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You're the Worst (tv show)

5 things to binge-watch before fall TV premieres

Kelly Lawler
USA TODAY
Fall TV is coming, kids!

It's been a slow summer TV-wise. You've been watching Mr. Robot and Stranger Things and maybe a few of our other recommendations. Maybe you branched out to The Great British Baking Show or just played Pokemon Go all summer long. But it's almost fall now, which means your favorite shows are coming back. And a whole lot of other great shows you may have missed.

But don't worry, there's still time between now and most fall premiere dates to binge the first few seasons of some of the best shows out there. Here are five shows with only a few seasons in the bank already that you can get a jump on before they come back.

If you like dark comedy and you have a lot of time this weekend: You're the Worst

There aren't that many days to watch the first two seasons of You're the Worst, but if you have the time, zipping through those 23 episodes is worth it. The show started as a portrait of a dysfunctional couple trying to make a relationship work and slowly morphed into one of the most nuanced portraits of mental health on TV. We're not kidding when we say you'll laugh and you'll cry. You'll also be singing a song about "Sunday Funday."

Stream Seasons 1-2 of You're the Worst on Hulu. Season 3 premieres on FXX on Wednesday Aug. 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET.

For a dramedy you're willing to commit to: Jane the Virgin

Jane the Virgin has all the ingredients of a perfect binge. The show — about a woman who was accidentally artificially inseminated but also, so much more — is funny, heartfelt, suspenseful and action-packed at times. But most of all, it's addictive, and you likely won't be able to stop watching once you start. The episodes don't have individual titles; they are simply all chapters in Jane's story. And what a story that is.

Stream Seasons 1-2 of Jane the Virgin on Netflix. Season 3 premieres on The CW on Monday Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. ET.

If you really miss Parks and RecreationBrooklyn Nine-Nine

No one can replace the Pawnee, Indiana Department of Parks and Recreation in our lives, but the 99th Precinct in Brooklyn, New York might just help to fill the hole. The show comes from Mike Schur, the Parks and Rec creator, so you can feel the same DNA in the characters and the jokes. Bonus, it has a very charming Andy Samberg in the lead as Jake Peralta, and his chemistry with Andre Braugher's Captain Ray Holt reminds us why we loved Ron and Leslie so much.

Stream Seasons 1-3 of Brooklyn Nine-Nine on Hulu. Season 4 premieres on Fox on Tuesday Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. ET.

If you want to be able to speak intelligently at parties: Transparent

You've probably been planning on watching Transparent since the show premiered on Amazon two years ago and blew critics and everyone else away. The portrayal of a transgender woman who comes out to her family late in life has garnered award after award and for good reason: it tells emotional, relatable stories while breaking boundaries and showcasing fantastic acting. With the third season imminent, it's time to really commit. You won't regret it.

Stream Seasons 1-2 of Transparent on Amazon. All episodes of Season 3 drop on the site on Friday Sept. 23.

For an Emmy contender: Black-ish

Black-ish is almost as good as Anthony Anderson's jubilant response to announcing his own Emmy nomination for it. The ABC sitcom follows the adventures of the Johnson family navigating their lives and identities. Not only is Anderson nominated for best actor in a comedy for the show, but his co-lead Tracee Ellis Ross also nabbed a nomination, and the critically acclaimed show is also nominated for best comedy.

Stream Season 2 on Hulu (Season 1 is available to buy on iTunes and Amazon). Season 3 premieres on ABC on Wednesday Sept. 21 at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Scroll through more of our binge recommendations below (see last week's here).

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