Families come in all shapes and sizes, and so do the numerous TV shows that represent them. We believe that from dramas to comedies and thrillers, there is definitely a family show out there for everyone.
What’s more, to make your work easy, we’ve gone global and got you a list of 20 unique TV shows that you can enjoy with your family and have a blast:
That ‘70s Show (1998-2006)
If you’ve stumbled upon That ‘90s Show lately, it is actually That ‘70s Show where it all began! Long before Ashton Kutcher claimed our hearts through movies like What Happens in Vegas, Valentine’s Day, and No Strings Attached, he starred in this American period sitcom and even found the love of his life here!
That ‘70s Show follows the journey of six teenagers in the fictional town of Point Place in Wisconsin. Considered a classic even today, the show portrays the excitement and innocence of youth and the impact of family and friends. The characters are all well-loved for their particular quirks and the nostalgia of the 70s is also a great escape. By the end of eight seasons, you will certainly be a regular in the Forman’s basement with the rest of the group!
Watch on: Peacock TV & Amazon Prime Video
My Liberation Notes (2022)
This is one of those deeply relatable and thought-provoking shows that you will certainly be glad about watching. My Liberation Notes is the tale of three siblings at an almost dead-end of life with their monotonous daily routines of surviving the corporate ladder. It is the arrival of a stranger in their village that marks the beginning of a new aspect of their existence.
Along with the realistic love-hate sibling relationship, the show also aptly depicts the societal pressures of everyday life. As the characters heal through the process of the show, viewers are also assured of hope for themselves that no matter how difficult life seems, they are strong enough to get through it. With its central theme of freedom, My Liberation Notes is a visually beautiful show and is accompanied by a few more precious nuggets of life lessons as well.
Watch on: Netflix
Raising Hope (2010-2014)
Raising a daughter on your own is not easy, but raising a daughter you won custody of because her mother was sentenced to death is definitely not easy. Also, it doesn’t really help that said mother was a serial killer and said daughter was the result of a one-night stand. Well, after going through all that, 23-year-old Jimmy Chance only has his good-at-heart but crazy family now to help him with his daughter, Hope.
In the fictional town of Natesville, the Chance family, including Jimmy’s parents and great-grandmother, go through the typical ups and downs of life while giving us a laugh riot. The show follows Hope’s journey with the Chances from being a baby to a growing toddler and it is interesting to see the knowledge, fun, and love she gathers in these all-important years of her life. Four seasons’ worth of craziness waits for you in this one!
Watch on: Disney+
The Silent Sea (2021)
The Silent Sea is a dystopian thriller with eight episodes packed with secrets and betrayals. Set in the future in a world facing a severe crisis of water shortage, a crew is sent on a questionable mission to the moon. The primary objective of the mission is to recover a sample from an experiment that was being conducted at the lunar space station before a freak accident shut it down five years ago. With details of the accident and the experiment under tight wraps, the crew does not know much of what will greet them at the now abandoned space station.
As it turns out, crash landing on the moon is only the tip of the iceberg of troubles for this crew. Not only are they attacked by a mysterious person at the abandoned lunar station, but they also come across a strange substance that looks eerily like water. While this “lunar water” has the potential to solve the water shortage issues back on Earth, its tendency to infinitely and exponentially multiply upon contact with living cells causes more than a few problems.
Watch on: Netflix
Heartstopper (2022-present)
Based on a graphic novel series of the same name, Heartstopper is a sweet gay high-school romance. Scoring high on both, inclusivity and representation, this British drama deals with everything that comes with a young teenage love in modern times. Be it struggling to come to terms with your identity, the pressure of coming out to your peers, or even just finding your rightful place in school and life, this series truly has it all. While it has several sweet and liberating moments, it also depicts the harsh reality of how some people aren’t as supportive as they ideally should be.
The perfect casting of the show has catapulted its stars to overnight fame and with two beautiful seasons out and a third one on its way, Heartstopper is indeed highly ranked globally and widely loved.
Watch on: Netflix
The Penthouse: War in Life (2020-2021)
If you’re up for some suspense and thrill, you should definitely look this one up. The Penthouse: War in Life is one of those rare shows in which the first few minutes of the first episode are enough to ensure that you sit through the rest of the episodes. The show follows the lives of the wealthy residents of the glittering landmark of Seoul, Hera Palace. While the students work hard and strive to be the best, this is also a battle of their parents on their way to the top. It is on this journey that secrets are spilled and revenge enters the scene accompanied by one crazy plot twist after another.
The show is guaranteed to give you characters you will hate and also those who you will love to hate. You know you’re for a ride since three extremely successful seasons ensured the show’s place amongst the most-watched shows of its time.
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix & Viki
The Simpsons (1989-present)
A long-running classic and widely loved by many around the world, The Simpsons is an animated sitcom that cleverly incorporates daily life into its plot. Interestingly, it is quite notoriously known for its uncanny ability to correctly predict future events as well! Be it smartwatches, the Trump Presidency, the merger of Walt Disney and Fox studios and even the pandemic, the show has predicted it all.
Through a dysfunctional yet loving, witty and hilarious family, The Simpsons continues to be an all-time favorite of many. Another point of appreciation for the show is that it does not shy away from social commentary and satire. Through its characters and storylines, the show smartly targets current events as well as social issues and its popularity for over three decades is its strongest testimony. Thought-provoking and heart-warming in equal measure, The Simpsons certainly has something for everyone!
Watch on: Disney+
Chesapeake Shores (2016-2022)
Based on a novel series of the same name by Sheryl Woods, Chesapeake Shores is a warm and fuzzy family show with a dash of reality. The show revolves around the O’Brien family and highlights the characters supporting each other despite all their flaws. The various distanced relationships are repaired and eventually stand stronger than ever over the course of six seasons. While it is primarily a romantic show, the importance of family values is its central theme. With their parents and an extremely loving grandmother, the O’Brien siblings gradually realize the strength of their unity. Viewers get to tag along as each of the five siblings explores their romantic journeys thereby expanding their family.
Having a hugely satisfying development and redemption arc for all characters and relationships ensures that you are invested in them through the end. In addition to falling in love with this family, you will most definitely fall in love with their house including the gorgeous porch swing as well!
Watch on: Netflix
Small Wonder (1985-1989)
Small Wonder is a nostalgic trip down memory lane right back to the good old days of the 80s. While it is now that electronics and AI are gradually taking over parts of our daily lives, Ted Lawson bringing a robot home to mature in a family environment back then was certainly a highlight of our collective childhoods. The Voice Input Child Identicant (VICI), lovingly known as Vicky was introduced to the Lawson family one day and instantly ruled over everyone for all four seasons of the show.
Her experience in the human world and her relationship with the Lawsons evolve so much with time that it is sometimes easy to forget that she is a robot. The crazy mess of dealing with Vicky’s superhuman strength and high intelligence is what Small Wonder is all about. Oh and how could we forget the Lawson’s nosy but cute-as-a-button neighbor, Harriet?
Watch on: YouTube & Dailymotion
Young Sheldon (2017-present)
Millennials who grew up as fans of The Big Bang Theory will truly enjoy this adorable spin-off. Who wouldn’t be interested in the origin of our favorite Nobel Prize winner, after all? Do not forget to stay alert for when the mystery of Soft Kitty is unveiled!
Young Sheldon follows child prodigy Sheldon Cooper as he navigates high school as a middle schooler and later heads to college as well. We meet the quirky Cooper family in the fictional town of Medford, Texas and the impact they all have on a young and brilliant Sheldon. While Iain Armitage is certainly the perfect younger version of Sheldon, even the pop culture references from the 90s make the show interesting. There are six seasons out already and the show has been renewed for another one as well.
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
Yeh Meri Family (2018-2023)
If you are in the mood for a quick, heart-warming series with a nostalgic twist that you can binge-watch, then Yeh Meri Family should be your pick. Following the life of 12-year-old Harshal Gupta in Jaipur, Rajasthan, this show is set in the late 90s. With a heavy dose of nostalgia and the innocence of a pre-teen, Yeh Meri Family portrays the Gupta family in their daily life as they tackle a fast-changing world. Dealing with a variety of themes like family relationships, friendship, and several social issues, the show is from Harshal’s young and unique point of view.
After its successful initial run, another season was announced with a new family and narrator. This time, it is 15-year-old Ritika Awasthi who takes us on a ride along with her through her life in Lucknow. Keeping up with the central theme of the show, this season also depicts the simpler times of the 90s and continues to celebrate the importance of family and the simple joys of life.
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
Sabtu Bersama Bapak (2023)
A more detailed version of the 2016 movie of the same name, Sabtu Bersama Bapak translates to “Saturday with Dad.” After receiving his diagnosis of terminal cancer, a father decides to connect with his two sons through a series of video messages that they are instructed to watch together every Saturday. Still dealing with the loss of their father, the two boys, Satya and Cakra, are reluctant to watch the videos initially. However, as they keep watching, they realize that this was a gift from their father through which they were learning not just his beliefs and values, but also about each other. Eventually, they realize that they need to support each other and enjoy their life, just like their father would want them to. While this extremely heart-warming show has just six episodes, its story is certain to lend you a different perspective which will stay with you for a long time to come.
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
Izzy’s Koala World (2020-2021)
A lovely docuseries, Izzy’s Koala World captures teenage koala caretaker, Izzy Bee, as she and her family run a clinic to rescue and rehabilitate injured koalas. This is a great way to introduce kids in the house to the world of animal documentaries without overwhelming them with a huge bulk of information. With tiny, bite-sized episodes, the show ensures that it is refreshing and not just a bunch of random facts thrown together. Instead, through two seasons, Izzy introduces us to several koalas and we learn the importance of preserving their natural habitat right by her side. How else would we ever know that koalas are herbivores and that eucalyptus leaves are their absolute favorite?
Watch on: Netflix
Emily’s Wonder Lab (2020)
Everyone appreciates it when learning is made fun and nothing can be better when the knowledge comes directly from the best. Hosted by Emily Calandrelli, the show follows as she explores the STEM world with fun experiments. Covering a different topic in each episode, Emily also meets experts and visits interesting locations. Additionally, the easy-to-follow experiments on the show encourage children to try them at home and join the fun. After all, making a slime volcano or building a model bridge definitely are fun ways to get children interested in complex topics. Parents can easily treat the ten episodes of this show as a strong introduction to the field of STEM for their children.
Watch on: Netflix
Back to 1989 (2016)
A heart-warming Taiwanese drama, Back to 1989 follows Chen Che as he goes back in time to a year before he is born. In the past, he meets younger versions of his parents and also learns about a secret his mother has been keeping from him all his life. Gradually, he concludes that despite the secret, his mother has always loved him and continued to strive to do right by him. 34 episodes cause Chen Che to undergo a personality change and he gets back to the present with a more appreciative heart for his parents. He also is a lot more forgiving now and understands that everyone is liable to make their own mistakes.
Back to 1989 has been praised for its strong performances, its heart-warming story, and its realistic portrayal of family life. It has also been credited with raising awareness about the importance of family and cherishing the time we have with our loved ones.
Watch on: Netflix & Viki
Anne with an E (2017-2020)
Based on the children’s classic Anne of Green Gables, this is a Canadian show that subtly covers a lot of topics relevant to the modern world like abandonment, trauma, gender inequality and racism among others. Through Anne, children can learn to always stand by their opinions and beliefs. Being more of a dreamer type, Anne continues to look for the best in people and inspires others to do so despite meeting several horrible people herself.
The show rings true to its book counterpart in its core values of family, friends, loyalty, love, kindness, and of course, imagination. It is our imagination, after all, that can indeed take us to the most amazing places!
Watch on: Netflix
Dance Academy (2010-2013)
This is a teen-oriented Australian drama set in Sydney around the students of the National Academy of Dance. Through its female protagonist, we witness the pressure of the dance world with all the setbacks and failures that come with it. Three seasons of the show detail the evolving friendships at the Academy over three years right till their graduation. While its main focus is certainly dance and its power, it is also a great lesson in the importance of family and friends.
As a sequel to the series, Dance Academy: The Movie was released in 2017 which picks up about 18 months after the end of the final season and follows the group of friends as they deal with the harsh realities of life.
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
Zindagi Gulzar Hai (2012)
Considered one the best dramas from Pakistan, Zindagi Gulzar Hai translates to Life is a Garden of Roses. The show follows the journey of Kashaf Murtaza as a daughter of a middle-class family from her days in college to fulfilling her lifelong dream of landing a government job. She has strived for this dream of hers despite the problems she faces at home because she wants to be done with a life without status and financial independence. Her life changes when she meets Zaroon Junaid, a guy with everything she wants but with an attitude she couldn’t care less for.
While they begin the show as enemies, fate has other plans as they end up together as a strong and loving couple who completely understands each other. Extremely realistic and relatable, the show enjoyed supreme popularity majorly across the Indian subcontinent.
Watch on: YouTube, MX Player TV, & Dailymotion
Nailed It! (2018-present)
Nailed It! is an interesting bake-off show where amateur bakers compete in recreating elaborate cakes. With diverse participants and the fun element of things going horribly wrong at times, the show has quickly garnered a huge following. Naturally, when there is prize money and the coveted trophy of the show to be won, it is definitely interesting to watch as everyone scrambles to be crowned the winner. Beneath all its fun, wit, and humor lies a life lesson all of us can benefit from: failure is a part of life and an essential learning opportunity. More importantly, with each episode, we see that it is better to enjoy and be creative even if you fail.
With 8 seasons and a few special editions, the popularity of this show is quite obvious. Beware of the hunger pangs while you binge-watch this one!
Watch on: Netflix
Heartland (2007-present)
Based on a series of novels by Lauren Brooke, Heartland is Canada’s longest-running television show. Renewed for new seasons regularly since it first aired in 2007, it follows the family that owns and operates the Heartland Ranch in Alberta. With several strong female characters, the show has indeed been repeatedly praised for its positive message as well as the importance it places on family values.
While every season is a creative mix of elements from multiple books in the series, there are numerous original storylines as well. All in all, the show is a good mix of horses, family, and friendship. What’s more, if the show interests you enough, you will certainly not be disappointed by the books either!
Watch on: Netflix
Whether you are looking for a laugh or a good old cry, we truly hope that you found something to your liking in this list. You are now free to grab some popcorn and settle in with your family to have a great time…!
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