I’ve had a busy week of TV.
I finished Orange Is The New Black and Big Little Lies, The OA has been cancelled 😭, and I became obsessed with, and binged the entirety of, Euphoria! I’ve also finally caught up with The Handmaid’s Tale and I can’t believe just how consistently excellent that show is!
But you already know how great those shows are. The point of this series is to recommend shows that aren’t as universally well known! Hopefully, that way you can find a new favourite show, that you might not have discovered otherwise!
This is the last post in the series… for now.
It has been a month of recommendations, and with a lot changing in my personal life (a new job, moving house etc), so I have decided to put it on hold for now. So far, I’ve listed 40 shows – so that should keep you going in the meantime! I hope you have enjoyed it and I look forward to doing more TV related posts soon!
The Last Kingdom
For anyone missing Game of Thones or looking for a proper historical show then The Last Kingdom will be right up your street. Politics, romance, war… this has it all.
For fans of: Game of Thrones, Vikings, Black Sails
Watch on: Netflix
Good Girls Revolt
Sadly there’s only one season of this brilliant show as it was cruelly cancelled before it could fully hit its stride. Starring amazing actors such as Anna Camp, the show is set in the late 60s at an American news magazine. Following the three leading ladies and how they navigate their changing world of feminism and sexism, this show is a lot of fun with a big heart.
For fans of: Mad Men, Marvellous Mrs Maisel, Masters of Sex, The Bold Type, Pan Am
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
Timeless
As regular readers probably know by now, I’m a big fan of anything involving time travel and so Timeless was always going to be something I was interested in watching. Thankfully, it not only uses the time travel trope wisely but has a lot more depth than meets the eye. This is partly due to the incredible acting talents of the main cast, the excellent attention to detail and clever plots woven together to create something pretty special. Unfairly cancelled after only two seasons, the show packs in a lot with the time it had.
For fans of: Travelers, Continuum, 12 Monkeys, Doctor Who,
Watch on: Netflix
Versailles
Step back in time with Versailles, a voluptuous and glimmering gem of a show. Set in the court of French King Louis XIV in the 1600s the period detail is absolutely breathtaking. We follow Louis as he navigates life as King, and all the politics, affairs and ambitions that ensue. This is the epitome of a period drama, totalling three seasons of absolute fun.
For fans of: The Tudors, The White Queen, Wolf Hall, Reign, Victoria, The Crown
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
Our Girl
Beginning with a TV movie in 2013 (starring Lacey Turner, pictured), the programme then goes on to become a full series, with a new lead and storyline. Both editions of Our Girl are completely gripping, emotional and awe-inspiring to watch, so which ever you decide to start with, you’re in for a treat. Both follow the basic premise of following a young woman joining the army and how drastically life changes.
For fans of: The Last Post, Line of Duty, Bluestone 42, Bodyguard
Watch on: BBC iPlayer
You, Me and the Apocalypse
In need of a laugh? This show has plenty of them. The world is coming to an end and this group of odd balls are the only hope the world has. Chaos and hilarity ensues! Starring Jenna Fisher, Rob Lowe and Matthew Baynton, the cast is strong and the story is epic.
For fans of: The Wrong Mans, Catastrophe, The World’s End, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The End of the F****ing World
Watch on: Now TV, Sky
The Good Wife
If you need proof of how much I enjoyed this show, I centered my entire dissertation around it! A proper legal drama, focused on one complex leading lady, The Good Wife is peak TV. In my opinion this is the greatest TV show about lawyers ever made, but it is also so much more than that. Politics, romance… think The West Wing meets Scandal.
For fans of: The Good Fight, Suits, How to Get Away with Murder, House of Cards, For The People
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
In need for an odd-ball comedy, mixing fantasy and reality? Look no further than Dirk Gently. This show is seriously funny and goes to places you can never predict. Each season just goes further and further, pushing the limits of imagination, demonstrating just how epic comedy TV can be.
For fans of: The Umbrella Academy, Maniac, Russian Doll, Pushing Daisies, The Good Place, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Sherlock, Doctor Who
Watch on: Netflix
Shameless
Shameless has a special place in my heart. Starting in 2011, the show is about to enter its 10th season and continues to be a masterpiece of acting. UK readers might be familiar with the original UK version, but the US show, in my eyes, far superior. Following the dysfunctional Gallagher family, viewers are thrust into the world of working-class Chicago. Each character is carefully crafted, with some top notch actors on screen, Shameless can make you both laugh out loud and cry with heartbreak in just one scene.
For fans of: Skins, You’re The Worst, Orange is the New Black, Looking, Easy
Watch on: Netflix
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel
MMM showcases 1950s Manhattan in all its glory, as it follows Midge as her life falls apart and she stumbles into stand up comedy. She discovers she is actually rather good at it and so attempts to enter New York stand-up scene. As a woman in comedy, there are many issues to face, but Midge takes them all in her stride. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter, and yet her comedy ambitions allow her to stand on her own two feet as a woman again. Emotional, wry comedy, with magnificent drama and gorgeous period costumes, MMM is an absolute treat.
For fans of: Fleabag, Glow, Gilmore Girls, Mad Men
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
I love Shameless!! It’s one of my favourite series, no matter how wacky it is. I’ve got Dirk Gently on my to-watch list.