Guilty Pleasures: What to watch to unwind

Whether you’re drained after a long day of lectures or simply want to switch your brain off, guilty pleasure shows have you covered. Here are some of my favourite guilty pleasures, that help me to decompress at uni!

Nothing says guilty pleasure like game shows. On my list I have the iconic The Traitors UK (BBC iPlayer), a game show where players are invited to a castle in the Scottish Highlands where they are then separated into two groups: the Faithfuls and the Traitors. Throughout the series both Faithfuls and Traitors take part in daily challenges to add money to the prize pot, while every night they gather to vote for who they believe is a Traitor at the Round Table. With British, Australian and New Zealand versions, this show creates enough suspense and has the right amount of drama and twists to keep you entertained.  If you like the idea of game shows that keep you guessing, you can also check out The Mole on Netflix. In this show, one person is designated as the Mole, and must sabotage missions, with the remaining players and audience alike kept in the dark about their identity.

Another show that’s great for taking your mind off academics, is Super Rich Sleepover on Netflix. In this show, host Sally Lindsay is invited to sleep over at some of Britain’s wealthiest homes to get a taste of the high life. Lindsay’s quirky humour and sunny personality is sure to turn around a bad day, and the great interiors and scenery allow you to discover some of the UK’s most exclusive neighbourhoods.

Something that I haven’t heard many people talk about is the show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series on Disney+. If you love feel-good acting and characters, and musicals, this is the perfect show for you. Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett star amongst an ensemble cast, as they participate in different high school musicals each season. The show is reminiscent of high school, filled with low stakes drama and lovable characters, while the hilarious writing will keep a smile on your face. In the same vein, I cannot not recommend Gilmore Girls, the ultimate comfort show. The show focuses on the lives of mother-daughter duo Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, and their relationship with each other and other characters. The story takes place in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, satisfies with its simplicity, and like any 2000s show, hits you with a dash of nostalgia.

Speaking of summer, The Summer I Turned Pretty is another perfect show which you can dive right into. The show focuses on Belly Conklin as she returns to Cousins Beach, her favourite place on Earth, where she spends each summer break. But this summer she’s turning 16, and realises that everything has changed, including herself. The love triangle in the show keeps it interesting, but so is Belly’s relationship with her friends, family and her journey of self-discovery.

Cooking Shows

Hopefully, you now have at least one new watch on your list, especially with the winter break approaching. With the unforgiving cold and rainy weather outside, there’ll be plenty of time for bingeing your favourite shows!