We know, we know—it’s tough to subscribe to yet another streaming platform. But even so, NBC Universal’s relatively new streamer is worth the sacrifice. Peacock is home to not only NBC standouts like The Office, but also unique originals and irreverent comedies. To help you sort through the offerings, here is The A.V. Club’s guide for what to watch, including ingenious sitcoms like Girls5eva, ongoing true-crime drama A Friend Of The Family, and the late Angela Lansbury’s pitch-perfect Murder, She Wrote. Plus, you can always catch up on four seasons of Yellowstone before the fifth arrives next month.
Note: This list is in alphabetical order. It was last updated on October 18, 2022. It will update monthly.
2 / 16
Stars: Jake Lacy, Anna Paquin, Colin Hanks, Lio Tipton, Hendrix Yancey, McKenna Grace, Austin Stowell, Patrick Fischler, Philip Ettinger
Number of seasons: 1
A Friend Of The Family expands on the wild real-life story explored in the 2019 documentary Abducted In Plain Sight. In excruciating but well-plotted detail, the drama unpacks how a teenage Jan Broberg was kidnapped twice in the ’70s by a family pal who was obsessed with her. As The A.V. Club’s review notes: “In a rare feat, A Friend Of The Family actually justifies its lengthy runtime of nine hourlong episodes. Peacock’s series is an alarming, thought-provoking, and vital deep dive into a true story that, on the surface, appears outlandish.” The finale is set to air on November 10.
3 / 16
Stars: Emmy Rossum, Martin Freeman, Lukas Gage, Hamish Linklater, Alex Karpovsky, Molly Ephraim, Phillip Ettinger, Michael Angarano
Number of seasons: 1
You’ve never seen Emmy Rossum like this before. The Shameless star transforms into the singer, actor, and media personality Angelyne, who became known throughout Los Angeles in the ’80s for her billboard advertisements. Angelyne is a five-part series that explores how she rose to fame, while in 2010, entertainment journalist Jeff Glaser attempts to uncover her life story, one that is full of conflicting accounts from those who know her.
4 / 16
Stars: Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Olivia Cooke, Max Thieriot, Nicola Peltz, Nestor Carbonell, Kenny Johnson
Number of seasons: 5
Bates Motel is a riveting contemporary prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. The drama centers on the mother-son duo Norma and Norman Bates, who move to a coastal Oregon town for a fresh start after the death of Norma’s husband. However, as Norman’s mental illness starts becoming dangerous, it threatens to unravel their lives as Norma tries her best to protect her son. The show successfully reinvents a classic thriller and features Farmiga and Highmore’s career-best performances. And look out for an MVP turn from House Of The Dragon’s Cooke.
5 / 16
Stars: Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Michael Trucco, Jamie Bamber, Michael Hogan
Number of seasons: 4
Developed by For All Mankind’s Ronald D. Moore, Battlestar Galactica picks up after the three-part miniseries that aired in 2003. For any fans of space-set TV shows, this one is a must-watch. Set in a distant star system, humans live on a group of planets called the Twelve Colonies of Kobol—but they’re bombarded by a devastating attack. Thousands of survivors flee on the Battlestar Galactica, led by President Laura Roslin and Commander William Adama, in search of a fabled colony known as Earth.
6 / 16
Stars: Chris Redd, Jak Knight, Sam Jay, Langston Kerman, Freddie Gibbs, Phi Tan
Number of seasons: 1
Co-created by the four lead actors, Bust Down is a biting comedy about a group of friends working a low-income job at the Diamondback Casino in Gary, Indiana. The irreverent series follows them as they explore opportunities in and out of the workplace while dealing with domestic disputes, boundary-violating bosses, and the challenges of climbing the corporate ladder. The six episodes of Bust Down are worth watching for many reasons, but especially to honor writer and star Knight, who died earlier this year.
7 / 16
Stars: Zackary Arthur, Björgvin Arnarson, Jennifer Tilly, Devon Sawa, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Teo Briones, Brad Dourif, Barbara Alyn Woods
Number of seasons: 2
Who doesn’t love a good dose of a murderous doll, especially during the spooky season? Don Mancini returns to the Child’s Play franchise with this spectacular slasher series. Chucky is set in Hackensack, New Jersey, following unwitting teen Jake Wheeler, who buys the Chucky doll only to discover it inhabits the soul of serial killer Charles Lee Ray. Season two is currently airing new episodes weekly.
8 / 16
Stars: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sara Bareilles, Paula Pell, Busy Phillips, Daniel Breaker, Andrew Rannels, Ashley Park, Erika Henningsen
Number of seasons: 2
Created by Meredith Scardino, Girls5eva is a great time. The musical comedy follows four members of a ’90s one-hit-wonder girl band who reunite in the present day for their second shot at fame. It means Girls5eva is chock-full of hilarious original songs, from “Famous 5eva” to “Dream Girlfriends” to “New York Lonely Boy”—they’re all instant ear-worms. The show carries the effortless energy of co-producer Tina Fey’s other projects, including 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. As The A.V. Club’s review notes about season two, which aired earlier this year: “Girls5eva’s satirization of the music industry and pop culture ephemera remains as splendid as ever.” Now only if Peacock would announce a renewal soon.
9 / 16
Stars: Craig Robinson, Claudia O’Doherty, Scott MacArthur, Stephanie Nogueras, Tim Heidecker, Zach Grenier
Number of seasons: 1
Co-created by Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Dan Goor and Luke Del Tridici, Killing It adds to Peacock’s line-up of irreverent comedies. The show follows Craig, a divorced single father who has just failed to secure a loan for his new business. However, he learns from his Australian Uber driver, Jillian, that there’s a lot of money to be made by hunting snakes. So they both enroll to participate in the South Florida Python Challenge for a $20,000 prize, showcasing a funny dynamic along the way. The series has been thankfully renewed for a second season.
10 / 16
Stars: Angela Lansbury, Tom Bosley, William Windom, Ron Masak, Louis Herthum
Number of seasons: 12
There’s no better way to toast the legendary Angela Lansbury, who died earlier this month, than by revisiting one of her most iconic performance. In Murder, She Wrote, she starred as mystery scribe and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher, who gets caught up in several cases, and the actor earned 12 Emmy nominations during the show’s lengthy run.
11 / 16
Stars: Ed Helms, Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes, Dustin Milligan, Jesse Leigh, Beth Stelling, Bobby Wilson, Devery Jacobs, Dana L. Wilson
Number of seasons: 2
Peacock executives really didn’t know how good they had it with Rutherford Falls. Even though the comedy was canceled after two seasons, it will remain one of their top-tier originals. Co-created by Sierra Teller Ornelas, Mike Schur, and series star Ed Helms, it follows childhood best friends Nathan and Reagan, who find themselves at a crossroads when a crisis hits their small town. What’s more, the show is a joyful exploration of the Indigenous community, with scene-stealing performances from Greyeyes and Schmieding.
12 / 16
Stars: Amber Ruffin
Number of seasons: 3
Amber Ruffin is one of the best parts of Late Night With Seth Meyers, so it’s not surprising that NBC wants to keep her around. Ruffin not only still co-writes for Meyers but hosts her own late-night talk show on Peacock, which began its third season on September 30. She’s hilarious and poignant with her commentary on politics, pop culture, and everything in between.
13 / 16
Stars: Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, Angela Kinsey, Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak, Brian Baumgartner, Ed Helms, Ellie Kemper
Number of seasons: 9
One of NBC’s most iconic sitcoms, The Office is a breezy binge-watch. The mockumentary, inspired by the British series of the same name, follows the employees of a fictional paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The workplace comedy features excellent performances, running gags, and the World’s Best Boss, Michael Scott. The Office is great whether it’s your first or fifth time watching it. And if you’re so inclined, you can rewatch it along with Fischer and Kinsey’s podcast, Office BFFs.
14 / 16
Stars: Anjana Vasan, Sarah Kameela Impey, Faith Omole, Juliette Motamed, Lucie Shorthouse, Zaqi Ismael, Aiysha Hart, Shobu Kapoor
Number of seasons: 1
Nida Manzoor captured lightning in a bottle with her riotous six-part comedy, We Are Lady Parts. Set in London, the show follows Muslim women who team up to form a punk band with hopes of winning a major competition. Manzoor’s writing smartly unpacks their diverse Muslim culture and traditions, all while the five of them navigate their friendship and crushes. Also, expect some truly terrific original music.
15 / 16
Stars: Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Gil Birmingham, Cole Hauser
Number of seasons: 4
Taylor Sheridan has created his version of MCU with the folks at Paramount, and it all began with Yellowstone. Just expect a different set of heroes and villains here. The show is set in Montana, following the Dutton family, who own the largest ranch. Costner’s John Dutton is the patriarch constantly fighting to protect his home from land developers, a national park, and the bordering Broken Rock Indian Reservation. Since its debut, Yellowstone has racked up a massive viewership, with Sheridan creating at least three spin-offs. If you want to know what the fuss is all about, four seasons are streaming on Peacock. The fifth is set to debut on November 15.
16 / 16
