The big question at the moment: What TV show to binge next? We’ve got you covered with a list of all the best tv shows on Stan to finally catch up on; now you finally have the time to get around to it.
Stan is a TV lovers heaven. Not only is there an abundance of brand-new shows, but you’ll also be able to find a bunch of your favourite sitcoms, dramas and reality tv from over the years (Friends, Seinfeld, Dawson’s Creek, Mad Men and The Office just to name a few).
The Australian streaming service is bringing you all the best shows to catch up on while you spend more time at home. And with Melbourne still in lockdown, it’s time to watch all those shows you’ve been putting off. With the endless hours of tv on Stan, quarantine will fly by.
Stan is bringing you both original tv shows like Bloom but a number of exclusives and iconic series that you won’t want to miss. Not to mention new weekly episodes for tv shows like Canada’s Drag Race and The Circus, all exclusive to Stan.
So, here’s a rundown of all best tv shows on Stan to finally catch up on.
Normal People
Normal People is easily the best thing to come out of 2020. Based on Sally Rooney’s novel of the same name, Normal People follows Connell and Marianne over the four years of their on-and-off again relationship.
Set in a very melancholy Ireland, it’s far from the typical coming-of-age romantic dramas we’ve been seeing lately. Instead, it takes a realistic approach to first love, intimacy and heartbreak.
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The narrative is pretty straightforward, young lovers from different social groups forced to keep their romance a secret, but with the romantic cinematography and soundtrack as well as beautifully written dialogue, the show has incredible depth and draws us right in.
Daisy Edgar- Jones and Paul Mescal have impeccable chemistry as the lead characters portraying an all-consuming love that you just can’t get enough of. It’s a truthful portrayal of young people, the mistakes they make and all the awkwardness, euphoria and despair along the way.
Sex scenes can ruin a show, but Normal People captures intimacy with sensitivity and respect. Not to mention Connell’s chain necklace, which is almost a character in itself, making some show-stopping appearances in these very steamy scenes. Normal People might break your heart over the twelve episodes, but I promise, it’s very worth it.
Ramy
Based on the real-life experiences of writer and star of the show Ramy Youssef, Ramy is a comedy-drama depicting the life of a first-generation American Muslim living in New Jersey. Like many people in their twenties, Ramy is feeling lost. Stuck with internal moral battles between his religion and his actions.
It’s something we think we have seen before, but Ramy is refreshing, exploring this in a way that has never been so nuanced. It manages to strike the right balance between dark comedic moments and deeply moving conversations about cultural and internal conflict. It might be named after its protagonist but there are also a number of episodes exploring the secondary characters, giving the show a wider picture than just Ramy.
Some moments are really uncomfortable, in particular the episode set shortly after 9/11, but it only shows the reality from an often-unseen perspective of young Muslim Americans. Ramy really takes off in the second season with two-time Oscar award winning Mahershala Ali introduced as the Sheikh who tries to lead Ramy towards better things.
A plot involving a cousin is established at the end of the first season, looming over the second season, until comes to a head in the season finale. It’s one of many sobering moments throughout the show that remind you not to get too swept up in the lighter moments.
Ramy is incredibly well written, interesting and complicated and with news of a renewal for season 3, now is the perfect time to watch it.
Parks and Recreation
When it comes to sitcoms, Parks and Recreation is up there as one of the best. It tends to be outshone by The Office (US) because of its similarities, but Parks and Rec is a genius sitcom in its own right.
Set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, Parks and Recreation follows Leslie Knope, the Deputy Director of the towns Parks and Recreation department. Leslie has a whole lot of ideas to Pawnee a better place, but often gets struck down in the face of bureaucracy.
The show has a bit of a shaky start with the first season, but finds its feet in the second, cementing itself as a classic. Parks and Rec is so well written sometimes it stops feeling like a satire – if you’ve seen the clip of anti-mask protestors in Florida, you’ll know what I mean.
The cast is star-studded with Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari and Chris Pratt, but it’s the cameos that steal the show- Michelle Obama, John McCain and Ginuwine just to name a few.
With seven seasons, you’ll be entertained for a long time making it the perfect show to binge while you still have the time.
Killing Eve
In a game of constant pursuit, near captures, and repeated escapes across Europe, Killing Eve is a captivating take on espionage thrillers. Starring Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh, Killing Eve follows Eve, a MI5 security officer who becomes intent on tracking down an assassin.
In typical cat-and-mouse fashion, the show takes you on lots of twists and turns but with a new sense of style. Villanelle might just be the most likeable and fashionable mass murderer yet.
Based on the novels by Luke Jennings and written for screen by Emmy award winner Phoebe Waller Bridge, the plots interweave with dashes of dry comedy to keep you entertained. The murders are bloody, and the action is intense, all with a bit of suspense and drama to keep you hooked.
Season one and two are on Stan now, with a third on the way. With eight 45-minute long episodes in each season, it’s the perfect dose of action you need, making it the perfect show to binge.
The Great
If you were a fan of The Favourite, or generally are just into kooky period satirical comedy-dramas, than The Great is sure to entertain you. Loosely based on the real-life history of Catherine the Great, the Russian empress in the 18th century, The Great takes place prior to the coup in which she overthrew her husband, Emperor Peter III.
The writing, design and directing is incredible but it’s the actors that bring the show to the next level. Nicholas Hoult often goes under-appreciated when it comes to comedy, but here he shows it’s really his strength as the absurd narcissistic emperor. Elle Fanning plays to her youthful charm brilliantly, but also nails the role of an ambitious leader.
Don’t go into this expecting a modest historical drama, The Great is wild, obscene and not really that historically accurate. There’s number of serious and tense moments in the mix that never feel out of place, only making the show even more engaging. Also, yes, the posh British accents don’t make a whole lot of sense for 18th century Russia, but it only adds to the greatness of it all.
The Other Two
A TV show starring a TikTok star may sound like your version of hell, but I guarantee you this isn’t what you’re thinking. The Other Two comes from former SNL head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, loosely writing on their real-life circumstances.
In the show, thirty- something year old aspiring actor Cary and his former professional dancer sister Brooke, find themselves outshone but their 13-year-old brother Chase after his quick rise to teen heartthrob fame.
It’s a satire of fame in the age of the internet with each episode bringing something new to the table. Molly Shannon plays mother to the trio, creating a tight knit family with the two older siblings genuinely caring for Chase, calling out the absurdities that have become normalised in the entertainment industry along the way.
The Other Two has fun with its pop culture references, including a hilarious tribute to the fireplace scene from Call Me by Your Name. However, it also takes time to comment on the realities for LGBTQ+ people working in entertainment. It’s a feel-good comedy with a season two on the way.
Oh, and Chase’s song ‘My Brothers Gay’ is an absolute tune by the way.
