15 Long TV Shows With Over 100 Episodes That Are Easy To Binge Watch

Summary

• Long-running TV shows like Buffy, Lost, and Modern Family keep audiences engaged for hours on end with a mix of chaos, comedy, and adventure.
• The best binge-worthy series like Supernatural and Parks & Rec have strong plots and lovable characters that make viewers feel at home with every watch.
• Familiar favorites like The Office and Friends offer a comforting experience with memorable characters and timeless humor that stand the test of time.

There’s nothing quite like a long and binge-worthy TV show. With so many episodes, it’s great to return to the same characters and journey through the chaos, comedy, and adventure of years worth of content. This has only increased in the age of streaming since it’s now possible to hit play and enjoy hours on end of series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Modern Family, Friends, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. With over 100 episodes per series, it’s typically a good sign that they are worth the watch since they clearly kept audiences engaged for years.

Of course, not every popular long-running TV series is considered binge-worthy. The best shows to watch for days on end keep the plot moving while allowing for a “casual” watching experience. Missing a moment or two won’t be the end of the world, but when the story buckles down for a big twist or emotional moment, it reels the viewer right back in. Additionally, these TV shows must have strong characters that begin to feel like family so that when it’s time to start it over again for another binge, it feels like coming home.

15 Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

144 Episodes

Inspired by the movie of the same name (also from the mind of Joss Whedon), the idea behind this now classic teen drama is that in every generation one slayer is born. It is her responsibility to fight the forces of evil and save the world on a regular basis, and when she inevitably dies in battle, a new slayer is activated to take her place with increased strength, reflexes, and in the case of Buffy, sarcastic quips to entertain the audience.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is 144 episodes of action and camp. Having run from 1997 to 2003, the special effects are far from cutting edge. Still, this is all part of the charm of the supernatural series as the makeup for the various monsters and demons the Chosen One faces throughout the show is all practical. The comedy is great, there are plenty of emotional moments as the characters fall in love, get their hearts broken, turn into various monsters, and die (and, like Buffy herself, sometimes come back to life).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
also has a bingeable spinoff series in
Angel the Series
.

14 Lost (2004-2010)

121 Episodes

Lost had quite a grip on society when it aired from 2004 to 2010. Across six seasons, audiences tuned in to slowly put the pieces together regarding what was happening on this mysterious island. The show kicked off with a plane crash and the chaos of the survivors trying to figure out where they were and if a rescue was coming. From there, however, it headed into sci-fi and fantasy territory as it was clear the island wasn’t exactly what it appeared to be.

Known for its high drama and plot twists, Lost was still no stranger to comedy. The continuous rise and fall of the plot is precisely what makes the series’ 121 episodes so binge-worthy. Every episode leaves the fans wanting more thanks to flashbacks, flashforwards, and almost every single episode ending with a cliffhanger. And, though many fans are already familiar with that final twist, there is still something thrilling about watching it again and again.

13 New Girl (2011-2018)

146 Episodes

New Girl kicks off with a simple concept: after a woman finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her, she becomes the new roommate to three guys who are very different from her. The highlights of the show include musical numbers, the drinking game True American, and some of the funniest conflicts between roommates on television. Like most sitcoms, the episodes can be watched as standalone, but it’s really best watched in a linear fashion as the relationships between the characters build from the beginning.

The “roommate family” trope is nothing new to sitcoms, but New Girl managed to pull it off in a way that felt entirely fresh. This came down to the often over-the-top comedy and chemistry of the central group. Each character was quirky in a way that should have made them difficult to like, but their interactions with one another made this anything but the truth. Over New Girl‘s seven seasons and 146 episodes, Jess and her loft roommates became family, and there’s nothing better than repeatedly celebrating their milestones (from weddings to book publishing) with every binge.

12 Parks & Recreation (2009-2015)

126 Episodes

A series about the self-described most boring department of government has no business being so good, but Parks and Recreation managed to pull it off nonetheless. The majority of the 126 episodes are something along the same thing—Leslie Knope optimistically tries to achieve her political goals and make Pawnee a better place, and her ragtag crew of employees begrudgingly follows along. This makes the series comfortable and familiar, but with so much comedic chemistry, there is likely to be a joke every few episodes that even the most avid bingers missed their first few timeswatching Parks and Rec.

Audience members might find the first season of the show a little more difficult to get through than the rest. For many fans, the show really kicks off in season 2, feeling like a quicker watch with better comedic timing and better rapport between the characters. That can likely be put down to the characters and storylines still being developed in the first season, so binge-watchers will need to be prepared for that.

11 Smallville (2001-2011)

217 Episodes

Having gotten its start in 2001, Smallville came along before the boom of CW superhero series like The Flash and Arrow. In a way, the story of teenage Clark Kent is the grandfather of this specific TV genre. Thus, its basic formula has been used to create new binge-worthy series. Still, none come close to Smallville and its ten seasons and 217 episodes. From beginning to end, audiences can watch Clark and his friend grow up and come into their own, fighting off one meteor-empowered villain at a time.

What’s great about Smallville is that each season has a very specific arc. There is a conflict teased in the first episode that then builds over each episode of the season until the finale. With that in mind, each episode still follows a “monster of the week” format to feature a self-contained story. In that way, the show is really best binged a season at a time.

10 Supernatural (2005-2020)

327 Episodes

Supernatural checks all the boxes when it comes to a great binge-worthy show. First, the series seems virtually unending, with 15 seasons and 327 episodes. This means a great dose of satisfaction when finally finishing that last episode (accompanied by a great many tears). Like many other long-running series within the genre, Supernatural explores many characters—good, bad, and everything in between—so there is someone for everyone to fall in love with.

Also, like Smallville, each season has a very specific conflict, allowing the episodes to build to a major confrontation. Each batch of seasons also has a larger arc. For example, the first five seasons of Supernatural tell one story before moving on to a new larger arc. The show also plays with genres once it’s established the format in the first few seasons, so there are musical episodes, time-traveling episodes, black and white episodes, and more, keeping the show fresh even 200 episodes in.

Supernatural
also has a prequel series,
The Winchesters
, that ran for one season and is available to binge on Max.

9 Modern Family (2009-2020)

250 Episodes

The whole point of Modern Family is that it can be relatable to a variety of people, and this is precisely what has made it such a binge-worthy classic. The lighthearted comedy can make Modern Family the perfect thing to play in the background while doing other tasks, or to become completely absorbed in instead. It’s an excellent example of a series that will surprise audiences with a “new” joke they never noticed their first several times through.

As is the case with a lot of sitcoms as opposed to dramas, the show also feels like a quick binge despite there being more than 200 episodes. The audience can watch a dozen without realizing how much time has gone by. What’s more, its 11-season span means that fans get to watch these families grow up, so there’s plenty of nostalgia built right in.

8 The Office (2005-2013)

201 Episodes

Perhaps one of the most binge-worthy TV series of all time, The Office has become one that fans would watch for the 100th time rather than start a new series from one of their streaming queues. Everything from the opening theme to the filming style has become comforting and familiar. Like Parks & Rec, The Office has no business being so good, but the dynamic between the characters and the comedic mastery of actors like Steve Carell make all 201 episodes a masterpiece.

Because The Office has such a large ensemble, fans can rest assured that every character in the long-running show gets their time to shine. For some fans, Michael’s ridiculous methods are the highlight. For others, it’s the relationship between Jim and Pam. Regardless of what the audience members like best about the show, they can rest assured that binging it from beginning to end gives them a very well-balanced look at everyone who works in The Office.

7 Grey’s Anatomy (2005-)

420+ Episodes

Officially the longest-running medical drama of all time, Grey’s Anatomy is the series for sitting at home with a tub of ice cream and several boxes of tissues. It started in 2005, so audiences have watched characters like Meredith Grey grow into themselves and their professions. Binging all seasons and 420+ episodes of Grey’s Anatomy is not for the faint of heart, but the reward is well worth it (especially since the series is continuing).

TV fans, however, should not go into the show expecting light-hearted storylines and a quick watch. The series is intense. While not known for its cliffhangers, it is known for its catastrophic drama. From plane crashes to bombs and shootings in the hospital to relationships between coworkers that never seem to work out, Grey’s Anatomy never misses a chance to pile on the drama. It’s a cathartic binge.

6 Friends (1994-2004)

236 Episodes

Friends is another one of those sitcoms that took the world by storm. During the ten years that it was on the air, audiences would tune in by the millions to watch events like Phoebe giving birth to triplets, Ross saying the wrong name at his wedding, or Rachel getting off the plane to declare her love. The final episode of Friends is now almost 20 years old, so fans have been officially binging this classic for decades. Despite the outdated references and a few problematic themes, the 236 episodes still hold up overall.

Binge-watchers who want an insider look at the show will also be glad to know that after watching all 10 seasons, they can also watch the reunion special on Max. The special provides more context for different performances, recurring characters, and inside jokes.

5 Seinfeld (1989-1998)

180 Episodes

Though sitcoms about a quirky group of friends have been done time and time again, none are quite like Seinfeld. The TV show, which aired from 1989 to 1998, didn’t try too hard to make its character unattainably perfect. In fact, the writers went out of their way to demonstrate just how flawed Jerry, Kramer, Elaine, and George were. Unsurprisingly, this just meant that audiences found them more relatable.

Often called the “show about nothing,” the idea behind the series was to take everyday occurrences and turn them into story arcs for the characters – kicked off by Seinfeld’s standup routines, of course. Some things, like having to call to get movie theater showtimes, will be outdated for a modern audience, but the comedy mostly holds up. Decades after the show’s premiere, binging all 180 episodes again and again is just as rewarding.

4 The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

156 Episodes

The impact The Twilight Zone has had on popular culture is undeniable. To this day, if someone were to describe a bizarre scenario they found themselves in, they are likely to say it was straight out of “the Twilight Zone.” Though the modern world is very different than some portions of the series predicted for the future, the 156 episodes of The Twilight Zone are still perfect for binging. With each installment being its own stand-alone story, it’s no issue to space out for an episode or two, making it ideal for casual audiences.

The anthology nature of the show also means that the audience doesn’t necessarily have to watch the episodes in order. They can pick and choose which ones sound the most interesting to them, or they can watch straight through from the beginning.

3 The West Wing (1999-2006)

154 Episodes

Real-world politics can get pretty ugly. The West Wing, on the other hand, represents an idealized version of the US capitol and government. This could be used to criticize the series, but with such fantastic writing and talented actors, it’s hard to fault the seven-season-long drama. Throughout the 154 episodes, the show takes a closer look at human nature and how it affects the running of society while providing heartwarming and satisfying resolutions. This makes The West Wing the perfect show to binge for audiences worn down by modern politics.

Of course, the show is also great for an audience that is genuinely interested in politics. It often shows both extremes of political alignment, and they are showcased through fantastic speeches and dialogue by all of the cast members. Many of the best scenes in the series are remembered because of the thought-provoking and sometimes emotional dialogue from the characters.

2 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

178 Episodes

Though many of the Star Trek TV series are binge-worthy for franchise fans, Star Trek: The Next Generation is likelier to be enjoyed by just about anyone. This installment of the franchise follows Captain Picard and his crew as they travel to the far reaches of space and end up in unwittingly in the middle of different conflicts.

The show, which ran from 1987 to 1994, put much more time into its individual characters’ development than its predecessors. This meant an entire crew to get attached to and relationships – romantic, friendly, or otherwise – to explore. What’s more, Star Trek TNG explored several complex social issues in various ways, which has kept all 178 episodes relevant all these years later.

If fans enjoy binging this particular chapter of the Star Trek franchise, Paramount+ is the home for the rest of the series as well, allowing them to expand their binge to another corner of the Star Trek universe.

1 This Is Us (2016-2022)

106 Episodes

This is Us, which aired from 2016 to 2022, follows a family at different points in their lives. This means the various characters are seen through different lenses as they go through heartbreakingly relatable struggles and events. Packed full of nostalgia, This is Us is another series whose characters become family to the audience. So, with every 106-episode binge, audiences celebrate victories and mourn lessons similarly to how they would their own loved ones.

With 106 episodes, This Is Us is one of the series with the lowest number of episodes here. TV fans, however, shouldn’t take that to mean the show will be a faster watch. The show is very firmly a drama and focuses on a lot of tear-jerking moments. Nearly every episode is known for making the audience cry, so it will be an emotional, but satisfying, binge-watch in the end.