These days, there's too much good TV out there for any one human to handle. It's not like we can complain, though. More than ever, there's something for everyone, no matter what you're into.
What we can complain about is how tough it can be to keep up with all of these amazing shows. Between massive season drops and all of our weekly faves, TV can be a bit overwhelming at times.
But in these uncertain days, more of us are finding ourselves at home with time on our hands.
Because we're not the final arbiters of what's good and what's not, we've also included some of the shows we were so-so about – because you might disagree.
The Outsider
Showrunner Richard Price has successfully crafted a waking nightmare, grounding even the most surreal aspects of The Outsider within the gritty confines of a particularly chilling police procedural.
Just like the credits which gradually ooze into view, the show's supernatural horrors will also seep into your brain in ways that few Stephen King adaptations have managed before. In that sense, HBO's latest show truly is an outsider, and it's all the better for it too.
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The Pale Horse
Sarah Phelps has become the BBC's resident Agatha Christie expert, adapting no less than five of the author's works for the small screen because, in case you haven't cottoned on, she's ruddy brilliant.
The most recent is The Pale Horse, in which wealthy antiques dealer Mark Easterbrook (Rufus Sewell) becomes wrapped up in a tale of witchcraft and pagan horror after his name is discovered on a list found in a dead woman's shoe.
And therein lies its initial lure: Christie doesn't usually do witchcraft, but we see it spinning out here in enticingly sinister fashion.
And it's not just the more surreal aspects of the two-part drama which keep you locked in, desperate to find out how it will all wrap up. Phelps hones in on Christie's ability to simultaneously lay bare the very worst yet entirely human traits that we're all predisposed to, making for both fascinating and uncomfortable viewing.
Primal
Animation legend Genndy Tartakovsky is back with Primal, a brutal survival story set in the distant past.
While it's mainly comprised of silent combat sequences which end in copious amounts of blood, what sticks with you at the end of each episode is the touching bond shared between Fang and Spear, the dinosaur and caveman at the heart of this story.
Sex Education season 2
There aren't many shows that manage to switch seamlessly from laugh out loud, farcical comedy to trauma that fundamentally changes a person forever, but Sex Education finds a way to juggle the two, delivering gut-punching moments that viewers are firmly able root themselves in.
We didn't think it was possible for Sex Education's second season to exceed its debut, but Laurie Nunn has raised the bar, and then some. Her determination to get us talking about both sex and women in the right ways deserves endless praise, and what we get is a series that knows how to party and when to get serious.
Flesh and Blood
Imelda Staunton is at her most mischievous in this ITV four-part family drama, which means it's physically impossible not to enjoy what's on offer in this soapy, deliciously melodramatic affair.
She plays Mary, a reliable but meddlesome next-door-neighbour and friend to Vivien (Francesca Annis), a widow who bags herself a new boyfriend in the months following her husband's death.
But Mary and Vivien's three grownup children have their suspicions about the new man on the scene, and Stephen Rea's sketchy demeanour certainly adds to the overwhelming feeling that something is amiss.
As the episodes roll on, tensions escalate, with each of Vivien's children struggling to get their own houses in order, building to a dramatic crescendo that will leave you crying out for a second season.
TV shows about the bonds of family are hardly few and far between, but Flesh and Blood feels fresh, juggling an old-school whodunnit with a relatable exploration of what it means to be a parent, a child, a sibling and a life-long friend.
Flesh and Blood aired on ITV
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts
At first glance, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts feels much like something we've seen before, inspired by the likes of Avatar and She-Ra.
However, it doesn't take long to realise that Netflix's latest animation combines all of this into something new and uplifting, thanks in large part to winning character design, a rousing soundtrack and the kind of gorgeous inclusivity so rarely seen still in mainstream TV.
Bancroft season 2
Bancroft's second season exploded out the blocks and didn’t stop, taking everything fans loved about its debut and amplifying it tenfold.
The success of this show hinges on its protagonist and we remain deeply invested in Elizabeth Bancroft, who looked like she had finally met her match. But its creator Kate Brooke clearly hasn’t run out of steam just yet, given that gripping finale.
Sarah Parish’s anti-hero keeps on finding new ways to entertain us, daring you to embrace the madness at every turn. Roll on season three.
Star Trek: Picard
So you've saved the galaxy a thousand times, but you're no longer happy with your job or the people who command you. What do you do? If you're anything like Jean-Luc in Star Trek: Picard, you go chill out in a vineyard with a very good boy by your side.
That's the surprisingly serene set up for Patrick Stewart's return to the Star Trek franchise, but as you might expect, Jean-Luc's retirement doesn't last for long. By the end of Picard's first episode, the man with no crew or starship sets out to reclaim both in a bid to solve dangerous mysteries from yesteryear.
Thankfully, Picard itself balances the old and new much better than Jean-Luc does at first, staying faithful to the Star Trek of yesteryear while also moving the franchise boldly forward to places its never gone before.
White House Farm
Following on from A Confession, ITV turned its attention to another harrowing true crime.
White House Farm charts the days leading up to the shootings of June and Nevill Bamber, their adopted daughter Sheila Caffell, and her sons Nicholas and Daniel — as well as the days that followed.
The Bamber’s adopted son, Jeremy, was found guilty of all five murders.
While it does occasionally feel somewhat overdramatised in places — voices raised a little too loudly, the camera lingering longer than it needs to — ITV has once again proved itself to be a safe pair of hands when dealing with real-life tragedy.
The true-crime genre will always throw up unique challenges, but this series is a sensitive, detailed portrayal of a very disturbing case, bolstered by credible performances and first-rate cinematography.
White House Farm aired on ITV
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez
It's not easy to recommend Netflix's latest true-crime series, The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, but that's no reflection on the documentary itself.
Through detailed and sensitive reporting, director Brian Knappenberger explores the murder of Gabriel Fernandez and the trials that followed, analysing the tragic events which led to the death of an 8-year-old boy.
We must reiterate that this is a painful, triggering watch, but it's also an extremely important one, raising issues which could help save future lives.
Castlevania season 3
There's a lot going on in Castlevania season three. Not only is the bloodshed cranked up to the max, but there's more sex and nudity on display than ever before too. Still, among all of those dangly bits and gutted entrails, there's also plenty of video game Easter eggs for fans of the original franchise to look out for.
The animation is truly stunning too. Between all those severed limbs, decapitated heads and plucked-out eyes, the latest season of Castlevania remains a gruesome feast for, well... the eyes. Every episode is once again drenched in gorgeously detailed yet vomit-inducing acts of violence.
It's safe to say that fans of mature animation won't be disappointed by the most accomplished season of Castlevania yet. Give into this "symphony of night" and enjoy one of the best originals ever released on Netflix.
Élite season 3
It would be easy to dismiss Élite as just another salacious teen drama. After all, this isn't the first time we've seen rich kids tear each other apart with sex and murder. Saying that though, there's a good reason why this Spanish Netflix original is one of the streamer's top ten biggest titles.
While Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars took a glossy look at this not-so-perfect world, Élite isn't afraid to tackle substantial issues, exploring how classism, religion and racial prejudice impact real teens (even within a fancy setting).
Yes, Élite is glossy, and yes, everyone on the show is gorgeous, but all three seasons of Netflix's best teen drama feel far more real than any of its peers right now, particularly when it comes to queer representation.
Westworld season 3
By the end of Westworld's second season, the park was destroyed and the reputation of Westworld itself didn't fare much better either. What started out as an addictive example of prestige TV soon got lost inside its own maze, confusing viewers with unnecessarily complicated timelines.
Season three has downscaled Westworld's more confusing elements, but that's not to say the show has been dumbed down. Instead, perplexing time-related puzzles have now been swapped out for questions surrounding identity. Gone are the erratic time jumps and in their place stands a leaner, meaner narrative.
Among the genuinely breathtaking effects and award-worthy acting, Westworld just feels more fun in season three too. Thandie Newton and Tessa Thompson shine brighter than ever, and Evan Rachel Wood has never found a better balance within the complexity of Dolores.
If you're willing to reboot your opinions following season two, then it's absolutely worth getting back into one of the most impressive shows airing today.
Feel Good
The comedy-drama follows Mae as...Mae, a standup comic who falls in love with George (Charlotte Ritchie), a woman who has only ever dated men but ends up snogging the self-proclaimed "kernel of corn".
Flashforward: the pair are in a relationship and living together in George's house share.
Happily ever after. The End...except real life is never that simple.
At times, Feel Good demands a lot of you, wading through red-raw emotions that make you feel desperately sad. But there's comedy, loads of it, and if you don't laugh out loud we regret to inform you that you might be broken.
The episodes are also 30 minutes each, which keeps the show constantly moving – sometimes a little too swiftly – but that ensures that there's no waffle or waste. Every narrative decision is carefully considered, keeping boredom and fatigue well and truly at bay, which can also be attributed to an inspired ensemble cast – shoutouts to Sophie Thompson's Maggie and Mae's mum Linda, played by Lisa Kudrow. Yeah! Her!
Unorthodox
Netflix's Unorthodox is one of the most powerful shows you will watch this year.
The four-part series, which is based on Deborah Feldman's autobiography of the same name, tells the story of Esty (Shira Haas), a 19-year-old Jewish woman who leaves her ultra-religious community in Brooklyn, New York for Berlin.
The age-old traditions of her Satmar Hasidic background, placing a husband and children at the centre of her world, don't set her soul on fire, but stifle it. By contrast, her new life in the German capital, while entirely unknown and precarious, is intoxicating and not one she wants to leave behind.
But her husband is determined to bring her home and you, along with Esty, live in fear of the outcome, Unorthodox flitting between gut-punching emotional beats and heart-racing thriller.
An honourable mention must also go to Haas, a captivating lead who you can't help but fall in love with, her on-screen presence holding your attention at every turn as you will her on, desperate for Esty. to find her place in the world.
Quiz
Michael Sheen looks and sounds more like Chris Tarrant than the actual Chris Tarrant in ITV's dramatisation of the real-life Who Wants to be a Millionaire? coughing major scandal.
But that isn't the series' only plus point. There are more, so many more, to shout about.
The rest of the cast, headed up by Succession's Matthew Macfadyen and Fleabag's Sian Clifford, are predictably brilliant, the script is razor sharp, and the attention to detail, ensuring that you truly believe you're watching Charles Ingram win £1million in real-time, is first-class.
And yes, certain characters and scenes have been changed for the purposes of entertainment – which might irk some viewers, particularly when it comes to the courtroom exchanges – but if you are not thoroughly entertained by Quiz from start to finish, there's nothing more we can do for you.
The show's most powerful asset, however, is its ability to make you doubt everything you thought you knew about Charles and Diana Ingram and that guilty verdict.
We didn't see that one coming, and you won't either.
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After teaching in England and South Korea, David turned to writing in Germany, where he covered everything from superhero movies to the Berlin Film Festival.
In 2019, David moved to London to join Digital Spy, where he could indulge his love of comics, horror and LGBTQ+ storytelling as Deputy TV Editor, and later, as Acting TV Editor.
David has spoken on numerous LGBTQ+ panels to discuss queer representation and in 2020, he created the Rainbow Crew interview series, which celebrates LGBTQ+ talent on both sides of the camera via video content and longform reads.
Beyond that, David has interviewed all your faves, including Henry Cavill, Pedro Pascal, Olivia Colman, Patrick Stewart, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Dornan, Regina King, and more — not to mention countless Drag Race legends.
As a freelance entertainment journalist, David has bylines across a range of publications including Empire Online, Radio Times, INTO, Highsnobiety, Den of Geek, The Digital Fix and Sight & Sound.
TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
