If you want to find the television series that balanced high-gloss Hollywood production with actual directorial and showrunner vision, you have to look at the best Paramount TV shows. Through its storied production arms like Paramount Television (and its various iterations, including CBS Studios) and its premium networks like Showtime, Paramount Global has spent decades funding series that champion the “Pro Toolkit”: intricate narrative arcs, nuanced character development, and immersive world-building that rewards long-form commitment. These are the shows that still feel like they were crafted by human beings with a specific storytelling point of view, delivering consistency and innovation across seasons.
Finding the best Paramount TV shows means cutting through the sheer volume of content to uncover the series that define high-level craft in episodic storytelling. We’ve scoured the Paramount Pictures Television and Showtime Networks archives to find 10 high-craft picks that we have **never mentioned** in any of our previous 40+ blogs—no repeats of well-known hits like Yellowstone, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Cheers, or Frasier. These are fresh, pro-level essentials that every TV aficionado needs to see if they care about the evolution of serialized narratives. Let’s get into the high-confidence winners.
Best for: TV aficionados looking for Paramount studio series and critically acclaimed dramas/comedies that offer elite writing, surgical pacing, and visionary showrunning across multiple seasons.
Common cinephile pain points this list solves: Wasting time on “committee-led” narratives / Inconsistent writing quality / Unearned character arcs / Poor season pacing / Not knowing which Paramount Pictures masterpieces actually offer a compelling, sustained vision.
Related Lists: The Best Binge-Worthy Series / TV Shows That Set the Standards in Episodic Cinema / Editor’s Picks: Top TV Series / Handpicked Series Worth Watching
What to watch for
When you jump into these Paramount Television series, pay attention to the **Narrative Economy.** Great Paramount shows use their budget and runtime to make every episode, every plot point, and every character beat count—look for how showrunners develop arcs over seasons, how visual continuity is maintained, and how sound design builds a consistent world. Notice the **character blocking** and how it evolves, deepening relationships and power dynamics across the run. This attention to detail is the hallmark of high-quality television.
10 best Paramount TV shows
1. Deadwood (2004-2006) 🇺🇸
Creator/Showrunner: David Milch
Plot: A look at the lives of residents of Deadwood, South Dakota, in the 1870s as the town shifts from a lawless camp to an organized settlement.
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Where to Watch: Max
Why it’s a classic: Co-produced by Paramount Television, *Deadwood* is a masterpiece of **tactile world-building** and raw **script economy**. Milch’s dense, Shakespearean dialogue brings the muddy, violent frontier town to vivid life. The **visually authored cinematography** captures the gritty realism, while the **surgical blocking** perfectly reflects the ever-shifting power dynamics. Every character, every setting, and every line of dialogue is meticulously crafted, making it a powerful and immersive viewing experience.
2. Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) 🇺🇸
Creators/Showrunners: Mark Frost, David Lynch
Plot: Picking up 25 years after the original series, FBI Agent Dale Cooper is still lost in the Black Lodge, while an evil doppelgänger roams free and new mysteries unfold in Twin Peaks.
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Where to Watch: Showtime / Paramount+
Why it’s a classic: A monumental achievement in **visually authored television**, produced by Paramount Television for Showtime. Lynch’s singular vision creates a haunting, surreal, and deeply unsettling world where every frame is imbued with **visual intentionality**. The **surgical sound design** is paramount, creating atmosphere and dread, while the **unconventional pacing** challenges and rewards viewers, pushing the boundaries of what serialized storytelling can be.
3. The Good Fight (2017-2022) 🇺🇸
Creators/Showrunners: Robert King, Michelle King, Phil Alden Robinson
Plot: Diane Lockhart is forced out of her law firm after a financial scam wipes out her savings, leading her to join a new, prestigious Chicago firm where she must rebuild her career.
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+
Why it’s a classic: A flagship production by CBS Television Studios (now Paramount Television Studios) for Paramount+, this series is a masterclass in **dialogue pressure as action**. Its **surgical script economy** tackles complex contemporary issues with wit and sharp insight, matched by **bold visual choices** and a constantly evolving, often surreal, aesthetic. The **ensemble blocking** is dynamic, reflecting the intricate power plays and moral ambiguities at the heart of the show.
4. Yellowjackets (2021-Present) 🇺🇸
Creators/Showrunners: Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson
Plot: A team of wildly talented high school girl soccer players become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to rebuild nearly 25 years later.
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Where to Watch: Showtime / Paramount+
Why it’s a classic: A compelling Showtime production that excels in **rhythmic editing** and **intertwined narrative economy**. The show masterfully juggles two timelines, creating suspense through carefully placed visual and thematic parallels. Its **tactile world-building** vividly renders both the brutal wilderness and the fragmented adult lives. The **surgical character blocking** and intense performances heighten the psychological tension, making every episode a gripping and disquieting experience.
5. Dexter (2006-2013) 🇺🇸
Creator/Showrunner: James Manos Jr. (Developer)
Plot: By day, Dexter Morgan is a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department. By night, he is a serial killer who murders other murderers.
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Where to Watch: Showtime / Paramount+
Why it’s a classic: This iconic Showtime series, produced by Showtime Networks, is a brilliant exercise in **surgical pacing** and **character-driven psychological thriller**. The show’s **visually authored approach** uses Dexter’s internal monologue and unique perspective to frame his grim world. The **tactile sound design** often emphasizes the precision of his “work,” creating a disturbing intimacy that kept audiences hooked for seasons. It’s a pro-level study in moral ambiguity and sustained narrative tension.
6. Penny Dreadful (2014-2016) 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Creator/Showrunner: John Logan
Plot: Explorer Sir Malcolm Murray, American gunslinger Ethan Chandler, and clairvoyant Vanessa Ives unite to combat supernatural threats in Victorian London.
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Where to Watch: Showtime / Paramount+
Why it’s a classic: A visually stunning and intellectually rich Showtime production, *Penny Dreadful* boasts extraordinary **tactile world-building** of Victorian London’s gothic underworld. The **visually authored cinematography** is sumptuous and atmospheric, creating a sense of dread and beauty. With a **surgical script economy** that interweaves classic literary monsters with profound psychological depth, the show is a masterclass in prestige horror, elevating genre tropes through exquisite craft.
7. Billions (2016-Present) 🇺🇸
Creators/Showrunners: Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Andrew Ross Sorkin
Plot: A U.S. Attorney and a brilliant, ambitious hedge fund king clash over their differing approaches to power, money, and justice in the high-stakes world of New York finance.
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Where to Watch: Showtime / Paramount+
Why it’s a classic: This Showtime original, produced by Showtime Networks, is a masterclass in **dialogue pressure as action**. Its **surgical script economy** delivers rapid-fire, witty exchanges that are as thrilling as any physical confrontation. The **character blocking** dynamically reflects the constant power struggles and strategic maneuvers in the cutthroat world of finance. It’s a high-stakes, high-octane drama that’s meticulously crafted to keep viewers constantly engaged.
8. Homeland (2011-2020) 🇺🇸
Creators/Showrunners: Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa, Gideon Raff
Plot: A bipolar CIA officer becomes convinced that a rescued American Marine, previously held captive by al-Qaeda, has been turned and poses a significant threat to U.S. security. IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Where to Watch: Showtime / Paramount+ / Hulu
Why it’s a classic: This multi-award-winning Showtime series, produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and Showtime Networks, is a benchmark in **tactical procedural filmmaking**. Its **surgical pacing** creates an almost unbearable tension, with each season meticulously building complex geopolitical thrillers. The **visually authored direction** employs a gritty, realistic aesthetic, while the **character blocking** intensely conveys the psychological toll of espionage and paranoia. A consistently high-craft, high-stakes drama.
9. Evil (2019-Present) 🇺🇸
Creators/Showrunners: Robert King, Michelle King
Plot: A skeptical female psychologist joins a priest-in-training and a contractor as they investigate the Catholic Church’s unexplained mysteries, including supposed miracles and demonic possessions.
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+
Why it’s a classic: Produced by CBS Television Studios (Paramount Television Studios) for CBS and later Paramount+, *Evil* is a uniquely unsettling and intelligent procedural. Its **visually authored approach** blends psychological horror with theological debate, creating **tactile world-building** where the mundane and the supernatural subtly intertwine. The **surgical sound design** and **creative blocking** often amplify the unseen, making it a masterclass in building dread and questioning reality with impeccable craft.
10. The Odd Couple (1970-1975) 🇺🇸
Creator/Showrunner: Garry Marshall (Developer)
Plot: Two divorced men, a fastidious photographer and a slovenly sportswriter, attempt to share an apartment without driving each other insane.
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to Watch: Paramount+ / Prime Video (Rent/Buy) / Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Why it’s a classic: A timeless multi-camera sitcom produced by Paramount Television, *The Odd Couple* is a clinic in **ensemble blocking** and **surgical comedic timing**. The brilliant chemistry between Tony Randall and Jack Klugman, combined with Neil Simon’s legendary **script economy**, creates an enduring dynamic. The show’s **visual intentionality** for a studio sitcom allowed the actors to shine, building relatable conflict and humor that still feels fresh and meticulously crafted decades later.
What to watch next
Next category: Mind-Bending Movies That Play with Reality (because once you’ve cleared the best Paramount TV shows, you’ll want a high-concept film that challenges your perceptions and matches that serialized-level craft).