10 Great Shows to Binge On Paramount+

Paramount+ is on fire this summer with its bevy of content, new and old. Even though their categorization is helpful in finding something to watch, the endless choices presented are often enough to overwhelm even the most seasoned viewer. I’m here to help with that.

Here are 10 Paramount+ series you need to binge this week (June 16 – 22), or at least get started on binging. You’ll be glad you did.

10

The Neighborhood

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a wholesome white Midwestern couple moves into an all-Black neighborhood in the suburbs of Los Angeles, wonder no more. The Neighborhood is a hysterically perfect lens through which you can watch that scenario play out.

The Neighborhood follows Dave Johnson (Max Greenfield), a.k.a. “the nicest guy in the Midwest,” as he spreads his extreme neighborliness around, which not everyone appreciates. Calvin Butler (Cedric the Entertainer) finds Dave annoying, but when their wives become tight friends, Calvin has no choice but to tolerate Dave.

What I love about this sitcom is how it showcases the contrasting backgrounds and cultural differences between these couples as they navigate everyday life, including the challenges that accompany the effort not just to be neighbors but also friends. The characters are well written, and you’ll appreciate watching Calvin’s tough exterior soften as he comes to care for Dave, though Calvin would never let him know it.

9

MobLand

This Guy Ritchie-produced series is a must-see gritty crime drama for fans of the genre. MobLand follows the story of two warring London crime families as they duke it out for control of the criminal underworld… except these people don’t use fists. They use bombs and bullets.

A war is set between the Harrigan family, who control the arms operations, and the Stevensons, who control the drugs, after a night out turns deadly for a Stevenson heir. With the Harrigan family, led by patriarch Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) and matriarch Maeve (Helen Mirren), in Stevenson sights, street-smart problem-fixer Harry Da Souza (Tom Hardy) is called in to fix things. Of course, nothing goes to plan in this show, which is full of head games, psychological observation, and bombshells.

Don’t expect your typical full-of-chaos-and-violence gritty crime drama. MobLand is more of a melodrama riddled with dark humor, emotional intensity, and methodical explorations of one’s psychological depth. In a word, intriguing.

8

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage

From the big brains behind The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon comes Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. The hit sitcom is the third series in the franchise and serves as a direct sequel to Young Sheldon. After Georgie (Montana Jordan) lied about his age to an older Mandy (Emily Osment) and she wound up pregnant, the two finally decided to marry.

The TV show follows the newlyweds as they work to navigate not only adulthood but also the challenges of family life and raising a kid. Did I mention they’re doing all this while living with her parents and brother? The sitcom is a riot, thanks to Georgie, Connor (Dougie Baldwin), Mandy’s brother, and Jim (Will Sasso), Mandy’s dad.

I’m sure you got your fair share of laughs with Big Bang and Sheldon, but trust me when I tell you, you’ll laugh even more with Georgie & Mandy. Just like its predecessors, the series is turning out to be a big hit.

7

Happy Face

Happy Face is a fantastic true crime adaptation from Paramount+. The series is inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore, who is the daughter of Keith Jesperson, the infamous Happy Face Killer from the early 90s. Jesperson received his moniker from the press and authorities because he signed his letters to them with a smiley face. The Canadian-American killer was arrested in 1995 and imprisoned for life, but the series doesn’t cover his past actions; instead, it takes a different perspective.

After 15 years of no contact with her father, Melissa’s (Annaleigh Ashford) world stops one day when Happy Face (Dennis Quaid) makes contact first with her daughter, then with her boss. He claims that he lied in his confession, that there is a ninth victim, and he’ll only tell Melissa where her remains are. The clock is now ticking: With an innocent man on Death Row for a crime her father allegedly committed, what’s she to do? Let a killer back into her life and rescue an innocent man, or protect her own family?

Happy Face is compelling and creepy, thanks to Quaid’s performance, and the story is so full of twists and turns, you won’t see what’s coming next. If you’re looking for an excellent weekend binge of limited series, this one is where you’ll want to start.

6

The Tudors

Historical epics make up a lot of my entertainment jam, and The Tudors is one of my favorite TV shows to continuously binge.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as Henry VIII in a most unforgettable, visceral performance—I dare say his best. The Tudors follows the life of the young king, who ruled his kingdom with ruthlessness and reckless abandon. It also reveals—in pretty vivid detail—his scandalous exploits.

Henry was a lover, a warrior, a rebel, and a visionary with an appetite for power and a lust for love. Then, he became a king and tyrant who took six wives, beheaded two of them, and changed the whole idea of church and state forever.

You only thought you knew the story of Henry VIII, but you don’t know it like this salacious story depicts. Everything about it is brilliant, from the cast to the plotlines to the costumes, stunts, and cinematography. The Tudors is a story of a man who could not and would not control his own strength and power, and that makes it a tragedy of epic proportions. Once you start, you won’t be able to stop.

5

Dexter: Original Sin

Finally, we Dexter fans have gotten what we’ve long waited for: a prequel to the hit series.

Original Sin takes us back to 1991 Miami and explores the formative years of a young Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson). The season does more than just show us how Dexter wound up working for Miami Metro P.D., though. It also exposes us to everything that led up to his mother’s gruesome murder and, subsequently, the development of his inner darkness, as well as his life with the Morgan family.

Along the way, we see how his adoptive father, Harry (Christian Slater), helped him tame his Dark Passenger and control his urge for blood. We also witness Dexter’s struggles to do so, on top of keeping his secret from, well, everyone.

What’s most interesting about Original Sin is seeing Dexter’s brilliance unfold as he finds his way into forensics and makes his first kill, then as he refines his process and skills. We also see him grapple with managing family dynamics and personal relationships while trying to find the balance between his personal and professional lives.

Dexter: Original Sin is a must-see, and now’s the time to binge it because it prefaces the long-awaited sequel to the sequel, which is one of my most anticipated new series streaming in 2025.

4

Poppa’s House

Legendary radio host “Poppa” (Damon Wayans) is a happily divorced man who enjoys two things: good jazz and solitude. When his son, Junior (Damon Wayans Jr.), moves next door with his family, everything Poppa created in his serene little life is completely upended. It isn’t long before he finds himself right back where he started, and that’s with parenting Junior.

Poppa’s House differs from other family sitcoms in that it features an actual family, the Wayans. There’s something special about this father-son duo hamming it up on screen. Their comedy is dynamic and authentic, which makes for an engaging, serotonin-boosting binge when you need one.

Plain and simple, Poppa’s House is a comedy masterclass that addresses real familial issues and showcases Black love. Full of heart and humor, expect this sitcom to make you laugh and give you all the feels.

Though CBS did not renew the show, it’s definitely one of those canceled shows you don’t want to ignore.

3

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Can we ever get enough Star Trek installments? I think not. While I’ve enjoyed just about the entire franchise, Strange New Worlds is my favorite, and not just because Anson Mount stars in the lead.

The premise of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds follows Captain Christopher Pike (Mount) and the crew of the USS Enterprise as they explore new worlds and carry out new space missions across the galaxy. The story is set in the 23rd Century, during the decade prior to the original Star Trek series (1966 – 1969).

In addition to the cool cast of characters, the stunning visuals, and following the adventures of Captain Pike and his crew, what I love about this series is that it’s the first since Star Trek: The Next Generation to feature the franchise’s opening narration during the credits. It makes for a total blast from the past carried right into, in this case, the future.

2

Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Thanks to Taylor Sheridan, Westerns are sizzlin’ with heat right now, but one of his shining series flew well under the radar, thanks to the blinding success of his other hits. So, if you missed Lawmen: Bass Reeves, I recommend backtracking and visiting this dynamic Western.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves tells the story of the first Black Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River, mostly working in deadly Native American territory, which was a region saturated with horse thieves, gunslingers, swindlers, and, yes, murderers.

Our narrative follows an honorable, extremely humble, Reeves (David Oyelowo) as he rises from enslavement to become a legendary lawman in the Old West. He must face his fair share of challenges, including confronting his inner demons, but his journey highlights his determination and the sheer courage it took to pursue justice while grappling with the moral and spiritual cost of wearing the badge.

Bass Reeves is a testament to courage and resilience, and it’s also based on a true story—one you won’t soon forget.

1

Watson

If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, this medical drama is right up your alley. Watson explores the life of Dr. John Watson (Morris Chestnut) and picks up six months after the death of his best friend and partner, Sherlock Holmes.

Now the head of a new clinic specializing in rare diseases and disorders, Watson struggles to find some balance between his present existence and the lingering legacy of his former life.

The TV show is less of a medical drama and more of an amalgamation of a detective drama with a medical drama. It’s up to the good doctor to put his intuitive, investigative skills to the test as he works to detangle and solve complex medical conundrums, and he does so heroically.

There’s no shortage of content on Paramount+ when you’re looking for a good show to binge. Catch up now because some of these shows will be returning with brand-new seasons.