You might not know it yet, but Disney+ has a surprising amount of quality dramas available for streaming, again affirming my belief that Disney+ is underrated. I’ve narrowed the 291 dramas to 60 of the best including award winners – all of which scored 7 or higher on IMDb. My personal recommendations are 24, Atlanta, The Bear, Prison Break, Scrubs, Only Murders in the Building, Catastrophe and Back to Life.
More best dramas to stream:
Dramas On Channel 4 ~ Dramas On ITVX ~ Dramas On BBC iPlayer ~ Dramas On Sky And Now TV ~ Apple TV+ Dramas
WYALAN star rating explained:
- 5 stars – Highly enjoyed and would highly recommend as a must watch
- 4 stars – Enjoyed and would watch again in the future
- 3 stars – Glad I watched it once, but I’ll probably never watch it again
- 2 stars – Watched to the end, but I wouldn’t watch it again
- 1 star – DNF (did not finish)
The West Wing (1999–2006) – Political/Ensemble
For fans of: Borgen, The Newsroom, Madam Secretary
Aaron Sorkin’s White House drama follows President Bartlet and his senior staff through policy crises, moral dilemmas, and personal reckonings. With idealistic tension and rapid-fire dialogue, it shaped a generation of political television. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Downton Abbey (2010–2015) – Historical/Family
For fans of: Upstairs Downstairs, The Gilded Age, Belgravia
Set in a Yorkshire estate, this period drama explores class, inheritance, and scandal across the lives of aristocrats and servants. With lavish production and emotional arcs, it became a global phenomenon.
This Is Us (2016–2022) – Family/Emotional
For fans of: Parenthood, A Million Little Things, Brothers & Sisters
Three siblings navigate love, grief, and identity across decades, anchored by flashbacks and interwoven timelines. The show builds emotional resonance through small moments and generational echoes.
Justified (2010–2015) – Crime/Southern
For fans of: Ray Donovan, Longmire, Deadwood
Timothy Olyphant plays a U.S. Marshal enforcing justice in his Kentucky hometown, where old grudges and outlaw codes collide. With noir pacing and Appalachian grit, the series blends shootouts with moral ambiguity.
Shameless (UK, 2004–2013) – Working-Class/Ensemble
For fans of: Skint, This Is England, The Gallows Pole
Set on a Manchester estate, this long-running series follows the dysfunctional Gallagher family through scams, love, and survival. It’s brash, heartfelt, and unapologetically chaotic.
Atlanta (2016–2023) – Surreal/Contemporary
For fans of: Reservation Dogs, Dave, I May Destroy You
Donald Glover’s genre-defying series follows a rapper and his cousin navigating fame, race, and absurdity in Atlanta. With dreamlike detours and social satire, it redefines what a drama can be. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014) – Crime/Family
For fans of: Mayans M.C., Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders
A motorcycle club balances loyalty, violence, and legacy in a California town. With Shakespearean undertones and escalating stakes, the show explores power, betrayal, and fatherhood. WYALAN Rating – 3/5
24 (2001–2010) – Action/Real-Time
For fans of: Homeland, Designated Survivor, Jack Ryan
Kiefer Sutherland’s counter-terrorism agent races against the clock to prevent national disasters, with each season unfolding in real time. The format heightens urgency and moral complexity. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
The Bear (2022– ) – Culinary/Psychological
For fans of: Boiling Point, Beef, The Leftovers (emotional tone)
A fine-dining chef returns to run his late brother’s sandwich shop in Chicago, confronting grief, chaos, and kitchen trauma. With claustrophobic tension and emotional precision, the show captures burnout and resilience. WYALAN Rating – 4.5/5
Boston Legal (2004–2008) – Legal/Character
For fans of: The Practice, The Good Wife, Suits
James Spader and William Shatner lead a law firm where eccentricity meets courtroom drama. The show mixes sharp legal arguments with surreal humour and unexpected tenderness.
Feud (2017– ) – Biographical/Conflict
For fans of: Fosse/Verdon, The Crown, Halston
Each season explores legendary rivalries, beginning with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford during the making of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. With theatrical tension and period detail, the show dissects fame, bitterness, and legacy.
The Fall (2013–2016) – Crime/Psychological
For fans of: Broadchurch, Luther, Happy Valley
Gillian Anderson plays a detective tracking a serial killer in Belfast, whose double life unfolds with chilling precision. The series builds dread through quiet observation and moral complexity.
The Killing (US, 2011–2014) – Mystery/Atmospheric
For fans of: Top of the Lake, The Bridge, True Detective
Set in a rain-soaked Seattle, this slow-burn procedural follows two detectives unraveling a murder that spirals into political and personal fallout. The mood is relentless, the pacing deliberate, and the performances quietly devastating.
Prison Break (2005–2017) – Thriller/Conspiracy
For fans of: 24, Homeland, The Blacklist
A structural engineer gets himself imprisoned to break out his wrongfully convicted brother, triggering a multi-season saga of escape, betrayal, and global intrigue. The show thrives on cliffhangers and shifting alliances. WYALAN Rating – 5/5
Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) – Family/Coming-of-Age
For fans of: The Wonder Years, Young Sheldon, Scrubs
Frankie Muniz stars as a gifted middle child in a working-class household full of eccentric siblings and unpredictable parents. The single-camera style and fourth-wall breaks give it a kinetic, rebellious energy. WYALAN Rating – 3/5
The Americans (2013–2018) – Espionage/Family
For fans of: Deutschland 83, The Bureau, Bodyguard
Two Soviet spies pose as a suburban couple in Reagan-era America, balancing covert missions with parenting and marriage. With slow-burn tension and emotional depth, the show explores loyalty, identity, and deception.
Homeland (2011–2020) – Political/Psychological
For fans of: The West Wing, Fauda, The Honourable Woman
Claire Danes plays a bipolar CIA agent tracking threats both foreign and domestic. The series interrogates patriotism, trauma, and obsession across shifting global landscapes.
Frasier (1993–2004) – Sophisticated/Family
For fans of: Modern Family, The Good Fight, The West Wing
Kelsey Grammer plays a radio psychiatrist navigating sibling rivalry, romantic misfires, and generational tension in Seattle. With layered dialogue and theatrical farce, the show balances intellect with emotional vulnerability. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
NYPD Blue (1993–2005) – Police/Ensemble
For fans of: Hill Street Blues, The Wire, Southland
This gritty procedural follows detectives in a New York precinct, blending personal struggles with casework. With handheld camerawork and raw performances, it helped redefine American network drama.
Lost (2004–2010) – Mystery/Sci-Fi
For fans of: The Leftovers, Manifest, Fringe
Survivors of a plane crash awaken on a mysterious island filled with secrets, time shifts, and philosophical quandaries. The show builds mythology through flashbacks, ensemble arcs, and existential stakes. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Snowfall (2017–2023) – Crime/Historical
For fans of: The Wire, Narcos, Top Boy
Set in 1980s Los Angeles, this FX drama traces the rise of crack cocaine through dealers, CIA operatives, and families caught in the crossfire. With slow-burn tension and shifting power dynamics, it explores ambition and devastation.
Scrubs (2001–2010) – Medical/Comedy-Drama
For fans of: Grey’s Anatomy, Ted Lasso, Malcolm in the Middle
A young doctor navigates hospital life through surreal daydreams, emotional breakdowns, and friendships that evolve over time. The show balances slapstick with sincerity, often switching tone mid-scene. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Unforgotten (2015– ) – Crime/Cold Case
For fans of: Broadchurch, Vera, Happy Valley
Two detectives investigate historic murders that resurface decades later, unravelling lives built on buried secrets. With understated performances and emotional weight, the series focuses on justice and empathy.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) – Supernatural/Coming-of-Age
For fans of: Charmed, The X-Files, Misfits
A teenage girl battles vampires and demons while juggling school, heartbreak, and existential dread. With genre reinvention and feminist undertones, the show became a cult classic across generations.
Vera (2011– ) – Crime/Rural
For fans of: Shetland, Midsomer Murders, Unforgotten
Brenda Blethyn plays a dishevelled but brilliant detective solving murders across Northumberland’s moody landscapes. The series blends methodical investigation with quiet character study.
Reservation Dogs (2021–2023) – Youth/Community
For fans of: Atlanta, Smoke Signals, Mo
Four Indigenous teens in rural Oklahoma dream of escaping to California while grieving a friend’s death. With humour, surrealism, and cultural specificity, the show celebrates resilience and belonging.
How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020) – Legal/Thriller
For fans of: Scandal, Big Little Lies, Damages
Viola Davis leads a group of law students entangled in murder, secrets, and courtroom drama. With flash-forwards and cliffhangers, the show thrives on twists and moral ambiguity.
Fosse/Verdon (2019) – Biographical/Performance
For fans of: Feud, Halston, Smash
Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams portray choreographer Bob Fosse and dancer Gwen Verdon through decades of collaboration and conflict. The series blends musical numbers with emotional fallout.
Gilmore Girls (2000–2007) – Family/Wit
For fans of: Parenthood, Everwood, Better Things
A fast-talking mother and daughter navigate small-town life, relationships, and generational tension. With pop culture references and emotional warmth, the show builds intimacy through rhythm and repartee.
Dopesick (2021) – Historical/Corporate
For fans of: The Dropout, Painkiller, When We Rise
Michael Keaton leads this dramatisation of America’s opioid crisis, tracing the Sackler family, Purdue Pharma, and the communities devastated by addiction. The series blends legal drama with moral outrage.
Catastrophe (2015–2019) – Romantic/Comedy-Drama
For fans of: Fleabag, This Way Up, Better Things
Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney play strangers who fall into a relationship after an accidental pregnancy. With sharp dialogue and emotional honesty, the show explores love, parenting, and midlife chaos. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Only Murders in the Building (2021– ) – Mystery/Comedy
For fans of: Veronica Mars, Search Party, The Afterparty
Three neighbours start a true crime podcast after a murder in their New York apartment building. With meta humour and stylish plotting, the series blends whodunnit tension with generational banter. WYALAN Rating – 4/5
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022) – Crime/Religious
For fans of: True Detective, The Staircase, American Crime Story
Andrew Garfield plays a Mormon detective investigating a brutal murder tied to fundamentalist beliefs. Based on Jon Krakauer’s book, the series explores faith, violence, and institutional silence. WYALAN Rating – 3/5
The Fosters (2013–2018) – Family/LGBTQ+
For fans of: Parenthood, Glee, Heartstopper
A blended family of biological, adopted, and foster children navigates adolescence, identity, and social justice. With inclusive storytelling and emotional arcs, the show centres love and resilience.
Better Things (2016–2022) – Family/Autobiographical
For fans of: Gilmore Girls, Catastrophe, Transparent
Pamela Adlon plays a single mother juggling acting gigs, ageing parents, and three daughters in Los Angeles. The show blends surreal vignettes with grounded emotion, capturing the rhythms of everyday life.
Normal People (2020) – Romantic/Coming-of-Age
For fans of: Conversations with Friends, One Day, Skins
Two Irish teenagers form a complicated bond that stretches across years, class divides, and emotional misfires. With intimate direction and sparse dialogue, the series explores vulnerability and longing.
WandaVision (2021) – Superhero/Experimental
For fans of: Legion, The Leftovers, Marvel’s Loki
Wanda Maximoff creates a sitcom-inspired reality to cope with grief, blending Marvel lore with genre pastiche. The show shifts tone across decades, revealing trauma beneath the television tropes. WYALAN Rating – 3/5
Pose (2018–2021) – Historical/LGBTQ+
For fans of: It’s a Sin, Paris Is Burning, Transparent
Set in 1980s New York, this FX drama follows queer and trans performers in the ballroom scene during the AIDS crisis. With vibrant fashion and emotional depth, it celebrates chosen family and survival.
American Crime Story (2016– ) – Anthology/Legal
For fans of: The People v. O.J. Simpson, The Dropout, Feud
Each season dramatises a high-profile American scandal, from murder trials to political fallout. With meticulous casting and courtroom tension, the series reframes tabloid history through dramatic lens.
The Old Man (2022– ) – Thriller/Character
For fans of: Slow Horses, The Night Manager, Homeland
Jeff Bridges plays a retired CIA operative forced back into action when his past resurfaces. With meditative pacing and brutal action, the show explores memory, identity, and survival.
Desperate Housewives (2004–2012) – Suburban/Mystery
For fans of: Big Little Lies, Why Women Kill, Ugly Betty
Four women navigate secrets, scandals, and surreal twists on Wisteria Lane. With dark comedy and soap opera pacing, the show blends domestic drama with murder and betrayal.
Devs (2020) – Sci-Fi/Philosophical
For fans of: Black Mirror, Westworld, Ex Machina
A software engineer investigates a secretive tech company’s quantum computing project, uncovering determinism, grief, and surveillance. With haunting visuals and existential weight, the series explores fate and free will.
Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011) – Family/Political
For fans of: Parenthood, The West Wing, This Is Us
The Walker family grapples with business, politics, and personal upheaval after the death of their patriarch. With ensemble warmth and generational tension, the show balances idealism with dysfunction.
Grey’s Anatomy (2005– ) – Medical/Ensemble
For fans of: ER, Scrubs, Private Practice
Surgical interns evolve into seasoned doctors while facing love, loss, and ethical dilemmas. With melodrama and medical emergencies, the series became a cultural touchstone for emotional storytelling.
Bones (2005–2017) – Crime/Procedural
For fans of: Castle, The Mentalist, NCIS
A forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent solve murders using skeletal remains and clashing worldviews. The show blends science, banter, and romantic tension across a long-running partnership. WYALAN Rating – 3/5
NCIS (2003– ) – Crime/Military
For fans of: JAG, Criminal Minds, CSI
A team of agents investigates crimes involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, balancing fieldwork with forensic analysis. With procedural rhythm and character loyalty, the show built a global fanbase.
Mrs. America (2020) – Historical/Feminist
For fans of: The Crown, Fosse/Verdon, The Good Fight
Cate Blanchett plays Phyllis Schlafly, the conservative activist who opposed the Equal Rights Amendment in 1970s America. The series explores ideological clashes and political strategy with period flair.
When We Rise (2017) – Historical/LGBTQ+
For fans of: Pose, It’s a Sin, Milk
This miniseries chronicles decades of LGBTQ+ activism in San Francisco, from Stonewall to marriage equality. With ensemble storytelling and archival resonance, it honours protest, progress, and personal sacrifice.
Scandal (2012–2018) – Political/Thriller
For fans of: How to Get Away with Murder, The West Wing, House of Cards
Kerry Washington plays a crisis manager entangled in presidential affairs, conspiracies, and moral compromise. With rapid pacing and emotional stakes, the show thrives on secrets and spectacle.
Little Fires Everywhere (2020) – Family/Social
For fans of: Big Little Lies, The Affair, This Is Us
Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington clash over motherhood, race, and privilege in 90s suburban Ohio. The series unpacks secrets and simmering tensions through flashbacks and slow-burn revelations.
Back to Life (2019–2021) – Redemption/Small-Town
For fans of: Fleabag, The Responder, This Way Up
A woman returns to her coastal hometown after serving time for a violent crime, facing suspicion and emotional fallout. With dark humour and quiet empathy, the show explores guilt and reinvention.
The Cry (2018) – Psychological/Mystery
For fans of: The Missing, Deadwater Fell, The Slap
Jenna Coleman plays a mother whose baby disappears during a trip to Australia, triggering media frenzy and personal collapse. The series twists timelines and emotional truths with claustrophobic intensity.
No Offence (2015–2018) – Police/Ensemble
For fans of: Line of Duty, Happy Valley, Scott & Bailey
A team of Manchester detectives tackle gang crime, corruption, and personal chaos with dark humour and relentless energy. With strong female leads and unpredictable cases, it’s both gritty and irreverent.
The Dropout (2022) – Biographical/Corporate
For fans of: Dopesick, WeCrashed, Inventing Anna
Amanda Seyfried plays Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, whose biotech empire crumbles under fraud allegations. The show dissects ambition, deception, and Silicon Valley spectacle.
Private Practice (2007–2013) – Medical/Spin-Off
For fans of: Grey’s Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, New Amsterdam
A group of doctors in Los Angeles navigate relationships, ethics, and emotional fallout in a private clinic. With ensemble arcs and crossover drama, the show expands the Shondaland universe.
Quantico (2015–2018) – Thriller/Training
For fans of: Homeland, 24, Jack Ryan
FBI recruits face betrayal and terrorism while training at Quantico, with flashbacks revealing hidden agendas. The show blends action with identity politics and romantic entanglements.
Pam & Tommy (2022) – Biographical/Scandal
For fans of: American Crime Story, The Dropout, Feud
Lily James and Sebastian Stan portray Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee during the fallout of their stolen sex tape. The series explores privacy, exploitation, and media obsession with stylised flair.
The Chi (2018– ) – Community/Coming-of-Age
For fans of: Snowfall, Top Boy, Atlanta
Set in Chicago’s South Side, this ensemble drama follows residents navigating love, violence, and systemic challenges. With emotional depth and social realism, the show centres Black life and resilience.
Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022) – Divorce/Identity
For fans of: Scenes from a Marriage, The Affair, Catastrophe
A newly single father re-evaluates his life after his ex-wife disappears, triggering flashbacks and existential spirals. With literary narration and emotional precision, the show dissects modern masculinity.
Ugly Betty (2006–2010) – Workplace/Transformation
For fans of: Glee, The Bold Type, Desperate Housewives
An awkward but brilliant young woman enters the fashion world, facing snobbery, sabotage, and self-discovery. With camp aesthetics and heartfelt arcs, the show celebrates individuality and ambition.
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