Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
We all love Netflix, but sometimes combing through the seemingly endless list of shows to find that one special streaming gem can be daunting. At Decider, we’ve committed our time to making sure you’re at the top of your streaming game (it’s a calling, not a job), but even then, there are some truly remarkable shows that don’t get enough attention. Well not anymore.
Consider this your list to some of Netflix’s lesser known and more bizarre comedy offerings. From cult Adult Swim shows to celebrity studded absurdist miniseries, this list is your answer to the question “What comedy should I binge next?” Start streaming and laughing now.
‘The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret’
This is another one of those shows you’ve probably seen advertisements for but have never watched. That’s a mistake you need to remedy immediately. Starring David Cross, Will Arnett, and Sharon Horgan, this series about a clueless American businessman bumbling his way through London gleefully attacks both American and English stereotypes. However, what makes this show worth binging is that plot, which is surprisingly more twisting than a ShondaLand show.
[Where to watch The Increasingly Poor Decision of Todd Margaret]
‘Video Game High School’
The series that made RocketJump famous is essentially the dream of high school nerds everywhere (this writer included). A below average gamer enters an elite video game high school and has to prove his worth. It’s a premise that’s very simple, but what makes it fun is the show’s execution. This series is less of a strict comedy. The jokes are pretty cheesy and the plots can be drawn out. However, the special effects are so delightfully campy, it’s hard not to enjoy this fun watch.
‘W1A’
If you love British comedy, then this sequel to the series Twenty Twelve is going to make you really happy. The show follows Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), who has recently been selected as the Head of Values at BBC. Sort of like a less politically driven VEEP, W1A explores all of the stress involved in operating BBC. What’s the best part you ask? The series stars Jessica Hynes reprising her role as Siobhan Sharpe, and it’s narrated by David Tennant.
‘Danger 5’
If you describe your sense of humor as absurdist, than this one is for you. Set in a campy, 1960s alternative version of history, this series follows five international spies on a mission to kill Adolf Hitler and thwart his plans for world domination. Sounds noble, right? The premise certainly doesn’t explain why there’s so much dancing, the existence of lizard soldiers, or why the space time continuum is involved, but we’re not complaining. This one is as addicting to watch as it is bizarre.
‘The Boondocks’
Do you like anime parodies? Children who are far too intelligent for their own good? Stories about life in the Chicago boondocks? Then you’re going to love Huey and Riley. This is a series you probably remember hearing about but never got around to watching. Any way you cut it, The Boondocks is an incredible binge. From its gorgeous backgrounds and the jazz-like quality of its stories to its consistently on-point writing, this is one of those shows you’ll throw on in the background one minute only to start obsessively watching the next.
‘A Very Secret Service’
As Archer has proven on several occasions, there’s something really fun about combining the high stakes work of spies and espionage with comedy. This French comedy-drama provides a live action version of this combination. Set in the height of the Cold War, the series follows trainee officer Andre Merlaux as he navigates the French Secret Services and France itself navigates its growing counterculture. And before you ask, yes. Reading the subtitles are worth it for this series.
'Garfunkel and Oates'
If you finish the phrase “Hand job, hand job” with “I don’t understand, job,” then you know the comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates. Riki Londhome (Another Period) and Kate Micucci (Raising Hope) had a short-lived IFC show where they explored how to handle sexist fans, the pros of being blonde in Hollywood, and how long you could be in a relationship with a man without talking. The show was quirky, fun, filled with hysterical musical numbers, and pulled from the IFC schedule right as it found its voice. If you’re in a bad mood, then this one season gem will help.
‘A Young Doctor’s Notebook’
If you appreciate medical horror just as much as you love comedy, then you’re going to be obsessed with this Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm gem. Radcliffe stars as a new doctor in a small village at the dawn of the Russian Revolution. It’s a bumpy fish-out-of-water stories told between graphic medical failures. However it’s Hamm’s conversations with his younger self that transform this show from dark to relatable funny.
‘Detectorists’
They can detect metal but they can’t detect how their lives should go. This sitcom following the ambitions and loves of the Danebury Metal Detecting Club (DMDC) proves that there can be drama, romance, and comedy in everything. You can stream older seasons of this series on Netflix, but newer episodes are available on Acorn TV.
‘The Spoils of Babylon’ and ‘The Spoils Before Dying’
These IFC miniseries are everything you could want out of a comedic period piece. They’re lined with highly talented performers acting at their most ridiculous. The Spoils series take their dramatic premises (a family in the oil business and a jazz pianist-turned-private eye, respectively) and escalates them to their most absurd and comedic best. If these insane stories won’t leave you laughing, then Will Ferrell’s narration will.
[Where to watch The Spoils of Babylon]
[Where to watch The Spoils of Before Dying]
