It practically goes without saying that once you become a parent, you get a lot less time to watch TV than you once did. Not only are you busier, but when the TV is on in the house, you're usually watching kid-appropriate programming. And as much as we truly do love Bluey, it's not our first choice. And after they go to bed and the TV is free, sometimes we'd rather just go to bed ourselves.
But staying up after the kids fall asleep and watching something new together can be a great way to bond with your partner, and there are plenty of shows out there that aren't appropriate to watch when the kids are around. Now that there are more streaming options than ever before, your new favorite show is probably out there, waiting to be discovered.
Need some ideas on where to start your next TV marathon? Read on for 15 shows that are perfect to watch with your partner after the kids go to bed.
'Stranger Things'
If you aren't caught up on Stranger Things, what are you waiting for? While the bulk of the fourth season of the show was released in May, the final two episodes hit Netflix in July, and they are intense — and definitely nightmare fuel for younger kids (and some older ones). That doesn't mean it's not solidly good TV, especially when it comes to finding out how things play out with Vecna — and how it'll impact the show's final season still to come.
'Loot'
Starring Maya Rudolph, this Apple TV+ series is about a woman who ends up with an $87 million settlement after an affair ends her marriage. She goes on a journey to rediscover herself — and to figure out what to do with all that money. Nat Faxon and MJ Rodriguez also star.
'The One That Got Away'
Looking for a juicy new reality TV series to sink into? The first season of The One That Got Away is now streaming on Amazon Prime. Hosted by singer Betty Who, the show allows its contestants to explore relationships with people from their past (exes included!) and the drama is real. If you love shows like The Bachelor, Love Is Blind, and Married at First Sight, this is your jam.
'Obi-Wan Kenobi'
With Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen reprising their roles from the Star Wars franchise, how can Star Wars fans go wrong? In this addition to the series' universe, Obi-Wan Kenobi is on a mission to save a young Princess Leia — but not without being thwarted by Darth Vader. All episodes are now streaming on Disney+, and it's not too late to catch up.
'Conversations With Friends'
Joe Alwyn, Jemima Kirke, and Sasha Lane star in Hulu's series adaptation of the Sally Rooney novel Conversations With Friends, which is about college students in Ireland who end up entwined with an older couple they meet in Dublin. If you're looking for something emotional, this might be the perfect choice.
'Outer Range'
In the Amazon Prime series Outer Range, Josh Brolin stars as Royal Abbott, a rancher in Wyoming who discovers a black void on his property at the same time one of his family members disappears. The Abbotts have a mystery to solve, all while another family seeks to take over their ranch.
'Shining Girls'
In the Apple TV+ series Shining Girls, Elisabeth Moss plays an archivist at the Chicago-Sun Times who is still dealing with the trauma from an attack she experienced years earlier. In the series, she goes on the hunt for the man who tried to kill her.
'The Offer'
The Paramount+ series The Offer tells the story of the making of The Godfather from the perspective of producer Albert S. Ruddy (Miles Teller). Matthew Goode, Colin Hanks, and Lou Ferigno also star. Anyone who loves the classic movie (or is interested in Hollywood behind-the-scenes) will be into this.
'Killing It'
If you're hoping to find a new comedy series to watch, Killing It might be the one. Starring The Office's Craig Robinson, the Peacock series is about a man who gets divorced and decides to pursue his dream of starting his own business, but of course it's never that simple.
'Under the Banner of Heaven'
The Hulu miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven tells the true story of two detectives — played by Andrew Garfield and Gil Birmingham — who investigate the murder of a Mormon woman and her baby that ends up uncovering dark secrets within the LDS community.
'Minx'
Considering the nudity and language, HBO Max's Minx is definitely one that has to be saved for after bedtime, but it's worth it. It tells the story of a woman who (reluctantly) helps launch the first erotic magazine for women when her attempts at starting her own feminist magazine fail.
'Maggie'
Hulu's new sitcom follows a woman named Maggie (played by Rebecca Rittenhouse) who is a psychic. She's used to helping out her friends with her visions, but when she starts to see her own future with a man she just met, her love life is thrown into chaos.
'Harley Quinn'
This animated take on the popular DC comics character Harley Quinn is coming back for a third season on HBO Max starting July 28. Even though the series is animated, it's not kid-appropriate by any means, so it's best viewed when little ones are not around. The show stars Kaley Cuoco as the title character.
'What We Do in the Shadows'
Starting July 12, season four of What We Do in the Shadows is officially streaming on Hulu. If you haven't watched yet, it's not too late to jump in — the show is shot mockumentary-style to tell the story of a group of vampires who live together in Staten Island.
'Only Murders in the Building'
The second season of Only Murders in the Building, starring Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin, has now started streaming on Hulu (a new episode drops each week). This hilarious series is about a group of unlikely friends who come together to solve a murder thanks to their love of true-crime podcasts.
