By Muskan
Everyday pace of work hustle is meant to make us feel tired and overwhelmed. To be your aide in unwinding, we have curated a diverse watchlist for you to add on to excitement and fun to your myriad office moments. These shows are perfect for your leisure days, to watch as you relax and recharge, as well as for providing both entertainment and a relatable glimpse into the professional world full of rush and aspirations. Whether you’re looking for a bit of humor, drama, or inspiration, this binge-watch list has something for everyone.
1. The Office (2005)
This sitcom revolves around the lives of employees working in a branch of a fictional paper company called Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The series of 9 seasons takes the viewers through a unique blend of humor in the mundanely awkward moments of office life and relatable characters in a mockumentary format (wherein the characters directly speak to the camera). Created by Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, this series will surely pacify your Monday Blues.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix
2. Silicon Valley (2014)
‘Silicon Valley ‘, created by Mike Judge, John Altschuler, and Dave Krinsky, is a satirical comedy rooted in the tech industry. The series takes viewers through the aspirational journey of a group of software developers meddling into a highly competitive tech world, battling larger corporations, dealing with investors, and navigating the unpredictable landscape of Silicon Valley. This series is appreciated for its sharp on point humor and relatable characters.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Jio Cinema
3. Mad Men (2007)
Created by Matthew Wiener, this workplace drama is set in the 1960s, ‘the golden age’ of advertising, depicting an ad agency, Sterling Cooper, on Madison Avenue in New York City. The 7 seasons of the series centrally follow Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the creative director at Sterling Cooper. His is a complex character with a blend of gradually depicted past and self destructive behavior. This series is rather thought provoking around the shifting landscape of the 1960s and explores themes of consumerism, gender roles and identity.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
4. WeCrashed (2022)
Created by David Crevello Starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway as Adam and Rebekah, is based on the podcast “WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork” by Wondery. The mini series explores the pathway of WeWork right from its beginning to its dramatic collapse and everything in between. This show denotes a cinematic lens to the corporate culture, and the associated personal dynamics of the antagonists. It’s a must-watch for those interested in business dramas and true-to-life stories of ambition and downfall.
Where to Watch: Apple Tv
5. Severance (2022)
The show presents a unique blend of science fiction, psychological thriller, and dark comedy wrapped up in an organization called Lumon Industries. The employees undergo ‘severance’ as a procedure to create a divide between their work memories and personal memories. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle, the series compels the viewers to ponder over the extent to which individuals are willing to sacrifice personal freedom for the sake of career advancement and the ethical implications of such technology in the name of productivity.
Where to Watch: Apple Tv, Amazon Prime Video
6. Suits (2011)
This show follows the life of a college dropout Mike Ross (played by Patrick J. Adams), who without having attended law school ever works as a law associate for Harvey Specter (played by Gabriel Macht). The show is a blend of sharp writing and strong performances meant to narrate ambition and loyalty within the foreground of a legal firm. There are 9 seasons streaming so far to keep you hooked on this drama!
Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Jio Cinema
7. Succession (2018)
This drama is a peek into the Roy family headed by Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the patriarch. As the question of his succession being the head of Waystar Royco hovers around them, the dysfunctional family equations begin to reveal themselves as the characters delve into intense rivalries, back stabbings and persistent conflict. The cast delivers outstanding performances, with Jeremy Strong (Kendall Roy), Sarah Snook (Shiv Roy), and Kieran Culkin (Roman Roy) receiving particular praise. Watch this if you seek to navigate the individual aspirations combined with intense greed for wealth, which surpasses the moral dynamics.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Jio Cinema
8. Billions (2016)
‘Billions’ is a breathtaking series created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien, and Andrew Ross Sorkin. The show focuses on the struggle of power dynamics between billionaire hedge fund manager Bobby “Axe” Axelrod (Damian Lewis) and the ambitious U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti). The series depicts various themes of power and corruption, loyalty and betrayal as the two lead characters engage in the battle of winning over the other.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
9. Industry (2020)
‘Industry’ is a drama series (of two seasons so far) created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay. The story is a mosaic of competition and the struggles of young graduates who strive to place themselves permanently at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious investment bank in London. The plot weaves the personal and professional lives of Harper Stern (Myha’la Herrold), Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela), Robert Spearing (Harry Lawtey) and others to depict more complex themes like ethical dilemmas, diversity and inclusion; all while giving one the insider’s world view of investment banking.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Jio Cinema
10. Parks and Recreation (2010)
The fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, serves as the setting for this mockumentary sitcom, which follows the quirky employees of the Parks and Recreation Department. The show light heartedly captures the ambitious efforts of Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) of community improvement who correspond with the eccentric personalities of her colleagues and the townspeople. This is a blend of sincere themes with that of comedy making it stand out and go from our watchlist to yours!
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Jio Cinema
