13 TV Series That Are Worth Cancelling Plans For

While everyone loves going out for a fun evening, sometimes doing other things sound more appealing. A great television show can make you want to cancel everything and hole up on the couch all night instead of meeting up with your friends like you promised.

From an intriguing mystery to a familiar sitcom, certain shows stand out with their ability to keep audiences at home. Indeed, some of the finest examples keep viewers laughing for the hundredth time or shock us with a tantalizing cliffhanger.

Some shows will always be worth canceling plans for.

Stranger Things (2016-Present)

Sometimes, it feels like Stranger Things invented binge-watching. While technically untrue, Netflix and this top-rated show did take bingeing to another level. The supernatural series takes place in the 1980s in Hawkins, Indiana, where a portal to a realm deemed the “Upside Down” by the young protagonists opens.

A boy disappears, a mysterious girl with telekinetic abilities escapes a top-secret lab, a mother goes to any lengths to find her son, and a disheveled sheriff takes charge. That’s just in the first few episodes.

Addictive, exciting, poignant, and full of twists, Stranger Things only gets better as the series progresses. It inspires viewers to drop everything to watch, with each episode ending in a way that makes it impossible to stop.

Lost (2004-2010)

Event television at its finest, Lost changed the landscape of television in ways no one can ever deny. Practically inventing the backstory format versus the present-day format, Lost became known for three things: its complex mysteries, diverse, fascinating characters, and intense cliffhangers.

Those who watched the series on its initial run had to wait months between seasons, often forgetting plot points in the interim. Today, the series begs to be watched in much quicker succession because of its addictive narrative. This allows for a more engaging experience and enhances the series.

Ultimately, Lost became more than a show about a group of plane crash survivors on a mysterious island. Set in an outlandish setting, Lost explores the complexities of life, love, death, and the human experience.

Each episode, let alone each season, ends on a cliffhanger, which presents one question: Why would anyone not cancel plans to watch Lost?

Friends (1994-2004)

Sometimes, the thought of going out brings on a sense of dread or anxiety. Most people want to cuddle up on the couch and watch a comfort show whenever that happens. Is there anything better than Friends? The title inspires feelings of warmth as if we are catching up with our best buddies Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, and Joey.

Whether watching for the hundredth time or leaving your place from under a rock and watching for the first time, Friends remains hilarious, sweet-natured, and relatable. Despite any unrealistic plot points, Friends wraps its audience in a warm hug.

Only Murders in the Building (2021-Present)

Murder mystery shows often fall into the “worth canceling plans for” category by the very nature of their plots. Audiences want to know what happens next and uncover the culprit along with the characters. For that reason alone, Only Murders in the Building falls into this category.

However, the Hulu series gives viewers more than the average mystery. The stellar cast of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez gives us the trio we never knew we needed. They add so much humor and heart to the intricate storylines. Audiences laugh as much as relish in the show’s “whodunnit” aspect.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

One of the most widely acclaimed shows ever, Breaking Bad proves to be another show that feels like event television. Its provocative plot involves a teacher choosing to manufacture and sell methamphetamine after a cancer diagnosis.

The narrative goes in intense and riveting directions and has one of the most satisfying conclusions in television history. No matter the dark moments, audiences cannot help but be drawn into the story.

The Office (2005-2013)

Much like Friends, The Office has become a comfort show for many viewers despite its very different tone and comedic style. Consequently, the series remains worth canceling plans for whether you’re watching for the first or fiftieth time.

The Office accomplishes what few comedies do. It turns characters, such as Michael and Dwight, that on the surface could be unlikable and gives them unexpected depth. The humor abounds, but the heart elevates the series.

Downton Abbey (2010-2015)

In the earliest days of binge-watching, Downton Abbey became a cultural phenomenon. Audiences who craved elegant, engrossing period dramas fell in love with the dramatic lives of the Crawley family and the household staff. As times changed and the characters endured strife, war, and death, love remained.

Season after season, the talented ensemble cast and an array of characters never fail to enthrall. The show remains so beloved it has spawned two theatrical movies, with another on the way.

On a personal note, Downton Abbey was the first show I remember partaking in a common practice in modern television: staying up into the wee hours, watching countless episodes in a row.

Burn Notice (2007-2013)

Riveting but criminally underrated, Burn Notice follows burned spy Michael Weston, who takes on odd jobs helping others in dire situations with dangerous people. He utilizes his skills and enlists the help of a former Navy seal and FBI informant, his feisty ex-girlfriend, and occasionally, his mother.

With weekly and over-arching storylines, Burn Notice kept its fans glued to their seats. Indeed, the show improved as it went along with a final season that never lets up with its intensity.

It gives viewers one of the most satisfying, full-circle series finales.

Timeless (2016-2018)

Time travel shows got an upgrade with the short-lived but gripping series Timeless. It takes all the best aspects from the genre but infuses refreshing elements and characters. It follows a marine, teacher, and scientist who travels back in time to prevent history from being changed.

Despite being an under-the-radar series, for its true-blue fans, they stopped everything to see what year Lucy, Wyatt, and Rufus traveled to and what historical figures they encountered, such as Abraham Lincoln, Al Capone, and Harry Houdini. Fresh, poignant, creative, and thoughtful, Timeless took viewers on an incredible ride.

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Few shows reach a cultural status like Game of Thrones. The fantasy series has everything fans of the genre could ask for, such as riveting storylines, fascinating characters, love, betrayal, dark twists, action, gorgeous visuals, kings, dragons, and be-headings, oh my.

For eight seasons, viewers waited with bated breath to see the fate of the Stark, Snow, Lannister, and Targaryen houses. Although the finale season did not satisfy many viewers, generally, Game of Thrones maintained quality and represented a high point in storytelling.

WandaVision (2021)

WandaVision represents a special time for Marvel fans. Released after Avengers: Endgame, viewers eagerly anticipated each weekly episode and would theorize and analyze every detail online with other fans.

WandaVision also features some of the most creative storytelling, with every episode representing a different era on television. Wanda creates a world that mimics her favorite sitcoms, such as Bewitched and The Brady Bunch. This artificial world masks her pain and reality, creating a moving dichotomy.

No other Marvel series proves to be more creative and captivating.

Bridgerton (2020-Present)

Bridgerton gives fans of period romance all the tropes they know and adore but in a colorful, diverse, and unabashedly steamy package. Each season follows a different love story for a member of the Bridgerton family. At the same time, the anonymous Lady Whistledown intrigues the town with her juicy gossip column.

A feast for the eyes, the vibrant costumes, and opulent set designs make it a beautiful series. Likewise, the romance abounds, giving viewers thirsty for love stories delicious content to sink their teeth into.

Bridgerton has become a cultural phenomenon and the very definition of a show you’d cancel plans for.

Locke & Key (2020-2022)

Locke & Key falls into a unique category. Simultaneously a fantasy, mystery, and family drama, the narrative follows a single mother and her three kids who move into a mysterious old family property.

The three Locke children soon discover magical keys that allow them to do fantastic things, such as enter their minds and travel in time.

Of course, with such power comes those who wish to use it for evil. Thus begins an adventure that never lets up or disappoints for its three-season run. It’s guaranteed to hook viewers and cause many late-night binges.