The Best TV Shows to Binge This Thanksgiving Week

If there was ever a week to put your feet up for a bit, it’s the week of Thanksgiving. With family visiting, errands piling up, and a to-do list longer than your grocery receipt, carving out a little downtime can make a world of difference. That’s why today’s post is all about shows you can binge whenever you need a breather. Think of this as your permission slip to relax, unwind, and enjoy something fun while the turkey brines.

Below, you’ll find a handful of shows that have good reviews, PLUS, they all feature older protagonists.

Why Binge-Worthy Shows Can Reduce Holiday Stress

Sometimes the best way to stay centered is simply to pause. Watching a comforting series gives your mind a gentle break from planning, cooking, and keeping up with everyone arriving for the holiday. A good show can lift your mood, help you unwind, and give you a sense of calm before the busy days ahead.

I’ve included a little bit of everything, from light and fun to suspenseful and mysterious. If I’ve watched the show, I’ve made note of it. Let us know in the comments if you’ve seen any and recommend!

Fresh & Trending (Released 2024-2025)

1. A Man on the Inside (Netflix)

• The Star: Ted Danson (70s).
• The Vibe: A warm, funny, and poignant crime-comedy from the creator of The Good Place.
• The Premise: Based on the documentary The Mole Agent, Danson plays a retired widower who answers an ad to become a mole in a nursing home to solve a theft. It treats aging with immense dignity while still being a fun detective caper.
• Fun, and they represent retirement communities well!

2. Matlock (Paramount+ / CBS)

• The Star: Kathy Bates (70s).
• The Vibe: A clever legal drama that flips the script on the “invisible older woman” trope.
• The Premise: A reimagining of the classic series. Bates plays a brilliant septuagenarian who rejoins the workforce at a prestigious law firm. She uses her “unassuming old lady” persona to trick opponents into underestimating her, often with thrilling results.
• Love Kathy Bates and this character is great.

Acclaimed Hits (Multiple Seasons Available)

3. Slow Horses (Apple TV+)

• The Star: Gary Oldman (60s).
• The Vibe: darkly funny, tense, and gritty espionage.
• The Premise: Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the leader of “Slough House”, a purgatory for disgraced MI5 agents. He is rude, slovenly, and brilliant. While it is an ensemble, Oldman is the undeniable gravitational center of the show.
• One of my favorites. Gary Oldman is a disgusting hoot!

4. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

• The Stars: Steve Martin (70s) and Martin Short (70s).
• The Vibe: A cozy, hilarious murder mystery that celebrates intergenerational friendship.
• The Premise: Two older men and a young woman (Selena Gomez) bond over a true-crime podcast and end up solving murders in their swanky NYC apartment building. It is lighthearted but full of twists.
• Love this show. All of the actors are great.

5. Hacks (Max)

• The Star: Jean Smart (70s).
• The Vibe: Sharp, biting comedy about showbiz and mentorship.
• The Premise: Smart plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian fighting to stay relevant. She hires a young, canceled writer to freshen up her act. The clash between the Boomer diva and the Gen Z writer is comedy gold.
• Great dialogue. For mature audiences.

6. Shrinking (Apple TV+)

• The Star: Harrison Ford (80s) stars alongside Jason Segel.
• The Vibe: Heartwarming dramedy.
• The Premise: While Jason Segel is the main lead, Harrison Ford’s role as the grumpy, Parkinson’s-afflicted senior therapist is widely considered the highlight of the show. It is a rare chance to see Ford doing pure comedy, and he steals every scene.
• Absolutely LOVED this show. The language is terrible, though. Be prepared.

Crime and Suspense

7. Criminal Record (Apple TV+)

• The Star: Peter Capaldi (60s).
• The Vibe: A psychological tug-of-war police drama.
• The Premise: A cold case pits a young detective against a well-connected older detective (Capaldi) who wants the past to stay buried. Capaldi is menacing and complex in a role that tackles legacy and corruption.
• One season, but renewed for a 2nd season.

8. The Old Man (Hulu / FX)

• The Star: Jeff Bridges (70s) and John Lithgow (70s).
• The Vibe: High-octane action thriller meets deep character drama.
• The Premise: Bridges plays a former CIA operative who has been living off the grid for decades. When an assassin tries to take him out, he is forced back into the world he left behind. It is gritty, physical, and features two titans of acting going head-to-head.
• Two Seasons

9. The Sticky (Prime Video)

• The Star: Margo Martindale (70s).
• The Vibe: Dark comedy/crime caper inspired by a true story.
• The Premise: Martindale (often a scene-stealer, finally in a lead role) plays a maple syrup farmer in Quebec who, fed up with the bureaucracy threatening her livelihood, decides to heist millions of dollars’ worth of syrup from the national reserve.
• One season only.

Sci-Fi Fun

10. Night Sky (Prime Video)

• The Stars: Sissy Spacek (70s) and J.K. Simmons (60s).
• The Vibe: A quiet, beautiful sci-fi mystery.
• The Premise: An older couple has a secret: a chamber in their backyard that leads to a deserted planet. The show focuses heavily on their long marriage and aging, grounded by incredible performances, even as the sci-fi elements ramp up.

11. Star Trek: Picard (Paramount+)

• The Star: Patrick Stewart (80s).
• The Vibe: Nostalgic sci-fi adventure.
• The Premise: Picking up years after The Next Generation, this series explores a retired Jean-Luc Picard being pulled back to the stars. Season 3, in particular, is a massive reunion of the original older cast and is highly regarded by fans.

Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday, but it also asks a lot of us. Giving yourself short doses of rest isn’t lazy, it’s smart. I hope these binge-worthy series give you a few moments of calm, a laugh or two, and maybe even a new favorite show to enjoy all season long. Take care of yourself this week, and remember: a less-stressed you makes the holiday better for everyone.