As we’re halfway through 2026, it’s a good time to pause the nonstop torrent of new TV to take a look back at what’s been streaming on the small screen so far. What really stood out this year?
Unlike 2025’s The Pit or Adolescence, there’s no critical consensus yet, but here are 10 new shows, in no particular order, that represent the best shows to watch so far.
Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Clave
After the end of Game of Thrones: Sturm and Dragons, and the even more depressing prequel, House of the Dragon, Westeros finally has some welcome (relatively) comic relief. Created by Canadian Ira Parker, the first six-episode season of this HBO series tells the story of Dunk (Peter Claffey), a tall and ill-suited knight who seeks to win a tournament with the help of a meowing squire named Egg (Dexter Sol Ansel). Moments of cruelty are fermented by raucous humor.
halfman, clave
Scottish screenwriter and actor Richard Gadd pulled no punches in his sequel to Netflix’s smash hit Baby Reindeer. This dark and twisted miniseries from HBO and the BBC about two stepbrothers trapped in a cycle of shame and abuse is filled with heartbreaking scenes and unexpected shifts in empathy. Jamie Bell gives a particularly uncompromising performance as a self-loathing gay Glaswegian.
DTF St. Louis, Crave
This surprise HBO miniseries about midlife misery in Missouri centers on the bond between a weather forecaster (Jason Bateman) and a sign language interpreter (David Harbour). What initially appears to be a sordid murder mystery (told with absurdist Tim Robinson-esque humor) turns into a uniquely atmospheric exploration of, as the Globe and Mail’s Joanna Schneller puts it, “the redemption of male friendship amidst the hurtful disappointments of everyday life.”
Dog Park, STACKTV
Australia has seen success after success in dog-centered television. First came the comic Bluey, then the Accounts romantic comedy Colin, and now Dog Park. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s humanistic half-hour drama tells the story of Professor Hangdog (series co-creator Leon Ford), who is semi-separated from his wife when he takes a new job in America. He ended up taking care of a poodle mix that he had never cared for. However, thanks to the friendly and quirky staff at the dog park, his tendency to dislike humans gradually subsides.
Maximum enjoyment guaranteed, Apple TV
Regina native and small screen queen Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) has found another great role on TV as Paula. The role is the first in a series of very bad choices in which a mother going through a messy custody battle escapes her problems with the help of a camboy. Apple TV shows are known for their slow-paced storytelling, but this winding thriller picks up the momentum of its mother, with each episode clicking to end on the next cliffhanger.
Hate the Prayer: The Story of Ben Johnson, Paramount+
Canada’s best new show of the year so far is this wild and wacky six-part mockumentary/sketch comedy hybrid about sprinter Ben Johnson and the sports steroid scandal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The miniseries depicts the once-world’s fastest man (an exquisitely deadpan Shamir Anderson) telling his side of the story, playing fast and loose with the facts and being wise about race, horse racing, and Canada’s often unhealthy competitive tendencies with the United States.
riot woman, britbox
This BBC series from Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley) begins darkly as Beth (Joanna Scanlan), a teacher approaching 60, feels so exhausted and invisible that she attempts suicide. However, she regains her energy by forming a punk band with women of a certain age from West Yorkshire. The first spine-tingling moment comes when the ferocious frontwoman Kitty, played by musical theater star Rosalie Craig, barks out Hole’s song “Violet.”
Another Bennett sister, Britbox
Jane Austen celebrated her 250th birthday in December. The 500-year small screen celebration includes this 10-part retelling/sequel of Pride and Prejudice. This perfect British period drama is brought to life by Ella Bruccolelli’s delightful performance, giving pride of place to the perspective of Mary Bennet, who is supposed to be a plain and pedantic middle child. There’s romance, but the heart of this well-known story turns out to be Mary’s relationship with her mother, Mrs. Bennet (Ruth Jones).
off campus, prime video
Based on Canadian Elle Kennedy’s novel about college hockey players and the women who love them, this is a true young adult romance. It’s harder than you might think to make a soapy, sex-positive show about brothers talking about how to keep girls safe while scoring goals feel authentic.
It may not be on the level of Shane and Elijah, but the chemistry between protagonists Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) is a strong second line.
bait, prime video
In a six-month period in which showbiz satire has been extremely strong (see Comeback Season, Wonder Man, and the breakup with Hux), Veidt remains a standout. It’s a snappy, formulaic drama about the role of James Bond, a British actor named Shah Latif (played by series creator Riz Ahmed), whose internal insecurities about his identity as a Pakistani Muslim from West London are represented by a pig’s head (voiced by Patrick Stewart). Guz Khan makes a fuss as the scheming cousin.
Source link
