With all the great content that’s come out over the past few years, there are more than enough tv shows to watch on countless different streaming services. Whether you’re into drama, comedy, period pieces or whatever else, there are TV series to binge watch for everyone.
Rather than spend precious binge-watching time searching for your next favorite show, you can check out this list of the most binge-worthy TV shows to stream right now. Below you’ll find 20 fan-favorite TV series that are perfect for anyone looking for a new show to get obsessed with.
Here are 20 of the best TV series to get obsessed with right now, according to a number of factors including audience and critics reviews. This list will be updated periodically as series conclude or become available on streaming, to keep you up to date on the most binge-worthy TV series to watch right now.
1. ‘TRUE DETECTIVE’ (2014-PRESENT)
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Anthology; Crime Drama Cast: Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan, Mahershala Ali Network: HBO No. of Seasons: 4
Known as one of the best crime dramas of its time, True Detective is an anthology series that follows detectives as they search to find the truth in cases that are anything but simple. Fans and critics alike have long felt that the first season of True Detective is one of the best seasons of television ever made, and while seasons two and three may not have quite lived up to that high standard, redemption may be on the way. Season 4 of True Detective, Night Country, is currently airing on HBO and Max, and so far it has been dark, twisty and gripping, just like fans of the show were hoping. The creators perfectly mix reality, perception, truth and imagination to make a compelling and downright binge-worthy show.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Drama; neo-Western Cast: Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes Network: Paramount No. of Seasons: 5
As one of the most popular shows on cable TV, it’s no surprise Yellowstone is on this list of binge-worthy shows. The series follows the Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana at the time, and their relationships with the bordering Native Tribe, Yellowstone National Park and commercial developers.
Over the course of five seasons, viewers have been enthralled in the Western atmosphere of Yellowstone, which touches on themes around the archetypal American West, including freedom, power, justice (and lack thereof) and the consequences of justice. The first part of Season 5 was released in November 2022 and the second half is slated to be released in November of 2024.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Drama; Thriller; Horror Cast: Melanie Lynskey, Sophie Nelisse, Sophie Thatcher, Julliette Lewis Network: SHOWTIME No. of Seasons: 2
When a girls’ soccer team gets stranded in the deep Ontario wilderness after a plane crash, they know they must do everything they can to survive. But what if surviving comes at a cost? Split between two timelines, the plane crash and years later, those who survived must reckon with the choices they made to get there. From cults, dark spirits and cannibalism to typical teenage drama, Yellowjackets will have you glued to the edge of your seat for hours at a time.
There isn’t a release date for the show’s highly anticipated third season, but fans are hoping they get to dive further into the lives of these complicated women in 2024.
Netflix has put out a lot of Originals over the past few years, but few have been as culturally impactful for young people than Sex Education. The show consists of four seasons (season 4 just came out, so now’s the time to get into it!) and follows the lives of numerous Moordale High students, touching on gender, sexuality, disability and more.
Highschool isn’t easy for a smattering of reasons, and Sex Education does its best to touch on them all. From relationships and breakups to navigating conversations about sex and sexuality with parents, the show reminds viewers that we all have a lot more in common than we think. The show’s delightful characters learn and grow together, and it feels like you’re learning and growing right along with them. A highly binge-worthy weekend watch, that’s for sure.
Rating: TV MA Genre: Comedy Drama Cast: Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, LaKeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz Network: FX No. of Seasons: 4
The brainchild of the massively talented Donald Glover, Atlanta is a show for the ages. Over the course of four seasons, viewers watch as Earn Marks (Glover) and Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles (Brian Tyree Henry) do whatever they can to make it big in Atlanta’s hip hop scene. The poignant writing, unique vision, genuine characters and the inventive storytelling make for a compelling and hilarious show. Plus, its subtle yet apparent commentary on race, class and urbanism takes a great show and makes it a masterpiece.
One common thread you’ll see in nearly all reviews about Atlanta is that the show isn’t afraid to be weird. In fact, that’s one of the main reasons it’s such a good piece of television.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Historical Fiction; Crime Drama Cast: Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Tom Hardy, Helen McCory Network: BBC; Netflix No. of Seasons: 6
It’s just after World War I that the phenomenal series, Peaky Blinders, starts off. Thomas Shelby, played by the incredible Cillian Murphy, leads the Peaky Blinders, a gang comprised of a close-knit family insistent on making their name in Birmingham and beyond. Set in a time of immense cultural and political change, the six seasons touch on topics still relevant today, while portraying complex characters and their development in a fresh way.
For one, it’s one of the best examples of successfully depicting complex women in television. Plus, the family’s Irish-Romani background brings a unique look at religion during the early 20th century. We have two suggestions: first, go watch the show. And second, you may want to put on subtitles, as the Brummie accent (Birmingham dialect) can be hard for US fans to understand.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Comedy; Drama; Sports Cast: Jason Sudekis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein Network: Apple TV+ No. of Seasons: 3
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of the inspirational Coach Lasso these days. This football (soccer, for us Americans) dramedy was the perfect anecdote to the lonely days of the early pandemic. And to think the premise of the show came from a commercial from the 90s! Ted Lasso is one of the most bingeable shows of this era. And while some fans weren’t totally pleased with the way season 3 went down, the show itself remains a fantastic mix of humor, sport and teary moments that everyone can enjoy.
You better believe you won’t be able to start watching once you’ve started.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Dark Comedy Cast: Bill Hader, Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrigan, Henry Winkler Network: HBO No. of Seasons: 4
Dark comedies can sometime be a hit or miss. Whether they’re a little too dark or a little too comedic, viewers can usually tell something isn’t right. Barry, on the other hand, has the perfect recipe for a tragic comedy, balancing darkness and absurdity with thoughtfulness and clever humor.
Barry follows a low level, depressed hitman as he travels to Los Angeles and realizes a new calling: acting. His journey of self-discovery is hilarious, intense and often pretty sad. The talent of Bill Hader combined with the stellar writing of the show make all four seasons a pleasure to watch, even with the violence and brutality that comes with a show about a hit man.
Sometimes, the best shows to binge watch are ones you can put on for hours on end without worrying that you might miss something if you take your eyes off the screen for a second. If that’s what you’re looking for, then Suits might be your next watch. The show’s premise is just dramatic enough to keep fans enticed, without leaning on too many heavy topics like similar shows (i.e., Law & Order SVU) sometimes do.
Basically, Patrick J. Adams plays Mike, a genius with a perfect memory who somehow gets a job at a prestigious law firm, despite being kicked out of college and never going to law school. Episodes follow a general pattern – a new case with an unexpected twist – but there’s always some new drama popping up to keep things entertaining.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Dark Comedy Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, Judy Greer, Amber Nash Network: FXX No. of Seasons: 14
Archer didn’t last 14 seasons for any old reason. This animated sitcom combines just the right amount of dry humor, insightful commentary and character development (or character regression, in some cases) to make a gem of a show. At the center of this dark comedy series is secret agent Sterling Archer and the rest of his dysfunctional colleagues at the Agency.
And while the final few seasons have been criticized for not being as strong as the ones before it, this show is worth watching if you’re looking for something that will make you laugh until you cry.
Inappropriate humor combined with stellar satire around everything from workplace norms to socialites and Ivy League degrees make this cartoon worth the watch.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Crime Drama Cast: Damson Idris, Carter Hudson, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Michael Hyatt, Amin Joseph Network: FX No. of Seasons: 6
Set in 1980s LA as the crack cocaine epidemic starts snowballing, this show does a brilliant job at showing the impact the rise of drug had on the people around it. While not based on a true story, this drama about crime families, drug lords and CIA agents has an energy of profound nostalgia around it that sucks any viewer in. It’s not always an easy watch, as violence, despair and tragedy come at every turn, but even that won’t stop you from wanting to find out where the story is going.
One warning: the first season is not the show’s best, but if you get through it, you’ll be glad you did.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Drama; Police Procedural Cast: Sarah Lancashire, James Norton, Siobhan Finneran, George Costigan, Rhys Connah Network: AMC+ No. of Seasons: 3
US television has more than enough investigative and police procedural TV shows to watch, and after watching a few dozen of them, they might get a bit boring. Lucky for US viewers, Happy Valley is a UK crime drama that brings a fresh take on the genre.
The show’s three seasons follow a West Yorkshire Police Sargeant, Catherine Cawood, as she works to balance her scrambled personal life with her professional career. And after a seven-year long hiatus from filming, 2023’s season 3 is everything fans could have asked for and more. And for those who didn’t have to wait those seven long years, now is the perfect time to binge the show’s three seasons.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Drama; Tragic Comedy Cast: Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin Network: HBO No. of Seasons: 4
Ending earlier in 2023, Succession has been critically acclaimed as one of the best TV shows in recent years. The show follows the Roy family as they battle for their father’s business empire and the money, power and fame that comes with it. What makes people love the show so much is also what stops some watchers from getting into it: the characters are so incredibly unlikeable, there’s rarely a time you’re actually rooting for them.
The actors, led by Brian Cox, and the stellar writing are what truly makes this show shine. The show hyperbolically – and humorously – depicts what life at the top of America’s capitalistic society is really like, and what power will do to a family if you let it.
Rating: TV-14 Genre: Mystery; Urban Fantasy Cast: Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Lesley-Ann Brandt, C.B. Woodside Network: FOX; Netflix No. of Seasons: 6
A clever mix of fantasy, police procedural and drama came together to form Lucifer, number 9 on this list. After becoming sick of being the ruler of Hell, Lucifer, played by Tom Ellis, decides to wreak havoc on earth.
It’s in Los Angeles (city of angels, get it?) he meets Detective Chloe Decker. What follows is six seasons of fighting criminals – and celestial beings – relationship building and breaking and so much more. Whether fantasy is your thing or not, these characters are hard to resist, as the relationships they form and the drama they create are too enticing not to watch.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Comedy; Drama Cast: Rachel Brosnahan, Michael Zegen, Alex Borstein, Tony Shalhoub, Marin Hinkle Network: Prime Video No. of Seasons: 5
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel tells the story of a 1950s housewife turned stand up comic as she defies the odds that others have set for her. Not only are the five seasons of the show witty and charming, but they also encapsulate the day-to-day drama of life in a compelling way. There are countless reasons to love this series, from Miriam “Midge” Maisel’s charming and encapsulating personality to the fantastic midcentury fashion, décor and customs.
If all that wasn’t enough to convince you, the performances of Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein will be more than enough.
Be warned though, the show will have you craving brisket.
Rating: TV-MA Genre: Dark Comedy; Drama Cast: Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini, Sam McCarthy, James Marsden Network: Netflix No. of Seasons: 3
Recent Netflix hit, Dead to Me, is an easy and enticing watch, despite one of its biggest themes being grief. With Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini as the leads in this dark comedy about love, life, forgiveness – and crime – the show balances real insights about life with humor that will make anyone chuckle.
It’s a TV show that can be on in the background while doing laundry, or can be watched intensely, looking for meaning in every line. And while some of the plot points get a little overworked by the end of season 3, the bonds you build with the characters will make you want to finish it through.
Rating: TV-14 Genre: Crime Drama; Thriller Cast: Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner Network: Netflix No. of Seasons: 4
One of the best Netflix TV shows to come out of the 2010s is this one: Ozark. A seemingly “normal” family relocates to the Midwest only to find themselves neck deep in small town drama, regional politics and – oh yeah – international drug trading.
Set against a beautiful and meandering background, the show’s characters are fantastically complex, making it an easy show to get hooked on. With plot lines that toe the line between ridiculously unrealistic and almost too realistic, the four seasons are a quick, yet intense watch. And who doesn’t love Bateman, Linney and Garner?
Rating: TV-14 Genre: Spy Thriller; Drama Cast: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Fiona Shaw, Kim Bodnia Network: BBC America; AMC No. of Seasons: 4
British spy thriller, Killing Eve, is four seasons full of drama, action and its fair share of twists and turns. But what makes this show really stand out is its two female leads. Eve is a spy with intentions to take down Villanelle, a psychopathic assassin, but neither of them could have known what an intense game of cat and mouse would follow.
The TV show depicts obsession and the thin line between love and hate in a way unlike any other show, and once you start watching, you won’t be able to stop, making it the perfect show to binge watch this fall.
Rating: TV MA Genre: Science Fiction; Drama Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Tessa Thompson Network: HBO No. of Seasons: 4
Science fiction fan or not, Westworld is a show that will hook you from the very start. Westworld is an interactive “theme park” set in the near future in which people can immerse themselves in the wild west and do whatever they please, with absolutely no consequences. A completely novel way of looking at morals and ethics, the series will have you asking big questions about humans, technology and the combination of the two.
Westworld gets more complicated as the seasons go on, but if you can follow it, you’ll want to see it through. And if not, the first two seasons are well worth the watch on their own.
A creative storyline combined with strong cinematic elements that will leave you thinking long after you stop watching.
Rating: TV MA Genre: Drama Cast: Paul Giamatti, Maggie Siff, Corey Stoll, David Costabile, Dola Rashad Network: Showtime No. of Seasons: 7
Showtime’s drama, Billions, has all the right components to be a binge-worthy series. Imagine a TV series that is a mix of Succession and Suits… Billions is pretty much that. The series gives viewers a look into the world of the rich and ruthless in the NYC finance industry, which provides more than enough high stakes drama. But what makes it even better is the opposing sides of the two main characters. Fans won’t be able to stop watching as lawyer Chuck Rhodes and hedge fund executive Bobby Axelrod go head-to-head in a game of white-collar cat and mouse.
An inside look at what happens when the doors are closed, and deals are being made.
And there you have it: the top 20 best TV shows binge watch right now. Stay tuned for updates to come so you can keep up with the most binge-worthy TV shows to watch with DIRECTV.
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