The Best 25 Peacock Original Series, Ranked

Considering how long Days of our Lives (now on Peacock!) has been on (59 seasons!), it was only a matter of time before its stories were expanded. And this streaming series takes the romance, twists, and drama international—but still maintains what people still love about the soap today. Who doesn’t love seeing familiar faces? — Meredith Jacobs

Paul T. Goldman is a meta, satirical docuseries that flips true crime on its head and is almost impossible to explain. It’s inventive, ambitious, and fascinating. It follows Paul Finkleman (who goes by Paul T. Goldman), a man who claims to have been scammed by his ex-wife and has been asking filmmakers to produce his screenplay (based on his books) about his life. Featuring dramatic reenactments of his life and looks behind the scenes at the making of the show, Paul T. Goldman has to be seen to be understood. — Leah Williams

We first met MacGruber in a series of recurring SNL sketches starring Will Forte as a MacGyver-style hero who is always trapped in a room with a ticking bomb, his assistants, and no way out. He always lets the bomb detonate. We saw him again in the 2010 film of the same name. The show takes place 10 years after the events of the movie, with stars like Kristen Wiig, Sam Elliott, Laurence Fishburne, Billy Zane, and Ryan Phillipe joining Forte in the hilarious tale. It’s incredibly silly, often stupid, and entirely enjoyable. If you love the sketches, you’ll love the series. — Leah Williams

Co-created by Sierra Teller Ornelas, Mike Schur, and star Ed Helms, this series centers around the friendship between Nathan (Helms) and Reagan (Jana Schmieding), which is put to the test when he’s reluctant to allow for the removal of his ancestor’s statue in their small Vermont town. The comedy delves into Indigenous representation on television and even takes a hilarious jab at Yellowstone among other highlights. — Meaghan Darwish

What should have been just another ordinary detention turns fatal when one student ends up dead and the four others (Annalisa Cochrane‘s Addy, Chibuikem Uche‘s Cooper, Marianly Tejada‘s Bronwyn, and Cooper van Grootel‘s Nate) are the prime suspects. Think The Breakfast Club, but with a murder. Its two seasons are filled with secrets, reveals, and twists—including a flash-forward ending that introduced a new mystery. — Meredith Jacobs

This solid reboot (the third iteration of the series created by Doctor Who’s Russell T. Davies) fell victim to a common thread among streaming shows: too many shows, too little time. Reworking this queer drama into a modern lens, one that addresses the rise in LGBTQIA+ hate crimes and harmful legislation in America, this series prioritized the humanity of trans and queer people in all their shapes and forms. From T4T relationships and parenthood to cerebral palsy representation, Queer as Folk continued the franchise’s history of being a bastion for showcasing underrepresented demographics in the TV landscape. Plus, it has Kim Cattrall! — Kelli Boyle

The third adaptation of a Liane Moriarty novel (the mind behind Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers) was gripping enough to convince Annette Bening to sign on for her first-ever TV series. Co-starring with Sam Neill as her embittered husband, Stan’s emotional mistreatment of their four adult children (played by Jake Lacy, Alison Brie, Essie Randles, and Conor Merrigan-Turner) made them believe him capable of killing their mother, Joy, when she goes missing. Told in two timelines, the “then” and the “now” explain how a stranger named Savannah made this family’s happy facade unravel. The performances from Bening as a mother who feels painfully invisible and Neill as a father who struggles to connect are the best reasons to watch. — Kelli Boyle

The White Lotus meets The Twilight Zone in this inventive, mystical mystery made as a metaphor for processing grief. What starts out as a vacation to rekindle the spark in Emma (Cristin Milioti) and Noah’s (William Jackson Harper) marriage becomes an Indiana Jones-inspired mystery involving two unsolved deaths at a resort in the Yucatan. Nick Offerman, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Skyler Gisondo, Nina Bloomgarden also star in this time warp that will leave you questioning everything until the very end, making for one of Peacock’s most unique stories. — Kelli Boyle

The reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Bel-Air doesn’t shy away from delving into topics that come with a young man moving from West Philadelphia to the luxurious California city. The town showcases the elitist world of the Black bourgeoisie — something we rarely see on TV, as it shows Will (Jabari Banks) navigating a world very different from his own as he experiences culture shock, racial tensions, and more. The high spirits of the series’ predecessor are replaced with the mix of uneasy realism and societal pressures that young adults can face. Each character from the original series is presented with their struggles and triumphs, but the series also adds new characters to broaden the storyline. The series does a good job of bringing the nostalgia of the ‘90s original while adding drama and the celebration of Blackness. — Ennica Jacob

Fans of the iconic Ted movie franchise, look no further. Packed with ‘90s references and creator, writer, and director Seth MacFarlane’s signature humor, this Peacock original will have you in stitches by the end – and not the teddy bear kind. This spin on the 2012 film follows the stuffed animal Ted (voiced by MacFarlane, again) who lives with his best friend, a 16-year-old Bostonian John Bennet (Max Burkholder), and his entire family. The two embark on a mission to help John achieve all things cool, from sex to drugs to parties. Unabashedly coarse and positively binge worthy, this series tackles friendship, family dynamics, and all of those warm fuzzy feelings of being an awkward teenager in high school – not. But in all seriousness, cozy up with your favorite stuffy and tune in. — Katie Song

Feeling nostalgic? This one’s for you. The Best Man: The Final Chapters carries the bittersweet essence of a popular ‘90s franchise coming back for one last run, the franchise in question being the iconic 1999 rom-com The Best Man. From an era in the ‘90s and early 2000s where Black romantic fiction and Black indie cinema entered the mainstream (from 1997’s Love Jones to 2000’s Love and Basketball), The Best Man: The Final Chapters centers on the four men who started it all: Lance (Morris Chestnut), Quentin (Terrence Howard), Harper (Taye Diggs), and Murch (Harold Perrineau). Not unlike And Just Like That in this sense, this series follows these friends in their middle-life era, with new priorities, problems, and queries — from corporate racism to acquiring generational wealth — while still maintaining the warmth of the friendships they shared in their 20s. It’s time to grow up and watch these final chapters. — Katie Song

Pete Davidson’s surprisingly poignant series loosely based on his own life delves into the anxieties of being in the spotlight, trauma stemming from his father’s death, drug abuse, and family ties. Along with featuring plenty of guest stars, the show also sees legends like Joe Pesci and Edie Falco step in to play Davidson’s grandfather and mother. — Meaghan Darwish

In a world obsessed with true crime and podcasts, this twisty dark comedy starring Tom Bateman, Kaley Cuoco, and Chris Messina delivers both in a satirical way. When a realtor and former tennis star find themselves in a financial bind, they propose making a podcast with their plumber who happens to be a serial killer. In other words, comedy gold. — Meaghan Darwish

The Amber Ruffin Show wasn’t just good — it was necessary, and it was criminally canceled. Perhaps the real TV crime was that it didn’t get to be on a broadcast network in the first place like every other late-night TV show. Amber Ruffin, a writing alum of Late Night With Seth Meyers, is exceptional as a late-night host, with a knack for delivering a blunt truth with a witty smile. She’s one of the funniest interviewers among her competitors, but you wouldn’t catch her sacrificing intelligent commentary for the sake of something vapidly funny. You can tell by the answers from her interviewees, which included Queen Latifah, Wanda Sykes, and more, that Ruffin was stupid good at making them feel comfortable enough to open up in ways they typically don’t in this arena. Bring The Amber Ruffin Show back! — Kelli Boyle

Whether you’re a fan or not of the PlayStation video game on which this high-octane action comedy is based, you’re sure to find this series entertaining. Anthony Mackie leads the cast as John Doe, who has the chance of a better life—one not on the road in a post-apocalyptic world—by delivering a mysterious package. Along the way he meets both friends (Stephanie Beatriz‘s Quiet) and foes (deranged clown Sweet Tooth, played by Joe Seanoa and voiced by Will Arnett). It’s an exciting and fun series—and the tournament the first season set up? It’s sure to be a blast. — Meredith Jacobs

Where better to escape the Chicago mob than a small beach town in Australia? That’s where mediator “Mack” (Colin Donnell) ends up—and he poses as the new church reverend, making for plenty of hijinks. Of course his past and trouble comes knocking, and Mack is left with questions of who he wants to be, and since it made for a fun binge, and featured a stellar supporting cast (including PJ Byrne and Kylie Bracknell), it’s just too bad that there wasn’t more after the hilarious first season. — Meredith Jacobs

The acting performances from this true-crime podcast-inspired anthology series are the best reason to tune in. The two seasons star Joshua Jackson and Edgar Ramírez as rogue surgeons based on real people. Each of the “Dr. Deaths,” Dr. Christopher Duntsch (Jackson) and Dr. Paolo “Miracle Man” Macchiarini (Ramírez), committed horrific medical malpractice that left patients maimed or dead. Mandy Moore, Luke Kirby, Alec Baldwin, and Christian Slater also star in the franchise, based on two seasons of Wondery’s Dr. Death true-crime podcast. This series is a win for any true-crime fanatic. — Kelli Boyle

If you were to put faith on one end of the spectrum and technology on the other, Mrs. Davis would like somewhere in between – a near-genreless series that is unpredictable, enlightening, and takes big risks. This Peacock original follows Simone (Betty Gilpin), a nun who has committed her life to Jay (Andy McQueen), a figure who works at a diner and gives her tickets for jobs to do from his unseen boss. Simone’s work involves unmasking normal people, like magicians who are trying to scam people, until she receives her biggest assignment: unmask the titular Mrs. Davis, who is an A.I. like Siri or Alexa that has become deeply ingrained in the fabric of America in its entirety. And that’s just the beginning. We could attempt to explain how the knights, the cowboys, and the Holy Grail come in, but frankly, there’s not enough time. If this has piqued your interest — and trust, it’s peaked ours — then stream now on Peacock. — Katie Song

A Friend of the Family, based on true events, explores the Broberg family, specifically Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped multiple times by family friend Robert Berchtold. Jake Lacy stunned viewers with his riveting performance as the manipulative and villainous Robert, who groomed and brainwashed Jan (played by both Hendrix Yancey and Mckenna Grace in different periods — her parents were played by Anna Paquin and Colin Hanks). A Friend of the Family was one of the best shows of 2022 and deserved countless Emmy nominations. — Avery Thompson

The limited series, based on Heather Morris’ novel, follows the incredible and harrowing true story of Lali and Gita, who meet while imprisoned at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. Jonah Hauer-King and Anna Próchniak give career-defining performances as Lali and Gita, whose love prevails despite the odds. Harvey Keitel is exceptional as the older Lali, who has to come to terms with his haunted past while telling his story to Melanie Lynskey’s Heather. The series is an unforgettable story about how love can (and will) survive even in the darkest of times. — Avery Thompson

It’s girl group summer, and we are here for every second of it. Girls5eva follows the fictitious girl group from the late ‘90s who are reunited 20 years later after the group disbanded following an unfortunate accident where their fifth member Ashley (Ashley Park) drowned in an infinity pool. Now, the group in question: Dawn (Sara Bareilles), Summer (Busy Phillips), Gloria (Paula Pell), and Wickie (Renée Elise Goldberry). There is some serious star power not only in this cast but in its team as well, executive produced by 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt showrunners Tina Fey and Robert Carlock. This show is about second chances and fittingly so, when Peacock canceled it, Netflix picked it right back up, giving audiences the opportunity to give this show another shot. Unfortunately, Netflix later canceled it after just one season. As they say in their hit song, forever’s too short. — Katie Song

This international spy drama took a well-known (and previously adapted) novel and imbued the story with clever new twists and cinematic craftsmanship. Starring Eddie Redmayne as the titular hitman, the Peacock drama was immediately met with critical acclaim for his performance as the exceedingly lethal marksman and the power of the production’s pacing and dramatic turns. The series has been renewed for a second season after the first — unlike both the book and the movie of the same name — ended with the leading character still alive. So there are still more globe-trotting murder adventures to come! — Amanda Bell

We Are Lady Parts follows an all-female Muslim punk band of the same name. It’s funny and warm, and the performances from stars Anjana Vasan, Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, and Faith Omole are perfect. The songs themselves are great, a rarity with pretend TV bands (“Ain’t No One Gonna Honour Kill My Sister But Me” is particularly potent). As a bonus, creator Nida Manzoor’s first feature, Polite Society, is also excellent and also streaming on Peacock. —Leah Williams

The Traitors might have started as a Dutch series called De Verraders, but Peacock’s new edition is a force all its own. Hosted by the stylish sass-master Alan Cumming, the reality competition series is a blast. In the first season, the contestants included both reality television alums and everyday folks in competition, and, thanks to some truly excellent subterfuge by the season’s chosen traitor, it became a must-watch right away. Season 2 changed the stakes a bit — and was all the better for it. Not only was the cast full of colorful TV personalities fans love or hate or both, but it was released on a weekly schedule instead of an all-at-once drop and became one of the few remaining watercooler shows across any network or streamer. With this smashing track record, we can’t wait to see what they pull off in that remote Scottish castle for Season 3. — Amanda Bell

Natasha Lyonne stars as Charlie Cale, a woman with an uncanny ability to read others, and a penchant for crossing paths with unusual folks who somehow wind up dead. It’s through her gift that she attempts to right some wrongs and make her way across the country as she flees danger herself. Helmed by Rian Johnson, this star-studded crime dramedy is among the highest quality you can find on any streamer. — Meaghan Darwish