The world of streaming constantly delivers compelling new drama series, making it tough to keep track of the ones you really don’t want to miss out on. And to complicate matters, the quality of recent TV drama is consistently impressive, with compelling narratives and rounded characters that can quickly captivate you.
So, to help you cut through the noise, we’ve compiled our expert list of the best new drama series you can stream now. Our selection brings you only the freshest releases, trending miniseries, and critically acclaimed shows, all expertly organised by their release date, with the newest appearing first. Now its time to discover your next TV obsession and find out exactly where you can stream the best new drama series that everyone is talking about.
What are the best new drama series to stream now?
Our ranking for the best new drama series is straightforward and practical. We’ve organised them by release date, ensuring you see only the newest titles first and the most complete view of the current world of TV drama. Getting the highlights of recent releases, trending miniseries, and critically acclaimed shows, gives you a fair and up-to-date guide.
For every new drama series, you’ll of course get its title, the actors, the director, and the streaming service where it’s available. We also include more details on its genre, a concise synopsis, and the show’s runtime, offering you a comprehensive and practical overview to help you choose your next drama to keep you hooked.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Drama •Romance
Overview
Every summer, Belly and her family head to the Fishers’ beach house in Cousins. Every summer is the same … until Belly turns sixteen. Relationships will be tested, painful truths will be revealed, and Belly will be forever changed. It’s a summer of first love, first heartbreak and growing up — it’s the summer she turns pretty.
Cast
Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman
The Couple Next Door
Drama •Crime •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
Evie and Pete move into an upscale neighborhood and find themselves in a world of curtain twitching and status anxiety. They find friendship in the shape of the couple next door, alpha traffic cop Danny and his wife, glamorous yoga instructor Becka, but after Danny and Evie share a passionate night together there is trouble ahead.
Cast
Eleanor Tomlinson, Alfred Enoch, Sam Heughan, Jessica De Gouw, Ioanna Kimbook
Mr Inbetween
Comedy •Crime •Drama
Overview
Ray Shoesmith is a father, ex-husband, boyfriend and best friend: tough roles to juggle in the modern age. Even harder when you’re a criminal for hire.
Cast
Scott Ryan, Chika Yasumura, Brooke Satchwell, Jeremy Sims, Damon Herriman
Mix Tape
Drama •Romance
Overview
Daniel and Alison meet in 1989 Sheffield and fall in love as teenagers before life takes them in different directions. They reconnect years later through shared musical memories, wondering if they’re meant to be together.
Cast
Teresa Palmer, Jim Sturgess, Julia Savage, Jonathan Harden
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Crime •Drama •Thriller •Mystery
Overview
In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.
Cast
Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino, Octavio Pisano
The Day of the Jackal
Action •Adventure •Crime •Drama •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
An unrivalled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake.
Cast
Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, Eleanor Matsuura, Chukwudi Iwuji, Úrsula Corberó
Chicago Fire
Drama •Action •Adventure
Overview
An edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America’s noblest professions. For the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51, no occupation is more stressful or dangerous, yet so rewarding and exhilarating. These courageous men and women are among the elite who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way and whose actions make the difference between life and death.
Cast
Taylor Kinney, Kara Killmer, David Eigenberg, Eamonn Walker, Miranda Rae Mayo
S.W.A.T.
Crime •Action •Adventure •Drama •Thriller •Mystery
Overview
A locally born and bred S.W.A.T. lieutenant is torn between loyalty to the streets and duty to his fellow officers when he’s tasked to run a highly-trained unit that’s the last stop for solving crimes in Los Angeles.
Cast
Shemar Moore, Jay Harrington, Alex Russell, David Lim, Kenny Johnson
Downton Abbey
Drama •Romance
Overview
A chronicle of the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the post-Edwardian era—with great events in history having an effect on their lives and on the British social hierarchy.
Cast
Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Hugh Bonneville
ER
Drama •Romance
Overview
An emergency physician is accused of negligence, imprisoned, and banned from practising medicine. Released on parole, he gets a job as an ambulance driver. Being part of the ER crew, he can’t hide his medical expertise and keeps saving lives, even if ‘unofficially’. He only wants one thing — to legally practice medicine again. The life of the ER station consists of dramatic and often unconventional medical cases and tumultuous relationships inside the team. The characters’ life stories are troubled, but love heals all their wounds. Meetings and goodbyes, parents and children, personal dramas: it’s all connected in the show while the characters look for and find ways out of the most challenging professional and romantic situations.
Cast
Parminder Nagra, Linda Cardellini, David Lyons, Angela Bassett, Maura Tierney
Frequently asked questions
Focusing on recent releases ensures you’re watching the most current and relevant stories, often reflecting contemporary themes or showcasing fresh talent. Plus, you’ll be able to join the conversation as it happens, without worrying about spoilers from shows that finished years ago.
Trending miniseries are perfect if you want a complete, high-quality story without a multi-season commitment. They offer tight narratives, impactful conclusions, and are often designed to be watched in a sitting or more. You’ll get a full, satisfying dramatic experience in just a few episodes.
Critically acclaimed TV shows are typically recognised for exceptional writing, directing, and performances. They push creative boundaries, tell compelling stories, and often spark important conversations. Following critical praise is a reliable way for you to discover truly high-quality, impactful television.
Streaming services are constantly dropping new drama series, with fresh titles arriving weekly or monthly. Some release entire seasons at once, while others opt for weekly episodes to build anticipation. This ensures there’s always something new for you to discover and enjoy.
Yes, you’ll find these excellent new drama series spread across various streaming platforms in Australia. While some might be exclusive to one service, many are available on popular options like Netflix, Stan, BINGE, Foxtel Now or Apple TV+, giving you plenty of choice for your next watch.
An IMDb rating is a useful indicator of how well a new drama series has been received by a wide audience. It offers a quick, accessible overview of its general popularity and critical standing. While personal taste varies, a high IMDb score often points you towards quality viewing.
We consider a few key factors for “best of” lists. We prioritise recent releases with high IMDb ratings and strong critical buzz. We also look for shows that are trending and generating conversation, ensuring we recommend the most relevant and engaging new dramas for you.
A series typically has an ongoing storyline designed for multiple seasons, with potential for renewal year after year. A miniseries, however, tells a complete story within a fixed, limited number of episodes, usually one season. You know you’ll get a beginning, middle, and end.
It is, however, possible for a miniseries to be turned into an anthology series if proven to be a global hit, like what happened with The White Lotus. And others were just too good they were renewed for new seasons, including Netflix’s Beef, ITV’s Broadchurch, Amazon’s Good Omens, and again, Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why and The Watcher.
Best internet streaming plan
Best internet streaming plan
Benefits