Streaming Wars is a weekly opinion column by IGN’s Streaming Editor, Amelia Emberwing. Check out the last entry: Knowing How The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Is Going To End Doesn’t Bother Me.
The Emmy’s are done and the internet is awash with lists of where to watch the winners. Everyone wants to catch up on the best of the best of TV, right? The problem there is the same issue currently unfolding with television as a whole: There are so many options. In addition to that, many of the winners have multiple seasons for you to dive into. With that in mind, I wanted to bring you an easy-peasy tailored list that helps you choose where to start. Here’s how I’d dive in based on quality, but I’m also gonna outline how many seasons there are (so far) and where to watch so you can make your time commitments accordingly. Here we go, in reverse priority order!
3. Hacks
Max
3 Seasons, 27 total episodes
Don’t let Hacks sitting at number three fool you: This series is the goods. A comedy legend and a young down-on-her-luck comedy writer are forced to team up to save both of their careers, but they happen to hate each other. Obviously, given that the show is currently on Season 3, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) grow past that hate and build an unlikely friendship as they tackle the complicated comedy world together.
The premise of Hacks didn’t immediately grab me, but this is a series that you dive into because of the performances and then stick around for the charm. As you may have guessed, it’s also quite funny. Hacks won Best Comedy Series (over The Bear) and Jean Smart took home Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
2. The Bear
Hulu or Disney+
3 Seasons, 28 total episodes
If you frequent this column, you’ve heard me sing The Bear’s praises plenty of times. Some folks took umbrage with Season 3 going a little more “film school” than the previous two, but that didn’t lose me in the way that it lost some others. The Bear’s success is rooted pretty heavily in its ensemble of Jeremy Allen White (Carmy), Ayo Edebiri (Sydney) Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie, but we all just call him Cousin), Liza Colón-Zayas (Tina) and the rest, but the premise is pretty gripping in and of itself, especially for anxious artist-types. (Even if there are several episodes of the show that will straight-up give you a panic attack.) Essentially, perfectionist chef Carmy inherits his late brother’s restaurant and all of the problems that come with it while being thrust back into a world that he left behind in favor of more upscale dining. Part of folks’ frustration with Season 3 is Carm trying to return to that life and trying to make the restaurant something that it isn’t, but I’ll let you be the judge there.
The Bear is a big, glowing, neon sign begging people to go to therapy. All we can do as viewers is hold on to the edges of our seats as it takes us on its wildly stressful (but still incredibly enjoyable) ride.
1. Shogun
Hulu or Disney+
1 Season, 10 total episodes
Shogun Season 1 is, without a doubt, one of the best seasons of television ever made. It’s masterfully told, impeccably acted, and beautiful to look at. Every second of this series is firing on all cylinders, and I am constantly bouncing back and forth between worried that they moved away from their decision for it to be a limited series and greenlit a Season 2 to absolutely thrilled that we get to spend more time in this world. But, even if the Season 2 decision ultimately ends up being a mistake, we’ll always have the absolutely remarkable first season that, for what it’s worth, broke Emmy records with its recent sweep, taking home 18 awards. (Justice for Tadanobu Asano, who was one of the only nominees that did not win his category.)
The series follows the unlikely partnership of shipwrecked pirate John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai) as they deal with a faith-rooted power struggle set in feudal Japan. The series is historical fiction adapted from James Clavell’s book of the same name, and is brought to life here by showrunners Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks.
Several members on the IGN team could write you a whole book about why this series is worth your time so, if you’re looking for a place to start on your Emmy’s catch-up — it’s here.
The Shows Left Behind
Not for nothing, but there are two series that need highlighting, both for different reasons. The first is AMC’s Interview with the Vampire, which couldn’t be nominated for this year’s Emmy’s based on season timing with Season 2 airing in May (and, let’s face it, prestige awards shows look down on genre as a whole). I’ve gushed about it a million times and I’ll gush about it a million times more, but would also like to flag that the whole of the series is on Netflix now.
The second is Reservation Dogs, which has received several Emmy nominations throughout the years, but never won. If you’ve seen Reservation Dogs, you know that this is a crime. If you haven’t, kick up Hulu and catch up on the dramedy that redefined what young adult stories could look like, and gave us the first American series to feature an entirely Indigenous writing and directing staff. It’s an incredible show. I’m sad that it’s done, but if you’re looking for a series that you can watch from start to finish, Reservation Dogs is the only show on this list that has completed its run.
