Since its impressive launch in 2020, the streaming service Peacock has crafted a dynamic and colorful catalog of exciting television shows and films. Despite battling against fellow popular platforms like Netflix and Hulu, Peacock has attracted a large audience and substantial viewership and continues to deliver unique original programs and pictures. Some of the most entertaining new shows call the streaming service their home, with a slew of side-splitting comedies, thrilling mysteries, and endearing sitcoms making their debuts on Peacock; the site is proving to be a trend-setting and innovative entertainment source contrary to many initial doubts.



Whether you’re in the mood to watch Saturday Night Live alum Will Forte uproariously battle to save the world in MacGruber, a parody of the ‘80s classic MacGyver, or if you prefer to watch a gritty and dramatic re-imagining of an iconic Will Smith iconic sitcom with Bel-Air, Peacock is sure to have just the right show you’re looking for. From sinister doctors to trailblazing influencers, the streamer is loaded with content. These are some of the best Peacock original series.

9 Killing It

The always hilarious Craig Robinson headlines the 2022 sitcom Killing It, in which he portrays divorced, single father Craig, a man with entrepreneurial aspirations who sets out to achieve the American dream and decides to enter the Florida Python Competition. In order to kick-start his latest business endeavor, Craig teams up with a fierce snake-killing Uber driver named Jillian to try and win the lucrative prize money he so desperately needs.

Robinson once again delivers a side-splitting performance in the series, proving he can effortlessly lead a comedy after being a scene-stealer in the beloved workplace comedy showThe Office. Luke Del Tredici and Dan Goor created Killing It, having previously worked with Robinson in Brooklyn Nine-Nine; when discussing the premise of the Peacock series, Goor stated, “We were really interested in the sort of almost religious fervor with which the cult of entrepreneurship and the American dream is viewed in America.”

8 One of Us is Lying

Based on the best-selling YA novel by Karen M. McManus, the young adult mystery drama One of Us is Lying centers on a group of five diverse high school students who are forced to spend a day in detention, during which one of them has a fatal allergic reaction and dies, just as they were about to reveal detrimental gossip about the others. The remaining four students quickly fall under suspicion by the authorities and an investigation ensues, with each having their own secret motives for the murder.

When asked if the Peacock original would stay faithful to its source material, series showrunner Dario Madrona responded by stating, “We’ve been faithful to the spirit of the story and the themes and the characters, but also trying to add some little twists and turns here and there so we can surprise readers of the book.” One of Us is Lying premiered to rave reviews and was renewed for a second season earlier this year.

7 Bel-Air

A darker re-imagining of the iconic ‘90s staple The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the highly anticipated drama series Bel-Air was developed by and based on Morgan Cooper’s short fan film of the same name, chronicling street-smart teen Will Smith’s rocky journey from West Philadelphia to the mansions of Bel-Air when he moves in with his wealthy relatives.

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Jabari Banks takes on the character of Smith, with the veteran performer himself personally surprising Banks by revealing he nabbed the lead role in a touching Instagram video; Smith serves as a producer of the program after having been blown away by Cooper’s short movie. On May 2, 2022, Peacock revealed that Bel-Air is the most-streamed original series on the popular service, with the drama reaching 8 million accounts so far. Due to the overwhelming success of the show, a second season is currently in development on the platform.

6 Angelyne

Offering an insightful and revealing look at the mysterious titular blonde bombshell who skyrocketed to fame in the 1980s with notorious billboard images in Los Angeles, the 2022 miniseries Angelyne highlights the efforts by The Hollywood Reporter journalist Jeff Glaser as he attempts to uncover the true identity of the ambiguous starlet.

The delightful Emmy Rossum takes on the role of the famous-for-being-famous influencer, undergoing a staggering transformation to embody the enigmatic Angelyne; the actress spent a whopping four to five hours in the makeup chair to embody the billboard model. When discussing the tedious process, Rossum told The Hollywood Reporter, “I found it completely liberating to look in the mirror and not see myself at all. At first, it’s unnerving. But feeling lost gives way to this real liberation–from myself and the hang-ups that can impede a performance.”

5 MacGruber

The Last Man on Earth star Will Forte once again brings his former Saturday Night Live character to life in the action-comedy series MacGruber, which centers on the eponymous hero as he is released from a decade-long prison sentence and sets out to defeat a dangerous arch nemesis from his past. MacGruber enlists the help of his former team members, Dixon Piper and Vicki St. Elmo (Ryan Phillippe and Kristen Wiig), in order to once again save the world from impending doom brought on by the evil Brigadier Commander Enos Queeth (Billy Zane).

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Forte’s character appeared in recurring sketches on SNL from 2007 to 2010 before he was given his own spin-off film; despite the project being a box office bomb, MacGruber developed a passionate cult following that eventually led to the creation of the popular and hilarious Peacock television series.

4 Dr. Death

The 2021 crime drama miniseries Dr. Death is based on the successful podcast of the same name, depicting the infamous titular neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch who went on to be sentenced to life in prison for maiming several patients’ spines and killing two of them. The dynamic Joshua Jackson delivers a tour-de-force performance as the evil and despicable doctor, superbly showcasing Duntsch’s sociopathic narcissism that ultimately led his fellow surgeons and a young assistant district attorney to set out and put an end to his terrifying crusade.

When asked what drew him to taking on such a chilling and edgy role, Jackson revealed to Collider, “So the outcomes are totally evil, and it is unconscionable that this man was allowed to continue to create this much chaos and pain in people’s lives. But from the inside, he sees himself as the victim of circumstance. And that disconnect from reality, I found really compelling.”

3 The Amber Ruffin Show

The late-night comedy talk series The Amber Ruffin Show features the talented comedian and actress as she performs in sketches and monologues while delivering hilarious commentary on current events and politics. In 2014, Ruffin made history when she became the first Black woman to write for a late-night United States network talk show when she joined Late Night with Seth Meyers. Peacock announced in 2020 that the funny lady would be receiving her very own talk show, shaking up the typical late night structure by eliminating celebrity guests and instead focusing on topical sketches.

Upon its debut, The Amber Ruffin Show garnered critical acclaim, earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. In their glowing review, Paste wrote, “If you’ve seen her on Late Night with Seth Meyers, you know how charming and disarming Ruffin can be… For a first episode, last Friday’s debut was remarkably confident and consistent, which is a great sign for the show’s future.”

2 Rutherford Falls

Chronicling the lifelong friendship between Nathan Rutherford and Reagan Wells, the 2021 sitcom Rutherford Falls takes place in a small Northeastern town where Nathan battles against the mayor and the moving of his ancestor’s statue in his namesake community. His quest to fight the decision causes conflict with Reagan, who wishes to remain loyal to her close pal but also feels a deep sense of pride and devotion to her people, the Minishonka Nation.

Starring Ed Helms and Jana Schmielding, the show sets out to shine a light on America’s legacy of racism, with Rutherford Falls co-creator Sierra Teller Ornelas expressing, “We take these subject matters very seriously, but I’m excited by the way that comedy can process these big themes.” The program was lauded by critics upon its release, with the writer’s room also featuring one of the largest Indigenous writing staffs on American television, with half the writers being of Indigenous heritage.

1 Girls5eva

The smash hit musical comedy series Girls5eva follows the eponymous ‘90s one-hit-wonder girl group as they are reunited 20 years later for a chance to make it big once again on the music scene, after their popular song is sampled by a promising rapper. The ladies must find a balance amongst their career aspirations and personal lives, having to hilariously juggle kids, significant others, debt and their other jobs.

Touting an impressive cast including Busy Philipps and Sara Bareilles, the endearing Peacock show includes fun and entertaining original songs performed by the actresses, with Bareilles helping write two of the comedy’s tracks. Girls5eva swept both critics and audiences off their feet, earning widespread praise; USA Today wrote, “With hilarious earworms (“Dream Girlfriends” and “The Splingy”), a cast brimming with energy and chemistry, Girls is the kind of happy-go-lucky sitcom that’s perfect for a post Ted Lasso world.”