Stuck for something to binge? There are so many excellent shows worth checking out that you may not have heard of…
We’ve all heard about how great The White Lotus is, and we know that Wednesday was one of Netflix’s top-streamed shows this year; but what about the vast amount of tv series that aren’t being as widely shouted about? Streaming services are a treasure trove of great telly, and we’re here to bring you the gems that you may not be aware of.
The Last Man On Earth
When a deadly virus seems to have wiped out the entire human race, Phil Miller, former family man and bank employee, travels the United States, Mexico and Canada in search of other survivors – but he soon gets more than he bargained for. A refreshing, hilarious show, it has a stellar cast that includes Will Forte, January Jones, Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Schaal among others – find it on Disney+.
Love
We all love love. And we love to watch it in all its messy forms, from the exhilarating highs to the agonising lows. This series, co-created by Judd Apatow, follows two wildly different characters, good-natured Gus and rebellious Mickey, who are inexplicably drawn to each other. Hugely relatable, it’s a great comfort watch on Netflix.
Yellowjackets
Word of warning, maybe don’t watch this when you’re tucking into a Christmas-leftovers sandwich, but I can promise that it’s an incredibly compelling, addictive watch. An excellent cast of Christina Ricci, Juliette Lewis, Melanie Lynskey and many more tell the story of a team of high-school soccer players who survive a plane crash deep in the Ontario wilderness – and descend into cannibalism. It’s been green-lighted for a second season in March so get stuck into the first now, on NOW.
Hacks
If you are looking for belly laughs, look no further. Described as the role “Jean Smart deserves”, this comedy drama centres around a battle-hardened comic, constantly grafting, who teams up with an entitled, younger writer to help her keep her residency at a Vegas casino. Hilarious, insightful and scathing, find it on Amazon Prime.
The Bear
The Guardian described watching this show on Disney+ as “something between a huge, enveloping hug and a huge, eviscerating attack.” We can only agree; the kitchen drama is a chaotic pressure-cooker, with the viewer holding their breath during many scenes. But, such is its genius. The show follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (an excellent Jeremy Allen White), an award-winning chef in New York, who returns to run his dysfunctional family sandwich shop in Chicago after his brother Michael’s suicide. It is bold and brilliant.
Slow Horses
Starring Gary Oldman, who is brilliant as always, this spy thriller on Apple TV follows a team of intelligence agents with a common bond; they’ve all messed up their careers and have been sent to Slough House, the dumping ground department of MI5, to carry out paper-pushing tasks as a result. Oldman plays their obnoxious boss, who expects them to quit out of boredom, but instead they are called back into action when they become drawn into a deadly kidnapping case. Full of dark comedy and espionage antics, it’s an engaging watch.
The English
Set in 1890, an Englishwoman arrives in the foreboding terrain of the American West, determined to wreak revenge on the man she blames for her son’s death. Lauded as a “sensational masterpiece”, starring the force that is Emily Blunt, The English is beautifully shot, with incredible performances. Tune in on Amazon Prime.
