Entertainment

Best Shows On Crave in 2022: What To Watch Instead Of Netflix!

Best Shows On Crave

Prime, Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ aren’t the only game in town when it comes to streaming services! CraveTV has many great shows that are well worth your time. While it may be nowhere near the top of the mountain when it comes to streaming services the best shows on Crave are worth having, even if you just want to use your free trial to binge through these excellent series. CraveTV also seems to be holding its own against the juggernaut that is Netflix – by taking a page from the streaming giant to start producing its own original content. In this article, we review what to watch on CraveTV so that you can get a heads up on its library of shows! Here’s everything from sci-fi to dark romances to historically accurate renditions of binge-worthy shows! 

30 Of The Best Shows On Crave

1. Chernobyl (2019)

Most people are familiar with the 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the USSR. In April 1986, it became one of the world’s worst man-made catastrophes. 

The 2019 rendition of this event is a brilliant miniseries that chronicles the clean-up efforts that followed and dissects the culture of disinformation that ensued. This is nothing new as many war deaths have been buried that we know nothing of. Luckily, the mini-series pays great attention to historical accuracy and detail, as well as some excellent performances, it manages to be both gripping and informative.

2. Watchmen (2019)

A brain child of Damon Lindelof, who is also responsible for The Leftovers and Lost, Watchmen is a modern-day re-imagining of Alan Moore’s groundbreaking 1980s based graphic novel about masked vigilantes. 

There are a lot of re-inventions because in this alternate history, the action kicks off as detective Angela Abar ( a new kind of cop-vigilante?) investigates the attempted murder of a fellow officer. Bold and immersive, Watchmen is the kind of show that deserves your undivided attention. Put your phone away, sit back and prepare to be dazzled.

3. Billions (2016)

As the name suggests, Billions is all about the competitive world of high finance. The finance based series follows one man: Chuck Rhoades, a sincere but ruthless US attorney, who engages in an egoistic battle with hedge fund kingpin Bobby “Axe” Axelrod. Mayhem ensues. If you’re a fan of intriguing characters, power battles and soapy storylines, this one will be right up your alley.

4. Ramy (2019)

Meet Ramy Hassan, a first-generation Egyptian-American who is caught between the Muslim community that only he thinks life is a moral test and a millennial generation that only he believes has no consequences. The reality is that he sees things from an identity crisis perspective as he tries to do normal stuff like dating while balancing the needs of a Muslim-American family. 

The best parts of this show are the supporting cast – his mother is quite hilarious if you see the poor women struggling to acclimate to America, giving up her smokes and making homemade “brown” food for people in her cab service. Then there is his friend who is “happily married” but is obsessed with Ramy’s love life and always has to share his opinions on the women he dates. Not to mention the VR scene, where he virtually goes to Saudi to fulfill his duties as a Muslim, and at the same time, Ramy is set up to do something totally different in another room with another irresistible character – played by Steve Way.

5. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)

A lot of people don’t know but Larry David was the real-life inspiration for Seinfeld‘s George Costanza. Larry David more or less plays himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm, a comedy series that sees him nit-picking and over-analysing his way through life, he’s bald like George! 

Everything gets a look in here: politeness, casual day-to-day-spite and just about every no-go topic in modern society, uber-correct intimacies of the LA Tinseltown.

6. Raised by Wolves (2020)

Some people you know in life were raised by wolves, but this sci-fi drama, Raised by Wolves revolves around two androids. 

These two robots are tasked with raising non-android human children on a mysterious virgin planet. 

Soon though, the human colony threatens to be torn apart which is so thought-provoking. As the tensions rise, the scenes are all visually dazzling.

7. Your Honor (2020)

Bryan Cranston from the famous TV show Breaking Bad plays a judge here. 

In Your Honor, his son kills the child of a crime lord in a hit and run. Bryan Cranston helps his son evade the law, in an effort to save the kid from jail culture and also to prevent him from even bigger troubles in the future. Twists abound as episodes go by and Cranston is as watchable as ever. 

8. Euphoria (2019)

Teens don’t have it easy these days, at least if Euphoria is any indication.

Euphoria is a revelatory series in the sense that it reveals the underbelly of universal issues like substance abuse, love, friendship and sexuality – amongst teens. 

As you can tell by now, the series centers on a group of high school students as they navigate life and sometimes death, all flanked by gorgeous cinematography and tremendous performances. 

9. Industry (2020)

An addictive and compelling drama ( in other words, no scrolling on your phone) set in the world of high finance, Industry is binge-worthy. 

The series is based on a group of recent graduates as they compete for permanent positions at a top London bank, and at the same time also engage in all sorts of debauchery after hours. 

This is the kind of show that is slick and sharp, it will keep you coming back for more.

10. The Flight Attendant (2020)

While you might have enjoyed Kaley Cuoco’s performance in the popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory, The Flight Attendant is totally different from her bubbly, soft character. Here she gets to showcase her tremendous acting chops as Cassie, a young woman who works as a flight attendant and likes to party. But after waking up next to a dead body, not remembering what really happened, what follows is a fast-paced comedy thriller that will keep you on the edge of the seat.

11. The Undoing (2020)

A posh and occasionally insane drama, The Undoing is all about wealthy New York. 

A posh couple’s lives take a wild turn after the discovery of a gruesome murder. 

When the husband flees and the police suspect him for committing the heinous act, what follows is the groundwork towards divorce: a wife left to deal with the consequences and re-evaluate their entire marriage. Fun times!

12. The Sopranos (1999)

Welcome to the story of New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faced while trying to keep his criminal enterprise in line and his family out of his thinning hair. It’s a tough gig, so Tony decides to do an Analyze This with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi. The show takes a very intimate look at the relationship between the cast members. Even if it’s only for a couple of scenes, they pack in so much intensity behind every meeting, every conversation and every fantasy that you start to wonder – which side you’re on with 

a part-time sociopath. 

Along with some fascinating and eerily authentic scenes, The Sopranos delivers some of the best crime-drama twists and turns this side of The Wire.

13. The Wire (2002)

The American war on drugs was a fugazi. We know this now but in the simpler times of 2002, there was still plenty of hope left in law enforcement and the general public. Initially, The Wire chronicles a group of Baltimore homicide and narcotics detectives and their targets, but this soon expands to include the many other corrupt, self-sustaining bureaucracies that are plaguing the city. Expect to fall in love with a bunch of characters, who just like the Sopranos are so likeable that you keep shifting between good and evil thoughts. 

14. I May Destroy You (2020)

Widely regarded as one of the best shows to come out in 2020, I May Destroy You follows Arabella, a young woman living in London. On a night out, Arabella is sexually assaulted and struggles to process the encounter (which she also has trouble remembering) and move forward. 

Arabella’s work suffers and so does everything else as we begin to explore consent, relationships and dating in general. In other words, it’s must-see TV.

15. Succession (2018)

Succession has become a bonafide hit for HBO thanks to memorable performances from the ensemble cast and excellent writing. It centers on a family that controls one of the biggest media and entertainment conglomerates in the world and the power struggles that ensue as the patriarch is close to retirement. If you like darkly humorous shows about dysfunctional families, you’ll love every minute of this.

16. The Good Lord Bird (2020)

From the award-winning novel by author James McBride, The Good Lord Bird is based on slavery. 

The story follows the perspective of a fictional enslaved boy who joins abolitionist John Brown’s efforts to end slavery. 

The Good Lord Bird is moving, disturbing, occasionally funny amongst other things but is consistently engaging. Plus, Ethan Hawke’s performance as Brown never lets you take your eyes off the screen. 

17. Lovecraft Country (2020)

Lovecraft Country is an acclaimed horror drama. The story follows a young Black man who travels across the segregated 1950s United States in search of his missing father – already sounds creepy because it’s vintage America and the 1900s are just 50 years away. 

Atticus Freeman, accompanied by his friend and his uncle, discover dark secrets and have to deal with all sorts of horrors – some of a supernatural nature, others very human. Unsettling and thrilling, Lovecraft Country is a journey worth taking.

18. Westworld (2016)

Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, this thought-provoking series initially takes place in a futuristic Western-themed amusement park where visitors can interact with automatons and see their fantasies come true. However, it all changes when the robots start to malfunction. Westworld is clever and addictive, so make sure you clear your schedule before tuning in.

19. Killing Eve (2018)

Created by the talented Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this delicious series follows the fierce game of cat and mouse between an MI5 security officer, Eve, and an assassin, Villanelle. As the show progresses, the two women become more and more obsessed with the other, almost like they are the same person, just born on the other side of the coin. A viewers’ delight. Killing Eve is fresh, funny, smart and thrilling. 

British Jodi Comer takes on several accents and America’s very own Sandra Oh’s acting is the stuff of dreams. Shifting ever so slightly between life and death, their killer chemistry is regarded as binge worthy! 

20. The Other Two (2019)

The Other Two is based on two struggling siblings whose lives are turned upside-down when their teenage brother becomes an Internet sensation overnight. While the siblings experience dueling emotions of envy and pride, they try to make the best of the situation and maybe even further their own careers. 

A light, entertaining and breezy watch, the comedy is a welcome from strong performances and sharp writing. Its tone effortlessly ranges from satirical to sweet, making for a highly entertaining viewing experience.

21. Star Trek: Picard (2020)

Set light years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, this spin-off employs none other than Sir Patrick Stewart who reprises his iconic role. Picard, still deeply affected by the loss of Lieutenant Commander Data, is now retired. 

Just when he thought he would live out his quiet life on his vineyard, a young woman asks for his help and he’s ready to spring back into action. The series is smart, unpredictable and visually stunning. In other words, fans of the franchise have nothing to worry about.

22. My Brilliant Friend (2019)

Based on the popular Neopolitan novels by Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend is filmed in Italian and kicks off when elderly author Elena Greco learns that her friend Lila Cerullo has disappeared without a trace. This prompts her to recount the friendship from their early years spent in Naples in the 50s. What follows is an engrossing tale you’ll fall in love with immediately. The series is beautifully shot and perfectly acted, promoting a sense of intimacy that brings the audience closer to these two fascinating characters.

23. Game of Thrones (2011)

From the outside looking in (via a fancy CGI induced intro), the political machinations of Westeros look by-the-numbers enough. 

Seven noble families come into play here, each individualistic, each having its own weakness and strength (99% of the strengths come into play as the Seasons go by) so you’re always kept guessing which family gets the ultimate control. Luckily, the twists and turns before the ultimate ending are far more fascinating as the characters and the actors employed to portray these characters do a much better job. You almost want to just keep watching them make underhanded moves, desperate moves, suicidal, and sometimes witty moves because there is quite a bit of comedy attached to even the most gripping episode, which only pulls you further into the series. 

If there is only one thing that can convince you to watch this show: watch it for some of the best backstabbing twists in TV history, not to mention one of the greatest slow-burn threats in any fantasy ever. Yes, it is set in ancient history and ice is the horror ghost that scares (and even controls) the seven kingdoms. But don’t be fooled by the costumes and the set, this is a modern, very subtle game of chess that escalates into realistic bloody, open warfare in which major characters (yes, major) meet very untimely ends in gruesome ways.

Just be prepared to be riveted by this game of cat and mouse where many underdogs get a chance to climb the walls (literally) while the wealthy choose control beyond the borders. 

A basic petty human squabble – envisioned in the most ornate embroidery of tales. 

24. True Detective (2014)

Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster – for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. Detectives Rust Cohle and Marty Hart stand the precipice of darkness rising in Louisiana, America that will come to span multiple decades.

What are they to do when a ritualized murder once thought solved by them is repeated years later? Do they assume that the real killer is still out there or is this a copycat? Or is one of these officers a wolf playing as a sheepdog? Watch to find out. 

25. Letterkenny (2016)

Wayne is a good ol’ boy who was born in Letterkenny, Ontario, and he’s fixin’ to die there as well. The only major battle in his life is against change – the evolving world outside that keeps trying to seep into his hillbilly slice of heaven. 

In all fairness though, there’s also some side conflict in the form of The Hicks, Skids and Hockey Players, the three archetypes that everybody in town has to slot into when it comes time for fussin’ and a-feudin’.

What makes this show awesome is the tons of ass-whoopin’ and fueds that ensue. 

26. Doctor Who (2005)

This long-running series needs basically no introduction by this point, but we’ll try to do it justice. Doctor Who follows the adventures of a time-traveling alien called The Doctor and their companions as they deal with crises set on Earth and other worlds. The Doctor is re-born almost on a regular basis – as a result, several actors have had a shot at re-birthing the role during the show’s time. 

The series is a wonder, brought back to life with adventure, memorable characters, crazy twists, and unexpected depth. Sci-fi fans should definitely indulge in this highly entertaining viewing experience.

27. Band of Brothers (2001)

Fans of the blockbuster WWII fiction of Saving Private Ryan will appreciate the real story of Band of Brothers. 

Co-producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks drew from the real life heroics and interviews of Easy Company, an elite paratrooper unit out of Georgia for this movie. The plot  follows the unit’s full journey from insertion behind enemy lines in Normandy early on D-Day morning to participation in the Battle of the Bulge, and then as they become the first discoverers of the hidden horrors of the Nazi regime. 

28. South Park (1997)

Birthed from a crude, politically incorrect satire about Jesus fighting Santa, South Park is a series you just cannot take seriously which is why you need to watch this if your job is serious. 

The show has rightfully become a multiple-season animation juggernaut. 

On the surface, the show follows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers (who don’t act their age- ofcourse) in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado, but behind all the construction paper and fart jokes are some razor-sharp commentary that you don’t expect kids to go through, but hey, look at our world today, it’s not painted too far of. 

Not for the easily offended – South Park is like nothing else on television.

29. Deadwood (2004)

This early HBO show set the standard for Western TV series. Yes, Western movies have been amazing but what about shows? Well, life comes at you fast in Deadwood, South Dakota, a brutal frontier mining encampment with aspirations of becoming cosmopolitan. 

History buffs will love this to death as the narrative is woven around actual historic events, making it authentic and essential viewing.

With most of the main characters based on real people (Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok and E.B. Farnham to name but a few), the history part is taken care of but fans of theatre and drama will love the frequent power plays made by local “entertainment proprietor” Al Swearengen and Seth Bullock, a hot-tempered ex-lawman who begrudgingly puts back on a star to keep some modicum of law and order in town.

30. High Fidelity (2020)

High Fidelity is a TV adaptation of Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel of the same name. The plot is based on the story of Rob, a female record-store owner in Brooklyn, who uses music to reflect on her past relationships while trying to get over her one true love. 

Zoë Kravitz as Robyn “Rob” Brooks is a delight in the lead role, playing a music enthusiast but at the same time, she appeals to rom-com fans who like their content with a generous side of wit. 

High Fidelity does the source material justice but also manages to feel fresh and modern, making for a highly entertaining viewing experience.

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