Forget the hype for a moment. You don’t need another subscription just to fill the void left by Netflix or Disney+. In Canada, there is a service that holds its ground against the global giants by doing something different. CraveTV isn’t just carrying old HBO hits anymore. It’s producing original content that actually deserves your attention.
Some of these originals are genuinely terrific.
But even if you ignore the new stuff, the library is deep. If you are on the fence about signing up, or just want to burn through a free trial, here are ten shows that make the monthly fee worth it. Start with these.
10. Cheers
Let’s go back to the source.
This sitcom spans 271 episodes. It is widely considered one of the sharpest situation comedies ever produced. The premise is simple. Bartender Sam Malone runs a bar in Boston. His regulars are his friends, his enemies, and his confidants.
The writing remains fresh. It has been nearly 25 years since the show left the airwaves, but the comedy timing holds up. New shows struggle to match this level of ensemble chemistry. It is warm. It is insightful. It is charming.
Few series can replicate the magic of a place where everybody knows your name. If you haven’t seen it, watch it. If you have, watch it again.
9. Orphan Black
This is a cult favorite for a reason.
The story follows a woman who discovers she is a clone. The conspiracy behind her existence is dark. The clones are being systematically killed. The plot moves fast. It is riveting science fiction with a body count.
Tatiana Maslany carries the show.
She plays multiple identical clones. Each character has a distinct personality. The acting is award-winning. There are five seasons. There are 50 episodes. That is a lot of addictive content to consume. You will not see the end coming.
8. The Affair
An extramarital affair is an old concept. This show twists it.
It won heaps of critical praise for a reason. It explores the emotional fallout for everyone involved. Dominic West plays Noah. He is a schoolteacher and a budding novelist in New York City. He has been married for twenty years. He has four children.
He starts an affair with Alison.
Ruth Wilson plays Alison. She is a young waitress from Montauk. She is trying to rebuild her life after a tragedy. The story is provocative. It is told from multiple perspectives. You see the jilted wife. You see Noah and Alison’s former partners struggling to move on later.
It is messy. It is real.
7. Ray Donovan
Start watching this immediately.
Liev Schreiber plays the title character. He is a professional “fixer” in Los Angeles. He works for the rich and famous. He makes problems disappear.
His own problems remain.
Ray has a turbulent family life. He cannot keep his loved ones on the straight and narrow. The tone is similar to The Sopranos. It has messy emotional baggage. It has plenty of sex and violence. It is gritty. It is touching.
It is perfect for binge-watching.
The series is already up to eight seasons. That is 82 episodes. You have a lot of catching up to do. The story is compelling. Do not wait.
6. OJ: Made in America
Is there a better documentary from the last decade?
Probably not.
This ESPN film is electrifying. It runs for five parts. It is almost eight hours long. It analyzes the circumstances that made O.J. Simpson who he is. It looks at the cultural, political, racial, and sporting factors.
The focus is on the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole. It covers the fallout from the “Trial of the Century.”
The documentary uses footage and information that was not previously available. It is pieced together from hundreds of interviews. The result is an intimate portrait of a Hall of Fame football player who became a pariah.
It is so gripping you will not be able to stop.
5. The Wire
CraveTV carries the best of vintage HBO.
Chief among them is The Wire. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time. Over five seasons, it dissects the drug culture in urban America. The action takes place in Baltimore.
It is a realistic look at everyone culpable in the drug trade.
You see the police. You see the dealers. You see the addicts. You see organized crime. You see local politicians. You see schools. You see the media. You see parents.
It provides a 360-degree look.
The writing is far above anything else on television. It has been that way for the past 20 years. The show is timeless.
These five shows alone are enough to justify a subscription. But the list does not end here. There are five more titles that prove CraveTV is not just surviving against the streaming giants. It is competing. And winning.
The charm of Sex and the City hasn’t faded. It’s been over a decade since the HBO drama ended, yet the show retains its fun and wit. Two movies later, Carrie and her crew remain mesmerizing. You can stream all 94 episodes across six seasons on CraveTV. If you want a laugh or just better insight into the opposite sex, this is your binge.
Debuting in 1998, the series doesn’t feel dated. Television has moved forward significantly in the last twenty years. Sex and the City stays outrageous. The antics of Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, never get old. It’s a timeless watch.
The Jinx Documentary Details
The Jinx is a 2015 HBO miniseries worth streaming. It focuses on accused murderer Robert Durst. Durst gave interviews to director Andrew Jarecki. Jarecki had previously made All Good Things, starring Ryan Gosling.
The documentary exploded when Durst was arrested for first-degree murder. This happened the day before the finale aired. The series investigates key unsolved cases. It covers the 1982 disappearance of Durst’s wife, Kathie. It also looks at the 2000 killing of writer Susan Berman. Then there is the 2001 death of neighbor Morris Black. Durst provides compelling testimony. He essentially arrests himself on camera. True crime documentaries don’t get better than this.
Why The Newsroom is Worth Watching
The Newsroom is another HBO hit on CraveTV. It was created by Aaron Sorkin. You know him from The West Wing and The Social Network. The show was canceled after only 25 episodes. We think that was a mistake. Jeff Daniels stars as a news anchor. He deals with changes in media and society. He also navigates his personal life.
The supporting cast is strong. Emily Mortimer, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn, and Sam Waterston are all in it. The series examines current social issues. It shows how social media impacts us. It also highlights media sensationalism. The show didn’t attract a huge audience initially. The writing is still smart. It is thought-provoking. Give it a try.
Why Letterkenny Stands Out
Letterkenny is a CraveTV original. It is one of the best shows available today. The plot is light. The characterizations are big. The show features farmers and hockey players in rural Canada. The humor comes from the dialogue. The comic timing is pitch-perfect.
“The key to Letterkenny’s humor is in the dialogue.”
Characters interact in hilarious ways. The rapid-fire conversations between hockey players are a treat. They often break the fourth wall. They talk directly to the audience. The show feels fresh. It is full of memorable one-liners. Once you watch it, other comedies feel less funny. “Fore check, back check, pay check, bro!” You need to watch this.
