We are not only in a new age of quality TV, but we’re neck-deep in it with incredible content, be it cable, network television or streaming services. You could bing watch a hit series like “The Office” or :Sons of Anarchy” again, or you can sit back and bing watch these streaming originals, imports, or deep cable gems you may have missed.
‘Bad Blood’, Netflix
Traditionally, if a show is an international hit, American producers will buy the rights and adapt it for a US audience. Netflix bucks the trend, opting to buy international distribution rights and providing dubs/subtitles instead. Bad Blood, a Canadian mob drama based on the real-life story of the Montreal-based Rizzuto crime family, is such a series. Often called the “Canadian Sopranos,” this gritty crime series features TV drama vets such as Anthony LaPaglia, Kim Coates, Paul Sorvino, and Enrico Colantoni.
‘Marvel’s Runaways’, Hulu
While Netflix has abruptly cancelled all their Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) shows, Runaways has been renewed for a third season by rival streamer Hulu. Based on a series by the same name, the show follows a group of teens bonded by their parents’ membership in a secret, human-sacrificing cabal that controls Los Angeles’ legitimate and illegitimate business world called Pride. They decide to unite against their evil parents, having their world unraveled as they uncover secrets about themselves and their parentage, all while going through the typical teenager stuff.
‘White Gold’, Netflix
Jointly produced by BBC2 and Netflix (the latter has global distribution rights outside of the UK) White Gold is a sitcom based in 80s Sussex and follows ambitious, avarice-filled, and narcissist window salesman Vincent Swan as he chases the thrill of the sale, with complete disregard for those around him. The comparisons to film Wolf of Wall Street are fair, but this is a solid performer, and like so many British sitcoms, only a handful of episodes exist (12 over 2 seasons), so it’s a breezy binge watch that provides enough laughs to keep watching.
‘Future Man’, Hulu
After a solid first two seasons, this self-aware sci-if dark comedy adventure show follows a slacker janitor who’s devoted his entire life outside of professional and personal obligations to finishing an unbeatable game. That game ends up being a simulator to find a warrior that will save the future (if the premise sounds familiar, save it, like I said, it’s pretty self aware). Hulu has renewed the show for a third and final season, and you can binge the first 2 seasons now on Hulu.
‘Bodyguard’, Netflix
This one is another “Netflix Original” that’s really produced for the BBC for which the streamer has distribution rights outside the UK. A smash hit in the United Kingdom, but maybe not noticed as much elsewhere, this political drama-thriller is centered on Police Sergeant David Budd, a PTSD-suffering veteran who is assigned to protect the Home Secretary, with whom he strongly disagrees with politically. Only 6 episodes total and as taut as a drumhead, the opening sequence digs its claws into your attention and doesn’t let go until you’ve finished the entire series.
‘Red Oaks’, Amazon Prime
Amazon’s Red Oaks is another series that takes place in the 80s, and is very true to the era as it tells a coming-of-age story set at a New Jersey country club. The series is bolstered by a strong cast that includes Richard Kind, Paul Reiser and Gina Gershon.
‘You’re The Worst’, FXX/Hulu
What is FXX? Is that some kind of porno channel? If you were just as confused over name of Fox’s cable network as most everyone else, you can hardly be blamed. One gem from this mess of branding however is You’re The Worst, a comedic look at modern dating set in NYC. Critically acclaimed, it never really managed to burst all the way through their deep cable abyss like IFC’s Portlandia did, but thankfully the entire run is available to binge watch and appreciate on Hulu.
