Best TV shows on Foxtel Now: the top television series to stream right now
Offering an unparalleled selection of TV shows in its library, Foxtel Now is currently providing access to some of the biggest and best shows of any streaming service in Australia. In fact, if you have multiple packs in your subscription, you may find yourself with an overwhelming amount of content.
With that in mind, we've created this TechRadar guide to the best TV shows to stream on Foxtel Now right now, separated by genre. We'll keep this best TV show list constantly updated with the latest series that you should be watching and also tell you why.
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Over the following pages, you'll find our carefully curated picks of the best shows available to stream right now on Foxtel Now.
That said, if you're looking to find out what's hot on the service right now, you'll find a list of the best new shows on Foxtel Now below.
1. The Undoing
HBO's hot new series The Undoing sees Australia's own Nicole Kidman star opposite Hugh Grant in this story about a therapist named Grace whose perfect life begins to show cracks on the eve of her first book's release. Startling revelations come to light about her husband (Grant), forcing Grace to do what she can to protect herself and her son. A dark psychological thriller from David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, The Practice), The Undoing promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.
2. Lovecraft Country
From producer Jordan Peele (Get Out) and writer/showrunner Misha Green (Underground) comes Lovecraft Country, a racially-charged horror series loosely inspired by the works of noted author H.P. Lovecraft. Set in 1950s Jim Crow-era America, Lovecraft Country follows Atticus (Jonathan Majors), a black man who finds himself and his family locked in a battle with Ancient Dawn, a secret order which dabbles in the world of magic and monsters. Boasting powerful social commentary alongside its fantastical horror, Lovecraft Country is one of HBO's best genre shows to date.
3. Raised by Wolves
From producer Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) comes Raised by Wolves, a science fiction series in which two androids (Amanda Collin and Abubakar Salim) attempt to colonise the mysterious planet Kepler-22b using human embryos. Set in a distant future where Earth has been devastated in a war between atheists and a religious order, the androids' mission involves creating a godless civilisation that is unburdened by religion. However, the sudden arrival of more refugees from Earth throws everything into chaos, leading once again to violence.
Succession
Succession is a show that somehow has you rooting for billionaires! Spawned on by a health scare, business magnate Logan Roy (Brian Cox) attempts to decide which of his children will inherit his business after he dies. Will it be heir apparent Kendall (Jeremy Strong)? The Loki-like, misanthropic Roman (Kieran Culkin)? Or maybe it'll be liberal outsider Siobhan – also known as Shiv (Sarah Snook). What follows is a delectable power struggle between the siblings. Smart and acid-tongued, it's no wonder that Succession swept the Emmys in 2020.
Euphoria
Known as HBO's first attempt at a teen drama, Euphoria is about as far from a CW show as a series can get. Rue (Zendaya) is a drug-addicted 17-year old who returns home from rehab with absolutely no plan to stay clean. Rue's world includes Jules (Hunter Schafer), a transgender girl who attempts to push the boundaries of her sexuality, Nate (Jacob Elordi), an insecure jock with anger issues, Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), who is haunted by her sexual reputation, and the body-conscious Kat (Barbie Ferreira). A despair-filled show, Euphoria is a raw and honest look at teen life in the American suburbs.
Chernobyl
A harrowing recounting of the worst man-made disaster in human history, namely the Chernobyl nuclear accident of 1986, this HBO miniseries details the arrogance that led to the event and the Soviet cleanup (and cover-up) efforts that came after. While it might take a few moments to get used to Ukrainian and Russian characters speaking with British accents, you quickly get over it because the performances (from actors like Jarred Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson) are so good. Elsewhere, the show oozes authenticity at every turn – from its use of real locations, to its exceptionally accurate retelling of events, Chernobyl is bound to go down as the definitive dramatisation of this horrific event.
Sharp Objects
Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), Sharp Objects follows Camille (Amy Adams), a journalist who returns to her hometown after two young girls are murdered. The show explores Camille's toxic relationship with her withering mother (Patricia Clarkson) and half-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen). A show that subverts expectations, Sharp Objects isn't interested in the mystery that kicks off its story, and instead opting to focus on its brittle character dynamics, and the sense of decay in this fictional Missouri town. That said, this miniseries follows through with one of the most shocking reveals ever shown on television, making it a must-see.
True Detective
Okay, so the first season of True Detective, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, is generally considered to be its best. While it's safe to say the show's second season was hugely disappointing, we're pleased to state that Nic Pizzolatto's gripping crime anthology series redeems itself with a stellar third season, which stars two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (CSI: Fatal Conspiracy) and Stephen Dorff (The Gate) as a pair of detectives on the trail of a child killer.
Mr. Robot
One of the most relevant and gripping television shows of our time, Mr. Robot follows a group of hackers who attempt to take down the world's biggest corporation. We follow Elliot (Rami Malek), hacker-extraordinaire and cybersecurity engineer, as he orchestrates the biggest hack in history, all while battling social anxiety disorder and clinical depression, among other problems. But is he really the one in charge, or other there darker, more sinister forces pulling the strings? A modern masterpiece of television.
The Deuce
Set in the formerly gritty New York City of the 1970s, this new series from David Simon (The Wire, Generation Kill) follows a number of characters operating around Times Square during its sleazy heyday. This includes a pair of twin brothers (James Franco in both roles), a college dropout (Margarita Levieva), several hookers (including Maggie Gyllenhaal) and their pimps (including Gbenga Akinnagbe and Black Thought from The Roots) and a cop who's tired of corruption in the force (Lawrence Gilliard Jr). An eye-opening look at the sexual revolution and the dawn of New York's porn industry, The Deuce is similar in tone and style to Simon's other HBO masterpiece, The Wire.
Wentworth
This Australian drama has picked up a decent local following and has even aired in New Zealand and the UK. Inspired by the Australian 80s soap opera series Prisoner, Wentworth is set in a contemporary re-imagination of the same fictional women's detention centre. Following a mother who has been separated from her daughter after being convicted of the attempted murder of her husband, the series tracks her introduction to life within the Australian correctional system.
Top of the Lake: China Girl
A terrific NZ/Australian drama starring Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men, The Handmaid's Tale), Top of the Lake: China Girl sees Robin Griffin (Moss) investigate the murder of a young girl found on Bondi Beach. Joining her in this season is Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) as a Sydney detective who helps Griffin on the case. One of Foxtel's best original shows.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is a highly regarded American-Italian mob show based in New Jersey in the early 2000s. Tapping into the psychologically introspective culture of New York and the classic family/crime dynamic found in many mobster films, The Sopranos explores the difficulties of juggling both a functioning crime syndicate and a nurturing family environment, through the prism of a psychologist's chair.
The Wire
Regarded by many (this writer included) to be the greatest television series of all time, The Wire paints a portrait of an American city (in this case, Baltimore) the way that no other show has done so before. Framed against the backdrop of America's 'War on Drugs', The Wire shows both sides of the struggle, focusing on the environment that produces street dealers and turns innocent children into hardened killers, while also examining the issue from the police's perspective, showing how bureaucracy prevents it from affecting any real change. Raw and uncompromising, The Wire is unlike any other crime series you've seen.
Warrior
Based on an original treatment written by the legendary Bruce Lee, and from the creator of Banshee (see below), comes Warrior – a violent martial arts epic which takes place during the bloody Tong Wars of San Francisco in the late 1870s. Martial arts prodigy Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji) immigrates to the city in search of his missing sister, only to be immediately recruited into the Hop Wei tong. To make a bad situation worse, Ah Sahm soon discovers that his sister, now known as Mai Ling (Dianne Doan), has become the head of the Long Zii tong, rival to the Hop Wei. Meanwhile, racial tensions in the city are close to boiling point, as its Irish immigrants revolt against the Chinese for supposedly taking all their jobs. Like Banshee, Warrior is packed to the brim with impeccably choregraphed fight scenes and an abundance of sex scenes (this is a Cinemax show, after all), making it ideal for those after a trashy good time.
Banshee
An action-packed series that dials its violence and sex up to ludicrous levels, Banshee sees an ex-con (Antony Starr) released from jail after 10 years only to immediately assume the identity of a dead sheriff in an Amish country town called Banshee. Before long, he's up to his eyeballs in trouble involving a local gangster (Ulrich Thomsen), and an ex-lover (Ivana Miličević) who has put her criminal past behind her, all while trying to keep his real identity under wraps. Trashy and addictive, Banshee is almost too entertaining!
Strike Back
A show which completely switched gears (and networks) after an average first season, Cinemax's Strike Back is a series which truly kicks off in its second season – so much so that it feels like a different beast entirely. Strike Back follows the members of Section 20, a secret British Intelligence agency which is tasked with preventing terrorist attacks around the world. One of the best things about Strike Back is that it plays out in two episode arcs, making each two-parter feel like a standalone movie – even while it pushes the overall season's story forward. Packed with brilliantly staged military action and frequent sex scenes, Strike Back is bound to become your next guilty pleasure.
30 Rock
One of the best sitcoms of all time, 30 Rock follows Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), head comedy writer for a middling sketch comedy show on NBC, as she attempts to wrangle the show's insane stars, Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) and Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski), and her unruly writing staff. All of this happens under the watchful eye of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), a home appliance executive who's been granted complete control of the TV network, leading to more than a few questionable programming decisions (the reality series MILF Island being just one of them). While the show is incredibly funny, the real joy of 30 Rock is watching Jack and Liz's mentor/mentee relationship grow over the course of 7 hilarious seasons.
Barry
One of the best new comedies in recent years, Barry follows a hitman (played by Bill Hader) caught in an existential crisis who joins an acting class in order to track his latest target. Of course, Barry soon finds that he has a knack for performing, as it allows him to safely express the darkness within him to a group of people without judgement. These people include classmate Sally (Sarah Goldberg), whom Barry is immediately smitten with, and Gene (Henry Winkler), his eccentric acting teacher. And while things are looking good for Barry, his killer work commitments threaten to derail all of his newfound relationships.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
If uncomfortable comedy is your bag, you're going to love Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring Seinfeld co-creator Larry David as himself. Imagine Seinfeld, only with a much more insufferable protagonist, sans laugh track and with a tonne of swearing and you get the idea of what this show's about. After a hiatus of several years, the show returned triumphantly for ninth and tenth seasons, which Foxtel Now fast-tracks as new episodes arrive. If you ask us, that's pretty, pretty, pretty good.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation (or Parks and Rec, as it's more affectionately known) is an Amy Poehler-led comedy series which made stars out of Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy), Nick Offerman (Devs), Aubrey Plaza (Legion) and Aziz Ansari (Master of None). The show follows Leslie Knope (Poehler), an ambitious Parks Department worker who consistently tries to make her small town a better place, much to the chagrin of her disinterested boss, Ron Swanson (Offerman). She also finds herself butting up against governmental bureaucracy that stands in the way of change. Fans of shows like The Office and 30 Rock will love Parks and Recreation.
Silicon Valley
From Mike Judge (Office Space, Idiocracy) comes Silicon Valley, a hilarious show about a young startup called Pied Piper and its various misadventures navigating the tech capital of the world. Whether it's internal struggles or outside pressure from tech giant Hooli (a clear Google stand-in), the team must do everything it can to keep its company afloat in an incredibly competitive landscape. A must-watch for tech enthusiasts.
Veep
One of the funniest political shows on television, Veep (a short-hand term for vice president or 'V.P.') follows Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as she attempts to avert political catastrophes and juggle a personal life at the same time. She's helped by a team of aides that includes chief of staff, Amy (Anna Chlumsky), spokesperson, Mike (Matt Walsh) and right-hand man, Gary (Tony Hale). Sounds straightforward, but The West Wing this is not. Expect plenty of hilarious situations punctuated perfectly with dirty language.
Friends
Relive your favourite moments with Monica (Courtney Cox), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Ross (David Schwimmer), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Joey Matt Le Blanc) and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) on Foxtel Now! Fully restored in high definition and in widescreen, this is the definitive way to watch all 10 seasons of Friends – to be honest, being able to watch a '90s sitcom in this kind of quality is still mind-blowing. Which brings us to our next show...
Seinfeld
Perhaps the greatest sitcom ever made, Seinfeld is available to stream in its entirety. Just like Friends, the "show about nothing" has been completely remastered, presented here in both widescreen and HD – which is the kind of treatment that not many shows from the '90s can boast. Seinfeld follows a group eccentric and self-obsessed friends from New York who relentlessly pick apart the people they meet and the situations they happen to find themselves in – all in the observational style of comedy that made the show's creator and star Jerry Seinfeld famous in the world of stand-up comedy. If you're a self-respecting comedy fan, you need to watch Seinfeld.
Watchmen
Inspired by the classic graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, HBO's Watchmen is a follow-up that imagines what the world might be like today following the events of the original story. Masked vigilantes are still outlawed, however, the rise of a white supremacist order known as the Seventh Kavalry has forced the Tulsa Police Department to conceal their identities with masks themselves. Meanwhile, a masked detective who goes by the moniker Sister Night (Regina King) investigates the murder of her friend and mentor, Judd Crawford (Don Johnson), only to discover a hidden past filled with darkness. A show which explores racial trauma in a heightened world, Watchmen feels incredibly relevant right now.
Game of Thrones
Perhaps the biggest show in the world at the moment (especially as its in its final season), Game of Thrones is required viewing for fans of fantasy and prestige television. Based on George RR Martin's best selling series of fantasy novels, the show follows a number of powerful families as they wrestle for control over the fictional realm of Westeros. While they're all doing this, the undead threaten to destroy the entire world. Will they come together to prevent this from happening? It doesn't seem likely... If you haven't gotten around to watching it yet, Foxtel Now has all eight seasons available to stream in an instant.
Westworld
Based on Michael Crichton's classic science fiction movie of the same name, the HBO version of Westworld expands the mythology of the universe, in which rich people visit a Wild West themed resort filled with incredibly lifelike robot NPCs. The show explores the inner workings of the park, as well as a robot revolution that is on the cusp of taking place. A fantastic series that rivals Game of Thrones in terms of budget and scope, Westworld is highly recommended.
The Walking Dead
Based on the acclaimed comic book series by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, The Walking Dead is an American horror drama set in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Former Sheriff's Deputy Rick Grimes heads up the survival party attempting to find his wife, daughter and shelter from the impending danger of this new world. We hope you enjoy watching your favourite characters ruthlessly killed on a near-weekly basis, because The Walking Dead delights in shocking its fan-base.
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