Want to grow as a professional? Improve your management skills? Give your career a proverbial shot in the arm? You could:

• read a book
• listen to a podcast
• watch a Ted Talk
• attend an industry conference

…or, you could just binge-watch a little TV!

Television has definitely earned its reputation as the “idiot box,” but it’s not completely without merit as an educational medium. In fact, these bingeworthy series could help you become a better businessperson – by applying the lessons they offer on leadership, balancing work and family, navigating office politics and more.

So dim the lights. Grab the popcorn and your favorite blanket. And settle in for a guilt-free couch surfing that’s entertaining – and educational:

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Based on George R.R. Martin’s book series, “A Song of Ice and Fire,” this fantasy television series features intricate, intertwining plotlines (so you need to watch all of the episodes, in order).

One of the primary storylines involves a fierce battle for the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, which teaches important lessons about political maneuvering and power dynamics – and how great leaders can come from any background and take any form. With the final season scheduled for the first half of 2019, you have plenty of time to catch up before it airs!

Murphy Brown (CBS)

Originally airing on CBS in the late 1980s, Murphy Brown illustrated how a woman could have it all, balancing career and single motherhood on her own terms. Both the original series and its reboot contain strong feminist themes and share plausible (albeit humorous) examples of how to manage the challenges of everyday work life.

The entire series is available to stream on CBS All Access.

The Office (Hulu, Netflix)

Okay, you knew this one was coming, right? Yes, the show is endlessly entertaining – and most of Michael Scott’s workplace decisions provide a primer on what not to do as a manager. But underneath all the silliness lie valuable lessons about navigating office politics, managing office romance, motivating employees, overcoming bureaucracy and more.

Halt and Catch Fire (Netflix)

Statistically speaking, this series was not a major hit – but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have educational merit or isn’t amazing to watch. Set in Texas’ Silicon Prairie in the early 1980s, the series (which originally aired on AMC) tracks the fates of a personal computer industry visionary, former IBM employee Joe MacMillan, and his brilliant colleagues. In the show, MacMillan has launched his own PC company and wants to reverse-engineer the computer he helped create.

You’ll learn a bunch about tech, for sure, but this show also teaches important lessons about the toll relentless personal ambition can take on your personal life.

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