Best US TV shows and where to watch them in the UK

From Better Things to Ramy

‘The Good Lord Bird’, ‘Ramy’, ‘Better Things’ and ‘Servant’ are four of the best recent US shows you can watch in the UK (AMC Studios / Hulu / FX/ Apple TV+)

With the proliferation of streaming services, great American TV shows can slip through the cracks by the time they arrive in the UK.

Back in the day, with just five channels to play with, you’d know exactly when and where an import was beginning, and settle down to watch it at the scheduled time.

Now, unless it’s an original series arriving on Netflix or Amazon Prime, it’s hard to keep up. Weeks – or sometimes months – can go past before you realise every episode of a show you saw mentioned on Twitter is actually available to binge.

In light of this, we’ve compiled a list of the more recent US shows that you should seriously seek out, and where to find them.

Barry

This dark comedy stars Bill Hader as a hitman who, after joining an acting class hosted by a character played by Henry Winkler, begins questioning his life choices. If that premise sounds up your street, there’s no better time to jump on board; the wait for a third season has been made longer by the pandemic.

Where to find: NOW TV

Better Things 

Pamela Adlon directs, writes and stars in this FX comedy-drama about Sam Fox, a divorced Hollywood actor who juggles raising her three daughters with her professional commitments. It’s been praised by critics for offering relatable snapshots of everyday life relayed with honesty and humour. 

Where to find:  BBC iPlayer

Devs

If you’re a fan of Ex Machina, Alex Garland’s claustrophobic mind-bender, then his high-concept science-fiction series Devs is the logical next step. Released in the UK back in March 2020, its bold questions and impressive visuals will keep your mind ticking over for weeks afterwards.

Where to find: BBC iPlayer

Euphoria

The angsty HBO drama, based on the Israeli series of the same name, won Zendaya a well-earned Emmy earlier this year, and you’ll see why after a few scenes alone. Assassination Nation’s Sam Levinson wrote all eight episodes of a show that’s as funny as it is unsettling.

Where to find: NOW TV

The Good Lord Bird

Ethan Hawke has never been better as John Brown, the abolitionist leader whipping up an anti-slavery rebellion as he bounds his way around America’s southern states.  The miniseries is a uniquely told, madcap look at one of the defining chapters in American history. With just seven episodes, it’s a brisk one too.

Where to find: NOW TV

The Great

Elle Fanning in ‘The Great’ (Hulu)

Bridgerton fans will love this raunchy period drama starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. Set in 18th-century Russia, the Hulu series offers a comedic, fictionalised take on the rise of Catherine the Great. The showrunner, Tony McNamara, co-wrote The Favourite, so he’s got previous when it comes to eccentric hits.

Where to find: All 4

Mrs America

This star-studded FX series chronicles the political movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and the unexpected backlash led by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly in the 1970s. Cate Blanchett is mesmerising in the lead role, and Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, Tracey Ullman and Sarah Paulson also give exceptional performances as women on either side of the feminist divide.

Where to find: BBC iPlayer

The Outsider

When it comes to Stephen King adaptations, film and television has a somewhat chequered history. But The Outsider, based on the author’s 2008 novel, is a qualified success. Tune in for Ben Mendelsohn – who leads the cast as a cynical detective forced to face the supernatural – and stay for the seriously great Cynthia Erivo and Julianne Nicholson, who both delivered two of last year’s best small-screen performances.

Where to find: NOW TV

Pen15

‘Pen15’ is one of the funniest shows on TV at the moment (Alex Lombardi/Paramount)

Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle play fictionalised versions of their 13-year-old selves in this inventive Hulu cringe-comedy about being in seventh grade in the year 2000. While the leads are in their early thirties, their child co-stars play their real ages – and it works surprisingly well.

Where to find: NOW TV

Ramy

Ramy Hassan is a 20-something American Muslim-Arab attempting to tow a religious path despite the hedonistic New Jersey distractions. Played by Ramy Youssef – who also writes the majority of episodes – the character is just the tip of the iceberg. May Calamawy and Succession’s Hiam Abbas steal episodes as his sister and mother respectively.

Where to find: Starzplay and All 4

Servant

If you ever wondered what an M Night Shyamalan-produced horror series from the creator of Hotel Babylon looks like, Servant is the answer. Set in one house, the show’s half-hour episodes focus on the Turners, a family who welcome a nanny to look after their new-born baby. To say any more would be to give away the show’s key twist.

Where to find: Apple TV+

Succession

Backstabbing, drug-taking and obscene displays of wealth are on the menu in HBO’s whip-smart dynasty drama Succession, which stars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook. It’s created by the brilliant Jesse Armstrong, who also masterminded Peep Show.

Where to find: NOW TV

Ted Lasso

The jewel in Apple TV+'s crown could be this feel-good sitcom. Starring – and co-created by – Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso follows an inexperienced football coach thrown into the deep end after being hired to coach a professional team.

Where to find: Apple TV+

Watchmen

Damon Lindelof might have a patchy film catalogue, but he’s left a hell of a mark on television. After Lost and The Leftovers, he assembled a diverse cast and crew to make a “remixed” version of Alan Moore’s Watchmen, which has been revered as one of the best miniseries of al time since it aired in 2019.

What We Do in the Shadows

Matt Berry and Kavyan Novak in ‘What We Do in the Shadows' (FX)

Of all the films to spawn TV shows, Taika Waititi’s vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows is one of the most inspired. Its world is one of dark hilarity, with the small episode format mining it for every possible laugh it can. The riotous ensemble, including Natasia Demetriou, Matt Berry and Mark Proksch as “energy vampire” Colin Robinson, are joined by numerous surprise cameos.

Where to find: BBC iPlayer