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Best TV Shows to Stream This Week

Best TV Shows to Stream This Week

One activity that has united Americans across the country during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has been the streaming of television content. During the first three weeks of March 2020, Americans streamed a total of 400 billion minutes of content to their televisions — an 85% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from Nielsen.

But now that nearly everyone with a Netflix subscription has watched “Tiger King,” many people obeying stay-at-home orders are at a loss as to what to binge next. With so many options available, the decision-making process can be understandably daunting.

To help viewers navigate the streaming waters, 24/7 Tempo has identified the 25 best TV shows to stream this week. Each of these series — or in some cases, lone seasons — are new to the most popular streaming platforms as of the past two weeks and are highly ranked based on audience ratings from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).

These shows run the gamut from comedies to reality shows to children’s programming. There are also numerous appearances of series produced by HBO, which is known for its exceptional original programming. Earlier this month, the company announced that it would make around 500 hours of movies and shows available to stream for free via the HBO Now or HBO Go apps without an HBO subscription for a limited time. These are the best HBO original series of all time.

 

To determine the best TV shows to stream this week, 24/7 Tempo identified all of the shows newly released to streaming platforms Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Video, HBO Now, and Apple TV Plus from March 27 through April 13 based on data from streaming data site JustWatch. We then ranked the series based on their Internet Movie Database average user ratings.

In certain cases, only one season of a show was released to a streaming platform during this period. In such cases, IMDb data for that specific season was used rather than for the series as a whole. When season-based data was not available, series data was used.

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

25. Hyena (2020-)
> Genre: Drama, Romance
> Age rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Netflix on April 12, 2020

The entirety of the Korean drama series is now on Netflix for the first time after a slow rollout of episodes. The show about high-powered lawyers for the super wealthy currently has a user rating of 8.4 out of 10 on IMDb.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Television

24. Modern Family: Season 11 (2020)
> Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
> Age rating: TV-PG
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 9, 2020

Following the series finale that aired on April 8, the entirety of the 11th season of “Modern Family” is now streaming on Hulu. The sitcom has been a success throughout its entire run, winning 22 Emmy awards, and fans would be remiss to skip its final season.

Source: Courtesy of KVH Media Group

23. Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 7 (2020)
> Genre: Comedy, Crime
> Age rating: TV-14
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 10, 2020

A new episode of the comedy police series has been added to Hulu. The show, which stars Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, and Terry Crews, is nearing the end of its seventh season.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

22. My Brilliant Friend (2018-)
> Genre: Drama, Romance
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: HBO Now on April 14, 2020

“My Brilliant Friend” is a two-season HBO series that explores the complexity of relationships as experienced by two women in Italy over a lifetime. The series is based on bestselling stories from author Elena Ferrante.

Source: Courtesy of KVH Media Group

21. Luther (2010-)
> Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 2, 2020

The third season of “Luther” — consisting of four hour-long episodes that were first released in 2013 — can now be viewed on both Hulu and Amazon Prime. The British crime series, which stars Idris Elba as a brilliant homicide detective, was nominated for 11 Emmy awards.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

20. Silicon Valley (2014-2019)
> Genre: Comedy
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 11, 2020

The comedy airing on Hulu that originally appeared on HBO is about an engineer and aspiring entrepreneur who tries to build a technology company called Pied Piper. The series ran for six seasons with 53 episodes and was nominated for two Golden Globes. “You should really watch it,” said Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates on the series website, “because they don’t make any more fun of us than we deserve.”

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

19. Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
> Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 10, 2020

Hulu recently added both seasons of the critically acclaimed HBO series “Big Little Lies.” The murder mystery stars top Hollywood talent, including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and — in the second season — Meryl Streep. It won four Golden Globe Awards.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

18. Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)
> Genre: Crime, Drama, History
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 7, 2020

The mostly historically accurate five-season crime drama series that takes place in Prohibition-era Atlantic City was created by Terence Winter. Steve Buscemi plays crime boss Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, whose character is based on the life of corrupt Atlantic City politician Nucky Johnson, who oversaw the vice rackets during Prohibition.

Source: Courtesy of KVH Media Group

17. Community (2009-2015)
> Genre: Comedy
> Age rating: TV-PG
> Recently added to: Netflix on April 1, 2020

All six seasons of the revered comedy series “Community” are now available for streaming on Netflix and continue to be available on Hulu. The show about a lawyer who is forced to enroll in community college after having lied about his bachelor’s degree may soon be available on other platforms as well.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

16. Money Heist (2017-)
> Genre: Action, Crime, Mystery
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Netflix on April 3, 2020

“Money Heist,” also known as “La Casa de Papel,” is a crime drama about eight thieves from various parts of society who attempt to pull off the biggest robbery in the history of Spain by knocking over the Royal Mint of Spain. The last season of the series was recently added to Netflix in early April.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

15. Good Girls: Season 3 (2020)
> Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
> Age rating: TV-14
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 6, 2020

The first six episodes of the third season of “Good Girls” — about a group of suburban mothers who turn to crime to make ends meet — are available to stream on Hulu. The series’ first two seasons can be streamed on Netflix.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

14. Ozark: Season 3 (2020)
> Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Netflix on March 27, 2020

“Ozark” — a Netflix Original about a financial adviser who launders money for a Mexican drug cartel and becomes involved with drug runners after relocating to the Missouri Ozarks — continues to receive glowing reviews with its third season, which is now available for streaming. The series has received 14 Emmy nominations and won two.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Television

13. Legion: Season 2 (2018)
> Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on March 30, 2020

The sci-fi series that originally aired on FX is based on characters from Marvel Comics. In the second season of three, the character David Haller, who thought he was schizophrenic but is in fact battling a parasitic power that has been haunting him, expels the demon with the help of his friends. The demon finds another host, offering David and his friends no respite from the terror.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Home Video

12. Westworld: Season Three: The New World (2020)
> Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: HBO Now on April 13, 2020

HBO’s “Westworld” portrays a dystopian world based around robot-filled theme parks where guests can indulge in their wildest fantasies. It is currently in its third season, with new episodes being added to HBO Now. The first two seasons are both also available on the platform.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

11. Outnumbered: Season 2 (2008)
> Genre: Comedy, Drama
> Age rating: TV-14
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 9, 2020

This BBC comedy about a family with three young children is now available for streaming on both Amazon Prime and Hulu. Fans of British humor, improvised comedy, and family-oriented programming may wish to seek it out.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

10. Chicago P.D.: Season 7 (2019)
> Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
> Age rating: TV-14
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 9, 2020

The seventh season of the long-running series on NBC developed by Law & Order creator Dick Wolf was recently added to Hulu. The seventh season of the crime drama was shortened because of the coronavirus pandemic. The series first aired in 2014.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

9. Car Masters: Rust to Riches (2018-)
> Genre: Reality-TV
> Age rating: N/A
> Recently added to: Netflix on March 27, 2020

The Netflix series “Car Masters: Rust to Riches” follows the Gotham Garage team as they restore and upgrade old — and often seemingly worthless — cars and trucks. The series, of which the second season just recently debuted, currently has a rating of 8.9 out 10 on IMDb.

Source: Courtesy of HBO

8. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014-)
> Genre: Comedy, News, Talk-Show
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: HBO Now on April 13, 2020

“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” hosted by British comedian John Oliver, is a late-night satirical look at the news. The show has won 16 Primetime Emmys since it premiered on HBO in 2014. It began its seventh season this past February.

Source: Courtesy of PBS Kids

7. Molly of Denali (2019-)
> Genre: Animation, Fantasy
> Age rating: TV-Y
> Recently added to: Amazon Prime Video on April 2, 2020

This American-Canadian animated children’s show follows 10-year-old Molly Mabray as she sets out on adventures in Alaska with her friends and her dog, Suki. Its sole, 13-episode season is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and may appeal to children, who have also been required to spend a rare amount of time at home.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television

6. Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
> Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
> Age rating: TV-PG
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 9, 2020

The Dark Knight returned in this animated series that ran for four seasons and 85 episodes and featured the voices of Kevin Conroy, Loren Lester, and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. The program received a 9.0 out of 10 rating from more than 81,000 IMDb users and won one Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program in 1993.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

5. High Maintenance: Season 4 (2020)
> Genre: Comedy, Drama
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 4, 2020

The fourth season of HBO’s “High Maintenance” — which portrays various characters who share the same marijuana delivery man in New York City — recently finished airing and is now available on Amazon Video as well as HBO Now. The show currently has a Freshness rating of 98% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Source: Courtesy of HBO

4. The Sopranos (1999-2007)
> Genre: Crime, Drama
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 9, 2020

“The Sopranos,” which originally aired on HBO, is one of the most acclaimed series of all time. The six-season drama about a New Jersey crime boss who seeks the help of a therapist to help to manage his personal and “business” lives won 21 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globes. In 2004, “The Sopranos” became the first cable show to win an Emmy for outstanding drama. Vanity Fair called the series “one of the masterpieces of American popular culture.”

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

3. Rick and Morty (2013-)
> Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
> Age rating: TV-14
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 13, 2020

The animated fan-favorite about a genius alcoholic scientist and his nervous grandson has an exceptional rating of 9.2 out of 10 on IMDb. Episodes of the show’s current fourth season are now available on Amazon Video for $2.99 each. Past seasons can be streamed on Hulu.

Source: Courtesy of No Distributor Found

2. The Wire (2002-2008)
> Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Hulu on April 9, 2020

“The Wire,” which ran for five seasons, is a highly praised series about the impact of drugs on Baltimore, as experienced through various segments of the city’s society — law enforcement, the media, and narcotics dealers. The 60-episode series has a score of 9.3 out of 10 among more than 263,000 IMDb users.

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

1. Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
> Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
> Age rating: TV-MA
> Recently added to: Amazon Video on April 7, 2020

The eighth and final season of HBO’s wildly popular “Game of Thrones” is now available for purchase on Amazon Video. The fantastical series about the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros has an overall rating of 9.3 out 10 on IMDb and won an exceptional 59 Emmy awards during its run — the most of any show except for “Saturday Night Live.” The show can also currently be streamed via HBO Now.

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