My new favorite show is on a cheap streamer you’ve probably never tried
My new favorite show is on a cheap streamer you’ve probably never tried
My wife and have kept a running list of shows to watch for years. Whenever a friend or family member mentions a show we should watch, we throw it on the list so we can always return to it when looking for our next great watch. After making it through most of “Billions”, and binging the latest seasons of “Squid Game” and “Poker Face”, it was time for something new. Rather than waiting on new seasons of shows we’re currently watching to emerge, we dug into the vault to find something we hadn’t seen that wasn’t too many seasons deep, at which point we landed on “Happy Valley”.
First mentioned to me a few years back by a colleague, “Happy Valley” wasn’t available on any of the streamers I had paid for at the time, so I threw it on the list, and there it’s sat, waiting patiently for us to revisit it. I had heard many good things about it, and it was recently brought up in conversation again, so I decided it was time to give it a shot. It’s available to stream in a few places, Prime Video being the one that got me most excited since I already pay for it, but it only offers the first season. I kept digging a bit, and as I don’t have a subscription to either Fubo or Philo — both of which offer all 3 seasons — it led me to the next best option, BritBox.
For those unfamiliar, “Happy Valley” is a gripping British crime drama that first aired in 2014. The series centers around Catherine Cawood, a no-nonsense police sergeant in a small Yorkshire town, played brilliantly by Sarah Lancashire. Catherine is tough, sharp-witted, and deeply human, carrying the heavy emotional weight of her own family tragedies while tackling the relentless crime that plagues her community. What makes the show stand out is its mix of gritty realism and emotional depth — it’s not just about solving cases, but about the people behind them and the ripple effects of violence and trauma.
The show has been widely praised for its storytelling, nuanced characters, and intense performances. James Norton plays Tommy Lee Royce, the terribly chilling villain, and the cat-and-mouse tension between him and Catherine drives much of the series. With just three tightly written seasons, “Happy Valley” doesn’t overstay its welcome but manages to deliver an emotionally resonant arc that leaves a lasting impact.
Beyond Catherine and Tommy, the supporting characters bring richness to the story. Catherine’s sister Clare (Siobhan Finneran) adds warmth and complexity, struggling with her past while helping Catherine care for her grandson. The family dynamics — particularly Catherine’s fierce devotion to protecting her grandson from Royce’s influence — raise the stakes in a way that makes every episode feel deeply personal. The show balances these intimate moments with larger crime plots that expose the darker corners of small-town life.
One of the most remarkable aspects of “Happy Valley” is the vast gap between its second and third seasons. Season 2 aired in 2016, but fans had to wait a full seven years for Season 3, which finally arrived in 2023. That time jump wasn’t just behind the scenes — the show incorporates the passage of time into its story, making the final season feel weighty and reflective. It allowed the characters to grow older and the themes to deepen, giving the finale a sense of closure that few crime dramas manage to pull off.
If you’re interested in checking out our “Happy Valley” — and you absolutely should — you can catch the first season on Prime Video or the full series on both Fubo and Philo. My favorite method, however, is with a subscription to BritBox, which you can snag for $10.99/month or save $20 by signing up for an annual subscription ($89.99), dropping the price to just $7.49 per month. Obviously, there’s much more to be had on BritBox than just “Happy Valley”. You’ll be able to stream a slew of British shows and movies, including “The Office”, “Ludwig”, “Blue Lights”, and many more.
Happy Valley
Happy Valley is a dark, funny, multi-layered thriller revolving around the personal and professional life of Catherine, a dedicated, experienced, hard-working copper. She is also a bereaved mother who looks after her orphaned grandchild.
BritBox
BritBox is a hub for hundreds of TV shows and films produced in the UK. Enjoy your favorite classics like Doctor Who (1963) and Mr. Bean (1990), new original series like Sticks and Stones (2019) and There She Goes (2018), and watch special live events, tune into premieres, and keep up to date with current affairs and soap operas streaming direct from the UK. Oftentimes programming that premieres in the UK can be viewed internationally at the same time via the service.