The Wire!

After getting addicting to Battlestar Galactica, my husband and I burned through the entire series in like, a month. I would've been longer but we promised to only watch episodes together. I don't think we did much else that month.

I'm at work, so I have limited internet surfing ability. For all who have fallen prey to the Battlestar Galactica Netflix marathon, go find the Portlandia sketch pertaining to said event. So very, very accurate.

Wire in the Blood is another highly addictive BBC crime series to delve into on Netflix.

I'm at work, so I have limited internet surfing ability. For all who have fallen prey to the Battlestar Galactica Netflix marathon, go find the Portlandia sketch pertaining to said event. So very, very accurate.

Wire in the Blood is another highly addictive BBC crime series to delve into on Netflix.

Before someone beats me to it...."True Blood"

We are making our way through the show "Fringe" and it has been fun!

Friday Night Lights! Everyone I know who watches the pilot - even those who have zero interest in football - immediately gets hooked. Definitely one of my top shows of all time, with one of the most satisfying series finales ever.

You missed Friday Night Lights.

United States of Tara!!! and Lost...

No Breaking Bad? Seriously? That show is like digital crack.

The first season of Downton Abbey is streaming on Netflix! Talk about eye candy...

I just hope you didn't purposely missed your friend's birthday party, stopped going to work, stopped showering, brushing your teeth, pay your electric bill, just so you can watched BSG non-stop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njr3aFpTMyQ

To be specific it's titled "One Moore Episode." Get it? Ronald Moore is the producer of BSG.

Friday Night Lights, Homeland, Breaking Bad

Another vote for Friday Night Lights. adding Lost.

DR WHO!!!!!

I was expecting How I Met Your Mother to be merely amusing, because even though I'd been told how great it was, multi-camera sitcoms with a laugh tracks.... yeah, I was skeptical. Then I crammed 6 seasons into a weekend. Oops.

Also, a lot funnier than I remember it being: Frasier

Sons of Anarchy, Homeland, and of course Sopranos.

Doc Martin!!

McLeod's Daughters is wonderful watched all 7 seasons, Australian drama series on Netflix.

I'm habitually a couple of years behind the curve when it comes to popular TV which is why Netflix will likely have me as a customer for life. In the past couple of years, I've found out the hype surrounding shows like "BSG", "Breaking Bad" "Luther" to be totally justified. Recently I've gotten sucked into the UK show "Shameless". "True Blood", "Downton Abbey" & "Mad Men" are queued up just as soon as I get time.

Hey guys, did anybody mention the Portlandia sketch yet?

Absolutely amazed to get sucked into Sons of Anarchy!

Sons of Anarchy and Homeland are some of the most riveting dramas on TV today.

BSG ruled my life for a week last year. I admit it.

I also just watched the first season of Once Upon a Time and was pleasantly surprised. They added a Treasure Island miniseries recently with Eddie Izzard that literally knocked my socks off.

It's almost eerie because this literally happened to me yesterday with HOMELAND Season 1. I watched the first 8 episodes yesterday until midnight, and literally had to drag myself out of bed this morning. The worst part (or the best part, depending on whether you've seen this show, which is quite frankly ADDICTIVE!!) is that I'm counting the hours until I can get home and pop in Episode 1.9 to watch!!!

I've been recently sucked into watching the entire Alias series....AGAIN. So good, such a waste of my time.

This is tough cause it's so specific to a person's taste. I've watched most of these shows listed and never would rec many of them. Battlestar isn't most people's cup of tea and, while I love British comedies, the original Office was tough for me to get into.

That said, my husband and my recent burn throughs have been:

-Once Upon a Time (no way to explain it without sounding really dumb, but its a great show)
-Breaking Bad
-Parks and Recreation
(I don't think it's on Netflix) but Community is a great one to watch

Lost is great for the few people on earth who haven't seen it already and we loved going through all of Alias a few years back.

Just to echo the "duh" on "The Wire," plus at least the first few seasons of "Fringe"...and let's not forget classics like "X Files" and "Buffy," right?

But seriously, how could you forget "The Wire"?!

@Lilylover90028 - FYI, if you have cable, you might be able to subscribe (or see if they'll give you a free trial) and get the entire back catalog of season 2. We're 2 episodes away from the end of season 2, so the DVD won't be out for some time. If you're as addicted as the rest of us, you won't be able to wait.

Breaking Bad! The Wire! and . . . . . Gossip Girl! (Yes, really!)

I had to quit my BSG marathon because of the Cylon nightmares. I still have borrowed DVDs, but I'm afraid to get sucked back in.

Truly, just about anything from our friends at BBC...Being Human, Luther and Wire in the Blood as previously mentioned and Downton Abby, Misfits, Sherlock Holmes..man, I could go on and on...If only America would take a cue...plus they don't have as many commericals. If you time the, American 'hour espisodes' have 15-20 minutes of commericals-BBC maybe 7 minutes.

Definitely Downton Abbey!!

Definitely Downton Abbey

@LyonStill - Unfortunately, I don't think the BBC model could work in the US. The BBC is mostly government and publicly funded, whereas all of the networks in the US are corporations that depend on revenue.

I agree that Sherlock is a fantastic show. One of the reasons why it is so addictive is because there are only three episodes per season. You really want more, knowing you won't get any for another year (or more).

I think people overlook all of the HBO shows (Wire, Sopranos, etc...) because they're all not available streaming - only on DVD.

What about Arrested Development!?!

@LyonStill - I'm w/ you on the UK stuff. I can't explain the draw exactly but I've devoured some of their shows in the past and continue to seek their brand of comedy and drama. Nice mention of "Misfits", that show is half of the reason I subscribe to Hulu+.

Also, totally agreed about BBC shows. Sherlock (understand they're 2 hour "episodes" so buckle in!) is AWESOME. Doctor Who is great. My husband loves IT Crowd.

I keep hearing about how addictive Breaking Bad is. I'm scared to start watching it, because I don't think I'll be able to stop!

I, too, am watching all of Alias ... AGAIN. I've also watched Doc Martin, Downton Abbey, Doctor Who, Mad Men, Sherlock Holmes, and, yes, the entire series of Wings (or what's available of it on Netflix, which inexplicably leaves out a few episodes). Hundreds of hours down the drain. But I swear I'm not some basement-dwelling sofa creature. I have a life! A life, I tell you!

@Pi - Oh, trust me, I can't wait! I just got Showtime this weekend!!! Yeah! So I'm burning through the episodes like wildfire :)

The BBC is publicly funded, just like PBS, only it receives more funding than PBS. The US and Canada have the lowest rates of funding for public television in the OECD. The only reason that it couldn't work here is that everything that is a common good is attacked here by those with interests in keeping the money flowing to the private sector...

Anyways...

Before there was The Wire, there was Homicide: Life on the Streets. Watch and experience the goosebumps whenever André Braugher is on screen.

And then, yet another vote for Friday Night LIghts, which is just the most beautifully made tv I've ever watched.

There's also this Italian production, Elisa di Rivombrosa, which I watched in French (and then again in Italian even though I don't understand it...) which is just fabulous. Wish it would come here, but broadcasters here never seek out foreign productions...

Also re-watch the 1979 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice with Elizabeth Garvey and David Rintoul as LIzzie and Mr. Darcy -- they are still the best.

Right-o, b77! I am in the middle of season 5 and love it. I'm starting to pick up some of their lingo. I think season 8 might be on there now.

Ironic that we had a Homeland marathon of our own over the long Thanksgiving weekend, after seeing the SNL Bloomberg skit about how "certain people" love Homeland...

Would like to second Sopranos, The Wire and Breaking Bad, and add "Girls" and "Deadwood" to the list - HBO produces some of the best stuff around.

I am guilty of many of the shows already mentioned, but a recent one I blew right through and actually *benefits* from the ability to watch back to back is Day Break. There's just one season, so it's a quick addiction.

SHERLOCK!

Sons of Anarchy is amazing. So addicted. And I've watched the BBC's Sherlock a few times now. I can't wait for the next episodes to come out! Benedict Cumberbatch is so great as Sherlock.

Supernatural took over my life for awhile - it was way better than I thought it would be and there are already a zillion seasons. Aside from that, I've also marathoned

The Walking Dead, Survivors, Torchwood, Doctor Who, Revenge, BBC version of Being Human, and The Hour (though I watched that The Hour on Amazon, not Netflix)

TWIN PEAKS! Not the longest series, but addictive.

Actually, Downton Abby is aired on ITV, which is a commercial station! I certainly agree though, BBC is full of great stuff :)

I can't believe no mentions yet for American Horror Story! My partner and I are in the middle of Season One, streaming on Netflix, and cannot get enough. It is blow-your-mind crazy. Also: Jessica Lange. Need I say more?!

I love Gilmore Girls. I can watch the whole series again and again.

I am (sher) locked.

Has anyone mentioned The Killing? Even for a crime drama, it sucks you in!

Peep Show! and Gossip Girl

I just powered through season 2 of the Swedish Wallander. It's fantastic and gripping. Waaay superior to the BBC snoozefest, which feels contrived and clunky. Plus Krister Henriksson acts the hell out of the role. Season 1 is not available on instant so I am currently debating Amazon Prime for the free download aspect. One of my favorite Netflix marathons ever.

You have Fringe on your Netflix? What country are you in?

I don't have cable. Netflix is the reason I know about The Walking Dead. I powered through the first two seasons in one weekend.

The Walking Dead! American Horror Story! Also X-Files and Law and Order: SVU. I like to stream those last two when I'm at work. I'm familiar enough with the episodes that I can let it play in the background while I multitask. Yay for two monitors!

Wallander!!

The original The Office is my all-time favourite show. Second is Peep Show. Some of my other favourites are Sherlock and Father Ted. Jeeves and Wooster is also great, but not that addictive. I wish we had Netflix in South Africa.

Walking Dead?

DEXTER!

Definitely agree with "Luther," but I would also add "Dexter" and the original UK "Life on Mars." That one is only 12 episodes so you could probably cram the entire show into a non-productive weekend marathon! Seriously, everyone, go watch it. Right now. I'll wait right here.

seriously, no arrested development?
COME'ON!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP_9zH9Q44o

No netflix in Belgium... but huge addiction to Sons of Anarchy, the good wife, Dexter, Suits and yes, a third re-run of the big bang theory would go down easily (just 1 in the evening to satisfy the craving making yourself so proud when you're able to turn of the tv all by yourself!). I also second Sherlock and Luther. Must limit tv time..

Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy and MI-5 are awesome too.
Oh and my favorites to watch again?? Arrested Development and The Tudors.

I think we have to add BBC's Merlin to the list. I find myself completely invested in the characters and what happens to them, even though I kind of already know how it ends.

Oh, and Doctor Who. Mustn't forget that :)

I'm glad someone else mentioned "Community." I bought a subscription to HuluPlus just to watch all three seasons in a weekend. I'm kicking myself for not getting into it sooner, it really is a fantastic show. I like "Parks & Rec" and "The Office" (both UK and American) but the pop culture references and the entire cast are superb, I cannot stress that enough. I did the same thing when PBS had "Downton's" second season on their website, I had to watch the first season within a weekend. Sadly, I don't think season 2 held up to the first one. Here's hoping season 3 is awesome (I refuse to read anything about it, in fear that it will alter any opinions I may have).

Trailer Park Boys.

Oh, and let me add Jekyll, which won't be for everyone, but it is from the same folks who bring us Sherlock so give it a whirl. I also loved and hated Sleeper Cell. That show put me on edge so much.

Heroes, the West Wing, Scandal, Borgen, the Killing, Misfits, the Thick of It. I could go on... my capacity to get addicted to TV shows is unhealthy, to say the least.

Hey commenters, "The Wire", "Deadwood" and "The Sopranos" are admittedly addictive. Most HBO and Showtime dramatic series are unavailable for streaming instantly with Netflix however.

Homeland is a great show but it's not available on Netflix, FYI. My new favorites are the League, Damages, and Downton Abbey. About to start on American Horror Story and the Killing.

Nobody mentioned the Wonder Years? I know it's old/classic, but I could sit and watch those for hours. Same with Arrested Development.

I've been doing this since last week with a show I've already seen, MI-5.

On to finish Luther & Wire in the Blood next.

Can't wait to start Sons of Anarchy now that I know I can look forward to Jimmy Smits in a few seasons.

For an HBO marathon on the cheap, local libraries often stock entire seasons of the good stuff (The Wire, The Sopranos, etc).

I echo Breaking Bad! Puffy eyes in the morn is real after this Netflix discovery

Oh, and hey! Firefly! I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it yet.

Totally !! True Blood conquers all!

mizmargauxxx, you crack me up!

I suggest Burn Notice!

No one mentions poor ole Psych and that is a crying shame.

LOVE Luther! Read the book by Neil Cross after watching the series on Netflix.

MI-5 (of course!) - Prime Suspect (BBC version) - now Alias (kind of like my earlier 24 addiction)... and Burn Notice (thank you for reminding me zimmerwoman)...

Foyle's War - one of those English productions (not BBC but ITV). English detective series set with Michael Kitchen. Oh so good. Each episode is a movie unto itself.

A few people mentioned Sherlock, I think it counts but there are only a few episodes so it isn't really good for marathon material because before you know it, it is over. As for Downton Abby which I love. I started watching it because so many people were talking about it, and for the first two episodes I was like "eh" but then by the third I was totally hooked, so I encourage people to stick to it for a few episodes.

BSG was the best. I got in on it late after I saw a special Itunes released called The Story so Far, which covers the first two seasons, and it totally peeked my interest. I like Star Wars and Firefly, but as a rule am not usually that into stuff set in space-- which is why I had never given it much thought. After seeing that I went back and watched it all until I caught up. The one big thing about BSG is that it isnt just for scifi fans, it really is a dama that just happens to take place in space with some awesome action sequences. I still go back and have marathons every year or so.

Freaks and Geeks!

Yet another vote for Friday Night Lights! Wonder Years is a fantastic one, too.

Lilyhammer (only one season, so far)

Being Human (UK or US, but US is better)

Not on Netflix, but worth finding *by other means* is Real Humans (Akta manniskor).

Is Buffy on there? Sorry - out of the loop...

BSG HECK YES! It's the best show ever. Also shows that have ruined my social life some weekends:
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT-not being on here was a HUGE oversight, X-Files, Twin Peaks, The Office, Parks and Rec, Star Trek the Next Generation (fantastic show and lots of them!), 24, Mad Men, The Wire, Breaking Bad, Sherlock, Downton Abbey, Flight of the Chonchords (no one has mentioned this really???), Firefly, my parents were obsessed with Dallas when I was a kid so that's next on my list but I have to find them!!

Definitely agree with most of your list (haven't seen Luther). Once I started watching BSG, I couldn't stop. I just finished marathoning through Mad Men.

I second the recommendations for Breaking Bad as another incredibly addictive (wink wink) show.

I had forgotten about Sopranos. It was such an awards show darling (the reins taken up by Mad Men) that I really should try marathoning it next.

Another vote for Friday Night Lights!

I'm adding "Revenge" in. My hubby calls it "24 for girls" and that's incredibly accurate. Also "Firefly" (the saddest cancelation ever) and "Frasier" is probably one of the most clever and well written shows made.

Love the Wallender series. Only problem is that you can't watch it and do something else. Gotta read the subtitles. Tak!

I almost forgot to add "ARCHER" as one of the funniest shows I have ever seen!
It's insensitive, immature, and everything you wish you could say to people who annoy you on a daily basis. Just a side-splitting show.

No mention of Ted Talks? Tsk tsk...c'mon, you Know that Intelligent, Informed, Smart is the new Sexy, right?

Also - Tornado Chasers...my guilty pleasure for the few short weeks I was able to spread it out over.

homeland spoiled my life

Archer is great. Revenge being "24 for girls" is weird. This girl prefers watching 24.

Scandal

The chemistry between Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn is seriously intense.

What's this... no Arrested Development? COME on!!

Both seasons are on Hulu and Amazon Prime.

@LyonStill BBC charges its citizen a fee for every television and radio they own (also some online services). Even if you never watch a BBC show, you still have to pay, plus extra if you want cable or satellite. They also have van driving through neighborhoods to catch those who are illegally watching tele. Currently it's 145 pounds per color tv and 49 pounds for a black and white tv. http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/whoweare/licencefee/

Downton Abbey

My Netflix shows are Breaking Bad, House of Cards(UK version), Clean House, Sherlock and Doctor Who

I watched Battlestar Galactica too, and also had Cylon nightmares. Has everyone seen this awesome BSG nail polish collection? The Cylon one is the best!
http://cilucia.blogspot.com/2012/07/indie-darling-diva-polish-spam-bsg.html

American Horror Story. I watched 9 episodes back-to-back one day (I definitely thought of the Portlandia sketch before watching ep. 6). Next, I will watch Sherlock and then on to Scandal.

Definitely, Doctor Who, Misfits, Wire in the Blood, so many good shows!!

Veronica Mars!!
Weeds!

Daria!
The IT Crowd!

Undeclared goes with Freaks and Geeks perfectly; sadly only one season of each. Does make it easier to "accidently" blow through the whole series in a weekend. Both are Judd Apatow series and fantastic in their own way. I ditto Veronica Mars and a lot of these other ones too.

Midsummer Murders. Proper yet quirky detective solves murders in the english countryside.

Ooooh hadn't seen Luther yet, thanks for the tip! I'm currently obsessed with Doctor Who!

My lady and I are addicted to Desperate Housewives. I have a feeling the novelty will wear off after season 5 though.

Yes!

The Battlestar Galactica remake is one of the best tv series ever. I stumbled upon it during a netflix search in season 2 or 3. Then religiously watched it after. So well written, acted, and directed. Loved it and happen to be rewatching the entire season again. lol. Funny this post should happen.

Buffy, The West Wing, The Wire and the Danish version of The Killing

Has anyone been watching BBC's "HUNTED"? Edge of your seat stuff.. also... Game of Thrones.. waiting with anticipation for the next season....!

just finished series 8 of 24 (on dvd) two years late but OMG. About to borrow series 1 (2,3...) from a friend who is watching again and up to series 5. Puffy eyes? Rogue agents don't need sleep!

Didn't we just have this thread?

Oh well, doesn't matter, it's another chance for me to plug the funniest show ever--
Father Ted!!! You will laugh your head off.

I watched BSG when it first showed up on Sci Fi/Syfy. I may have to rewatch. I did finally watch all of Caprica.

What always drives me crazy is when I stumble upon something I never watched before, really love it, and then discover that they only made one season.

Started off several years ago with X-Files, and became an addict! After X-Files got hooked on Waking the Dead (BBC) Recently gone through Prime Suspect, again BBC and excellent. Currently watching Fringe and Breaking Bad is next.

The Tudors season 1, in one weekend while a friend, whom I traveled across the county to visit, was sick.

Firefly, in one weekend while my sister, whom I traveled half way across the county to visit, was sick.

Supernatural season 1-3 in one weekend while my brother, you guessed it, was sick after I traveled couple of states to visit him. When I went home I finished the rest of the seasons (7?) though I fast forward through the crappy angel scenes.

Swedish cop show Henning Mankell Wallander.

24!!!!! It was sooo addicting!!!

Homeland! My boyfriend and I are hooked. It is one of the best dramas on TV. Game of Thrones is also incredibly good.

Also, I'd suggest IT Crowd for a great barrel of laughs.

Once we've caught up to Season 2 of Homeland and it ends, we'll probably get sucked into Walking Dead or Breaking Bad.

FYI if you have Amazon Prime membership, you can watch the 2nd season of Downton Abbey on their streaming service, as Netflix only has season 1.

On Netflix I got roped into watching all kinds of BBC Miniseries.... North and South, The Forsyte Saga, all great!

I have to second that full heartedly.

United States of Tara! Also I love Weeds, Dexter, and Downton Abbey.

Where can the original Danish version of The Killing be found? Thanks!

Second that Pride and Prejudice nod from MsChatelaine.

I must add Sons of Anarchy (currently starting season 3), and Breaking Bad. I'm excited to check out Luther, and cannot wait for Season 3 of Downton Abbey.

Having endured marathons of Battlestar Galactica, Breaking Bad and Friday Night Lights on Netflix, I have to affirm my believe that nothing is quite as addicting as LOST.

echo the British tv series marathons. VERA, DCI BANKS, INSPECTOR LEWIS, and revisiting MORSE (with the new prequel series ENDEAVOR down the road) and things like THE GOOD LIFE, Vicar of Dibley and many other comedies which they do so well and the Brit mysteries like the ones above and BLUE MURDER, COMMANDER. etc etc. plus old favs like Poirot and Marple and ....

Irish - Ballykissangel

Thanks to Netflix and AVOD for having access to these.

Now you have to be a hard core fan like me to get things like FORBRYDELSEN and BORGEN (DNR TV) which you have to acquire by rather stealthy methods... but FORBYDELSEN I and II have been unbelievable.

am just now finishing up II and have four eps left... which I am saving for friday night. and that is hard - series III is being aired on BBC now so will have to wait til finish this and maybe save it up as its the LAST of this series... (boo hoo).

Damages, Homeland, The Killing, Breaking Bad, The Riches, FlashFoward, MadMen, The Wire, PrisonBreak,Daybreak, SleeperCell, Dexter, Dirty Sexy Money, DowntonAbbey, Rome, Kidnapped, maybe Weeds. Other addictive shows probably not on netflix would include Game of Thrones, Pillars of the earth, V, Intelligence, True blood and Boardwalk Empire that is my long list for now :)

homicide is a classic. it taught all these new shows everything they know. or maybe it didn't, i'm just saying it's amazing.

I agree with MI-5. My PBS station shows it Sundays at 10 pm; I'm usually trying to get to bed then, but I always get sucked in.

Well, now I don't feel so crazy or alone! Marathoning Netflix is cool, who knew? Yay BBC!

Living in Canada we don't have nearly as many shows available on Netflix...le sigh. However last winter my husband and I did a marathon of all Mad Men episodes in a matter of weeks, like 3 per night, and then were so bummed to have to watch the newest season on t.v with commercials one at a time. We've been doing X-Files much the same way so my dreams (actual dreams from watching too much I think) of being married to Don Draper have just transferred to being married to Fox Mulder.

I love the BBC show called Survivors. I'v watched all the seasons at least 3 times already.

Luther! woo-hoo!

Add another vote for Alias. I must be on my 3rd viewing of the entire season by now. However, the worst I have ever been is the holidays after I finished college, I watch the entire 10 Seasons of Stargate plus Atlantis and most of Universe in a month. More recently, The West Wing, I can't remember how many times I saw the sun come up after "just one more episode".

Also, yes to Doctor Who, Community, IT Crowd, Being Human (the BBC version), Fringe and Arrested Development. I also recently watched the first two season of Nikita and was pleasantly surprised- it's kind of like a combination of DollHouse and Alias.

I thought you were going to list ORIGINAL series, like Lilyhammer.

If you haven't seen Gavin & Stacy CHECK IT OUT!!! Also was majorly addicted to Battlestar Galactica, MI5, Dr. Who and Life on Mars (BBC).

How about My So Called Life with a teenage Claire Danes (Homeland)? Even though the show is 15, 16? Years old, still relevant, real, heartbreaking performances by all cast.

Bones.

For Battlestar Galactica fans, there is one season of Caprica

Best as-yet-unmentioned show: "Better Off Ted".

Watched the first episode of Lilyhammer ... not impressed ... sorry!
BUT we watched a marathon of all the Sherlock episodes ... BRILLIANT!!!! Can't wait till season 3, but it'll be a long wait! :(
Also, love Damages, but I'm really behind. I've only seen the first 2 seasons. The acting and writing, directing all amazing. Firefly if it's on Netflix, for sci-fi. Nathan Fillion and his sly humor can't be beat!

I was shocked when I quickly became addicted to watching "Pretty Little Liars" on Netflix. I just had to know so many things! I'm still surprised by how much that one grabbed me.

Sadly, I don't know that Downton Abbey is still on Netflix; I know Amazon bought out all seasons - past and present, and that they'll be disappearing from Netflix and iTunes. Because of that I bought it on iTunes, because on Canadian Netflix it had already been phased out. Amazing show.

Had no idea BSG was on Netflix; already had it on DVD, luckily!