Bingewatch: JOE’s guide to how to spend the next few days in front of the box

You've had enough of trying to make small talk with the relatives? Then stick on these series and tell everyone to shut up, the TV is talking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuYrRebvFHc Some people sit in the darkness, watching TV all the time... So, it's that week in between the Christmas and New Year's where time seems to stand still, everyone you haven't seen in ten years is in your house for some reason and you completely lose track of the days, to the point where you may think it's Friday and it's actually the previous Wednesday. Wait, where are we? With that in mind, why not spend the next few days doing exactly what JOE tells you to do. Bring us cheesecake... Did that work? No? Alright, then try binge watching these shows, seeing as you'll have plenty of time on your hands. House of Cards A series made by Netflix themselves, this remake of the original series from the BBC in the 1990s transposes the story from the setting of Westminster to the House of Congress in the United States, starring Kevin Spacey. Spacey's performance is masterful, and he really dominates the show, rightly grabbing much of the critical acclaim. His breaking of the fourth wall could end up being cheesy and a pointless device, but it's done very well, thanks in no small part to the man himself. The rest of the cast, in particular Rooney Mara's sister Kate Mara (Zoe Barnes) are also fantastic. There's plenty of intrigue, a truly engaging storyline and a look inside the corridors of power, with blackmail, corruption and manipulation all forming part of the menu. The second series is due out next year, so there's no better time to catch up with the first series than over the next few days. House of Cards is available on Netflix Happy Endings Political dramas not your thing? That's fine, how about a comedy with the lovely Elisha Cuthbert in it? Yeah we though that might fit the bill a bit better. It also stars the equally lovely Eliza Coupe and the hilarious Adam Pally and Damon Wayans Jr. Although the set up is pretty similar to Friends (a group of mates living in Chicago who spend all their time together), the adventures are bit more zany and the comedy is a lot more surreal at times, which tickles our funny bone just right. Honestly, we can't stop talking about how much we love this show, but unfortunately it has already been cancelled over Shhhtateside, despite being huge on the abandoned gas station circuit. That said, you can still get your hands on a few episodes which are on regular rotation on E4 (at times on RTE too), or check out 4OD to try and get a few of the latest series. Here's their guide on how to be a hipster, just for good measure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exTEep3OxMA Check out 4OD for the latest episodes of Series 3, or head out to the sales and pick up a box set of this brilliant show Parks and Recreation A seemingly strange concept for a show, this mockumentary follows the workers of a small town Parks and Recreation department as they deal with the local politics and struggle to get their voices heard amongst the much bigger departments. The first series is not quite as strong as the rest, but Ron Swanson is such a good character that he should be able to get your through it, not to mention Aziz Ansari is absolutely hilarious. If all of that ain't enough for you, then you should watch it because Rashida Jones is in it, and we love here at JOE. Breaking Bad It might have already ended, but if you've not seen it yet, you'd better get in gear with your few days off. No better time than this either, as there's a spin off in the pipeline (Better Call Saul) that will be getting a lot of coverage whether you like it or not. Besides, if you've managed to avoid all the spoilers up until now, you might as well see what the fuss is all about. This is a prefect candidate for binge watching though, as it does take a bit of a while to get going. The first series is definitely gripping but it takes time to get really moving. By the time you hit the third series, you are well and truly hooked, bitch. All series of Breaking Bad are available on Netflix 30 Rock We've got more comedy in case drugs and cancer are not your idea of light Christmas TV watching, in the form of 30 Rock. This is another American sitcom that happens to have a bit of a strange sense of humour with some slightly surreal touches. Take for instance, the episode where they attempted to make off season tennis the big sport in America with this fantastic song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9kLy86Rnos Tracy Morgan's portrayal of Tracy Jordan is absolutely fantastic, verging between slapstick and cerebral when needed. Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, who's saddled with making sure that everyone gets along and the show keeps going, and we really get to see and know here perhaps more than any of the others. They make you feel a connection with her, without ever stopping the laughs, which is quite an achievement. There's a reason that this show has won so many awards (mainly that it's fantastic) so if you're not on the bandwagon yet, there's plenty of space up here, hop on. There are seven series of 30 Rock available on Netflix 30 for 30 Whether you care about baseball or basketball or soccer, there's a 30 for 30 out there for you that brilliantly tells a sporting story that you might not have known about. We recommend that you start with The Two Escobars, which tells the amazing tale of Pablo and Andrés Escobar, one a notorious drug dealer, the other a footballer who scored an infamous own goal in the World Cup in 1994. It tells of how the two were linked, Pablo's influence and power in Colombia at the time, and the eventual tragic death of Andr´s, all in a hugely engrossing way. There are several 30 for 30s on Netflix, and keep an eye on the ESPN schedules on Sky/UPC, as they are regularly repeated Eastbound and Down Kenny F**king Powers is the main character in this particular story, as a former Major League Baseball player who gets far too big for his boots ends up back working at his local high school as a pretty rubbish P.E. teacher. Danny McBride's comedy credentials need no detailing, but his role here is possibly his best. Not only does a mullet look an unsettlingly comfortable fit on his head, but he portrays brilliantly a sense of misplaced arrogance. Keep an eye out for guest appearances from Will Ferrell too, which are genuinely laugh out loud funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hPp4dgmrc8 Eastbound & Down is available on Netflix Friday Night Lights We'll be biased and admit that we like American football anyway, but this show focuses not only on the sport itself, but looks at life in small town Texas, giving some pretty powerful insights and some very moving moments. Right from the first episode when Jason Street is injured on the field, we struggled to keep it together, in particular when Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) gives a tear-inducing speech set to some haunting Explosions in the Sky-esque music. The soundtrack right through is brilliant, and although there are problems in the second season when there was a writers strike, the series as a whole is absolutely fantastic. Here's a preview of the many reasons we love Coach Taylor, with some tiny spoilers in there. Nothing too serious though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pZHXQ698Ok Clear eyes, full hearts... Friday Night Lights is available on Netflix If you've got time to watch an episode of Baywatch in there, may we recommend this one? Sir may find that it is a particularly good vintage. OOOOOOHHHH YYEEEEYYYYAHHHH! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCVneEZfPwA