My favorite way to relax? Watching TV shows on Netflix. That $7.99 subscription is the best money I pay all month.

 

Sometimes, I use Netflix as a quick break during a busy day. But I’ll admit it – other times (okay, most times) I watch for hours on end. That “Play Next” button just makes it hard to say no. And before I know it, it’s 3 am and I’m staring bleary-eyed at my laptop screen.

 

Whether you just want an hour break or you’re feeling a full-on marathon, here are three Netflix shows to put in your queue.

 

Friday Night Lights ran on NBC from 2006 to 2011. It’s a sports drama based on a 1988 book and 2004 film of the same name.  

 

What it’s about: Friday Night Lights follows the ups and downs of a popular high school football team in the fictional small town of Dillon, Texas.

 

Why it’s so great: This show isn’t just for football fans - though they’ll love it, too. FNL follows the personal lives of the team and their friends and families as they navigate adolescence in small-town Texas. It’s chock-full of tear-jerking drama – but it also touches on important social issues like race and poverty.

 

Notable stars: Argo and Zero Dark Thirty actor Kyle Chandler plays Eric Taylor, a tough coach with a heart of gold. Connie Britton, now a country music star on ABC’s Nashville, plays beautiful-haired guidance counselor Tami, Eric’s wife. Savages’ Taylor Kitsch plays troubled heartthrob Tim Riggins.

 

Best quote: “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”

 

Arrested Development aired on Fox from 2003 to 2006. The show had a recent comeback with a fourth season produced and released by Netflix in May 2013.  

 

What it’s about: Arrested Development follows the hilarious (and hilariously awkward) exploits of the Bluth family after its real estate-developer patriarch is arrested for fraud.  

 

Why it’s so great: The show has its share of slapstick jokes. But it’s also full of smart, complex humor that only attentive viewers will get. And there’s a good dose of so-weird-you-can’t-help-but-laugh moments – like when Bluth brother Buster gets his hand bitten off by a cannibal seal from his brother Gob’s magic act. Don’t ask, just watch.

 

Notable stars: Famous names include Superbad actor Michael Cera and Horrible Bosses star Jason Bateman. Lesser-known fan favorites? Tony Hale, who plays socially awkward, neurotic Buster Bluth, and Jessica Walter, who plays sharp-tongued, alcoholic matriarch Lucille.

 

Best quote:  “It’s one banana, Michael. What could it cost? 10 dollars?”

 

24 ran for 8 seasons on Fox from 2001 to 2010. The network recently announced that the show will return in 2014 with a new 12-episode season.

 

What it’s about: 24 is a political crime drama that follows Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each episode covers one real-time hour of Bauer’s life.

 

Why it’s so great: The show is a classic, addictive, heart-stopping thriller. Most episodes follow Bauer as he races to prevent presidential assassinations, terrorist threats, cyber-attacks, and government corruption. 24 has won about a zillion awards, including 2 Golden Globes and 20 Emmys.  

 

Notable stars: Kiefer Southerland, who plays Agent Jack Bauer, is the only actor to appear in every episode of 24. But the show has also been home to famous names, including Gossip Girl star (and my personal spirit animal) Leighton Meester, Lord of the Rings’ Sean Astin, and Hollywood legend Dennis Hopper.   

 

Best quote: “I'm federal agent Jack Bauer, and today is the longest day of my life.”