With the long holiday weekend on its way, this week is the perfect time to sink into your next summer Paramount+ binge. I’ve got you covered with some of the best police procedurals and parodies, a little bit of science fiction and mystery, and even some true crime.

Kick back and relax this week with these 10 Paramount+ shows.

10

Special Ops: Lioness

If you like to play outside the lines and get a little dirty, this is the show for you, and it’s fascinating. Inspired by a real-life U.S. military program, Special Ops: Lioness is yet another underrated Taylor Sheridan series. This one spotlights an all-female task force, and it does not disappoint in the veins of drama, action, and excitement.

Our narrative follows CIA operative Joe (Zoe Saldaña), who is the leader of the CIA’s undercover female ops program, known as Lioness. Her job is to find a potential Lioness, train and test her to infiltrate terrorist organizations and target high-value individuals, then turn her loose and observe.

In some cases, her job is to protect them, and that means putting her own life at risk, which she does with fervor and without hesitancy. Exploring Joe’s challenges as the Lioness leader, as well as a wife and mother, is the show’s balancing act, which it does with taste and authenticity.

Season one is attention-getting, but season two is action-packed, thrilling, and full of twists and turns. Not only will you love this narrative, but these characters are people who will engage you, entertain you, shock you, and latch on to your soul… you know, just like every one of Taylor Sheridan’s characters does.

9

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery follows the voyages primarily of the USS Discovery, starting about 10 years prior to the original Star Trek series and 110 years prior to The Next Generation. Its central storyline revolves around Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her radical journey of self-discovery amidst intergalactic conflicts.

Additionally, Discovery also explores the Mirror Universe and features a unique propulsion system called the spore drive. Over the course of five seasons, you’ll travel to the 32nd century, face a galactic cataclysm called the Burn (that’ll leave you breathless), and grapple with rebuilding the Federation.

So, why is it important to watch? Aside from its captivating narrative, Martin-Green’s stellar performance, and the show’s stunning visuals, this year Paramount+ released an Original Star Trek movie—the first in nine years—called Section 31. It shows us how Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) became Emperor and is a spinoff of Star Trek: Discovery focusing on her involvement with the organization after she’s transported back to the 23rd century.

Furthermore, Discovery introduced the Starfleet Academy, which is the subject of an upcoming 2026 Paramount+ Original series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Related

I’ve Watched Every Star Trek TNG Episode—These Are the 10 Best

Now with 10% more Riker’s beard.

8

Twin Peaks

Most of you may only remember 2017’s Twin Peaks: The Return and if you’re a fan of that, it’s imperative you hop back to the original Twin Peaks series and acquaint yourself.

Kyle MacLachlan stars as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, who arrives in the small Washington town of Twin Peaks to investigate the mysterious murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). During the process, he becomes convinced of a link between her death and that of a woman who died one year prior, Theresa Banks.

As Cooper investigates with the help of Sheriff Harry S. Truman (Michael Ontkean), he uncovers the town’s most widely kept secrets and comes up against its quirkiest residents in the process—and quirky is quite the understatement.

Expect major twists coupled with a unique blend of supernatural elements, mystery, drama, and offbeat humor. All of this is succinctly wrapped up in creator David Lynch’s trademark style of surrealism, cinematography, and atmosphere, making it a can’t-look-away binge. It’s also one of the best TV shows to survive cancellation.

While everything about Twin Peaks is fictional, its premise was inspired by the real-life 1908 murder of a woman named Hazel Drew, whose case was abruptly (and suspiciously) closed after a hasty investigation.

7

Reno 911!

A partially unscripted comedy, Reno 911! is the most hilarious parody of a police procedural you’ll ever see. Filmed in a mockumentary style that showcases the chaos behind the scenes, the show brings viewers into the heart of the Reno Sheriff’s Department (and their squad cars) to watch as incompetent officers hesitate, then scramble to do their jobs.

Reno 911! features a cast of quirky characters who wing it in their daily dealings with a variety of absurd situations, from traffic stops to calls about speeding violations and prostitution to stakeouts and drug busts.

You’ll meet the eccentric Deputy Wiegel (Kerri Kenney-Silver), the perpetually irritated Deputy Garcia (Carlos Alazraqui), and the flamboyant Lieutenant Dangle (Thomas Lennon), whose uniform shorts are so short, they make me think of the volleyball scene from Top Gun.

Most of this show is composed of improv, so these characters are extremely well portrayed. Their politically incorrect, child-like antics are wildly inappropriate, and their lack of professionalism, outrageous behavior, and questionable judgment are the impetus for this absurd laugh riot, which is precisely why the show has seen continued installments, such as Reno 911!: The Hunt for Q Anon, Reno 911!: Miami, and Reno 911!: Revival.

6

Drunk History

Based on the popular web series, Drunk History is a liquored-up recollection and narration of world history. Most of us hear the word “history” and yawn, but that’s the last thing you’ll be doing during this show. Each episode, a heavily inebriated narrator joins host Derek Waters as they attempt to recount a historical event. Sounds funny enough, right?

It is, but what makes it one of the funniest, quickest binges on the planet is the fact that as these drunk narrators are telling their story, well-known celebrities enact the narrator’s anecdotes and lip-sync the dialogue in full historical regalia.

Drunk History is a fantastic comedy with better production value than you’d expect and standing ovation-worthy performances. Each of the actors recreating the scenes of a belching, slurring, drunken rambler deserves an award. Not only do they remember the words being uttered by an incoherent mess, but they also perform them flawlessly, and that only adds to the humor. You’ll never get tired of this premise.

Expect to see the likes of Michael Cera, Bob Odenkirk, Colin Hanks, Jack Black, Busy Philipps, Kat Dennings, and Mae Whitman, to name a few.

5

Blue Bloods

This award-winning police procedural revived Tom Selleck’s career and presented us with a fresh perspective on the genre. Blue Bloods focuses on the Reagans, a multi-generational Irish-Catholic family deeply rooted in New York City law enforcement. Frank Reagan (Selleck) is the police commissioner, his son, Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), is an NYPD detective, his youngest son, Jamie (Will Estes), is an NYPD sergeant, and his daughter, Erin (Bridget Moynahan), is the assistant district attorney.

The show follows the events in their personal and professional lives as they navigate the complexities of the police force and the legal system which encapsulates it. It’s an extremely well-written, character-driven drama combining elements of the police procedural with the exploration of complex family dynamics.

With key themes like legacy and tradition, justice and morality, and law enforcement and family, you can’t help but be intrigued. So, if you find yourself hungry for crime, drama, and conspiracy, Blue Bloods is a solid choice.

4

Under the Dome

If it’s a Stephen King adaptation, I’m all in. Unless it involves clowns; then, I’m out. Pennywise ruined them for me. Luckily, there are no clowns here, so we’re good. Based on King’s 2009 novel of the same name, Under the Dome is set in the fictional town of Chester’s Mill, Maine, and follows what happens after a transparent dome suddenly appears, trapping residents and isolating them from the outside world.

The longer they remain trapped under the dome, the more their resources dwindle, and tensions rise. With chaos threatening to erupt, a group of citizens, led by former military man Dale “Barbie” Barbara (Mike Vogel), know they must band together if they want to survive.

The harder they work to uncover the dome’s origin and purpose, the more threats they face, so expect themes of survival, isolation, corruption and control, prophecy, and—however so timely and relevant—the fragility of democracy in the face of a crisis.

While the first season is strong in premise and characters, later seasons tend to deviate from the original source material and take significant liberties. If you’re familiar with the novel, expect to see altered character relationships, new characters, and a changed timeline of events. The show even goes a step further and reimagines the source of the dome.

3

Your Honor

Brian Cranston stars as a prominent New Orleans judge who’s willing to do anything to protect his son in this legal thriller from Showtime. In Your Honor, respected judge Michael Desiato (Cranston) finds himself spinning in a moral crisis after his son is involved in a hit-and-run accident that kills the son of a powerful Crescent City mob boss.

To protect Adam (Hunter Doohan), Michael resigns himself to a series of poor decisions that become increasingly dangerous with each new episode. The more morally compromised he becomes, the deeper he plunges himself into NOLA’s criminal underworld.

The show is an intense legal thriller focusing more on moral dilemmas as it explores themes of justice, family loyalty, and the corrupting influence of power. However, what makes this show a must-watch is Cranston’s performance. He is a powerhouse actor, and he reminds us just how powerful with this particular role.

Your Honor isn’t just about Desiato and his decisions. It’s also about the effects on the Baxter mob family and how tragedy and chaos can ultimately dismantle even the most tightly-knit structures.

2

Killing Eve

What would you do if you were involved in a game of cat-and-mouse with a psychopathic assassin? That’s right where Sandra Oh finds herself in the BBC hit Killing Eve.

This immensely entertaining British-American female-driven spy thriller is based on the Villanelle novel series and follows Eve Polastri (Oh), a British security service operative, as she hunts down the very talented but psychopathic assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer).

Eve is bored with her MI5 desk job and dreams of being a spy. Villanelle works for a secret organization called The Twelve. When Eve is tasked with tracking Villanelle down and bringing her in, her pursuit leads to a dangerous, obsessive relationship between the two women that’ll intrigue you to the max.

Killing Eve explores their dynamic and showcases their growing attraction to one another, while presenting us with the impact that attraction starts having on their lives and identities. You’ll love these characters and their complex psychologies and ideologies. It might just be the most fun you’ll have all week.

1

Escape at Dannemora

I love anything based on a true story. Escape at Dannemora is based on the real-life 2015 prison break from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, by convicted murderers Richard Matt (Benicio del Toror) and David Sweat (Paul Dano). They were able to escape the prison with the help of a married but neurotic prison employee, Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell (Patricia Arquette).

The miniseries divulges how Mitchell became romantically involved with both men, then how she was manipulated into providing them with tools crucial for their escape. It also details their elaborate escape plan, the subsequent three-week manhunt that ensued, and the investigation into Mitchell’s involvement.

Expect to get sucked into this compelling true-crime narrative that’s played out by an all-star cast. Escape at Dannemora doesn’t just focus on the prison break, it also explores the human drama behind the headlines with raw authenticity and attention to detail, making for quite the compelling watch.

Whatever your taste, Paramount+ has plenty of great shows to binge across multiple genres, just waiting for you to take advantage of them in your spare time. So, whether it’s a choice from this list or another, invest completely and enjoy your binge (and your holiday weekend)!