These 4 Paramount+ thrillers are built for a long binge
These 4 Paramount+ thrillers are built for a long binge
From serial killers to supernatural monsters, these finished thrillers give you plenty of episodes to disappear into.
Paramount+ has a reputation for edgier thrills, and this list proves it. You’ve got lots of killers (including a famous serial version), supernatural monsters, and darker stories, along with one thriller grounded solidly in the real world. And all of these shows are BTB — built to binge. That means they’re three seasons or more, with complete series arcs and plenty of episodes to get lost in. So, here are my picks for the best thriller TV shows to binge on Paramount+ right now.
Best binge-worthy thriller shows streaming on Paramount+
Best serial killer binge: ‘Dexter’
Serial killers who are killing for what seems like a pretty good reason always make for great TV (“Furious” is the latest example). And the reason is that, as an audience member, you’re forced to constantly adjust your morality meter and ask yourself what you would do if you were in their shoes. And “Dexter” may be the best example. It follows Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), who works as a blood-spatter analyst for Miami Metro Homicide. Secretly, he’s also a serial killer who targets people he believes deserve to die.
Tara and I got pulled into this show because watching Dexter is just pure entertainment. You’re with him almost every moment, and you’re hoping he doesn’t get caught despite the horrible things he’s doing. And his commentary on his own life adds a touch of dark humor to lighten things up even when the show decides to get nasty. Each season builds around a larger threat; there’s plenty of family drama (he’s got a sister who’s also a cop), and there’s a LOT of episodes (eight seasons’ worth), along with two(!!!) revivals, including “Dexter: New Blood” and “Dexter: Resurrection.” So, if you’re enjoying this world, you don’t have to leave anytime soon.
Dexter
Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police also leads a secret life as a serial killer, hunting down criminals who have slipped through the cracks of justice.
Best supernatural binge: ‘Evil’
What happens when a forensic psychologist teams up with a Catholic priest-in-training and a technology-minded contractor to investigate supernatural events? “Evil” happens. It’s a strange mix to be sure, but it leads to a lot of great conflict because of everyone’s different points of view. Kristen Bouchard (played by Katja Herbers) and Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi) bring science and reason to each strange phenomenon, while David Acosta (Mike Colter) is much more open to faith and powers beyond us. As the viewer, you’re trying to figure out which side you’re on.
As a binge, there’s a lot here. Not only do you get 50 eps and a full series arc, but you get a case-of-the-week style mystery that wraps up each episode, along with a larger serialized story for each season. Plus, “Evil” isn’t afraid to get weird. It can bounce genres a bit, from comedy to horror to psychological mystery without missing a beat. And it’s not SO long that you have to memorize the mythology to keep up. If you want something dark and strange, choose “Evil.”
Evil
Skeptical forensic psychologist Kristen Bouchard joins priest-in-training David Acosta and technology expert Ben Shakir as they investigate supposed miracles, demonic possessions, and other extraordinary occurrences to assess for a scientific explanation or if something truly supernatural is at work.
Best gothic horror binge: ‘Penny Dreadful’
If you like your thrills with a little more gothic horror on the side, “Penny Dreadful” is the answer. This one pulls in a bunch of famous characters from literature, like Dracula, Frankenstein, and Dorian Gray, and drops them all into Victorian London. Then, Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) — a mysterious woman with a connection to the demimonde (the half world between humans and monsters) — and American gunslinger Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) get pulled into the middle of a supernatural fight involving all of them.
The fun of this binge is the world you get to spend time in. The atmosphere is everything. It’s packed full of séances, old mansions, underground creatures, occult rituals, monsters, curses, and more. You also get to see how all these monsters are connected. And it’s very serialized, so watching back-to-back episodes in a binge style really helps keep everything straight. Which isn’t so hard cause it’s the shortest series on this list at just three seasons.
Penny Dreadful
Some of literature’s most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest corners of Victorian London. Penny Dreadful is a frightening psychological thriller that weaves together these classic horror origin stories into a new adult drama.
Best military action binge: ‘SEAL Team’
If serial killers and supernatural monsters aren’t your speed and you like to get your kicks from the real world, “SEAL Team” is your binge. It follows Bravo Team, an elite Tier One Navy SEAL unit that trains, plans, and carries out the toughest, most dangerous missions around the world. Jason Hayes (David Boreanaz) leads the team, and his obsession with the job means he’s paid a price for it with his family. So expect big mission set pieces and plenty of team and family drama when things aren’t exploding.
The binge factor here is that each new episode gives you a new mission to dive into. There are hostages to rescue, raids to carry out, terrorists to thwart, and the trauma all that puts on someone to explore. And that’s what gives this show a deeper layer. Sure, the missions are fun, but you get to see what this kind of stress, guilt, and responsibility does to each of the characters on Bravo Team. Those relationships are what sustain the show for seven seasons. The friendships, marriages, injuries, rivalries — all of it is constantly in flux and very easy to get lost in.
SEAL Team
Military drama following the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them.
More binge-worthy thriller TV shows on Paramount+:
‘Ray Donovan’
Ray Donovan
Set in the sprawling mecca of the rich and famous, Ray Donovan does the dirty work for LA’s top power players, and makes their problems disappear. His father’s unexpected release from prison sets off a chain of events that shakes the Donovan family to its core.
‘Watson’
Watson
A year after the death of his friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty, Dr. John Watson resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. However, he soon finds that his old life is not done with him yet.
‘Medium’
Medium
Allison Dubois works in the District Attorney’s office using her natural intuition about people and her ability to communicate with the dead to help to solve crimes. Her dreams often give her clues to the whereabouts of missing people.
‘Under the Dome’
Under the Dome
A small town is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. While military forces, the government and the media positioned outside of this surrounding barrier attempt to break it down, a small group of people inside attempt to figure out what the dome is, where it came from, and when (and if) it will go away.