What series should we watch next?

January 22, 2022 1:45 PM

Mr. Dork and I are just about to finish the series finale of The Expanse (which we loved) and are in need of something new to watch.

What can you recommend for us, based on the following?

Shows we watched and liked:

Drama
Battlestar Galactica (reboot)
Breaking Bad
Better Call Saul
Game of Thrones (I had to leave the room for a lot of the torture stuff though)
Succession
Mad Men
Winona Earp (was annoyed by some of the sex scenes but overall found it entertaining)
Lovecraft Country (this is about the upper limit of horror I can deal with)
Most of the Marvel stuff: Loki, WandaVision, Hawkeye
American Gods (about the upper limit of zombie-type stuff I can deal with)

Comedy
The Good Place
Good Omens
Derry Girls
Schitt’s Creek
Young Sheldon
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
The Office

Things I don’t care for in shows: Horror, lots of gore/gross-out, zombies, extended torture scenes, unrelenting cruelty, serial killer shit, crime dramas, and, completely out of step with the above, lengthy erotic scenes. I don’t enjoy soft porn interludes in the middle of my story. As you can see from the above list of shows I will bend the rules a little for shows that are really good stories, but I really don’t want the above no-nos to be the focus.

I’m also not a big fan of reality shows so no British bakeoff or 30 Day Fiance or similar.

I’m fine with nudity, sexual innuendo, scenes of getting into bed and/or clearly just finished up in bed, suspense, a certain amount of stylized violence that makes sense in context, swearing, smoking, drinking.

We have access to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, Disney Plus, maybe some others.

posted by Serene Empress Dork to Media & Arts (31 answers total)

For comedy:

Superstore hits a lot of the same tones as The Good Place/The Office
Parks & Rec, but I've been told starting with Season 2 is the way to go
Community
Brooklyn Nine-Nine

For not-comedy:

Patriot
Yellowjackets
Killjoys

P.S. I sometimes enjoy watching bad television with my partner because we get to snark at the screen. Two recent bad-but-good shows:

Imposters
Shetland
posted by lizifer at 1:59 PM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Drama:

• Orphan Black
• Mare of Easttown
• The Flight Attendant

Comedy:

• Detectorists
• Call My Agent! (the French original)
• Ghosts (the UK original)

posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:05 PM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

Because you mentioned Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, and Good Omens:
Eureka (comedy/sci-fi)
Haven (drama/sci-fi)
Doctor Who (sci-fi)
Stranger Things (drama/sci-fi)

Because you mentioned Derry Girls, The Good Place, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Schitt's Creek:
Miracle Workers (comedy anthology)
Galavant (musical comedy)
We Are Lady Parts (comedy)
Ted Lasso (comedy)
Rutherford Falls (comedy)
posted by panther of the pyrenees at 2:25 PM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

I'll be the guy to pop up and suggest Babylon 5 - it stands alone, so you don't have to have decades of Trek knowledge (quite) like Deep Space 9, it's generally well-considered, and it's on HBO Max at the moment. It's nearly 30 years old, so it's not the mostest currentest glitziest of shows, but it's bingeable and has the same sort of long narrative arc that the Expanse had. Plus, space political drama!

The first season is a bit ropey at times while they're establishing characters and motivations, but there's enough required backstory in there that I wouldn't suggest skipping to the second season like some other shows.
posted by Kyol at 2:25 PM on January 22, 2022 [4 favorites]

Halt and Catch Fire!!! One of the best shows about smart people failing and learning and trying! About the early days of PCs/the internet. The first season gets a little bogged down in the anti hero stuff w the Lee Pace character, but it finds equilibrium and invests in its brilliant women characters. Unfortunately I think only on AMC’s own streaming service but deeply deeply worth it.
posted by kickingthecrap at 2:39 PM on January 22, 2022 [14 favorites]

You might like:
Miracle Workers (every season has a different setting, it's funny & I really enjoyed the low stakes and gentle tone)
The Leftovers (if you're in the mood for pandemic catharsis)
Letterkenny (basically a rural sitcom)
(I have more, I will check my various interfaces when I get home)
posted by bleep at 2:44 PM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Station Eleven (HBO miniseries)
Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist (Peacock)
posted by kokaku at 2:50 PM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've also liked Letterkenny (some early fighting in the first few episodes but it's not an ongoing theme), Detectorists, and Ted Lasso. Orphan Black was too torture-y in places for me, even though it's terrific drama it's really tense and sometimes sadistic.

Other things you might like include

- What We Do in the Shadows comedy TV series. Campy vampire show with a lot of people you've heard of.
- Beforeigners. Norwegian prestige TV drama (not sure where to find) about "something happening" and now there are people from different eras showing up in a Norwegian city
- Truth Seekers comedy UK TV about people who hunt ghosts.

I assume you've seen a lot of the classics like Firefly or Farscape (both sci-fi)
posted by jessamyn at 2:52 PM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Comedy:

-Another vote for What We Do in the Shadows - very delightful (on Hulu)
-Also another vote for Detectorists - not sure how I watched this.
-How to with John Wilson (HBO)
PEN15 (Hulu) - if I understand you, this doesn't bend your rules as all the explicit sexuality has to do with being a teenager, and isn't erotic for obvious reasons. This is also the rare comedy that has also caused me to cry, as it really captures the growing pains of middle school so well. I've enjoyed watching this with my partner, as it's led to a lot of conversations reminiscing about that time in our lives (which we generally haven't had reason to discuss).

This isn't a category you mentioned, but the "Street Food" series on Netflix (Asia and Latin America) are nice 30min windows into different countries, and I've found that it's been a nice substitute for actual travel.
posted by coffeecat at 3:08 PM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

Cowboy Bebop (the Netflix live action one).
Lost in Space (stick with it, just accept that characters do nonsensical things to get the plot into certain places).
Half and Catch Fire
Letterkenny
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (not a crime procedural)
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 3:48 PM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Deadwood, with the disclaimer that there is cursing and violence. I have a similar aversion though and for some reason it just worked within the story, wasn't gratuitous. Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock has a little of the James Holden energy you may have enjoyed in The Expanse, and Ian McShane is just spectacular in everything. Wonderful cast, excellent story.

Additional suggestions: +1 to Lost In Space. +1 to Eureka. +1 to Ghosts (UK). Adding in: Upload (fun, short episodes!)
posted by belau at 4:48 PM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Drama
Peaky Blinders on Netflix (stylish antihero, because you liked Mad Men)
Justified on Hulu (neo-Western crime drama, but because you liked Breaking Bad)
Maybe Westworld on HBO (AI sci fi), Altered Carbon on Netflix (cyberpunk), Raised by Wolves on HBO (sci fi) because you liked the Expanse
+1 to Deadwood on HBO

Comedy
Never Have I Ever on Netflix (high school, because you liked Derry Girls)
Wellington Paranormal on HBO (because you liked The Office)
+1 to Detectorists on Prime, What We Do in the Shadows, PEN15 (though p awkward cringey bc too real), Upload on Prime
posted by eyeball at 5:14 PM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

If you liked The Office, you'll enjoy Superstore
posted by pyro979 at 5:41 PM on January 22, 2022

We found Narcos and Narcos: Mexico about as engrossing and fulfilling as Expanse. The violence might be on the edge of what you want, but the story depth and continuity are very very good.
posted by migurski at 6:24 PM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]

Watchmen, on HBO, is akin to a cross between the best Marvel stuff and Lovecraft Country. It has some absolutely killer performances by Regina King, Jean Smart, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen, among others. And even if you are familiar with the source material, the adaptation goes its own, very 2019, way. It deserved all the Emmy noms and wins it got.

And another enthusiastic vote for Halt and Catch Fire.

And because it just finished and my joyful tears haven’t yet dried, I cannot help but recommend Station Eleven. 10 episodes that feel like a series of short stories tell a long, interconnected tale about what remains after a deadly flu ends most human life on Earth. It’s no spoiler to say that tubas, Shakespeare, clannishness, ingenuity, fire pit singalongs, violence, and the evergreen habit of teenagers thinking their elders hopelessly old are still around. And technically, the show is absolutely beautiful, with a sound design that rivals masterpieces like The Underground Railroad and Children of Men.
posted by minervous at 6:31 PM on January 22, 2022 [3 favorites]

It's worth joining Appletv for a period of time to watch Ted Lasso.
Brooklyn 99 is way better than I expected. (hulu)
I quite liked the Magicians (netflix)
The Crown (netflix) is well done.
I've watched several episodes of Only Murders in the Building and I really like it. (hulu)

I'm going to have to try HBO Max sometime soon.
posted by theora55 at 7:03 PM on January 22, 2022 [3 favorites]

Here's a drama/thriller series that most people have never heard of, but it's truly excellent: To the Lake (it's on Netflix). Yes, it's in Russian, and yes it has subtitles – but don't let that stop you. It has a gripping story, excellent acting, and impressive sets/cinamatography. Check out the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
posted by akk2014 at 8:20 PM on January 22, 2022 [3 favorites]

+1 for Only Murders in the Building (maybe Disney+? it is here) and Superstore
Katla for odd, atmospheric scifi set in Iceland; they speak a lot of English though
Dead to Me, a black comedy, is really great with strong female leads
Glitch, Australian scifi with people coming back from the dead but NOT zombies

Here these are all on Netflix, except for Only Murders, if they aren't where you are I recommend Justwatch.com.
posted by Athanassiel at 11:40 PM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

the bureau was a really good drama about french foreign intelligence.
posted by 20 year lurk at 11:41 PM on January 22, 2022

We're loving Alan Tudyk (Wash in Firefly, Rogue One) as an alien who's crash-landed in a small town in Colorado in Resident Alien, on SyFy.

Have yet to watch Counterpart for JK Simmons playing opposite parallel-world JK Simmons. Would also suggest Orphan Black for characters you can root for in a big puzzle.

Nth-ing What We Do In The Shadows, which reminds me that we've not got into S3 after S2's climax.
posted by k3ninho at 1:22 AM on January 23, 2022 [3 favorites]

Counterpart! I think you'll love it.
posted by spicytunaroll at 4:12 AM on January 23, 2022

The Righteous Gemstones is a very good comedy on HBO.
posted by jeoc at 6:02 AM on January 23, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thank you for all the suggestions! Many of these we have already watched and loved... I didn't want to put too long of a list in my question. But yes, we did love Superstore and What We Do in the Shadows!

I will be giving many of your new-to-me suggestions a try. Thanks a bunch! :)
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 8:37 AM on January 23, 2022 [1 favorite]

Raised by Wolves (the 2013 British one)

Patriot on Amazon Prime (I will never shut up about this)
posted by andreap at 11:00 AM on January 23, 2022 [1 favorite]

Killjoys is low budget, Canadian Sci Fi and it takes about 5 episodes to get to the really good stuff. But! It is charming and funny and all about found family but also excellent world building and genuine sci-fi-ish-ness. My husband and I enjoyed it mightily! And there were eight seasons. We are re-watching it right now and it still holds up. In fact I am extra impressed by how clear it is that the plotting was already in place in the first season. Highly recommend!
posted by jeszac at 2:06 PM on January 23, 2022

The first season of OA.
posted by tayknight at 5:18 PM on January 23, 2022 [1 favorite]

Further recommending Killjoys. It's the strongest, most DELIGHTFUL sci-fi show I've ever seen. I can't recommend it enough. On the surface, it's a hot bounty hunter and her two hot sidekicks (a pair of brothers) getting into trouble, kicking ass, and saving the universe. Once you get into it, though, you realize, yes, it's an intricate world of intrigue, action, and aliens, but it's also feminist amazingness. The lead destroys while wearing pretty dresses. No one is ever punished for being sexual. (In fact, there's no sexual violence, except in the first episode, as if to point out exactly what they will not condone). People of all shapes and sizes are shown to be attractive. The men are all allowed to have a full range of emotions. The queer characters aren't defined by trauma. No one is sidelined. It's incredible.

Also Landscapers, which is ostensibly about murders, but is actually like if a documentary were live theater but set in a tv show.
posted by foxtongue at 7:41 PM on January 23, 2022 [2 favorites]

I just re-watched High Maintenance for the nth time. So good.
posted by soakimbo at 6:23 PM on January 24, 2022 [2 favorites]

I'm surprised no one has said Lost.
posted by lewedswiver at 10:58 PM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

Oh, I also forgot on the comedy front: Kim's Convenience was great.
posted by Athanassiel at 1:44 AM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]

More on the sci-fi side:
Fringe (HBO currently) Starts of more case of the week/X-files-ish but gets crazier from there but has great relationship and world building.

Continuum (Prime) “ The plot centres around the conflict between a group of terrorists from the year 2077 who time travel to Vancouver, British Columbia in 2012 and a police officer who unintentionally accompanies them.”

Travelers (Netflix) “ In a post-apocalyptic future, thousands of special operatives are tasked with preventing the collapse of society. These operatives, known as "travelers", have their consciousnesses sent back in time and transferred into the "host" body of present-day individuals who would otherwise be moments from death, to minimize unexpected impact on the time line.”

Second The OA. It took me a while to get into it but sticking it out was worth it. I don’t like cop, medical, or lawyer shows though I guess there’s an element of that to the three above but not in a typical Law and Order way.

Comedy: Have you tried iZombie?
posted by Bunglegirl at 8:41 AM on January 25, 2022 [1 favorite]