There’s a constellation of wonderful drama series scattered around the internet on various platforms (and oh yeah, on actual TV). Here, we’re going to round up some of our favorites for your viewing pleasure.
The White Lotus
This perennially-popular drama series, The White Lotus is always a hit. The series follows a group of people, both staff and guests, at the titular fictional luxurious resort line. It’s complete with all the plotting, scandalous affairs, seduction, and debauchery you could want from an HBO series – but underneath the scandal is a sharp commentary on class relations and the inherently exploitative nature of tourism. This is definitely worth watching.
The White Lotus is streaming now on Max.
Succession
HBO’s dramedy Succession is the oldest story in the book: a group of children fighting for their inheritance. It’s a modern-day King Lear. The story follows the wealthy and aging Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the patriarch of the powerful media conglomerate Waystar Royco. After a health scare, his three children – Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Siobhan “Shiv” (Sarah Snook) – begin scheming and fighting amongst each other for the inheritance of their father’s multimedia empire.
Succession expertly strikes its tone, balancing its scathing critique of the wealthy with plenty of laughs to keep the series from ever getting too dark. The series’ accolades speak for themselves: it took the position of #10 on BBC’s list of the 100 greatest television programs of the 21st century, and even the Murdoch family – whom this obviously satirizes – couldn’t help but enjoy it. This show is a treat in every sense of the word, and it’s certainly worth your time.
Succession is streaming now on Max.
The Crown
We’re moving from media royalty to actual royalty here, with the BBC’s hit historical drama that shows the life of the late, great Queen Elizabeth II. Whatever your feelings on the British monarchy, it’s hard to deny the appeal of this show; expertly crafted, acted, and shot, this feels like the most entertaining history lesson you’ve ever had.
The Crown strikes a strong balance between fiction and reality, dramatizing events to entertain one’s mental palate without straying too far into the annals of gossip, and all the real people in the show are portrayed respectfully – if flawed at times. The Crown is one of those shows that prove reality can be just as good, if not better, than fiction, and you won’t be able to turn this beautifully-written drama off.
The Crown is streaming now on Netflix.