Why you should watch: While ultimately a true crime satire, where this series shines is in its charismatic leading actors and their ability to deliver pitch-perfect comedy. Critics praised the first season for its engaging characters and sense of fun. TV Insider said: “With shocking twists up to the very last scene, this broad satire recalls Netflix’s Dead to Me in its frothy mix of suspense and silliness.”

Season 2 available on December 16

Why you should watch: With Ibrahim’s book described as “crazier than Goodfellas, more compelling than The Godfather”, there’s no doubt that his rags-to-riches story is fascinating. For fans of period gangster dramas like Peaky Blinders, or enthralling antiheroes like Tony Soprano, this one is a must-see.

Available now

Why you should watch: Combining legendary actress Bates with a beloved ‘80s reboot really is a no-brainer for success. Still, it’s surprisingly good, even surprising Bates herself - who admits she considered retiring before the script arrived in her hands. Matlock was hailed a critical hit across the board when it first aired in the US in September 2024, and it’s already been renewed for a second series.

Available November

Why you should watch: This drama has all the ingredients for success: a hugely respected novel about a daring killer played by an Oscar winner. With the quality involved, it should be a hit. Lashana Lynch co-stars, with a superb supporting cast including Charles Dance and Lia Williams.

Available now

Why you should watch: If you were a fan of Game of Thrones (GOT), then that should be reason enough to invest some time in House of Dragon. GOT may have ended on something of a bum note for some viewers, but HOD seems to have regained the public's trust... All your favourites themes are back - including backstabbing, betrayal, blood, and dragons. Oh, and LOTS of flowing blonde hair! The acting is great too, with Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke, and Milly Alcock in particular drawing plenty of praise for their performances. Described as "unmissable TV” by The Guardian, this is the franchise back to its brilliant best.

Available now

Why you should watch: Chernobyl came out to huge critical and fan acclaim in 2019, winning BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Emmy's, including Outstanding Limited Series. The performances were praised, and the historical accuracy and detail was widely commended. The reviews were great too, with the BBC describing it as a "tough watch" with "some of the most unsettling" moments seen on TV. It also has a popcorn meter rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is very impressive, knowing how fickle audiences can be. Knowing all this, why on earth wouldn't you watch it?!

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Why you should watch: The Sopranos is generally considered to be one of - if not the - best series of all time. The show's plot lines, characters, grittiness, and direction have all been praised in the past, and for good reason. Gandolfini's complicated portrayal of mob boss Soprano is incredibly watchable and strangely likeable, and will stay with you for a long time. The series has had some fantastic reviews too, with no series hitting lower than 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Sopranos is truly groundbreaking television - and deserves to be watched by all.

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Why you should watch: There likely isn't another series that quite took the world by storm to the extent that Game of Thrones did. In its heyday, it was everywhere, and for good reason. The storylines were thrilling, the characters were brilliant, and the fact that anyone could die at any moment meant that the stakes were constantly in the stratosphere. Divisive ending aside, the journey that Game of Thrones took viewers on is one for the ages, and is well worth experiencing. A show that's received more than 700 award nominations (and won close to 300 of them) is clearly doing something right. And you can make up your own mind about THAT controversial ending.

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Why you should watch: Succession stands with The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wire and Mad Men as one of the greatest series of all time. Here are some of the awards Succession has won. The Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Three times. The BAFTA for Best International Programme. The Critic's Choice Award for Best Drama Series. Three times. The Golden Globe for Best Drama Series. Three times. And that's not to mention all the awards the actors have (deservedly) won. If all of that doesn't at least tempt you to try Succession out, we give up faster than Brian Cox's Logan Roy can roar an expletive.

Available now

Why you should watch: If you want a gritty crime drama with a detective struggling with her own issues, then you're in the right place. But if you think you've seen it all before, you really haven't. Winslet's performance has been widely praised, with The Guardian describing it as "career-defining". They also praised the characters, saying that by a few episodes in, you’ll deeply care for them. "Everything and everyone is real and you care about every tiny part. Wonderful," they wrote. This is a series well worth getting your teeth stuck into. And, beware, there's an event midway through the series that will break your heart into a million pieces.

Available now

Why you should watch: Euphoria is regularly branded the US version of Skins, which is quite the compliment considering how good that show was. And its multitude of awards prove it too. It deals with a number of heavy topics, but it also has plenty of juicy drama - and sex - too. The cast is fantastic, with Sweeney, Zendaya, and Elordi in particular knocking their roles out of the park. It's no surprise they've gone on to forge impressive careers. The Guardian praised the show back in 2019 for nailing the angst and struggles of teen life, saying: "There is a fundamental truth shared by almost everyone: adolescence is horribly cruel, and sweetly naive, in ever-shifting combinations of the two. If there's one thing Euphoria understands perfectly, it's that."

Available now

Why you should watch: Video game adaptions aren't always good. In fact, a lot of them are downright rubbish. But this isn't one of them. The Last of Us is just as good as the video game, with some brilliant performances from Pascal and Ramsey, who nail the characters and cause us to become totally invested in their journey. As The Guardian wrote last year, The Last of Us is "one of the finest TV shows you will see this year". If you do enjoy this, then good news - there's a second series being filmed right now! Meanwhile, if you're a fan of the game, then this is a must watch. Even if you've never played the game before, you're still missing out if you don't sit down and watch this.

Available now

Why you should watch: Inside No. 9 is the perfect series to dip in and out of in any order that you like. Every episode is uniquely funny in its own way, and every episode is bound to pull the rug from under your feet - and we mean every single episode! The twists are fantastic, the stories are great, and not once do they feel same-y or repetitive. The brilliantly original Shearsmith and Pemberton get to show off their fantastic range in this series, and every episode features some brilliant supporting guest stars. The first seven series - which originally aired on the BBC - are available on Now, which should keep you entertained until the final two seasons are made available (fingers crossed).

Available now

Why you should watch: It's a thriller with a very compelling mystery that will keep you guessing until the end of series 1. It's dark, it's gruesome at times, but it's also surprisingly funny, which is always a good thing when dealing with grim subject matters. As Empire magazine put it: "Gruesome, gripping and blackly comic, this tightly-plotted mystery-horror is meaty in all the right (and wrong) ways." There is a second season of the show, however it isn't available on Now yet. Yellowjackets season 3 is expected to premiere in 2025 on Paramount+.

Available now

Why you should watch: If you want grit and crime and drama and action, then Gangs of London is literally the perfect series for you. Not only does it have a compelling mystery, plenty of twists and turns, and action, it also has a fantastic cast. Cole, Fairley, Msamati, Dirisu, and Essiedu are all brilliant in their roles, and will make you believe that they're all gangsters in the London underworld, and not just actors playing pretend. There are currently two seasons available to stream, with a third currently in production - so what better time to catch up?

Available now

Why you should watch: It's not often that a remake is better than the original, but some say this is true of The Office US. It has arguably one of the best 'will-they-won't-they' relationships ever put to screen, as well as plenty of memorable characters. It's also downright funny, and has a lot of charm and heart. Although it does admittedly lose its way a little towards the end, it's still well worth investing time in. It's one of those shows that you can dip in and out of and with 201 episodes available, there's plenty to dip in to!

Available now

Why you should watch: Since launching, The White Lotus has been nominated for 112 awards, winning 48 of them, including six Emmy's and two Golden Globes. It's safe to say that it's doing something right. Not only is it very funny, but the cast is great too, with a number of big names bringing their A-game, in particular Coolidge, who steals the show. It's a great concept too, with every season focusing on new characters. Variety even branded it the best show of 2022. We're inclined to agree.

Available now

Why you should watch: More than 20 years on, and Band of Brothers is still considered one of the best TV shows ever made. It’s a gritty, intense, intimate look at the lives of the men who risked everything in the bloodiest of wars - and is heartbreaking at times. And the cast is just… wow. The amount of star power on show (maybe not so much at the time, but definitely now) is astounding. Plus, it was made by Steven Spielberg, who also made Saving Private Ryan, so you can imagine just how good it is. Well worth a watch if you haven't seen it already. And worth another watch even if you have.

Available now

Why you should watch: The Night Of has a compelling central mystery which will have you hooked pretty much instantly (what more could you ask for?). It's a fantastic performance from Ahmed, as per, which was described as "magnificent" by the New Yorker at the time. It all feels a bit too real sometimes, which will undoubtedly make you feel uncomfortable, but also grip you even tighter. Perhaps one that slips under the radar, but well worth checking out.

Available now

Why you should watch: It's a comedy drama with a lot of heart. It's a fun watch that isn't going to give you a headache from concentrating hard on, yet there's still a hint of darkness there that means it's not all silly and light and fluffy. As The Guardian said in a review of series one: "Resident Alien knows what it is doing and does it with admirable sincerity. It deploys well-worn tropes without cynicism and plays with others without winking exhaustingly at its audience." Alan Tudyk's performance also received much praise. If you want something fun and easy to watch, this might be the perfect show for you.

Available now

Why you should watch: Brassic has proven to be something of a smash hit since debuting five years ago. It's been described as "bingeworthy" (Common Sense Media) and a "tsunami of filth" (by the London Evening Standard). It's funny, it's full of charm, and it's one of those shows where you will just fall in love with the characters and not want to leave their sides. As The Guardian wrote of season one: "It is a hilarious, warm, brutal melange that works because it has heart without sentimentality and authenticity without strain." With six series available and a seventh on the way, this is not to be slept on.

Available now

Why you should watch: If you were a fan of James Gunn's film Suicide Squad, then you should definitely watch this. It's just as funny and action-packed, and it features a surprisingly brilliant performance from former wrestler John Cena. They're rebooting the DC cinematic universe, but Peacemaker is staying where it is for now, and for good reason... It's one of the best things to come out of the DC / Warner Bros partnership in a long time. Season 2 is on its way.

Available now

Why you should watch: It might not sound like the most thrilling of concepts but, trust us, you won't be able to get enough of these two egos battling it out in the financial market. As the Rotten Tomatoes website says: "Despite a lack of likable characters, Billions' soapy melodrama and larger-than-life canvas offer plenty of repeat viewing potential." Both Lewis and Giamatti are endlessly watchable, and really make you love them as much as you hate them. To make things even better, all seven seasons are available to watch right now, so get binging!

Available now

Why you should watch: This four-part drama is based on chilling real-life events. Colman and Thewlis are simply sublime as the seemingly-quiet couple who committed such horrific murders, and got away with it for years. The Guardian called for Colman and Thewlis to win awards for their performances, writing: "It is a rich, generous, clever, multi-textured thing, immaculately played by all the main actors, but awards for Colman, Thewlis and the script must surely be given." And they were certainly nominated for plenty of awards in 2022...

Available now

Why you should watch: Another chilling series based on a true story, this a must watch whether you know the story or not (it was the subject of a documentary back in 2004 which was released on Netflix in 2018). It's received some good reviews since being released, with Firth's performance in particular drawing praise. Although the glossiness of the series attracted some criticism, it's still worth investing a few hours on, even if it is just for the performances on show.

Available now

Why you should watch: It's one of the most iconic American comedies of all time - up there alongside series such as Friends, The Office US, and Seinfeld. Every episode has something hilarious and often cringeworthy happening, and David is pure comedy gold. It's another one where you can just dip in and out of, as there are a whopping 80 episodes over 8 series (on Now, there are actually 12 seasons in total on Amazon Prime). Although once you start, you won't want to stop!

Available now

Why you should watch: Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard are great fun together and play off each other well, as you'd expect with two actors of their calibre. There's a great guest supporting cast too, with Michael McKean and Alun Armstrong also appearing. It can be a bit stressful to watch, with the unrelenting nature of parenthood really hammered home - so it might make you want to take a lie down after. But when you're ready, you really should watch the rest because it's just brilliant. There are four series in total.

Available now

Why you should watch: It's a great concept... A much darker, sci-fi version of Groundhog Day. The concept of time loops is always fascinating, and there's so much scope with what you can do with them. It's had some good reviews, with The Telegraph writing: "The Lazarus Project has a bright concept behind it with satisfying bursts of action." Paapa Essiedu is always good in whatever he's in, as is Mohindra. If you fancy giving something a bit more 'out there' a go, then this will be right up your street. Tom Burke is also brilliant as the mysterious Dennis Rebrov. There are two series to watch.

Available now

Why you should watch: Another fantastic crime drama about gangsters and their warfare, Gomorrah has been compared favourably to The Sopranos and Breaking Bad, which is very, very high praise indeed. As The Guardian once said, Gomorrah is for "those who like mafia shows and the sort of anti-hero dramas that have become the stock in trade of 'peak TV', this is another excellent entry". This isn't a series that should be missed.

Available now

Now TV has a whole host of series to binge this December, from fantasy giant Game of Throne to cult classic The Sopranos - streaming has never been so good!