'Rona Recommends: The 23 Best Shows to Watch While You're Socially Distancing
The best tv shows to watch while socially distancing from the coronavirus pandemic, including good shows on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now & more.
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As the weeks go by, the coronavirus continues to shut down facets of life as we know it. Sports is basically gone, going to see live rap shows is impossible, and even if you could go to the movies, everything you actually want to see has been pushed back. With social distancing firmly in place, the best thing we can do right now is get comfortable, make sure our streaming service bill(s) are paid, and get to binging. But what is there to binge?
We imagine you run through The Office like clean underwear (aka on a daily basis), and most of the stuff people tell you to watch is, in a word, wack. That's where the PC squad at Complex comes in. We've been getting a number of requests about what folks should watch, so we've compiled a list of some of our favorite shows—some legendary, others new, and some undeniably slept-on—in an effort to round out your viewing habits during this isolated period in all of our lives. We've not only given you a solid list, but made sure you know what genre(s) each series touches on so you can make more informed decisions.
We'll make sure to keep this updated for those of you who have absolutely nothing but time on your hands. Get your snacks, get comfortable, and check our picks for the best shows to watch while you're socially distancing yourselves. Be sure to wash your hands before you grab the remote, though!
'Band of Brothers'
Streaming service: HBO Now
Series length: 10-episode miniseries
Genre(s): War, Drama
Logline: A dramatization of the historic of "Easy" Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, of the 101st Airborne Division, this Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning series takes you into the heart of World War II.
If there are any miniseries that truly defines the difference between a regular TV show and a multi-part movie, it’s Band of Brothers. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks only two short years after Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers keeps that same energy, delivering a cinematic WWII experience to blow out your Sonos. It also boasts one of the best casts of all time, launching the careers of an entire generation of stars such as Tom Hardy, Damian Lewis, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, and too many more to list. So trust me when I say, break out the doomsday popcorn supply, because every episode’s a blockbuster —Nate Houston
'The Bernie Mac Show'
Streaming service: Hulu
Series length: Five seasons, 104 episodes
Genre(s): Comedy
Logline: A unique twist on the family sitcom. Comedian Bernie Mac and his wife, Wanda, are happily empty nesters. That all changes when his sister drops off her kids en route to rehab and Mac becomes a reluctant surrogate parent.
INT. MAC HOUSEHOLD LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Bernie Mac’s eyes are big. Bigger than usual. He’s wearing a faded Chicago Bulls sweatshirt, an n95 mask and black leather gloves.
SUPERIMPOSE: "Quarantine: Day 17"
BERNIE MAC
My last nerve. I ain’t got none left.
None left! I can’t stand another minute
with these doggone kids. I don’t care if
the school open or closed, I’m taking all
they asses back on Monday, tuh, you better
believe it, America. I’m not playing. I’m
not playing. Either they're going back or
I’mma bust ‘em upside the head.
Bernie calms himself a little. Takes off his mask and takes a sip of liquor.
BERNIE MAC (CONT.)
Listen, America, I know we ain’t spoke
in a while and since you stuck at home
why don’t you spend some time with Bernie Mac?
The Bernie Mac Show was innovative. Bernie Mac
and Larry Wilmore helped bring a whole new era
of single camera sitcoms to TV. And this here,
America, this talking head format, breaking
the fourth wall, primetime on FOX in 2001,
that’s the Mac-Man being avant-garde. Truth
be told America, The Bernie Mac Show is one
of the greatest sitcoms of all time and y’all
ain’t give me my flowers while I was still there.
I don’t see it on none of your lists. I think
Bernie Mac knows why. It’s cause those whi-
you know what I won’t even take it there, America.
Jordan coughs violently off screen.
BERNIE MAC (CONT.)
Jordan! This boy… Jordan! Are you
Coughing up in here?
Jordan (O.S.)
No, that’s Vanessa I think she has
the CoronaVirus, Uncle Bernie!
Jordan and Vanessa argue off screen. Jordan coughs violently again.
BERNIE MAC
Oh, Lord. Forgive me, I think I might have
to put that boy down. Excuse me, America.
—H. Drew Blackburn
'Better Call Saul'
Streaming service: Netflix
Series length: Four seasons; 40 episodes
Genre(s): Black Comedy, Drama, Crime
Logline: The prequel to one of the greatest television series of all time takes its time in showing Jimmy McGill's descent into Saul.
I’ve already spilled a fair amount of digital ink on this site about my love for Better Call Saul, but allow me to go to bat once more for a show I consider to be superior to Breaking Bad. The Saul Goodman-focused prequel/spin-off has its first four seasons available on Netflix, while its fifth season currently airs on AMC—which means there’s no better time to get caught up than right now.
With external circumstances forcing us indoors, I’d argue the show’s more methodical and leisurely paced-antics are perfectly suited to the sheer amount of binge-watching that’s currently taking place. Watching groups of episodes in a row make it easier to see that showrunners Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan are still providing a masterclass in character, story, and plot—all anchored by equally powerhouse performances from Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn.
Sure, Saul may have initially seemed like a lark for all involved. But as the show has progressed, it’s turned into a moving treatise on the tension between being good and doing good, a somber exploration of interpersonal relationship dynamics between family and partners, and an ever-growing eye for showing viewers the “how” of it all. If you’ve waited this long, delay no longer. It’s more than time for you to give your favorite “criminal” lawyer a call. —William Goodman
'Better Things'
Streaming service: Hulu
Series length: Four seasons; 36 episodes (currently in Season 4)
Genre(s): Black Comedy, Drama
Logline: A single mother, her three daughters, and her peculiar mother live their lives in an ofttimes surreal Los Angeles. Hilarity—and realness—ensue.
With the executives at FX allowing real creatives to flex their artistry, Pamela Adlon has become the everywoman behind Better Things, which she starred and wrote in during season one and slowly became the show's everywoman. Her darker humor and a keen eye for beauty have turned this ofttimes mystical, always-heartfelt series into one of the more captivating shows on television. Mirroring Adlon's real life, the series finds ways to prop up the realities of being a single, working mother in today's America without being corny, or preachy. It's real, hilarious, painful life, told unapologetically and all-encompassing. It also happens to be one of the best shows currently running on television. Social lock-down is the PERFECT time to dive into the three previous seasons, catching up to where it is currently—it'd also give you the ammo you'd need to dive into Adlon's recent appearance on Complex's Watch Less podcast. —khal
'Black Monday'
Streaming service: Showtime
Series length: Two seasons; 14 episodes (Season 2 in progress now)
Genre(s): Dark Comedy, Drama
Logline: A group of Wall Street cutthroats navigate seedy dealings on and off the stock market in the days leading up to the eponymous Monday in October 1987, when the global financial market took one of the most catastrophic dives in history.
Season 1 of Black Monday is not only the most fun binge-watch I’ve had this year, it’s one of the most instantly-memorable debut seasons of TV I’ve seen in a long time. The pilot, directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, finds creator/writer David Caspe (of Happy Endings fame) extremely in his bag of whip-smart dialogue and just the right amount of camp—enlivened by a powerhouse cast that includes Caspe’s wife/Happy Endings MVP Casey Wilson, Andrew Rannells (the greatest Girls alum who didn’t go on to play Kylo Ren), comedy queen Regina Hall, and an Academy Award-nominee you might know named Don Cheadle.
Although Caspe only wrote the pilot before handing script duty off to a slate of other gifted writers, his wickedly hilarious fingerprint is unmistakable. Count on laughs, drama, appropriately appalling 80s production design (including a red Lamborghini-limousine called—what else?—a Limbo) and obviously, mountains of cocaine. The absurdity ascends at a breakneck speed that barely allows for breath on its way to the finale when more than just the stock market comes to a climactic crash.
Need another hit? Fret not, Season 2 just started last month and is a few episodes in. Not to spoil too much, but Don Cheadle wears a long, flowing wig. Are you seriously not interested yet? —Ariel LeBeau
'Champaign ILL'
Streaming service: YouTube Premium
Series length: One season; 10 episodes
Genre(s): Comedy
Logline: After a superstar rapper’s accidental death, his two childhood friends must find a way to survive without riding his coattails.
Of all the high crimes and misdemeanors committed last decade, the neglect Champaign ILL faced was the most wicked. But, a YouTube Premium series that debuted in the middle of December was always destined to fail. This fuccboi riches-to-rags story about hangers-on was created by David Caspe (Happy Endings) and starred Sam Richardson (Veep, Detroiters) and Adam Pally (Happy Endings, The Mindy Project). The result of these minds coming together is a short-lived series that offers up a platter of a million jokes per minute, Gucci jumpsuits, rose gold Royal Oaks, incest, opioid addiction, a keen Boogie Nights reference and 30 something-year-old men getting their shit ran by some teens. Also, there’s "8.1 Milligrams Per Deciliter," the seventh episode in the series.
"8.1 Milligrams Per Deciliter," finds the principal characters in a tension-filled bottle episode, with one trying to catch the other in a lie. It’s an homage to edge of your seat film-noir whodunnits while staying true to its irreverent Second City improv roots. What really puts this episode over the top, is that it's filmed in real-time and is shot in a single take. The series is nothing more than innocuous irreverent fun. Its seventh episode is a feat in visual storytelling and direction. One of the 2010s brightest moments in film and tv, that’s more than worthy of one of those free trials that you can use the first time you use a streaming service. The gall. The audacity. The Hitchcock. —H. Drew Blackburn
'Dare Me'
Streaming service: Netflix
Series length: One season; 10 episodes
Genre(s): Drame, Murder, Mystery, High school
Logline: A small-town high school cheerleading team with big dreams sets the stage for a mysterious violent act that sends shockwaves through the community.
One of our early favorites for Best Shows of 2020 (so far), USA Network's cheerleader murder mystery Dare Me hits Netflix; hopefully more eyes pick it up as they are on their eternal search for something to watch. Set in smalltown America, a cheerleading squad gets a new coach who is immediately their idol...even though she shouldn't be. Friendships get tested, innocence is lost, and the mystery unravels in bloody brilliant ways. It initially might look like Euphoria-lite, but its way more grounded, especially with performances from the likes of (relatively-unknown to American viewers) Marlo Kelly lighting up the screen, her character Beth evolving into a multifaceted enigma as the series progresses. It's the dark purple-tinged high school drama you didn't know you'd always needed. —khal
'Dark'
Streaming service: Netflix
Series length: Two seasons; 18 episodes
Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Thriller
Logline: The disappearance of a child unravels a conspiracy involving time travel that gobbles up four families spanning multiple generations.
My grandmother always used to say, “idle mind, work of devil.” And while she no speak’a the good English, she still made a valid point. Queue Dark, the best specimen of time travel to ever touch the screen. This highly entertaining mind-fuck of a sci-fi will get those synapse firing, with a mystery based in plot and character, then woven so elaborately through the continuum that you’ll actually have to think to solve it. Plus, the option is there to watch it in its original subtitled German, so you get to brag about how you used your Rona break to learn a new language. —Nate Houston
'Dollhouse'
Streaming service: Hulu
Series length: Two seasons; 26 episodes
Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, Procedural
Logline: A shadowy organization rents people out to the rich, but one of their operatives is slowly gaining her consciousness back and ready to blow the conspiracy wide open.
This isn't just a random pick; there's actually a peg here. If you're a fan of Westworld and especially feeling where Season 3 seems to be headed, then you should get a kick out of the Eliza Dushku-led Dollhouse. The series follows a shadowy organization of the same name, that, much like Westworld, thrives on catering specific fantasies to the uber-rich. In this case the methods are even ickier: instead of robots, there are "dolls," actual human beings (who, so we're told at least, signed up for this willingly) who operate as blank, child-like slates when they're not in use but can otherwise be "programmed" with an identity suited to the client's wants or needs. (Obviously sex is the standard—again, ick factor—but the series goes out of its way to throw in curves like a heist or at the very least give emotional weight to the clients besides just wanting to sleep with Eliza Dushku.)
Dusku plays Echo, a doll who is on the verge of "waking up," while flashbacks show how she landed herself here in the first place. The series gets off to an admittedly rough start. Coming from prolific TV creator Joss Whedon, when it aired plenty of fans, myself included, were disappointed that the series started out less fire and more full of potential but with loads of problems. (Skip Episode 3 altogether). But Episode 6 opens the world up in several truly exciting ways. Conspiracy! Mythology! From there the procedural episodes get more and more innovative while a larger serialized arc builds slowly before... a truly batshit season finale that features none of the main cast and jumps forward to a near future where society is in dystopian shambles and somehow the Dollhouse is the cause of it. Which sets up a vastly more interesting second season, complete with a mid-season cancellation that allows Whedon and his writers to go all-in on building to a satisfying series finale. It's far from Buffy, Angel or Firefly but Dollhouse is further confirmation Whedon is ahead of his time. —Frazier Tharpe
'Flavor of Love'
Streaming service: Hulu
Series length: Two seasons; 23 episodes
Genre(s): Reality, Comedy
Logline: A group of women compete for the love of Public Enemy’s hype man, Flavor Flav.
Gather round folks, would anybody like a tall ice-cold glass of fuckery? Some pure uncut fish scale fuckery? Yeah, you want some of that fuckery. If you trace the gradual shift of reality television from mindless voyeurism into a deranged anthropological study of the human race’s worst qualities, the first tectonic shift probably takes place in Sin City during the twelfth season The Real World. That’s patient zero. The outbreak, you can thank Flavor of Love for that.
Flavor of Love’s premise, that dozens of (mostly) beautiful women would fight over the chance to “fall in love” with Public Enemy’s obnoxious clock wearing hypeman is absurd enough. Never mind the fact that pretty much every woman on the show was in elementary school when Fear of a Black Planet came out. Then the show begins with a ceremony that finds Flavor Flav nicknaming all the “contestants” by merely giving them a once over and gathering two or three surface-level facts about their lives. What ensues is grown women letting a strange old man only refer to them as: Miss Latin, Dimplez, Oyster, Hoopz, Pumkin, Applez and of course, none other than, New York. It all makes for incredible television.
The classic moments are infinite. There was the time Hottie said she looked like Beyonce and New York said, no, you look like Luther Vandross. Speaking of Hottie, there was also the time she tried to cook raw chicken in a microwave. And how could you forget about Pumkin spitting on New York. And that’s just the first season, you gotta wait for season two for Somethin to take a dookie on herself. —H. Drew Blackburn
'Hannibal'
Streaming service: Prime
Series length: Three seasons; 39 episodes
Genre(s): Horror, Thriller, Drama
Logline: Who can really understand (young) Dr. Hannibal Lecter? We may have found the guy.
If you’re the squeamish type, you guessed right: avoid this one. For everyone else that doesn’t mind their serial killer dramas captured with movie-level style, skinned of all pointless fat, then fed to you through the sinfully delicious performances of Mads Mikkelsen and Lawrence Fishburne, well then pull up a table because this one’s a feast. Set pre-Silence of The Lambs, fans of the movies will be thrilled by familiar names and the overall tone. If you haven’t seen the films yet, no worries, it’s just something else for you to watch once you tear through this underrated heat. —Nate Houston
'Happy Endings'
Streaming service: Hulu
Series length: Three seasons; 57 episodes
Genre(s): Sitcom, Ensemble Comedy, Romance
Logline: A troupe of six twenty-something best friends navigate heightened hijinks in life and love while living in Chicago.
A blind date with a guy named Hitler. A mother-daughter musical duet at a boat show. A white supremacist parrot named Tyler. An intervention for a character with a pathological addiction to V-necks. An exploding limousine. These are just a few offerings from the high-concept ensemble comedy Happy Endings, which belongs in the esteemed canon of utterly batshit sitcoms alongside 30 Rock, Seinfeld, and Arrested Development.
Though it was tragically canceled in 2013 after just three seasons, the David Caspe-created show crammed no shortage of insanity into its 57 short episodes, earning a fervent cult following who still cling to the hope for a reunion to this day. Watch and you’ll understand why: its off-the-wall plot scenarios come with an onslaught of rapid-fire jokes and maddeningly clever one-liners, and the cast (featuring Adam Pally, Damon Wayans Jr., Elisha Cuthbert, Casey Wilson, and more) couldn’t be better at bringing their characters’ neuroses to life while keeping them likable. A sitcom is only as successful as its ensemble; the great ones play every position in perfect harmony like a championship-winning team. An episode of Happy Endings is like watching 22 minutes of straight buckets. If you’re wary of prestige dramas and craving levity, or perhaps you’re in the market for something so cracked-out it makes the bizarre reality we’re living in feel normal by comparison, look no further. —Ariel LeBeau
'High Fidelity'
Streaming service: Hulu
Series length: One season; 10 episodes
Genre(s): Comedy, Romance
Logline: Zoe Kravitz stars in this reimagined romcom series adapted from the popular 2000 film.
I didn’t think it was possible for me to love actress Zoe Kravitz any more than I already did...and then I started Hulu’s High Fidelity. Rebooted and retooled from the 2000 John Cusack-starring film, Hulu’s 2020 take (showrun by Veronica West and Sarah Kucserka) swaps Chicago for Brooklyn and a male lead for a female one—providing a vehicle for the aforementioned Kravitz to completely and utterly shine. Freed from the dourness that wrought most of her character in the mangled second season of Big Little Lies, Kravtiz through her portrayal of Rob gets a chance to offer a full, well-rounded, and vibrant performance.
Those familiar with the Nick Hornby book and/or the Stephen Frears movie will see some of the same beats (pun intended) hit throughout the adaptation, but fittingly remixed for our modern era. Speaking of beats, the music in the show is chock-full of killer tracks—handled entirely by Questlove—that will linger on long after the show is done. And, with 10 half-hour episodes, it’ll be a quick and entertaining watch over the course of a weekend. Just be prepared to be utterly and completely charmed by Zoe Kravitz by the time it is all said and done. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. —William Goodman
'High Maintenance'
Streaming service: HBO Now
Series length: Four seasons; 25 episodes
Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Anthology
Logline: A heterogeneous smattering of New Yorkers live out disparate storylines with one unifying component: an affable weed dealer, known only as The Guy.
For anyone feeling mentally wrung-out and looking for something mild to take the edge off, High Maintenance is the perfect palate cleanser. It sits in a comfortable languor between comedy and drama, and doesn’t tip too far in either direction; it won’t stress you out, or over-stimulate you in any way. Although there are moments of tension or sadness, the emotional stakes are never so extreme that they aren’t resolved by the time each 30-minute episode is over. And because the episodes are short, self-contained, and each one centers on a different crop of characters, it requires virtually no commitment from you as a viewer. No matter whether you watch two episodes or 20, in order or shuffled around—it’s satisfying, easily digestible, and won’t leave you feeling fatigued.
The show, which initially began as a web series, follows The Guy as he traverses New York City, bringing viewers into the homes and complex lives of his clientele—an agoraphobe, a pair of nudists, a veterinarian, a professional intimacy coordinator, a nightclub performer with an MD; the list goes on, and their stories sprawl out well beyond their transactions with The Guy. One of my personal favorite episodes tells its story from the perspective of a Labradoodle. Consider it the equivalent of people-watching on a neighborhood stroll (especially if you’re a New Yorker), but from the comfort of your couch. —Ariel LeBeau
'Homecoming'
Streaming service: Prime
Series length: One season; 10 episodes
Genre(s): Psychological Thriller
Logline: Based on a podcast of the same name, viewers are taken through two timelines trying to unravel a mystery revolving the rehabilitation of soldiers and the nefarious activity that surrounds the facility they are housed in.
Of course it took Mr. Robot-creator Sam Esmail to get a legend like Julia Roberts to the small screen in a role you wouldn't normally assume she'd take. Based on a fictional podcast, Homecoming follows two specific timelines, fleshing out a complicated thriller surrounding a facility that says its helping soldiers return to normalcy but has more sinister plans afoot. Roberts does the damn thing and has a number of scenes with Bobby Cannavale that are criminally underrated. If you're a fan of Mr. Robot and wanted to see what Esmail was doing before that series' brilliant final season, it was called Homecoming. And the best part? Season 2 is slated to drop some time this year, so you've got enough time to consume the podcast, then run through this series before that one (which stars Janelle Monae) begins. —khal
'Justified'
Streaming service: Hulu
Series length: Six seasons; 78 episodes
Genre(s): Crime, Action, Western, Drama
Logline: Timothy Olyphant is a badass U.S. Marshal whose antics get him bounced back to his Kentucky hometown where he has to face the sins of his past, and a host of colorful characters both criminal and personal
There aren't enough superlatives I can say about Justified. If there's one binge-related silver lining of the Corona Chronicles, it's that this shitstorm just happened to coincide with the long-awaited launch of FXOnHulu. FX has long been on the Mount Rushmore of contemporary networks yet its streaming situation has never been solidified—some of the best series on their slate, past and present, have never been available to stream on the big dogs like Netflix, Hulu, or Prime, Justified being one such casualty.
Now that all of FX's gems are under one roof at Hulu though, make Justified the first series you catch up on. Timothy Olyphant was most recently seen flexing his comedy muscles sparring with Larry David on Curb, but there's a reason Tarantino cast him as the hero of his faux western pilot in Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood: Olyphant is a marvel as the slick-mouthed Raylan Givens, a modern-day U.S. Marshal who exudes old-fashioned Western cool. The catch, of course, is under that exterior lies a man tormented by his past and upbringing. Fitting then, that his actions in the pilot find him bounced back to his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky where there's an old reminder of some inner demon or past sin lurking around every corner—an ex-wife, a petty criminal father, and an old friend who now leads the town's foremost criminal element.
Justified takes the serialized approach popularized by OG Golden Age shows like Buffy and The Shield: a case-of-the-week format early in each season all while a new season-long antagonist's arc builds and builds before it all explodes beautifully in the back half. Boasting tense face-offs both verbal and violent, insanely good dialog—Raylan is an adaptation of an Elmore Leonard character and the scripts always live up to Leonard's punchy, conversational dialog and atmosphere—and whipsmart black humor, Justified is among the best TV the 2010s had to offer. At one point in Season 3, Raylan throws a bullet at a mob enforcer, warning: "The next one's coming faster." If that sample doesn't make you want to queue this series up immediately, then there's no hope for you. —Frazier Tharpe
'Killing Eve'
Streaming service: Hulu
Series length: Two seasons; 16 episodes
Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime, Dark Comedy
Logline: A British intelligence operative and one of the world’s deadliest assassins develop a perverse fixation with one another that escalates into an intoxicating game of cat-and-mouse.
If there’s anyone that understands the heartache of being distant from a loved one, it’s Eve Polastri and her psychopathic sweetheart Villanelle. MI6 investigator Eve (played by the iconic Sandra Oh) has been tasked with tracking down the charismatic killer (the freakishly talented Jodie Comer), spawning a morbid obsession that only gets more twisted once Villanelle makes it evident that she has a thing for Eve as well. As Villanelle invents ways to flirt from afar while racking up kills across Europe, Eve’s motivation to catch up to her intensifies. Awww.
The BBC series, based on Luke Jennings’ Villanelle novels and helmed in large part by Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is a twisted tale of psychological infatuation and sapphic power play that knows just how to leave you wanting more. Your reward once you catch up: Season Three begins April 12 on AMC. —Ariel LeBeau
'Maniac'
Streaming service: Netflix
Series length: One season; 10 episodes
Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Dark Comedy, Drama
Logline: Minds get altered in this offbeat look at a pharmaceutical trial and the people it effects.
Self-isolation got you some type of way? Maniac knows exactly how you feel. In fact, feelings are the basis of the entire show. This psychological sci-fi builds its worlds from its character’s mental states such as anxiety and depression, offering you a depth of connection almost equal to company. Every emotional crevice is turned into a literal one and then explored. Sound a little heady? Let Jonah Hill and Emma Stone be your guide. Both do a wonderful job of traversing this unique story while making you feel like you’re spending time with them instead of just watching. So, get up out your feels and say hello to your new quarantine-safe best friend. —Nate Houston
'People Just Do Nothing'
Streaming service: Netflix
Series length: Five seasons; 27 episodes
Genre(s): Mockumentary, Comedy
Logline: A bumbling crew of pirate radio DJs try to achieve greatness via any idiocy necessary.
Want a curveball? Love British comedy and grime music? This is the series for you. The Kurupt FM crew had been sending up grime culture for years, but with the BBC's backing, they were able to craft this brilliant mockumentary, fully-realizing their parody's potential. Following MC Grindah, People Just Do Nothing takes us into the heart of the clueless believer; their pirate radio doesn't even extend that far outside of their immediate vicinity, but the squad swears they are bound for superstardom. Clueless but dedicated, Grindah and company's exploits examine all of the tried-and-true ways that musical acts are supposed to get "put on," but with the hilarious twist that practically NOTHING works. And that's not even touching on the daily British life and his romantic life that also fail miserably. You could run through this series relatively quickly; then you'll just hit the re-rewind and run it back once again. Selecta! —khal
'Rome'
Streaming service: HBO Now
Series length: Two seasons; 22 episodes
Genre(s): Historical Drama
Logline: Two soldiers factor into a number of historical events.
Yeah, I know, a show about ancient Rome seems more like a chore than entertainment, right? Let me put it this way: If Game of Thrones is full of depraved characters and twisted schemes, Rome is positively dripping. With more violence, sex, political backstabbing, and outright beheadings, how it managed to merge all that into a refined drama with Shakespearean level acting I’ll never know. I do know it’s my favorite show of all time though, and with only two short seasons there’s no excuse why it shouldn’t get a shot at becoming yours. —Nate Houston
'Sharp Objects'
Streaming service: HBO Now
Series length: Limited series; 8 episodes
Genre(s): Psychological Thriller, Drama, Murder Mystery
Logline: An anti-social, alcoholic journalist returns to her hometown to report on a series of unsolved murders and is forced to confront her own past traumas in the search for answers.
Adapted from the Gillian Flynn novel of the same name and directed/edited by Jean-Marc Vallée, this lurching Southern Gothic murder mystery is the hybrid of Gone Girl and Big Little Lies that you didn’t know you needed, with a sprinkle of True Detective for good measure. Amy Adams stars as anti-heroine Camille Preaker, who reluctantly agrees to report on the mysterious murders of two young girls in her Missouri hometown. She returns to the Victorian mansion she grew up in, toting baggage in the form of vodka bottles and childhood trauma—which comes bubbling up like stomach acid as soon as she rolls back into town. Camille contends with a Greek chorus of townspeople, her aloof teenage sister close in age to the victims, her deceptively saccharine Southern belle mother (a chilling Patricia Clarkson), and a pugnacious cop from out of town (Chris Messina) as she uncovers more truth than she bargained for.
Come for the twisty murder mystery, but stay for Vallée’s eerie and surreal construction of memory, and the bristling performances by Adams, Clarkson, and Messina (the most underrated Hollywood Chris, FYI). The show is a slow burn before it ramps up to its climax, but the exploration of Camille’s interiority is excellent in how painstaking it is; such complexity is usually reserved for male versions of this character type. At only eight episodes, you can burn through the miniseries in one well-spent day, but just know that the gut-punch ending will keep replaying in your brain long after you’ve finished. —Ariel LeBeau
'The Sopranos'
Streaming service: HBO Now
Series length: Six seasons; 86 episodes
Genre(s): Crime, Drama
Logline: Come to see what happens when a mob boss goes to see a psychiatrist, stay for the engrossing family drama that ensues
What's bugged out about a show like The Sopranos is that while everyone knows about it, you'd be surprised by how many people haven't watched. If that's you, and you can't go outside anyway, why not check out what made Tony Soprano such a beast.
It wasn't the first drama that HBO knocked out of the park, but David Chase's violent, hilariously painful series was the blueprint for a number of series that followed behind. The way it was shot, its use of music, the gritty realism of mob ways in New Jersey...it was unique at its time, and needs to be recognized for the excellence it brought to Sunday nights. Was Sunday even an institution before The Sopranos?!
James Gandolfini really was the Skipper, guiding a talented cast in episodes that made you love his terrible Tony Soprano. Watching the series is both a time capsule of how insane technology was in the early 2000s, but also feels timeless. Ultraviolent murders, unrelenting scumbaggery, all twisted into some of the most entertaining hours of television ever. What's not to love? —khal
'ZeroZeroZero'
Streaming service: Prime
Series length: One season; 8 episodes
Genre(s): Crime, Action, Family Drama
Logline: Three families fates are intertwined in a wicked web of legit and illegitimate means as millions of narcotics are at stake.
Starring Gabriel Byrne and based on the book by Roberto Saviano, this series is perfect for those who enjoy a good crime drama. Partly in English, Spanish, and Italian, these eight episodes will take on a ride of a lifetime in a brutally honest portrayal of the international drug trade. The same guys that made this also created Gomorrah the series, which you should also watch while you're at it. —Angel Diaz