What Are Your Meet-in-the-Middle Shows?

These days, one of my simple pleasures is my husband and my end-of-the-day ritual. We flop on the couch with a treat in hand — a mug of cookies n’ cream ice cream for Max and a ramekin of chocolate chips for me — wrap ourselves in blankets, and tune into Survivor Season 18.

I know we’re 20 years late to the Survivor hype, but after seeing a preview of monkeys screeching and people wrestling in the rain, and knowing that White Lotus creator Mike White competed in a season, we were intrigued.

The rest of the evening, we’re debating which one of us is more strategic and could last longer on the island (Max), gasping over blindside votes (the betrayal!) and laughing at the contestants’ offhand comments. Later in bed, I fall asleep feeling the way I always do after I’ve reached a new point of intimacy with someone I love, giddy and content.

The last month has been really fun — but also unusual. Finding a show we both like is rare. Before Survivor, our usual evening finds one of us watching a show on TV, while the other is off scrolling on their phone.

Thankfully, there is hope. A reader named Lisa shared a brilliant strategy for watching TV with her husband. “We have painfully different tastes. So, on Saturday evenings, we take turns choosing a movie. The chooser selects three options, and the other person makes the final decision.”

Also, remember this genius movie picking tip? One person gets to keep choosing the movie as long as the other person liked the last one. Once they don’t, you switch.

Over our six years together, Max and I still haven’t nailed down a system that helps us choose shows. But we have built a substantial list:

The Queen’s Gambit
Old Enough — “It’s funny watching tiny kids learn how to problem solve,” says Max.
Broad City
Master of None
The Watcher — This mystery plot is spooky and gripping. Whenever we finished an episode, I’d double check all the locks in our house.
Emily in Paris
Most Expensivest — In each episode, rapper 2 Chainz tests out products made for the 1%. He then gives his honest and hilarious reviews.
Seinfeld — This show got us through the beginning of the pandemic.
Peaky Blinders
Fastest Car – I don’t usually like car shows, but the suspense of whether a tricked out 1984 Chevy truck can smoke a $200,000 Lamborghini Huracán gets my pulse racing every time!

Next up on our list after Survivor is this smart and touching comedy, which follows a therapist (Jason Segel) who’s grieving his late wife and trying new things in his practice.

What are some of you and your partner’s/roommates’/kids’ meet-in-the-middle shows? Recommendations are very welcome!

P.S. Infidelity, Netflix style and the ultimate TV guide.