While it’s great when a new TV show has you in fits of laughter, sometimes, you want to stream something with a little more edge. And if you’re currently in between shows and looking to add a new dark comedy to your watchlist but don’t want to have to spend time scrolling through Netflix (or any of the best streaming services), I’ve got your back.
Below, I’ve pulled together a quick list of the three dark comedy series that I think you should have on your radar for one reason or another. That mix includes a show that just returned for its second instalment, a critically-acclaimed older original, and a show that used to live on HBO Max.
Best dark comedy series to stream on Netflix now
‘BEEF’
After it became a big hit for the streamer, Netflix’s “BEEF” went from being a limited series to an anthology show, with personal “beef” right at the heart of the drama. In the first season, the drama hinged on a simple road-rage incident, one that pulled Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) and Amy Lau (Ali Wong) into an absurd, intense spiral of revenge.
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“Beef” season 2 (which just landed on Netflix last week) is another winning, vengeance-filled second helping. This time, the drama centers on two couples (Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan, Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton) whose blackmail war upends an exclusive country club.
Stream “BEEF” on Netflix now
‘Russian Doll’
“Russian Doll” was a show I’d not heard of until Netflix’s algorithm served it to me years ago, and I think it’s still one of the best shows I’ve stumbled upon this way.
If you’ve never seen it before, this critically-acclaimed comedy-drama revolves around Nadia (Natasha Lyonne), a young woman who finds herself caught in a time loop, attending the same event and dying at the end of the night. She then wakes up in the bathroom of her 36th birthday party, about to begin the night once again, and sets out to try and figure out what’s going on (and why). It’s inventive, entertaining, and emotional, and it deserves a spot on your watchlist.
Stream “Russian Doll” on Netflix now
‘Search Party’
If you didn’t binge-watch “Search Party” when it came to Netflix back in February, and you’re in the mood for a dark comedy, then you’ve got five seasons of TV to look forward to.
This genre-bending series started out life on TBS before moving to HBO Max, but all 50 episodes now live on Netflix — and it makes for a heck of a ride. Summing the series up concisely is tricky, but it begins with housewife’s assistant Dory (Alia Shawkat) roping her group of Brooklynite friends in to search for an old college acquaintance, Chantal Witherbottom. Dory’s determined to uncover the truth, and the show only gets wilder and weirder as it continues.
Stream “Search Party” on Netflix now
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