch on Netflix. With 16, 40 minute episodes Antoni, Jonathon, Karamo, Tan and Bobby will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. When you’re feeling stressed and down in the dumps during finals week, put on an episode of Queer Eye and let the Fab 5 show you how to turn your life around either by getting a blowout, making something with avocados, rearranging your living space, putting on some stylish clothes, or putting yourself in a more positive mindset. Even though finals week is a time where you “struggs to func”, binging Queer Eye will uplift your spirits and make you feel just a bit better about your ride on the struggle bus. Yes Queen! Good luck on finals!

UnREAL (Hulu)-Ella

When feeling so down and low about finals, what could be more perfect than a show that makes fun of reality television?

The concept for UnReal came from a producer of The Bachelor who simply could no longer take how fake reality television is. It follows the character Rachel, a producer on a show called “Ever After”. This satirical look at reality television can get HEAVY with dark realities, so it is best to remember that most of the time they are being dramatic. It’s all just to poke fun at “real” reality television and how it works. If you like reality television you will love this show. Since it is scripted, you not only get to see hilarious interactions between the contestants, but you get to see the behind the scenes manipulation of the contestants, too. The drama is enough to keep you distracted from your own life as it crumbles all around you.

That all being said, this show has scenes depicting things like suicide, sexual assault and physical assault and should not be watched by those who are easily triggered by these sorts of depictions.

We hope these recommendations help you survive finals week and provide quality study-break entertainment.