From Stranger Things to The Night Agent — The Shows We’re Thankful For

Why we’re thankful for these 5 game-changing TV shows.

With Thanksgiving in the United States approaching this month, many people start to think about and ponder the things they are grateful for. For early twenty-somethings like myself and several others of all ages, there are a few things to be thankful for. In that list, it DOES include a lot of hit TV shows that were watched! Continue reading to discover the various projects on diverse topics that have brought both smiles and tears to many.

Stranger Things

The game changed for Netflix when the popular series Stranger Things premiered. It was then that we were introduced to both characters and actors in the limelight. While we all love nostalgia, Stranger Things takes place in the 1980s in Hawkins, Indiana, with a group of teens forced to confront a sci-fi reality—and face creatures from the Upside Down.

This show was a significant stepping stone in the sci-fi world, propelling Netflix to enormous success. I’m sure many remember the TikTok trends from the summer of 2022, especially the “Chrissy Wake Up” remix that Joseph Quinn is still haunted by. But aside from that… the show boosted the fame of several cast members. The saying “made the right person famous” applies to this, especially with lead actress Millie Bobby Brown. The 21-year-old actress has used her fame for good. She has used it to foster many animals of all kinds, support animal rescues, and even become an ambassador for UNICEF. The show is finally coming to an end this year, and fans will be sad to bid it farewell.

Outer Banks

Did I buy the same gray bandanna John B had in season 1? Yes. Did I attach a Coca-Cola can tab to a silver chain, like Sarah Cameron’s? Also, yes, like many other girls. Many can agree that the show of the summer will always and forever be Outer Banks. The show debuted in 2020 during the pandemic and gained popularity. The plot delved into a wild treasure hunt for gold, which Chase Stokes had once likened to The Goonies. Many didn’t expect the phenomenon it would become when turning on their TVs… but what wasn’t to love?

A classic Greasers versus Socs similar style plot, combined with forbidden love and betrayal in this day and age of the 2020s? Even heavy critics were absorbed by the thrill of the first season. The second was arguably even better to some. The final season of Outer Banks will be released sometime in 2026, and it will be a very bittersweet goodbye to the Pogues. If I… I mean, everyone else bawled their eyes out at a character’s loss in season 4, so Kleenex sales will likely go up during the release of season 5.

The Pitt

When people say they’re “in the pit” in 2025, many don’t mean pit seats for Sabrina Carpenter’s extended Short n Sweet tour. They mean they’re enthusiasts of the multi-Emmy award-winning show, The Pitt. This is a show that took home the biggest Emmy award of Outstanding Drama Series this year. The show revolves around a 15-hour ER shift of a diverse group of doctors and medical students, who ultimately have to do the best they can in the department to treat mass casualty victims.

The show has been hailed as the most accurate medical show. It sheds light on the work of healthcare workers and receives the utmost praise from those who work in the field themselves. Many, for this reason, especially those who carried us through the pandemic, are thankful for the show for the recognition it has given them. And those who don’t work in healthcare are thankful for the community and humorous fanbase the show has provided.

Those in that specific fandom have also expressed gratitude for the cast. They are consistently online, interacting with various memes, and keeping up with fan discussions. Katherine LaNasa has posted comparisons of her character to cute cat pictures on various occasions on her Instagram stories. In contrast, actress Fiona Dourif has posted more than one X post in both her Instagram feed and Instagram stories.

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier

There’s no better bromance than Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, who both starred in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in 2021. It was a spinoff of what happens to Bucky and Sam post-endgame. The two teamed up in this miniseries against a group called the Flag Smashers, while dealing with other threats along the way. Considering Bucky’s long journey… Marvel fans have been especially thankful for this miniseries and still are to this day. Just like Yelena Belova, Bucky carried a great deal of guilt about the mind control he underwent under Hydra and the tasks he was forced to carry out.

He reconciles with both himself and the people in his life in the show, bringing a new side that MCU fans have been waiting for. And as for Sam Wilson, his own plotline as the new Captain America touched on the topics of race and bias. It sparked tough conversations in the show and in real life. For that, many are thankful. And of course, even more delighted that Mackie was the third wheel of Stan and his partner, Annabelle Wallis, at the Golden Globes, crashing every interview he could.

The Night Agent

Netflix continues to release amazing series. The Night Agent stands out as the best new spy thriller on the streaming platform. The series stars Gabriel Basso, known for Super 8, as a Night Agent working for the U.S. government. His role places him within a department later revealed to be deeply corrupt.

Peter Sutherland, the Night Agent, is assigned to protect Rose Larkin, played by Luciane Buchanan. Rose’s aunt and uncle were brutally murdered after uncovering a government conspiracy. Before their deaths, they instructed Rose to call the mysterious Night Action line. When her desperate call connects her with Peter, their lives collide, launching viewers into an intense, action-packed story filled with danger, deception, and intrigue.

Many are thankful for the series because it’s hard to execute a good action franchise.

Actor Gabriel Basso has committed himself to performing his own stunts, enabling him to deliver his best performance for both viewers and himself. Many fans are also thankful for how incredibly… let’s say… blunt Basso comes across. Basso gets easily philosophical in his interviews, especially when it comes to building a wall (yes, the man builds walls, skydives, does archery, draws, games, the list goes on).

He has also stated in the past that he feels uncomfortable endorsing products as a celebrity, once mocking being asked to buy soap. With Basso being boosted up to fame at a surprising acceleration, getting to appear at the Venice Film Festival, it’s refreshing to many. He also said in one interview that he only cries on his birthday. Many eldest daughters (including me) resonated with that greatly.

Not just this Thanksgiving, but the whole month, take time to watch a series that many are thankful for for different reasons! Because who knows, you might be thankful for them too after watching!

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