Our recommendations for Emmy-nominated series on Netflix, Apple TV, NOW TV, Prime Video and Disney+ …
NETFLIX
Starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, this ten-part series follows the story of the unexpected relationship between a rabbi (Brody) and an outspoken, agnostic podcaster (Bell). After the two share an instant connection, the story develops into a romance that twists and turns – like all good rom-com storylines should – as the two navigate inter-faith dating; a topic not often explored in TV or film. One of the most talked about series of the year so far, the on-screen chemistry between the two transports you into their world. The series was created by Erin Foster, with some definite parallels between Foster’s real life and this world she has created.
Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Kevin Bacon and Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon) star in this dark comedy mini-series. Set over the course of one explosive weekend, the series follows Fahy (who we know and love from The Perfect Couple and The White Lotus) in a Blink Twice setting. Filmed in a lavish estate, it’s described as a “sexy and darkly funny exploration of women, power and class.” The fashion is worth a look too.
A Tina Fey creation with fellow 30 Rock writer-producers Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, Date Night co-stars Tina and Steve Carrell reunite on screen after fifteen years in this eight-episode series, with Will Forte and Colman Domingo adding even more comic relief. This adaptation of Alan Alda’s 1981 big-screen rom-com (who makes a cameo), starring Carol Burnett and Rita Moreno, the small-screen iteration follows the foursome’s decades-long relationships since college and how divorce can cause a schism in the group. Guaranteed to make you laugh or even cry, it may also inspire your next getaway as one of the highlights is that the characters are always on vacation – from New York to Puerto Rico.
From the creators of Boiling Point (a one-take wonder), also starring Stephen Graham (A Thousand Blows), this four-part limited series has captivated audiences since its release. A family’s world turns upside down when their 13-year-old is arrested for murdering a schoolmate. The charges against their son force them to confront every parent’s worst nightmare. Inspired by the rise of incel culture, it’s a heartbreaking watch, but is also said to be one of the most important series of the year. Black Mirror-esque without the dystopian tech element – just plain reality.
Black Mirror returned for season 7 with another remarkable list of stars in each episode, including Chris O’Dowd, Rashida Jones, Emma Corrin, Paul Giammetti and more. The tech-noir commentary has left us shaken after each and every season, so we expected no less from the latest installment – especially with the rise in Gen Z online nightmares (Adolesence, anyone?) and the advancement in AI.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendenez Story
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s anthology series follows the success of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. This mini-series chronicles the lives of real-life brothers convicted in 1996 for their parents’ murders. Although the prosecution argued that they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed and remain steadfast to this day – as they serve life sentences – that their actions stemmed from familial abuse. This story paved the way for modern-day audiences’ fascination with true crime and still begs the question: who are the real monsters? Starring the hypnotising acting talents of Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch.
The Diplomat
The Diplomat follows the story of a career diplomat, who amid an international crisis juggles her new high-profile job as ambassador to the UK and her turbulent marriage to a political star. Starring Keri Russell (Waitress), Rufus Sewell (Scoop), David Gyasi (Hell On The Boarder), Ali Ahn (Agatha All Along) and Rory Kinnear (Toxic Town).
DISNEY+
Co-created by Kim Rosenstock who’s behind hit shows including Only Murders In The Building, New Girl and GLOW, this comedy drama has the perfect mix of feel-good, heart-wrenching and thought-provoking moments. The eight-part series follows a woman (played by the majestic Michelle Williams) who, when she’s diagnosed with breast cancer, leaves her husband of 15 years to fully explore her sexuality. Also starring Jenny Slate (It Ends With Us), Rob Delaney (Catastrophe) and Jay Duplass (Pain Hustlers), this series will leave its mark.
Only Murders In The Building
Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short are back for season four as the unlikely trio solving crimes in their building, which turns into a hit podcast, soon to be made into a movie with Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria and Zach Galifianakis playing the characters’ doubles. Also starring Jane Lynch, Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd, this stellar cast is second to none.
The Bear
The kitchen dramedy returned to our screens recently, with a fifth season already on the cards. As always, the line-up of guest stars is impressive with Brie Larson, Rob Reiner and Josh Hartnett joining the cast. For fans of the Thanksgiving episode, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Mulaney, Sarah Paulson and Bob Odenkirk make a comeback. Will Poulter is back and Adam Shapiro returns as Adam Shapiro. As is custom with each season, there’s always one episode that stays with us, which is undoubtedly Worms, co-written by stars Ayo Edebiri and Lional Boyce, garnering Edebiri two Emmy nominations for direction and acting.
Paradise
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, within a seemingly serene community, the President is murdered and the investigatation only leads to a wide web of secrets and lies. Paradise has been a consistent favourite for audiences and with high production value. Starring Sterling K.Brown (American Fiction), James Marsden (Sonic the Hedgehog), Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Easttown), Sarah Shahi (Black Adam) and Nicole Brydon (We Were The Lucky Ones).
Andor
Andor: A Star Wars Story is a dystopian sci-fi political spy thriller that’s a prequel to the film Rogue One (2016), which itself is a prequel to the original Star Wars film (1977). The series follows thief-turned-rebel spy Cassian Andor during five formative years, exploring how he becomes radicalized against the Galactic Empire and how the wider Rebel Alliance is formed. Starring Diego Luna (Narcos: Mexico), Adria Arjona (Hit Man), Denise Gough (The Stolen Girl), Elizabeth Dulau (Wicked), Faye Marsay (Adolesence) and Stellan Skarsgård (Dune).
APPLE TV
Fans were waiting for almost three years for the second season of Severance because Ben Stiller, the executive producer and director, knew that it had to be as bizarrely gripping as the critically acclaimed first season. The leading foursome of Adam Scott, Britt lower, John Turturro and Zach Cherry act as our eyes and ears as they navigate this dystopian world. The legendary Christopher Walken and Patricia Arquette make an appearance, plus some other new faces including Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development) and Bob Balaban (Close Encounters of the Third Kind).
Shrinking
Harrison Ford plays a grieving therapist who starts to tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge changes to people’s lives – including his own. The cast also includes Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jessica Williams (Love Life), Luke Tennie (Nickel Boys), Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) and Lukita Maxwell (Afraid).
Slow Horses
Nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, this quick-witted spy thriller continues to follow the dysfunctional team of MI5 agents, including Kirsten Scott Thomas and Jack Lowden (Saoirse Ronan’s other half), and their know-it-all boss played by the wonderful Gary Oldman, also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor.
Fans of the darkly comedic drama, executive-produced and starring BAFTA award-winning Sharon Horgan, delighted in season two. The story picks up two years after the first with the sisters – played expertly by Horgan alongside Eve Hewson, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle and Sarah Greene – when past truths resurface and the ladies are thrust back into the spotlight. The new deadly focus? Duff’s new husband, played by Owen McDonnell from hit show Killing Eve, and from where another new cast member joins, the inimitable Fiona Shaw.
Seth Rogan’s taken over the small screen with a superb comedy screenplay, with Catherine O’Hara and Kathryn Hahn providing the perfect comic relief. Many episodes are shot in one take (a true art we saw in Adolescence), keeping us all on our toes. Allow us to name drop the all-star cast too, including Olivia Wilde, Kathryn Hahn, Zac Efron, Anthony Mackie, Bryan Cranston and more.
Presumed Innocent
If you’re in need of a good courtroom drama, this limited series will scratch that itch. Based on the book by Scott Turow and the premise for the 1990 film adaptation starring Harrison Ford, a murder upends the prosecuting attorney’s office as one of its own is suspected of committing the crime. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal with Irish actress Ruth Negga, the strong cast includes Peter Sarsgaard, A Man In Full’s Bill Camp, The Watcher’s Noma Dumezweni and more.
Disclaimer
This mini-series is not for the faint-hearted. Cate Blanchett plays a celebrated journalist whose work has been built on revealing the transgressions of long-respected institutions, until a mysterious delivery threatens to expose her past. A psychological thriller written by Alfonso Cuarón and also starring Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge and more.
NOW TV
Three long years after the second season of The White Lotus, you won’t be disappointed with this Thai installment starring Patrick Schwarzenegger (Scream Queens), Sarah Catherine Hook (Cruel Intentions), Sam Nivola (The Perfect Couple), Carrie Coon (Gone Girl), Parker Posey (You’ve Got Mail), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Michelle Monaghan (Gone Baby Gone), Leslie Bibb (Iron Man), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) and K-Pop star Lisa.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey returned in the already Emmy-winning dystopian thriller that terrified us all in the first season. Staying true to the video game that the show’s based on, we pick up five years later when the characters are in very different places to where we left them in their post-apocalyptic world. If you haven’t watched the first season yet, we highly recommend you catch up.
This new spin on the original Matlock that starred American favourite Andy Griffith sees a role reversal with “Matty” played by the always amazing Kathy Bates. She uses her unassuming demeanour and negotiation skills to win major cases and expose corruption as she rejoins the workforce at a prestigious law firm. The finale with a twist means that it’s already been renewed for a second season.
One of the most popular series of the year so far, Colin Farrell is transformed into this villainous character from 2022’s The Batman film with Robert Pattinson. Whether you’re a fan of DC Comics or not, this spin-off stands on its own. If you liked The Sopranos, you’ll love this.
PRIME VIDEO
This hilarious dramedy stars Jean Smart and newcomer Hannah Einbinder, with the latest season seeing the two leads reunite a year after parting, pursuing new opportunities in LA. The first three seasons won many accolades, including Emmy Awards, and it has a 99 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so that’s all you need to know. Next episode in 15 seconds …
