10 Best TV Shows To Watch On Jio Cinema: At this point, it won’t be an overstatement to say that JioCinema might be emerging as India’s biggest and most powerful streaming giant. Of course, this is partly due to the current raging obsession with everything indigenous, but it is also mainly because the content is extremely worth it. The hybrid of free (primarily Indian) content and annually-paid content from platforms such as HBO Max and Peacock is turning out to be the best solution to the OTT viewership of the country so far.
This is also to say that JioCinema is gradually introducing a vast audience to the best of the world’s long-form television with surprisingly fruitful results. Getting a whole assortment of the best-reviewed stories from all genres under its banner, it is gradually emerging as the future of modern TV viewership in India. Here is the compilation of the best shows to watch on JioCinema, curated from across platforms and a wide range of highly watchable content.
1. Chernobyl
Created and written by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, Chernobyl is a bleak and powerful period drama. By that, I mean it uses the claustrophobic look and feels to maximum effect, condensing the human tragedy of the 1986 disaster in five masterful episodes. In many ways, it is exactly what a product of vigorous writing and development looks like.
It swept the Golden Globes for Best Miniseries or Television Film and Best Supporting Actor for Stellan Skarsgård. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a rating of 95%. Its critical consensus reads: “Chernobyl rivets with a creeping dread that never dissipates, dramatizing a national tragedy with sterling craft and an intelligent dissection of institutional rot.” In fact, comedian and playwright Meera Syal went on to demand something along the lines to be made about the Bhopal gas tragedy!
2. The Wire
Created and prominently written by an ex-police reporter and renowned author David Simon, The Wire is nearly considered a classic in the world of American crime drama television. Set in the gritty lanes of Baltimore, it delves deeply into the intricate layers of urban life and emphasizes the interconnectedness of the American ‘system.’ The commitment towards authenticity, in particular, leaves an impressive mark.
Sometimes unfairly criticized for having a ‘complex plot’ and perhaps never coming into the Emmy consideration for the same reason, The Wire still has a profound legacy and a reputation for becoming increasingly better and more compelling with each passing season. In fact, seasons 3 and 4 of the five it has, have a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus says, “Realistically flawed characters in harrowing, uncompromising circumstances, along with engrossing storytelling, make The Wire one of TV’s top dramas of its time.”
3. The Sopranos
Cinema lovers who widely transitioned from their love of feature-length content towards the passion for quality long-form content since its widespread evolution would place The Sopranos second to none other than the ultimate mob masterpiece, The Godfather. In fact, it is widely remembered and celebrated as the show that started the glorious second innings of the Television Golden Age. In retrospect, that is exactly how groundbreaking the telling of the complex life of Tony Sopranos really was. The dark humor and moral ambiguity instantly won the audience over.
A 2021 film, The Many Saints of Newark, was released as a prequel to the film. The dense show also comes with three companion books written by Allen Rucker. Many critics call it the best and the most potent drama series of all time, often putting it above the relatively more revered giant Breaking Bad. Vince Gillian, the creator of BB, has said, “Without Tony Soprano, there would be no Walter White.” It won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 2004 and 2007 and at least one Emmy acting award yearly, barring 2006 and 2007. Its legacy is lasting, and its prestigious influence on the scenario of modern TV filmmaking is unputdownable.
4. Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is one of the most significant and most pronounced epic fantasies, the clearest example of modern television content that ultimately became a more celebrated piece of popular culture than the literature that inspired it. Based on George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, GoT is sexy, violent, adventurous, and sophisticated. The thrilling experience of the pilot expands like the colorful feathers of a visual multiverse, and you’ll be invested before you know that you are.
Through the course of its eight seasons, its legacy and popularity have only expanded, even as the steam went down after its sixth season, widely considered its peak. The blend of breathtaking visuals and rich mythology coinciding with terrific world-building and production values remains spellbinding, earning a very committed fan base. The performances, in particular, were widely acclaimed, with Peter Dinklage’s portrayal of Tyrion earning him both an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone has said, “The show’s ability to keep all of its disparate threads feeling vital and tied to one another remains a staggering achievement.”
5. The Office
One of the most seamlessly improvised and deftly penned comedic sitcoms in human memory, The Office is a wonderful gem that is a must-watch for every TV content lover out there. The mockumentary format helps the engaging content to soar (and score) high. Developed by Greg Daniels and based on the British sitcom of the same name by Ricky Gervais, it offers just the right amount of hilarious workplace cringe to lift you out of your bad mood. Its acclaim in itself is interesting. The development towards heightened popularity is an exciting underdog story.
In fact, everyone was so invested in the show that the RT critical consensus for each of its nine seasons reads like a friend of yours telling you spoiler-y stuff about what makes the show great/not so much. You know what a lasting impact a show made when its individual moments and characters started getting paid tribute to even before it concluded. There’s even a dedicated musical parody to it, and it has caught the attention of everyone, from ordinary people to politicians and diplomats.
6. True Detective
Primarily a crime drama anthology with a lead detective on the job each time in the course of its three seasons (a fourth one is set to release this year), True Detective is one of the best revelations of the last decade’s long-form storytelling. There is wicked fun to be had watching the intense performances and relishing the compelling narrative of the Nic Pizzollato series. Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, and Mahershala Ali bring their individual charms and incredible talent.
The show’s critical consensus has been a bit uneven but impressive nevertheless. Although there’s a bit of a curse as the subsequent seasons didn’t have the powerful impact of the first one, it has been remarkable. At the 66th Emmy, it was nominated for a record seven awards, out of which it even won four. Cary Joji Fukunaga’s work was particularly appreciated, and he won the Outstanding Directing Award for the episode “Who goes there.”
7. Succession
In a run of the shows which are all more or less classic, here’s a more recent and instant one: Jesse Armstrong’s unconventional and razor-sharp comedy. The world-building is immense and a lot, to say the least, but that’s exactly the part of the fun and thought here. Dare I say, in a short span, it has emerged as one of American cinema’s most provocative works of fiction.
Rotten Tomatoes says, “Peppering its pathos with acid wit, Succession is a divine comedy of absolute power and dysfunction – brought to vivid life by a ferocious ensemble.” The character development carries such heft and nuance that its crucial moments and storylines have drawn parallels to Shakespearean works. The show has received over 48 Emmy nominations, out of which it has won 13. Jeremy Strong won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the second season. In 2020 and 2022, it won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series- Drama.
8. Curb Your Enthusiasm
Another dash of creative comedic genius, and this time sprouting from the brilliant Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm is an engaging semi-fictionalized piece of writing. The improvisation is frequently hilarious, and slice-of-life storytelling has been done to incredible effect. Through its eleven seasons, it witnessed the minimum drop in quality and was consistently applauded with critical acclaim. There was a significant focus on its heartfelt observation of Jewish identity through the unconventional medium of cringe-comedy.
It has been constantly placed on several lists of the greatest shows ever. Although it won only two of the fifty-one Emmy nominations it received throughout its eleven seasons, its legacy is widely recognized and acknowledged. Through 21 years, it kept its matter-of-fact (but witty) banter, observational comedy, and guest cameos (yes! Loads of them!) intact, which is an astounding achievement.
9. The Last of Us
One of the most difficult-to-craft shows in the list, The Last of Us has registered itself as the finest show of 2023 so far on the minds of many. Based on the 2013 video game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog, it puts you into the shoes of… immersive gameplay in the process of its powerful storytelling, offering complete justice to the ‘post-apocalyptic masterpiece’ that its source matter was hailed as. Starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, this is piping-hot work of compelling fiction you should not miss.
We are halfway through the year, and The Last of Us is sweeping accolades, winning Best Show, Best Duo, and Best Hero at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 96% approval rating, with its excellent critical consensus reading, “Retaining the most addictive aspects of its beloved source material while digging deeper into the story, The Last of Us is binge-worthy TV that ranks among the all-time greatest video game adaptations.”
10. The Offer
Among the shows mentioned, this show’s greatness has less to do with critical acclaim than a fairly well-done audience following. Created by Michael Tolkin and Nikki Toscano for Paramount+, the Miles Teller-headed show dives behind the BTS of Francis Ford Coppola’s mob-masterpiece divinity The Godfather, focusing on its production and development.
The fairly well-crafted and engagingly scripted tribute-show documents the experiences of Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy as never heard before, with straightforward wit and an overall lustrous look and feel. Although many critics rejected the show, and quite literally, the RT consensus says that it’s an offer that ‘you can refuse,’ the viewership seems to think otherwise. Frankly, the less-than-mechanical storytelling does enough grabbing your attention and is worth it.
