TV shows you should watch based on your Myers-Briggs personality type
By Sam Goodyear
ENFJ: Parks and Recreation
Sometimes referred to as the “Teachers,” the ENFJ personality type makes up 2-5% of the population. According to Myers-Briggs typology, you are known for being warm, loyal, and highly attuned to the emotions of others. You are sociable and prone to taking on leadership roles.
A fictional character who shares many of these attributes is Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), the protagonist of the heartfelt workplace comedy, Parks and Recreation. Parks and Rec ran from 2009-2015, and was beloved by its fans. The show follows the government employee in the small town of Pawnee, Indiana, in her quest to turn a local pit into a park. Like ENFJs, Leslie sees the best in both her friends and her town.
She turns the unenthused April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza), the sometimes immature Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), and the goofy Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) into advocates for change, and together, along with their other co-workers, they work to make the town of Pawnee a better place. ENFJs will love the positive and silly nature of Parks and Rec, but will also appreciate its sincerity. This series is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, but its most touching moments might also make you cry.
Get your close circle of friends together and have a Parks and Recreation marathon. But be warned, you’ll be quoting some of the most iconic lines from the show for weeks to come.
ENFP: The Office
The ENFP personality type are often known as the “Champions.” According to Myers-Briggs typology, ENFPs are spontaneous, imaginative, and full of contagious enthusiasm. You desire a lot of affirmation from others, but are also appreciative and supportive.
As someone who loves to have fun, popular workplace comedy The Office (US) makes for great binge-watch material. This light-hearted series is an adaptation of the British The Office, and follows the lives of the employees of a paper sales company in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The cast is led by the hilarious Steve Carell, who plays the goofy, well-intentioned but often misguided regional manager, Michael Scott. Scott tries to make the workplace a fun place to be, sometimes to the detriment of productivity.
His crew of employees includes the sarcastic Jim (John Krasinski), the sweet Pam (Jenna Fischer), and the driven Dwight (Rainn Wilson), among others. The series ran for nine seasons on NBC and has since earned “cult classic” status through its resurgence in popularity thanks to Netflix.
From Jim’s classic pranks to Michael’s impromptu conference room meetings, people with the ENFP personality type will enjoy watching the chaotic antics of this goofy cast of characters.
The Office is a great show to watch with friends, so an ideal night for an ENFP may include having a binge-watching party, complete with your pals and your favourite snacks, to enjoy this fan-favourite comedy.
ISTJ: Black Mirror
According to Myers-Briggs typology, ISTJs, sometimes referred to as the “Inspector,” are logical, practical, and responsible. You tend to value organization, tradition, and loyalty. People with this personality type can be very matter-of-fact, and you always see tasks through to the end. A science fiction satire like Netflix’s Black Mirror is a great fit for you.
The series contains stand-alone episodes ranging from dramas to psychological thrillers, which explore technology-based paranoia. Some episodes are suspenseful, some are tragic, and a few are heartwarming, but all of them will keep you on your toes.
Each episode has its own unique characters, often played by beloved celebrities such as Jon Hamm, Daniel Kaluuya, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. ISTJs will appreciate the show’s sharp wit and clever humour, as well as its thrilling science fiction elements.
Four seasons of the series can be found on Netflix, and the fifth will be released later in 2019. Some of the best episodes include, “White Christmas,” “San Junipero,” “USS Callister,” and “The Entire History of You.” The beauty of Black Mirror is that it will thoroughly entertain you, and at the same time, make you question everything you know.
Being such an introverted type, ISTJs will love having a night in to binge-watch episodes of this addicting series. Be careful though, this may not be the type of show you want to watch right before bed.