(Credits: Netflix)

While many eagerly await the festive season to kick in for family gatherings, not everyone belongs to the happy-go-lucky club when it comes to these get-togethers. However, if you think you’re the only one with an eccentric set of members, we have a few families on Netflix who would like to contest.

If you want to make yourself better amid all the family drama that’s about to begin, Best of Netflix has the perfect escape planned for you.

Packed with entertainment, unmatched humour, and family chaos that exceeds the TV volume in your sibling’s room, this Netflix watchlist is the perfect way to unwind. And the best part? You can simply be a passive bystander because, once in a while, it’s best to watch the drama unravel on screen.

So, for those tired of family-friendly recommendations, here are five dysfunctional families on Netflix to help you lighten up.

Five dysfunctional families to watch on Netflix:

Gilmore Girls (Amy Sherman-Palladino and David S Rosenthal, 2000-2006)

Children are mostly the reflection of their parents, and the mother-daughter duo of Gilmore Girls really are. Yet, even though the bond between Lorelai and Rory is picture-perfect, Lorelai’s own relationship with her parents in the comedy series begins in estrangement. While the cut-off doesn’t last long for viewers, they must navigate the rollercoaster ride of family drama that commences with unwilling acceptance and weekly dinner chaos, gradually hitting the brakes in forgiveness.

Gilmore Girls is a comedy series set in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, and most of you have probably been there. But how about taking a return trip this time, just to escape?

Ginny & Georgia (Sarah Lampert, 2021-Present)

Families are supposed to stick around no matter what, and the family at the centre of Ginny & Georgia does just that. But what happens when family duty forces the younger one to always act as the mature one? Well, Ginny surely knows. The Netflix comedy drama revolves around a single mother, Georgia, who moves in with her teenage kids to Wellsbury, Massachusetts, in a desperate attempt to start anew.

Little does she know that her constant attempts at outrunning her past have robbed her children of normalcy. While the past always has a way of catching up, it, unfortunately, does so by putting the kids in a difficult position.

Nobody Wants This (Erin Foster, 2024-Present)

Nobody Wants This is undoubtedly one of the most popular picks in the catalogue of modern romances on Netflix. Although it primarily revolves around the unexpected relationship between a sex podcaster and a rabbi, whose love for each other outdoes their differences, the Netflix series features quite a few dysfunctional families on both ends.

So, if you mistook Nobody Wants This for just a romantic saga for the feel-good, better brace yourselves for some healthy sibling competition, separated parents, and a fair dose of plot twists you aren’t prepared for.

No Good Deed (Liz Feldman, 2024)

Holiday season gatherings are never really limited to immediate families. Hence, for those who think that’s a crowd, No Good Deed has not one or two but four dysfunctional families to watch out for. The dark comedy series revolves around three families who have set their sights on a house owned by Paul and Lydia Morgan, who are seeking to sell out their home to solve a few problems.

While one of the problems is financial, completely understandable, the second may not be one of your guesses. But thankfully, it’s not just them who are hiding skeletons in their closet; three others are racing with each other to stand out.

Arrested Development (Mitchell Hurwitz, 2013-2019)

Right at the end, we have the ultimate dysfunctional family, the Bluths, from Arrested Development. The satirical sitcom revolves around Michael Bluth, who’s doing everything possible to keep his prosperous but eccentric Orange County-based family united following his father’s arrest for swindling money from their company, the Bluth Company.

While the plot already kicks off at a high point, given that Michael is the only mature one and sensible enough to keep the family together, he finds himself drowning in every kind of trouble – legal, financial, familial, and whatnot. We all know that with great power comes great responsibility. But turns out it’s also true for being born in dysfunctional families.