Crave includes some ofthe greatest HBO seriesever made while also catering to its Canadian audiences by delivering content specific to them. The best shows on Crave are both recent releases and older series, meaning viewers can decide for themselves if they want to catch up on forgotten classics or keep up with the currently trending TV shows.There’s really something for everybody on Crave, as their catalog appeals to all tastes and television persuasions.
Shoresy
Cast
A foul-mouthed hockey player takes on the challenge of coaching a struggling team, bringing his abrasive humor and relentless determination to the rink. As he pushes his players to their limits, he faces personal and professional obstacles, striving to transform the team into champions while navigating the complex dynamics of small-town life and the sport he loves.
As a Canadian comedy and a Crave original,Shoresyis a spinoff of the popular seriesLetterkennythat focuses on the title character, Shorsey (Jared Keeso), moving to Sudbury, Ontario, to take up a job with a struggling Triple A–level ice hockey team. As a highly acclaimed sitcom that fully embraced its Canadian setting,Shoresycaptures the spirit ofLetterkennyto produce a hilarious character-driven story that Canadians appreciate for its unique style and country-specific humor, while viewers worldwide connect with its strong writing and satirical bite.
Though Shoresy was unseen inLetterkenny, he stole many scenes in the series with the hilariously profane insults he threw at his fellow hockey players from off-screen. Surprisingly, the spinoff show manages to keep that aspect intact while also developing him into a well-rounded character. The movie is a terrific celebration of Canada’s love of hockey withShoresy’s cast filled with real-life players.
All Four Seasons Are On Crave
Canada’s Drag Race
Canada’s Drag Race is a reality game show where twelve drag queens compete to become the next big Drag Superstar in Canada. Throughout the show, the contestants compete in challenges that test their talent, charisma, and nerve. Canada’s Drag Race is one of the better critically received reality TV shows and consistently has appearances from RuPaul.
While Crave includes plenty of editions of RuPaul’s reality franchise worldwide, Canadian Crave viewers would be particularly interested in catching up onCanada’s Drag Race. With the same format as its American counterpart, this stylish andthrilling competition featured Canadian drag queens for a prize of $100,000and the title of Canada’s Next Drag Superstar.Canada’s Drag Raceis hosted byRuPaul’s Drag Raceseason 11 runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes, who originally hails from Toronto, Ontario.
The franchise has been a welcome platform for people of the LGBTQ+ community and this version of the show gives the Canadian members of this community a chance to shine. Of course, this has also led to the drag community and their shows being welcomed as a part of mainstream entertainment and the show is endless fun showing off these talented performers.
Power
Power, released in 2014, follows a successful New York entrepreneur who covertly leads a drug empire catering to wealthy elites. As he seeks to leave the criminal world behind and protect his family, he navigates the precarious balance between his dual identities.
While Crave features plenty of original programming, it also hosts series from other suppliers, such as the Starz network. This means thatCrave viewers can enjoy all six seasons of the crime dramaPower, which follows the thrilling story of the ruthless drug dealer James St. Patrick and his family. Patrick lives his life appearing to be a successful entrepreneur while actually hiding his drug empire that caters to the rich and influential. While business is good, Patrick is constantly searching for a way to escape the game.
There are plenty of series that tell similar crime stories, but it’s the characters that the audience gets invested in that makesPowersuch a gripping series. With plenty of twists and turns as well as heart-racing cliffhangers,Poweris ahighly bingeable TV seriesthat will keep Crave viewers on the edge of their seats.
Nurse Jackie
Nurse Jackie is a comedy-drama series that centers on the titular character who works at the E.R. for All Saint’s Hospital in New York City. The show explores the story of Jackie Peyton, a good-hearted nurse with a strong will but a troubled and tumultuous life involving substance abuse. Jackie fights to keep her Hospital fair and functional for staff and patients, all while trying to keep her head on straight.
Nurse Jackieis a highly acclaimed medical comedy-drama that features an astounding performance by Edie Falco in the title role of Jackie Peyton. A smart and highly effective series Falco stars as the titular character, a talented and smart nurse who saves lives with her dedication, but is also battling her own struggles with addiction.Nurse Jackiewas highly acclaimed throughout its seven-season run and received 24 Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Falco consistently delivered work that even rivaled her extraordinary performance onThe Sopranos. Given the chance to step into the stoplight herself in a leading role, Falco does not disappoint, delivering a layered, funny, and heartbreaking performance that helps to separateNurse Jackiefrom all of the othermedical drama series. Any Crave viewers who missedNurse Jackiewhen it first aired should be sure to catch up on it now.
Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttown is a mystery crime-drama that stars Kate Winslet as a detective attempting to solve a murder as her life crumbles around her. Marianne “Mare” Sheehan is assigned to investigate the murder of one girl while trying to tackle a cold case of another missing girl. Having recently lost her son, Mare’s world is steeped in chaos as she attempts to reclaim her life in the eyes of the town - and herself.
While Crave has plenty of must-see, long-running series on its platform, viewers should not ignore the incredible miniseries that are also available to watch. Of these, one of the best isMare of Easttown, a thrilling crime dramafeaturing Kate Winslet as a troubled detectivetrying to solve a recent murder in her hometown while juggling problems in her personal life. As she digs deeper into the murder, the investigation sends shockwaves through the small community as it becomes clear one of them has committed this terrible crime.
Mare of Easttownis packed with compelling characters and offers a thrilling viewing experience as its fascinating mystery slowly unveils itself. Winslet gives a commanding performance in the lead role as a grounded and complicated hero. The supporting cast is also filled with incredible performances from the likes of Evan Peters, Angourie Rice, and Jean Smart, making this feel like a lived-in world that amplifies the tragedy.
Daria
Daria is an animated television series that follows Daria Morgendorffer, a smart, sarcastic, and socially awkward teenager, as she navigates high school life in the fictional suburb of Lawndale. The show explores themes of societal expectations, intellectualism, and adolescence, all while highlighting Daria’s unique perspective and dry humor.
Part of Crave’s appeal is that it features some of the best television shows currently on the air and has a strong catalog of older series for viewers looking for some nostalgia. This was certainly the case forthe MTV animated sitcomDaria, theBeavis and Butt-Headspin-off about the intelligent but endlessly cynical high school student Daria Morgendorffer. Surrounded by her stressed-out parents and her popular sister, Daria leans into her dry sense of humor to make it through the torture of high school.
While not as popular as some of the iconic animated series of the era,Dariaholds a cult following with plenty of people who relate to the titular character. As a witty social satire with a compelling lead character,Dariaholds up very well today and can be enjoyed by older audiences who connect with the series' legacy, as well as new viewers discovering this rewarding hidden gem of animation.
I May Destroy You
I May Destroy You is a drama series created by and starring Michaela Coel, exploring the complexities of consent and sexual assault through the experiences of Arabella, a writer who rebuilds her life after being drugged and assaulted in London.
Crave not only features American and Canadian series, but viewers can also tune in tothe acclaimed British black comedy-dramaI May Destroy You. This series was written and created by Michaela Coel, who also starred as Arabella Essiedu, a young writer trying to rebuild her life after experiencing a harrowing sexual assault.I May Destroy Youis filled with cleverly hilarious writing but also tells a powerful feminist story of trauma that feels especially relevant in light of the MeToo movement.
Following her other acclaimed series,Chewing Gum, Cole further cemented herself as one of the most powerful and unique television storytellers of her generation. Beyond that, she also delivers a layered and engrossing performance as a grounded character still filled with her own unique sense of humor. It is surprising how successfully the show manages to juggle various tones while still treating the very serious subject matter with reverence.
Seasons 5 To 11 Are On Crave
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is a comedy late-night talk show created for HBO, hosted by the titular comedian. The show sees Oliver tackle complex socio-political and economic topics with a combination of seriousness and levity to illuminate issues affecting people worldwide. The show is also known for occasionally dipping into the hilariously zany with Oliver and his crew engaging in Hijinx, from commissioning mascots for a small Japanese town to creating a full musical rebuttal of a lawsuit targeted at their production.
While Crave viewers can easily catch up on their favorite drama and comedy series,politically-minded audiences can also enjoy the satirical takes ofLast Week Tonight with John Oliver. British comedian John Oliver has informed viewers about news, politics, and current events for the past 10 years with a hilarious, satirical style. While Crave does not currently feature the first four seasons of the late-night HBO talk show, they can enjoy the most recent episodes.
Oliver continues to be a powerful voice in late-night television with his sharp and hilarious insight offering some of the most interesting takes on the big stories of the day. However, the show also knows how to have fun with some of the more absurd deep dives into aspects of society. Oliver’s epic rants make for some of the most intense, exciting, and funny comedy on television.
The Penguin
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
Along with featuring full series of some popular and underrated shows, Crave also has some of the most exciting shows that are currently airing.The Penguinis one of the most talked-about shows on television with Colin Farrell reprising his supporting role as the iconic villain fromThe Batman. This new show puts Oz, aka The Penguin, in the lead role as it examines the franchise crime world in the aftermath ofThe Batmanand Oz’s attempts to take advantage of the chaos.
While Farrell steals scenes in the movie, the series truly gives a look at the transformative nature of his performance. He is charming and sympathetic at times while also being brutal and unsettling at others. Cristin Milioti also gives a standout performance as the daughter of the late crime boss Carmine Falcone who becomes a key figure in Oz’s quest for power. While it doesn’t seem likely there will beThe Penguinseason 2,the entire first season is airing on Crave.
Chernobyl
Chernobyl is a miniseries dramatizing the 1986 nuclear accident, highlighting the efforts of the individuals who worked tirelessly to mitigate its impact. Released in 2019, this historical depiction captures both the technical and human aspects of one of the most significant industrial disasters in history.
The historical drama miniseriesChernobyldepicted the events of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster with a level of realism and intensity never previously seen on television. As one of the greatest miniseries ever produced by HBO,Chernobylwas a five-part series with a cinematic quality to every episode. It painstakingly highlighted the effects of the nuclear explosion and the sense of dread that overtook the facility’s employees.Chernobylmade for difficult but incredibly compelling viewing as it fully explored the monumental catastrophe of his real historical event.
One of thebest miniseries of all time,Chernobylis a harrowing experience that shows the immense devastation the accident caused to the community and the danger of a government that will not admit its mistakes. However, it is also a surprisingly uplifting story of the rare heroes to come out of the situation, men and women who put their own lives in danger to ensure the impact would be limited.
