The 10 Best Shows on Starz To Watch Right Now – The Manual

Amidst a boom of premium cable channels creating series that are entirely their own, Starz has proven that its more than just an HBO wannabe. The network has been the force behind some of the most creative and daring original series of recent years, and has created a handful of shows that are widely regarded as among the best ever made.

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What makes Starzs lineup even more impressive is that the networks best shows span a wide variety of genres. Starz has made some truly hilarious dramas, but theyve also dipped their toes in conventional small scale drama and told a few truly epic stories as well. Theres a little bit of everything on Starz, and thats what makes it so exciting.

There are plenty of great comedy series that everyone has seen, but there are also plenty of hilarious gems that deserve more eyeballs. Party Downis one such gem, and it tells the story of six Hollywood dreamers who are trying to make it big, and who are passing the time until their big break by working for a high-end catering company. The show is frequently hilarious, but Party Downis a dark, cynical show underneath it all. Its about waiting for your life to begin, and coming to the sad realization that the life youve been living may be the only one you get to live.

Creator: John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Paul Rudd, and Dan EtheridgeMain Cast: Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane LynchTotal Episodes: 20IMDb Rating: 8.2

Designed as a prequel to Robert Louis StevensonsTreasure Island, Black Sailstells the story of Captain Flint, a pirate who sails the high seas in the early 1700s, when pirating was at its peak. Flints story is ultimately about protecting his thieving, debauched way of life. That quest takes a more literal form as he attempts to defend New Providence Island, a piece of land thats untamed the way that nothing in the modern world is. Flint is out to prove that the world cant be tamed, and watching him fight that losing battle is one of the shows chief pleasures.

Creator: Jonathan E. SteinbergMain Cast: Toby Stephens, Hannah New, Luke ArnoldTotal Episodes: 38IMDb Rating: 8.2

Some of the best shows on Starz fly under the radar, andPoweris a great example of that trend. The series stars Omari Hardwick as James Patrick, an entrepreneur whos achieved enormous success through his night club, but who also caters to a drug operation designed to serve only high-status clients. The series chronicles Patricks attempts to move away from the world of crime and into running a legitimate business full-time. As you might expect, though, its not as easy to get out of the game as it may sound.

Creator: Courtney A. KempMain Cast: Omari Hardwick, Lela Loren, Naturi NaughtonTotal Episodes: 63IMDb Rating: 8.1

Outlandermay be the most popular Starz series of all time, and theres good reason for that. In its early seasons, the story follows a love triangle that spans time and space, following a former nurse in the wake of World War II who finds herself transported back in time to the 1700s. Eventually, she finds herself torn between her husband in the 1900s and the man shes married in the 1700s in order to survive.Outlandersprawls outward from there, but its the initial story of love and loss that got viewers hooked, and keeps them coming back for more season after season.

Creator: Ronald D. MooreMain Cast: Catriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias MenziesTotal Episodes: 67IMDb Rating: 8.4

Americas schools are fundamentally broken, and fixing them isnt as easy as it may seem.America to Meis a stunning indictment of the racial and social inequalities that have infected Americas education system. The docuseries follows a group of Black students at Oak Park and River Forest High School in a suburb of Chicago. The school is high performing, and is thought to be one of the most progressive schools in the nation. In looking at the stories of individual students, though, it becomes clear that the systems around the school reinforce racial hierarchies even as individual teachers try to undo them.

Creator: Steve JamesMain Cast: Tiara Oliphant, Jada Buford, Kendale McCoyTotal Episodes:10IMDb Rating:7.3

Based on the more-than-century old novel of the same name, StarzsHowards Endminiseries is one of the best adaptations that E.M. Foresters novel has ever seen. The series tells a sprawling story over the course of its four episodes, focusing on three families as the world changes at the turn of the 20th century. Kenneth Lonergan, who has also directed acclaimed films like MargaretandManchester by the Sea, adapted the series, and it features plenty of deft, articulate writing that burrows into the core of the novel, and comes up with a few new ideas in the process.

Creator: Kenneth LonerganMain Cast: Hayley Atwell, Matthew Macfadyen, Tracey UllmanTotal Episodes: 4IMDb Rating:7.3

Even in an era where theres more TV than ever, you still dont get many shows likeVida.The series follows two Mexican-American siblings who clash in every way possible. One is a party girl, and the other is much more straight-laced, but theyre forced to reunite following their mothers untimely death. From there, the sisters form a new relationship as adults and discover who their mother really was. Its a subtle, moving series that focuses on what its like to live as a Latinx person in 21st-century Los Angeles. It may not have any dragons, but Vidais well worth checking out for its subtle, intricate character work.

Creator: Tanya SarachoMain Cast: Melissa Berrera, Mishel Prada, Ser AnzoateguiTotal Episodes: 22IMDb Rating:7.3

Although it has a dour name,Survivors Remorsehas plenty of comedy to counterbalance its more serious moments. The half-hour comedy follows Cam Calloway (Jessie Usher), a young basketball player who signs a massive contract with a team in Atlanta and suddenly feels burdened with the responsibilities that come with wealth and fame. What makesSurvivors Remorsework is its ability to balance the lighter moments with grounded looks at what fame and stardom actually mean. Money solves plenty of problems, but it doesnt fix everything.

Creator: Mike OMalleyMain Cast: Jessie T. Usher, RonReaco Lee, Erica AshTotal Episodes: 36IMDb Rating:7.0

Based on an epic Neil Gaiman novel of the same name,American Godshad a lot to live up to before the series even premiered. The series has a wildly fantastical premise, which involves a man named Shadow Moon who meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday after being released from prison. Ultimately, Shadow finds himself embroiled in a war between the old gods and the new.American Godsis not a perfect show, but it took enormous swings over the course of its three-season run. Few shows tried to encompass more of what America was, and what it could be.

Creator: Bryan Fuller, Michael GreenMain Cast: Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, Emily BrowningTotal Episodes: 26IMDb Rating:7.7

Anthology dramas have become increasingly popular in an age where shorter series are becoming the norm, andThe Girlfriend Experienceis a great example of how the format can be used. Each season of the show tells a different story, but each one is focused on the lives of sex workers who provide a high-end, girlfriend experience for their clients. The series is incredibly smart about the way patriarchal norms have infected prostitution, and always grants full humanity to the characters who are selling their bodies on screen.

Creator: Lodge Kerrigan and Amy SeimetzMain Cast: Riley Keough, Anna Friel, Julia Goldani TellesTotal Episodes: 37IMDb Rating:7.0

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The 10 Best Shows on Starz To Watch Right Now - The Manual