The 10 Best Original Series On Paramount Plus, According To IMDb

Originally known as CBS All Access, Paramount+has emerged as a stronger player in the streaming arena by offering content from CBS and Paramount Pictures. And apart from making already-popular movies and TV shows available, the streaming service has launched a couple of great original shows.

But which are some of the most palatable offerings from Paramount+ in recent years? Fans scanning the menu might find it hard to make a pick since most of the shows look good from their trailers. Luckily, IMDb ratings have made it easier to tell which the perfectly made original shows are.

Tell Me A Story (2018 – 2020) – 7.2

Popular fairy tales are reimagined as dark thrillers, with the setting being the modern world. Each season has also a different ensemble cast.

Fables and fairy tales have been told time and time again, therefore, the choice to reimagine them as darker sagas is an intelligent movie. The tales told in the show all head in familair directions fans but they still come with their own interesting twists. The cast is strong too, consisting of experienced actors who handle their scenes with poise.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020 – Present) – 7.3

The adult animated series follows the support crew of the fictional starship U.S.S. Cerritos with events set in the year 2380. It’s the first Star Strek animated show since the hit ’70s offering, Star Trek: The Animated Series.

Star Trek: Lower Decks is one of the best Star Trek shows because it differentiates itself from everything else in the franchise by taking a comedic approach to its events. Fans will specifically love how the characters mock many of the franchise tropes. In that regard, the series manages to be a piece of commentary while still remaining canon.

Interrogation (2020) – 7.4

Based on the real-life story of Bruce Lisker, Interrogation follows a young man who is wrongfully charged with murdering his mother. Each episode focuses on a specific interrogation.

Multiple elements make Interrogation a solid true crime show. It doesn’t rush to solve the case for the viewer. It instead presents them with facts and leaves it at that, giving them a chance to be their own detective on the couch. Second, the episodes can be watched in any order, making Interrogation an easy show to jump in and out of. Best of all, it has a really cataclysmic finale.

Star Trek: Picard (2020 – Present) – 7.5

Events revolve around one of the most popular Star Trek characters, Jean-Luc Picard, as he tries to come to terms with the death of one of his friends. Events are set in the year 2399.

The best thing about the show is Patrick Stewart, who makes a return as Picard after appearing ins some of the best Star Trek movies of all time. He doesn’t disappoint, reminding viewers that actors of his caliber are few. The series also takes more of a slow-burn approach compared to other projects in the franchise and this results in stories being deeper and more meaningful.

Five Bedrooms (2021 – Present) – 7.7

A group of 5 people bond while sitting at the singles table at the wedding. They then decide to buy one house and live together, a decision inspired by drunkenness.

Five Bedrooms perfectly highlight the joys and dangers of co-habiting. There is plenty of humor, which stems from the fact that most of the characters are very poor decision-makers. Their wrong choices make for such fascinating storylines, leaving viewers with no choice but to ask for more, rather than scold them.

The Challenge: All-Stars (2021 – Present) – 8.2

The spinoff of the popular reality game show features some of the best previous contestants. The idea was pitched on social media by one of the former contestants and soon became a reality.

Like the original show, The Challenge: All-Stars thrives on the grit of the characters. The games feel much more intense since, at the center of the action, are those that really know how to do it. There are a couple of new challenges too, a direction that ensures the proceedings don’t feel too repetitive.

Mayor Of Kingstown (2021 – Present) – 8.3

The McLuskey family, the power brokers of Kingstown, strive to benefit the most of the prison system as well as a very corrupt town. And as they do so, they face unforeseen challenges.

With Jeremy Reiner in the lead, viewers are given a reason to keep watching even when events veer off to snail-pace territory. And apart from just being an entertaining crime thriller, Mayor Of Kingstown doesn’t only focus on being one of the best shows about family empires, It also incorporates sensitive themes such as corruption and systematic racism. Plenty of work has also been put in to make sure there are plenty of memorable one-liners in the conversations.

The Good Fight (2017 – Present) – 8.3

In Paramount+’s first-ever original scripted series, a woman loses all her savings due to a scam. She is, therefore, forced to start afresh with a new job.

The Good Fight isn’t just an ordinary legal drama. It impresses by incorporating plenty of social commentary about issues like fake news, online bullying, and sexual harassment. Lessons on how to maneuver office politics are also given indirectly. More importantly, current events are always worked into the storylines.

Why Women Kill (2019 – Present) – 8.3

Three women who all lived in the same mansion in different decades find themselves having to worry about the infidelity of their partners. Events in all three tales lead to murder.

Why Women Kill doesn’t always have strong subplots but it’s very stylish, reminding fans of some of the best shows set in the swinging ’60s. Plenty of effort is put into making sure the wardrobe is as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Feminism and sexual orientation are greatly explored too.

1883 (2021 – Present) – 9.0

The Yellowstone prequel explains how the family from the original show came to own such a huge chunk of land. The series is structured as a Western.

Unlike other prequels, 1883 is highly recommended because it can be enjoyed even by fans who are yet to watch the original shows. Westerns rarely get made nowadays but the Taylor Sheridan project makes a strong case for why the genre ought to be popularized once again. Furthermore, there are some great superstar cameos.

About The Author

Philip Etemesi
(1211 Articles Published)

Philip Etemesi is an author, journalist, screenwriter and film critic based in Nairobi. Kenya. As a child, he preferred watching movies like The Goodfellas instead of Home Alone. His girlfriend constantly has to pull him from the front of the TV but he just keeps returning. Stubborn dude! An animal lover, Philip also has a pet giraffe called Refu.

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