Best streaming shows of 2018: Here’s what to catch up on this festive season.

If you don’t watch the NYE fireworks on TV, there’s loads of options on Australia’s biggest streaming services you can binge on instead.

If you don’t watch the NYE fireworks on TV, there’s loads of options on Australia’s biggest streaming services you can binge on instead.

While you may have missed the big buzz shows when they were first being binged, this festive season is the perfect time to play catch-up.

Foxtel, Netflix and other streaming services have back-catalogues bursting with some of the best titles from 2018, which we’ve helpfully condensed into a top 10 for you here.

SHARP OBJECTS

Streaming, Foxtel On Demand

Our obsession with murder mysteries peaked with this suffocatingly suspenseful series, starring Amy Adams. The Oscar-nominated actor plays a troubled reporter, who returns to her home town to investigate a child serial killer; but has to juggle her job with the dysfunction of her own family (Patricia Clarkson) plays her steely magnolia mum, while Aussie newcomer Eliza Scanlen almost steals the show).

Amy Adams in Sharp Objects on Showcase, Foxtel.

BODYGUARD

Streaming, Netflix

Perhaps the most talked about TV program of 2018, Bodyguard makes for addictive binge TV, with all the ingredients of great British drama. The six-parter follows an ambitious politician, made Home Secretary (Keeley Hawes), who becomes the target of a terrorist assassination plot. Assigned as her bodyguard (Richard Madden) is a war hero, who is secretly battling post traumatic stress disorder and a crumbling marriage.

Bodyguard is a UK drama series on Netflix.

THE AMERICANS

Streaming, Foxtel On Demand

This espionage drama wrapped up this year after six seasons, stunning long-time fans with its heart-in-throat storylines. Real-life married couple, Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell (who met and wed while working on the series) play two covert KGB officers living undercover in the suburbs of Washington. The show was created by a former CIA agent, which means a lot of the detail and scenarios were jaw-droppingly real.

Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys in The Americans.

PATRICK MELROSE

Streaming, Foxtel On Demand

Benedict Cumberbatch is phenomenal as a drug-addled trustafarian who travels to New York to collect the ashes of his depraved and tormenting father (Hugo Weaving). Dealing with the baggage of his childhood, while living on a cocktail of alcohol, heroin and Qaaludes, might not sound like much fun. But it’s so bleak and black, it’s hilarious in parts. And when it’s not, it’s simply magnetic TV.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Patrick Melrose on BBC First.

KILLING EVE

Streaming, ABC iView

Confession: I couldn’t stand Sandra Oh’s character in Grey’s Anatomy. Remember her? That whiny, brilliant brain surgeon, Christina, who somehow made friends at Seattle Grace hospital, let alone end up as Meredith Grey’s bestie (Ellen Pompeo). Well, Oh is not even close to that annoying but still plays a brilliant, MI5 officer who becomes obsessed with a serial assassin (Jodie Comer); who in turn becomes obsessed with her.

Killing Eve: Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh, pictured.

PRESS

Streaming, Foxtel On Demand

One of this year’s sleeper series, this six-part drama taps into the UK’s more colourful newspaper industry. Ben Chaplin plays the rogue editor of tabloid, The Post, who hides his hooker mistress and his shady dealings, while working around the clock to keep his job and paper competitive. Co-stars Aussie Brendan Cowell.

Brendan Cowell plays deputy editor Peter Langly in BBC First series, Press. Picture: Robert Viglasky

QUEER EYE

Streaming, Netflix

Nothing brought me more joy, or brought me to tears more often, than this heartwarming series which saw the new Fab 5 — Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Bobby Berk, and Karamo Brown — share their beautiful brand of ‘happy and helpful’ to people in need of lifestyle makeovers. This is more than just flouncing about with frivolous frocks, or make-up tips. It’s soul food and you should binge the lot.

Queer Eye stars Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Bobby Berk, and Karamo Brown. Picture: Austin Hargrave

UGLY DELICIOUS

Streaming, Netflix

Word of warning: like shopping on an empty stomach, don’t watch this when there’s nothing in your fridge, or expect an Uber Eats bill as big as mine was. I binged watched all eight episodes of this food documentary series, hosted by wunder chef, David Chang, over one weekend and put on about five kilos and even more zeros on my credit card balance. A second season is on its way, not good news for my waistline.

Henry Winkler in a scene from Barry.

BARRY

Streaming, Foxtel On Demand

Come for the clever, dark comedy writing, which tells the story of a hitman (Trainwreck and SNL favourite, Bill Hader) who finds a new career acting; stay for Henry Winkler’s first-ever Emmy award-winning performance as his acting coach. The Happy Days actor, now 73, deserves the applause, but then I don’t think there’s a weak link in this ensemble. A second season has been ordered.

Rachel Brosnahan in a scene from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

THE MARVELLOUS MRS MAISEL

Streaming, Amazon Prime Video

A funny thing happened on the way to a New York theatre where Mrs Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel’s husband was trying his best to be a stand-up comic. When he failed to spark the crowd, then told her he was leaving their seemingly perfect marriage, she turned her pain into a pithy routine that brought her the kind of an instant fame he could only dream about. Season two dropped last month, so there’s a total of 18 episodes to enjoy.

Originally published as Best streaming shows of 2018: Here’s what to catch up on this festive season.