Whether a streaming service has the syndication rights to a show or it has produced an original series, there are hundreds of thousands of hours worth of entertainment available just a couple of clicks away. However, because all of the streaming services are so inundated with different content, it can be hard to know where to start.
And on top of that, it can be hard to even know which streaming platform to sign up to, as there are now so many different platforms all with their own exclusive content. It isn’t an easy decision, as they all have top-notch quality series in which the difference in quality is incremental.
Amazon Prime Video – The Boys (8.7)
Though Amazon Prime Video has been going for a while, they were losing the race, as it took the company long enough to finally create a show that was universally acclaimed by both critics and general audiences.
However, capitalizing on the success of superhero movies in the strangest way possible, the streaming platform threw The Boys into development, which is an absurd satire based on the DC and Marvel cinematic universes. The show is so good that everybody agrees it’s thought-provoking just as much as it is ultra-violent.
Apple TV+ – Ted Lasso (8.7)
There is no reason that Ted Lasso should be as good as it is, as it’s a typical fish-out-of-water type show with a premise that sounds like it could be the next Adam Sandler movie. The show follows the titular character, who is a former American Football manager, become the manager of an English soccer team.
All of the jokes revolve around how different of a place the UK is to the US, whether it’s drinking tea, driving on the wrong side of the road, or playing darts. And though it has no right to be as hilarious as it is, Ted Lasso is arguably the best new show of 2020
FX – It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (8.7)
There are a lot of things that changed after the pilot episode, but the reason why It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is rated so highly is that it has remained consistent for all of its 14 seasons, and it has even been renewed for another four.
The show is almost like a cartoon, as its characters are so outlandish and they create schemes that are so moronic in order to get rich quickly, and it never gets old. With the fact that there isn’t a single character who could be the moral compass of the show, as every single one of them is completely heartless, selfish, and narcissistic, it’s ironically one of the most beloved comedies on TV.
Peacock – The Office (8.8)
Though Peacock might be the laughing stock of streaming services (and its name doesn’t really do itself any favors,) the platform has expertly incentivized fans of The Office to sign up, as not only are all nine seasons of the show on there, but some never before extra scenes too.
The show is known mostly for Jim’s hilarious pranks on Dwight, and now Peacock is adding pranks that were shelved and kept from fans all those years ago, including an epic five-minute scene in which Jim tries to convince Dwight he’s trapped inside The Matrix.
Disney+ – The Mandalorian (8.8)
Though Disney+ has the entire series of The Simpsons on the platform, The Mandalorian has now surpassed the yellow people as the highest-rated show, as it’s one of the few times Star Wars exceeded fans expectations. The Mandalorian sits at a massive 8.8 on IMDb, but how much of that love for the show is based on Baby Yoda is up for debate.
Disney+ is very much in its infancy as a streaming service, but with all of the promises they’ve made about their upcoming original content, there’s going to be a lot more competition for The Mandalorian in the coming months.
CBS All Access – Twin Peaks (8.8)
Those who think WandaVision is so strange and quirky clearly haven’t seen Twin Peaks, as the show is completely ambiguous and is never in any rush to give answers to the many mysteries, and that’s if they even get answered at all.
Being about a detective trying to uncover the murder of the teenage Laura Palmer, the show spans more than 25 years, and there are many strange and supernatural elements to the show. The mysteries of Twin Peaks have led to some hilarious memes, but it remains one of the most captivating shows of all time.
Showtime – Avatar: The Last Airbender (9.2)
When it comes to child-friendly animated shows that adults can enjoy too, Avatar: The Last Airbender is the whole package. The show features some of the best art direction in a cartoon, has a great musical soundtrack, and is full of tasteful cultural references.
Not only is Avatar incredible to look at, but it’s a mature show and never talks down to its audience, as it features heavy themes of totalitarianism and imperialism, but it’s fun and exciting too.
Hulu – Rick And Morty (9.2)
With adult animated sitcoms being all the hubbub at the moment, even though there are shows like South Park and Family Guy that have been going on for decades, it was Rick And Morty that kickstarted the genre all over again. Thanks to its hilariously nihilistic lead character combined with the surreal narratives and creative parallel universes, the show went from a moderate cult hit to a worldwide phenomenon.
The show depicts an idea and a world that have never been done on the medium before, and no other irreverent animated show that has followed in its footsteps has come close to the ingenuity of Rick And Morty.
HBO Max – Game Of Thrones / The Wire (9.3)
When it comes to original programming, there’s no other network or service better than HBO. The network’s MO is generally crime dramas and adaptations of classic fiction, and that’s exactly what its two highest-rated shows are, according to IMDb.
Game of Thrones changed pop culture forever, and every October there’ll be thousands of fans who will jokingly observe that “winter is coming.” The Wire, which shares the same score as Game of Thrones, might not be as popular as the medieval influenced fantasy series, but it’s one of the most realistic and shocking crime dramas ever.
Netflix – Breaking Bad (9.5)
Breaking Bad is the crown jewel in Netflix’s programming, and both the show and the streaming service helped each other’s success. During its peak, the word of mouth about Breaking Bad led to thousands of new Netflix subscribers, and with the show being readily available to millions on the series, it reached an audience that otherwise wouldn’t have watched it.
And the word of mouth wasn’t just hype, as it’s one of the best crime dramas ever made. From the cinematography to the acting, to the imaginative storytelling, Breaking Bad is the gold standard of television.
