39 TV Shows Every Mother and Daughter Should Binge Watch Together
Bond with mom, one episode at a time.
Looking for the perfect Mother's Day activity or just a fun way to bond with your mom and siblings on a regular Saturday night, try watching a new TV show together. Maybe you're stuck inside because the weather is lousy or you live far apart: watching a TV show can be a fun way to bond. You can choose from one of your childhood favorites or check out something new. Even if you're not sitting on the couch together, you can make a TV date and watch a show at the same time and text your reactions or plan on a phone call catch-up later. This list of mom shows will get you started.
After all, not only does the show you choose have to appeal to your taste, it also has to appeal to hers—and let's be honest: Mom can be pretty discerning when it comes to what she will and won't watch. Lucky for you, we're here to help with a list of our all-time favorite TV shows for mom. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more wonderful or appropriate set of shows. Family-friendly humor, nostalgia-inducing throwbacks, and smart, witty dialogue (spoken at Gilmore Girls speed, no less)—what more could you ask for? There's a bonus too: Many of the series on our list even feature a memorable mother-daughter relationship or some modern variation thereof. All you need to do is make a plan and start streaming!
Abbott Elementary
Gather the family for this one. Our favorite new show of 2022 is perfect to watch with Mom. You'll both be able to relate to the dynamics between the older and younger teachers.
Sweet Magnolias
We're fans of this show thanks to the strong female relationships, particularly the mother-daughter bonds. Two seasons are available to stream now.
Last Man Standing
Despite what the name may suggest, the mother-daughter relationships are at the center of this family comedy. Of course, Tim Allen takes center stage as patriarch Mike Baxter, but Nancy Travis holds her own as his wife Vanessa.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show paved the way for a more contemporary portrayal of a thirtysomething career-driven woman. The show was unafraid to address contentious subject matter (for that era, at least!).
This Is Us
In This Is Us, mom Rebecca and daughter Kate are working through their strained relationship, explained through flashbacks to Kate and her siblings' childhood and adolescent moments. Start back at season 1 before the show ends for good.
Jane the Virgin
Jane the Virgin is a satirical telenovela-style show about a young girl adjusting to pregnancy and then motherhood while living with her rebellious mother and conservative grandmother who put their differing opinions aside to help Jane through her often drama-filled life.
Gilmore Girls
Lorelai and Rory Gilmore have an enviable mother-daughter bond characterized by their fast-talking, witty banter and unique movie night snack rituals.
The Golden Girls
Four single older women share a home in Miami—and hijinks ensue. The feisty interactions between mother Sophia Petrillo and daughter Dorothy Zbornak are part of the Golden Girls' charm.
Blackish
Addressing contemporary cultural issues with comedy, the mother in Blackish, Dr. Rainbow Johnson, raises her five children with a post-modern view of race and equality.
Good Bones
Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk are a mother-daughter duo who are putting their design minds together to remodel homes in Indianapolis, Indiana on this HGTV show.
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is responsible for some of the most memorable moments in American sitcom history. In season two, the timing of Lucy’s pregnancy with Desi Jr. coincided with the birth of Lucille Ball's son in real life.
Friday Night Lights
Texas mom Tami Taylor and her daughter Julie are a central subplot to the Friday Night Lights storyline, as their mother-daughter relationship is tested in each episode.
7th Heaven
7th Heaven gives viewers a glimpse into the life of Reverend Eric Camden, a Protestant minister, and his seven children. But it is his wife's relationship with their three daughters—Mary, Lucy and Ruthie—that shows the resilience of a mother’s love as they each test her in different ways over the years.
Mom
Christy Plunkett and her mother Bonnie, both recovering addicts attending Alcoholics Anonymous, work to rebuild their relationship while raising Christy's teenage daughter and young son together.
Brothers & Sisters
After the death of Nora Walker’s husband, decades of family secrets are uncovered creating challenges that instead of dividing the family, unites them.
Anne with an E
An edgy rendition of the classic Canadian tale, Anne with an E is the endearing story of the adoption of an orphan girl by elderly siblings in Prince Edward Island, Canada now available on Netflix.
One Day at a Time
Single mother and Army Nursing Corps veteran Penelope Alvarez transitions back to living with her vivacious Cuban mother, a spirited daughter, and a mischievous son. After binge watching the three seasons on Netflix, watch the original One Day at a Time that first aired in the '70s.
The Crown
Get caught up before the fifth season about the British royal family premieres in November.
Bewitched
As witch Samantha navigates being married to a mortal, her mother Endora’s frequent unannounced visits are an amusing element, as she often uses them as a way to critique her daughter’s husband, Darrin.
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