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Five Must Watch Programs Not On Netflix And Amazon

Streamed TV Fan

The best shows at the moment are not on Netflix or Amazon

I am a self-confessed Netflix and Amazon addict. I have a hard time trying to turn my Sky box on to see what BBC or Sky Atlantic might have to offer. The box is constantly recording stuff, but most of it are films on Film 4. Last month, however, I had to do a double take. It started with Chernobyl (96% approval on Rotten Tomatoes). Followed by What We Do In The Shadows and now I’m hooked on Catch-22. Sorry Netflix and Amazon, you will just have to wait.

There are no real spoilers, but if you are the kind who doesn’t want to know even a little, tiny bit then close the page. Now! Ok, the rest of you can carry on reading because you really don’t want to miss these shows.

Chernobyl (HBO-Sky)

If you’re not watching Chernobyl, believe me, you’re missing out. It is, undoubtedly, the best program out there. This five-part HBO-Sky production details the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster in Ukraine and how the Soviet government tried to cover it up with lies and misinformation in order to keep the truth from getting out. At the same time, it celebrates the bravery of the men and women who stopped an entire continent from becoming uninhabitable. Mikhail Gorbachev, the then President of USSR admitted that Chernobyl was the start of the disintegration of Soviet Russia. Despite this, and in keeping with misinformation dissemination, Russia is making its own version of Chernobyl in which it blames the West for negative propaganda and tries to prove that there was a CIA agent present at the nuclear plant when the explosion took place. Good luck!

Killing Eve (BBC)

Swoon! Villanelle is back with a bang. And Eve is finding that apple more and more enticing. Killing Eve Season 2 has proven to be as good as Season 1, although not better. Villanelle is still as crazy, Carolyn as sarcastic and Eve’s hair just as messy. The only difference is that Jodie Comer and Sarah Oh are sharing the screen a lot more this season. Well, after the ending in Season 1 that was bound to happen. No longer a cat-and-mouse chase, this season sees the partnering of Eve and Villanelle. Is it their mutual attraction that has brought them closer or does “something evil this way comes?”

Big Little Lies (HBO)

How amazing was the first season of Big Little Lies? And how gorgeously evil was Alexander Skarsgård? I do miss him in season 2, but Meryl Streep makes up for his absence big time. She plays the mother of Perry (Alexander Skarsgård) and is not buying the story of the Monterey Five that her son just slipped off the stairs. She is hell bent on finding the truth by making herself indispensable to her daughter-in-law, Nicole Kidman, who has been having some horrendous nightmares and keeps shouting incriminating things in her sleep. While Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and Shailene Woodley are trying to move on, Zoë Kravitz has crawled back into herself. After all, she was the one who gave that push. They overcame Perry. Can they overcome his mother?

What We Do In The Shadows (FX)

Anyone who doesn’t find this program funny is dead inside. And if you think it’s going to be just like the film then you’re wrong. What We Do In The Shadows follows the lives-after-death of four vampire roommates and their familiar. They are like most vampires in that they burn in sunshine and don’t like garlic, but it’s their sheer incompetence and bizarre hobbies that make them hilarious. For a start, one of them is an energy vampire and feeds on people’s energy by talking them to death. Another one gets caught by animal control in his bat form. Yet another keeps searching for her human lover who’s been reincarnating through the ages. Their goal seems to be wold domination, but they haven’t made much progress beyond their street in Staten Island.

Catch-22 (Hulu)

About time someone adapted this satirical novel! And George Clooney being an Executive Producer gives Catch-22 a lot of clout. I started watching it only to see how this bizarre novel has transferred to the screen, but I was hooked from the very first scene. It’s not every day that you watch programs based on the Second World War and laugh out loud and want more of it. There are no heroes here. There are men like Yossarian (Christopher Abbott) who wants to get out of combat duty by claiming illness or Milo Minderbinder who is only interested in making a profit as the mess officer or Major Major Major whose career progresses dramatically because of his very fortunate name. This one is a must-see, if only to understand where the famous “Catch-22” comes from.

Published by Streamed TV Fan

48 thoughts on “Five Must Watch Programs Not On Netflix And Amazon”

    1. This one is not a Who-done-it so much as Will-they-be-found-out? So it’s the nice kind of suspense. Give it a go

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  4. There are so many choices for shows to watch these days, and new ones coming out all the time. It can be hard to keep up! Thanks for sharing your top picks! I love Liane Moriarty’s books I might have to check out season 2 of Big Little Lies!

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    1. I know not many people get the time to watch TV. That’s part of the reason I started this blog, so as to narrow down what’s worth spending your valuable time on.

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  7. Great list! We actually don’t have cable anymore. We have been watching news online in the morning, Netflix and Hulu in the evening. I was actually curious about Catch-22. I might give it a try now that I know is on the funny side 😆

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  8. Killing Eve is such a great show, it has everything, from drama to humor. I have finished watching season 2 and though it was still good, it wasn’t as good as season 1.

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    1. What We Do In The Shadows and Catch-22 are essentially comedies. I can guarantee that you will have a good laugh.

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  12. I have not seen these but I love The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon and countless others on Netflix like OTNB. The Crown, Ozark, Grace & Frankie! SO many good ones.

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    1. Those are good. But with this post I was trying to explore great shows outside Netflix and Amazon. And in my opinion there isn’t anything out there at the moment that can beat Chernobyl.

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  13. I myself only watch netflix series too 😅 but I will definitely check some of your recommendations,especially big little lies 😍

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  15. What We Do In The Shadows is funny as hell, the problem we have outside USA is that most programs are regional and have to work extra hard to watch them

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    1. I’m in the UK and most of these shows have been spread over BBC, Channel 4 and Sky. That’s why I think it’s good to get recommendations so you can get your box to record or watch it on catch up while it’s still available.

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  21. Oh too bad Chernobyl is not even on Netflix, I’ve been pining for this program for quite a while. I am so curious about what happened, knowing the fact that Chernobyl is already open now for public and tourists.

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  24. I heard that Chernobyl is really good but I don’t know if we have here in Japan. I have to see if these shows are on Amazon Prime.

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    1. I’m interested to know which one of these you watched on Amazon as they’re not on the streaming sites yet.

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  32. I’ve seen a ton of commercials for “What we do in the shadows”. These all sound like interesting shows, I will have to check them out.

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  34. We’ve had Netflix and Amazon for years. Due to single parenting (military), work and life, I have never really enjoyed watching tv. Being said, I have never heard of the shows. But I am on summer break, and plan to play catch up.

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