Love Life‘s second season surpasses the first just by shifting the focus away from a subject we’ve seen so many times to one that has a messier, and more interesting, story.

That Animal Rescue Show takes a low-key, realistic look at people who give their lives to animals that need help. In a sea of negativity in media, such a positive show is a welcome, refreshing change of pace.

Between the old lies and secrets that everyone is keeping and the new ones that have just been revealed, the show redefines “guilty pleasure” as a show where the guilty get pleasured… and pretty much everyone is guilty of something.

By the end of the first episode, we were rooting hard for Andy, Gabriel and Jake to become a strong family unit, which is certainly a product of the show’s strong performances and inventive storytelling.

The show continues to be a realistic and empathetic portrayal of what being a teenager looks like.

Despite some missing context, Grant Amato’s strangely normal interview footage and audio effectively drives the narrative in CTRL+ALT+DESIRE.

Tiffany Haddish Goes Off shines because the comedian goes on a trip of a lifetime with her actual friends, and decades of memories and history together inform everything they do on this trip.

It’s Florida, Man. is quirky, fun and sometimes scary, which pretty much reflects the state where its stories take place.

Fleming shares with the audience a photo of his family, with him as a child, the youngest of the flock, the only one staring into the camera. At points during the special, he's also well of where the stage cameras are. This comedian is ready for his close up.

If you’re jonesing for a musical story after watching Schmigadoon!, start streaming Centaurworld, even if you don’t have kids. It’s funny and strange all at once, and the music is pretty darn good.

We’re happy to see Phineas And Ferb back with new adventures, and after ten years away, it’s as fun and creative as ever.

Baby Reindeer is a very bingeable show because it’s funny while being incredibly dark, and it doesn’t take the easy way out when it comes to its characters. So, while we cringed every time Martha further wheedled her way into Donny’s life, we also wanted to know what would happen next. That’s not something we’ve said about a lot of shows lately.

La Maison works because it isn’t about what you might think it’s going to be about. Instead of it being about a stereotypical tyrant of a designer, it’ll be interesting to see two unexpected characters take over a fashion house and bring it into the 2020s.

Deadlocked: How America Shaped The Supreme Court isn’t meant to be an exhaustive history of our highest court, but it does give a great perspective on just how the court went from ruling on civil rights cases in the ’50s to its conservative turn in the 2020s.

A Murder at the End of the World is here for your wintertime whodunit watching, with a terrific lead performance from Emma Corrin, a strong cast throughout – while they’re still living, anyway! – and layers of forward-looking tech and classic mystery elements to pick at and peel.

The fact that Raniere took what could be seen as a calculated, logical, scientific approach to his program fascinates us even more. When you hear him talk, he sounds less like a motivational speaker and more like a college professor or a wonky tech CEO. ... The Vow benefits from access to people like Vicente and Edmondson, plus lots of footage from various NXIVM organizational videos, meetings, and other insightful stuff.

The Seduction is a good looking series with fine performances and enough kinkiness to satisfy fans of boddice-ripping period dramas.

The women of this family certainly come off well here, and that’s refreshing; they’re not fighting or gossiping, and their stories are still interesting to watch. We should see more of that on reality shows.

Obliterated isn’t trying to be anything more than what it is, which is a fun show with a lot of action and sex. And it succeeds at that in spades.

And just like Larry The Cable Guy, Slay has found his own way to connect his Southern style to a wider audience, and he’s definitely getting it done.

The Mortician effectively shows just how ghoulish the things David Sconce did to people’s loved ones really was, and does so mostly through Sconce’s own words.

We’re suckers for the “howdunit” format of Elsbeth, and Preston has such a good handle on the character that we are looking forward to watching her catch wily killers week after week.

The Chair Company is a funny parody of conspiracy thrillers that works on a number of levels, thanks to the clever writing of Tim Robinson, Zach Kanin, and their writing team.

The Buccaneers Season 2 levels up in almost every way, even when it’s concocting popcorn love triangles, and is well worth the weekly tune-in.

Sort Of has a laid back, funny vibe, which is mostly driven by Bilal Baig’s performance. Yes, the actor and character are both nonbinary, but that’s only part of the story, which is what makes the show so entertaining.

Pete Rose is a complicated figure, perhaps as complicated as any in the history of baseball. Whether you love him or hate him, Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose will keep your interest; the whole story is there, and you can pick your side.

So far, Raised By Wolves Season 2 isn’t trying to appeal to a wider fanbase, but is playing to its core audience of weirdos. The new season doesn’t just feed us; it gorges us on knotty science fiction and bonkers plot twists. Again, if you liked the first season, you’ll continue to love Raised By Wolves in Season 2.

Mr. Mayor has some very funny moments, and a growing chemistry among its ensemble. But it also has two ace stars in Danson and Hunter. We can’t wait to see how their characters’ relationship grows over the season.

Even though Season 2 of The Bear isn’t as frantic as Season 1, we get to know everyone at the restaurant better this season. And the second season is shaping up to be funnier than the first.

Serrano and Searle manage to give their four main characters enough layers in the first 30 minutes to hook viewers in and see just how Santi’s story plays out.

South Side is the kind of second-by-second hilarious where seemingly every line is telling its own joke. And at a breezy 30 minutes, you can fill out the hour laughing.

Deathwatch definitely feels dialed into its video game and book franchise source material. But it also has a lot of style on its own, and a growly lead voice acting performance from Liev Schreiber, two factors that feed its freestanding quality.

It’s a wildly entertaining rollercoaster that will have you rooting for the complex characters, questioning who you can trust, and reexamining your own biases in a way that doesn’t feel derivative.

Get Millie Black is fascinating not only because of its Jamaican setting but Lawrance’s performance as someone trying to figure out her place as much as she’s trying to figure out the case at hand.

Telemarketers made us laugh just as much as it made us outraged. We were eager to see just where Lipman-Stern and Pespas go with their mission to expose all charity fundraising companies.

Little America continues to give positive stories about the immigrant experience in the U.S. without glossing over problems or covering things over with a thick layer of sweetness. The stories are inspirational but grounded in reality, and the second season is as entertaining as the first.

With furious fight action and a noble hero to follow through its pitched battle tension, Last Samurai Standing feels like a limited series well worth your time.

The Book Of Boba Fett continues this run of quality, giving us insight into a character that has long fascinated fans of the franchise. ... Morrison gives Fett a sense of regal humanity that makes his desire to reform the galaxy’s underworld under his watch plausible. And Wen, as she’s proven in the MCU, kicks major ass as Shand. Both bring the requisite senses of humor to their roles.

Stranger Thing Season 5 Part 1— streaming now — is full of gaudy special effects, nonsensical lore, and insane plot devices, and yet you will still somehow fall under the show’s spell. That’s because it was never the spectacle or super-sized episode run times that won audiences over. No, the best part of Stranger Things is still, as it’s always been, the sheer humanity of its characters and the incandescent talent of its young cast.

Twilight of the Gods happily gets lusty and bloodsoaked as it explores the tenets and characters of Norse mythology, with a strong sense of adventure to go with its weaving of fact, fable, and director Zack Snyder’s signature style.

Knapp’s legitimacy as a journalist and his skepticism lends Investigation Alien an level of legitimacy that few other alien-sighting docuseries have.

It’s refreshing to experience a talk show that cuts the monologue out entirely to get straight to the straight talking. ... [Ziwe] certainly stars shines throughout, even while she’s consistently throwing shade and facial expressions.

A little zany and a lot of heart, the show has enough well-timed jokes to keep you entertained and asking for the next episode.

Even if melodrama isn’t your thing, you have to bow down to these performances. Netflix Firefly Lane is irresistibly addictive, even for the hardest of hearts — even if it definitely falls into the predictable pitfalls of the genre.

Whether you watch 4 minutes or 40, Drag Me to Dinner is a delight.

Where’s Wanda? is engaging and funny, but effectively shows how two parents wanted to be active in the search for their missing daughter.

Evil continues its smart combination of weekly cases with strong character arcs, all with the Kings’ dry sense of humor intact throughout the first episode of Season 3.

Abbott Elementary is starting to show some small signs of age as it starts its fifth season. But it also still generates big laughs and warm feelings about the group of teachers and administrators at Abbott, even if some of the smaller plots need some work.

Dark Winds feels like it will deftly combine a standard murder mystery, tribal traditions and difficulties, and supernatural elements, tied together by a great performance by McClarnon.

The chemistry between Dyer and Brammall is the key to Colin From Accounts; they show how these two comically flawed people can foster a relationship, even if the only thing they have in common is a disabled dog neither of them owns.

Like On My Block, Freeridge is a fun show about a tight group of friends dealing with some strange goings-on in their neighborhood. Strong character development and confident lead performances make the show a very easy watch.

It’s another series by Vince Gilligan that’s both visually and dramatically compelling to watch, especially with Rhea Seehorn being featured throughout.

If you’ve seen Ms. Pat’s previous Netflix performance or her BET+ series, you know what you’re gonna get. And if you haven’t, then this hour may serve to tease and tempt you to explore more of her work.

Hillary gives viewers the chance to go beyond soundbites and stereotypes, if they dare.

Suits LA benefits from strong performances by Amell and Davis, but Korsh’s strong sense of banter and character, which made the original Suits such a sucess, is what really makes this spinoff worth watching.

The necessary biopic parts are all here. But George & Tammy is buoyed remarkably by its two terrific leads, with Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain embodying the best and worst about the country stars as both distinct individuals and two people in a loving but combative celebrity relationship.

Tom Jones presents Fielding’s sprawling narrative in a modern way that’s funny and well-paced. The cast is stellar, but its the chemistry between its leads that will carry the limited series.

Seeing The Muppet Show back as if it never left is not only comforting and nostalgic, but it’s still really entertaining. Let’s hope Disney decides to go forward with a new series after the success of this special.

Pop Culture Jeopardy! is a fun watch, with Colin Jost a natural at the hosting podium. It may not make Jeopardy purists happy, but casual fans will certainly like the show, because at least there’s a good chance they’ll be able to provide questions to most of the answers.

D.B. Cooper: Where Are You?! is a stylish docuseries that fills in a lot of blanks about a legend that has made a permanent home in our pop culture firmament, and the investigation that’s no closer to being solved now than it was in 1971.

Because Inside Job immediately establishes its characters, its brand of humor goes way beyond just seeing lizard people struggle with the Keurig machine in the break room. And that’s what will make the series last a few seasons.

Between Will Smith’s joking but reverent hosting and the sweeping visuals, Pole To Pole With Will Smith is a show that’s worth watching, even if you stopped being a fan of his post-slap.

Night Stalker: The Hunt For A Serial Killer might be to[o] grisly for some viewers. But for true crime fans, it’s a well-paced series that has a different perspective than most series in the genre.

If you’re in the mood for a show that prioritizes realistic humor and heart over static connect-the-dots storytelling, you’ll enjoy the subtle charms and overwhelming sincerity of Feel Good.

Forever takes its time to tell its story of first love, with all the ups and downs that teens who are discovering love and sex in the social media era have to deal with. It’s a vibe that we love, aided by the chemistry between the show’s stars.

Shadowland is fascinating, upsetting, sometimes depressing, sometimes revelatory journalism.

You’ll leave Impeachment feeling many things: anger at Linda Tripp, disgust toward Bill Clinton, revulsion about the cutthroat media landscape and our current team mentality of politics. But you’ll also leave it understanding that Monica Lewinsky was a real person rather than a punchline.

Maya And The Three works on two levels: Battle scenes and colorful animation for the kids, goofy jokes and a good story for the adults.

“Look how much fun I’m having,” Wong says at one point. We can tell. And her joy at finding love again, or even at just rediscovering dating now that she has some newfound power in the dynamic, makes it fun for us to go along for the ride with her.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft has action, mystery, and a sincere emotional core that combine to form a fleshed-out world and story that will pique your interest. With plenty of compelling plotlines, questions, and characters set up in the first episode, we look forward to continuing on with them to see where this exciting adventure will lead.

With this being its last season, the quality and plot twists have only gotten better and it’s a must-watch for fans of the show (anyone who hasn’t seen previous seasons will absolutely be lost).

This is the Sex Ed Talk generations of women wish they could’ve received, even better than what Novak jokingly refers to as “diagonal learning” from an older female acquaintance. This is over the top, on the up and up, and oh so funny.

Home Sweet Home is not a reality show where you watch for the “gotcha” moments. But there’s more than enough interesting scenes in each episode to give the viewer a nice, heartwarming family watch on a Friday night.

The show can’t go on forever, but it’s a great thing that the gang can still get together and make us laugh.

X-Men ’97 works because it feels like the exact same TV show, but with its inhibitor collar turned off. This is X-Men finally cutting loose.

The Next Thing You Eat is equal parts foodie show and quirky investigative documentary, emphasizing the vital nature of the human side of the industry while also examining what the future might hold.

There’s no sports show on television that packages the drama of competition into less than a hour as well as Drive To Survive, and if you haven’t jumped on yet, a new season is as good a reason as any to hop on in.

Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is definitely fun to watch and is certainly more sophisticated than the Turtles’ original animated adventures.

Season 2 is bringing just as much drama, humor, and self-referential winking to the camera [as Season 1], and that’s all reason enough for all of us to STREAM IT.

With four fantastic leads and some sharp writing, Girls5eva should give Fey-Carlock fans the fix they’ve been looking for since Kimmy Schmidt ended.

Octopus! is watchable not only because it doesn’t take itself too seriously but because it ditches a lot of the conventions that make nature documentaries all feel the same after awhile.

Women Wearing Shoulder Pads gives us a weird, somewhat creepy, but ultimately funny story about women and cuys in 1980s Ecuador.

How To Get To Heaven From Belfast is a sharply funny examination of how friendships change over time as well as a pretty darn good mystery.

Gen V has some well-drawn characters and a compelling young cast. Its storytelling is a bit spotty in the first episode, but the other factors are more than enough to keep us watching.

The show is as addictive as ever, once the show gets out of the pods and into the real world, and it will definitely spark plenty of conversations (and, more importantly, memes). But honestly, the most surprising thing about Love Is Blind Season 3 is that somehow this show figured out a way to weave complex relationship studies through all the drunken shenanigans we expect from Netflix reality shows.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em–if you’re a football fan, you’ve got strong opinions on the Dallas Cowboys, and America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys is a sharp, swaggering story of their finest era.

If you put global politics aside Fauda is still a pulse-pounding show that is never boring to watch.

Based on Tennant’s performance alone, Des is a compelling watch. But Mays and Watkins put in solid performances, as well.

For the most part, this is more of the traditional talking-head-and-clips documentary. That format works, though, because of the fact that Shields is so open about all of the fascinating aspects of her life.

What the series lacks in laugh-out-loud moments, it more than makes up for in thought-provoking ones, especially if you’ve found yourself wondering what Che would do if he had more agency and authority in selecting the sketches on SNL.

Baker’s point of view may come across as more than a bit blunt, but that just makes her punchlines hit that much harder.

With the crew established and the characters beloved, the series is now taking the time to lead boldly not with surprises, but with tremendous amounts of heart.

I’m A Virgo is about much more than the fact that Cootie is 13-feet tall; it’s a layered story about isolation, coming of age and institutional racism, but all presented with a little bit of a fairy-tale sheen to it.

The league itself exists in the shadow of its founder. Determining whether that’s forever is another tenet central to Heels, and that gives all of the characters surrounding Jack and Ace the space they need to flourish. But beyond the trials of family, what Heels is most adept at exploring is the dao of professional wrestling itself.

The series is only getting more ambitious as it moves into season 3, which rewards the viewer with greater stakes for core characters we’ve come to know.

It’s just as important that Soulsville, as a docuseries, does not shy away from the acrimonious relationships and succession of business deals that fed into the strife of Stax’s later history. That stuff is as big a part of its legacy as the magic of those sound and era-defining singles. But Soulsville elevates that material, too, with access to many of the key figures who made it.

Can You Keep A Secret? is a funny show about a family who tries to get something they think they deserve, without much of an idea of how their plan will play out.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place will give the adults who were fans of the original series the proper nostalgia hit, but it also has more than enough laughs for the kids who are entering this world for the first time.