With some major Emmy nominations and Christina Ricci’s promise that season 2 will be even wilder than the first, Yellowjackets is the latest breakout hit for Showtime. While that series managed to do big things as soon as it arrived in late 2021, it’s far from the only show worth watching on the network.
The likes of Shameless and Dexter lasted a decade or so, making them lengthy shows to binge. If you’ve got a long weekend and want to cuddle up with a great show, Showtime has plenty of shorter options spanning only a handful of seasons at most.
The Borgias (2011-2013)
The most memorable historical drama in Showtime history is likely The Tudors but The Borgias is just as good, if not better. The latter is a bit easier to binge through since there’s one fewer season and it’s still something that will grab the audience.
The Borgias focuses on the titular family and their scandalous rise to power during the Renaissance era in Italy. Jeremy Irons was masterful as Pope Alexander VI and watching this family bribe, intimidate, and murder to get what they want is gripping. The series was nominated for more than a dozen Emmys.
Your Honor (2020-2021)
The news that Bryan Cranston was returning to the small screen in 2020 was one that had fans everywhere excited. He blew away audiences with his legendary performance as Walter White for years on Breaking Bad but this was something totally different.
He stars as Michael Desiato in Your Honor, a judge in New Orleans who tries to protect his son after he kills the son of a mafia kingpin in a hit-and-run accident. Some reviews were mixed but Cranston was universally praised. Initially designed as a miniseries, another season has been greenlit.
Kidding (2018-2020)
Throughout his career, Jim Carrey has shined as both a comedic and dramatic actor. Since his comedy heyday was back in the ’90s, it’s always welcome when he steps into that world again as he did in Yes Man and both Sonic the Hedgehog films.
Carrey blended the comedy and drama genres for his leading role on Kidding, a short-lived Showtime series about a beloved kids’ TV icon who struggles with his personal life after his son dies. With Judy Greer, Frank Langella, Catherine Keener, and more, there’s talent around every corner in this show.
House Of Lies (2012-2016)
On the surface, a show that lasts five seasons and spans nearly 60 episodes could seem like it would be too difficult to binge in a few days. However, House of Lies episodes typically last around 30 minutes, making each of them easy to consume and watch in a short time.
The show follows a group of management consultants who go above and beyond to get their deals done. The writing was strong but it was the cast that stood out thanks to Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, and Ben Schwartz, as well as guest stars like Jenny Slate and Nia Long.
Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels (2020)
Premiering in 2014, Penny Dreadful was a strong hit for Showtime and could honestly be completed rather quickly given that it only lasted 27 episodes. Eva Green and Josh Hartnett are engaging to watch but for an even shorter binge, you can check out the spinoff.
2020’s Penny Dreadful: City of Angels keeps the dark fantasy theme but takes place during the 1930s. It sees two detectives investigate a shocking murder with the centerpiece being a demoness played spectacularly by Natalie Dormer of Game of Thrones fame.
The Good Lord Bird (2020)
Showtime found success with short series in 2020 as The Good Lord Bird was another standout. Based on a 2013 novel of the same name, this series was told from the perspective of a young slave who was part of a group of abolitionist soldiers led by John Brown.
The Good Lord Bird was met with widespread acclaim for telling a compelling story and featuring quality action. Having Ethan Hawke, Daveed Diggs, Wyatt Russell, Beau Knapp, Maya Hawke, and more as part of the cast only made it all the better.
On Becoming A God In Central Florida (2019)
After making her name in some memorable films in the early 2000s, Kirsten Dunst has started to make the small screen her home. She did so with a tremendous effort on Fargo and then led Showtime’s miniseries On Becoming a God in Central Florida.
This dark comedy focused on Dunst’s Krystal Stubbs, a broke water park employee who uses pyramid schemes to con her way into wealth. The early ’90s setting and Dunst’s performance (which earned her a Golden Globe nod) were praised though the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of season 2.
Black Monday (2019-2021)
Considering the success of House of Lies and the appeal of Black Monday, there’s just something special about Don Cheadle leading a series on Showtime. Black Monday saw him earn two Emmy nominations for his turn as stockbroker Maurice Monroe.
The idea of the show was to tell the story of how an unexpected group of outsiders changed things on Wall Street. Ultimately, the response to the series was mixed, with most of the praise going toward Cheadle and the rest of the cast, which also included Regina Hall and Andrew Rannells.
Yellowjackets (2021-Present)
It’s the show that kind of took the world by storm and likely led to plenty of new subscribers for Showtime. Yellowjackets was the talk of social media throughout season 1, with fans theorizing every week about what could be going on and what could happen in the future.
Yellowjackets is huge with the LGBTQ+ community and centers on a female soccer team that gets stranded in the wild after a plane crash. The story takes place both after the crash and decades later when some have returned to the real world, with plenty of questions still needing answers. It scored seven Emmy nominations and fans are eagerly awaiting season 2.
Flatbush Misdemeanors (2021-Present)
Although Flatbush Misdemeanors didn’t garner the attention that Yellowjackets did, it’s another rousing Showtime success from 2021. The new show follows two friends who move to Brooklyn, New York, and are struggling to fit in.
Despite not having a major following, it was renewed for a season 2 and has been a critical darling so far. The lack of household names in the cast and accurate depiction of New York adds a sense of realism to the series that is much appreciated.
