Paramount+ Series You Are Sleeping On (but Shouldn’t)

Paramount+ folds together originals with CBS and Showtime libraries, which means there are plenty of strong series hiding in plain sight. This list pulls together character driven dramas, sharp genre entries, and limited series you can finish fast. Each pick notes what it is about, key creatives or cast, and what kind of story you can expect. Use it to find something fresh for your next watch.

‘Evil’ (2019–2024)

A skeptical psychologist teams with a priest in training and a tech contractor to investigate supposed miracles and demonic possessions. It blends case of the week investigations with a larger conspiracy that follows a shadowy antagonist. The creative team behind ‘The Good Wife’ steers the show, and the cast includes Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, and Aasif Mandvi. Expect a mix of courtroom style logic, unsettling horror imagery, and recurring myth arc clues.

‘The Good Fight’ (2017–2022)

This legal drama follows Diane Lockhart after a financial scam wipes out her savings and forces a fresh start at a Black owned Chicago firm. It tackles topical cases through sharp standalones that feed into season long arcs. The ensemble features Christine Baranski, Audra McDonald, Cush Jumbo, and Delroy Lindo at various points. Spinouts and returning characters from ‘The Good Wife’ enrich the world without requiring prior viewing.

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ (2022)

Captain Christopher Pike leads the Enterprise on episodic missions that favor exploration and character focused storytelling. The series balances light adventure with moral dilemmas and genre swings that include comedy and suspense. Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck anchor a bridge crew with distinct backstories. It is designed so new viewers can jump in while longtime fans catch layered references.

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ (2017–2024)

Set a decade before the original series then flung far into the future, this chapter follows science specialist Michael Burnham. Seasons switch settings and stakes while keeping the focus on found family dynamics and big sci fi ideas. Sonequa Martin Green leads a cast that rotates in new allies and captains as missions evolve. Expect cinematic space battles, serialized arcs, and standalone detours that enrich the lore.

‘Star Trek: Picard’ (2020–2023)

Retired Admiral Jean Luc Picard returns to space with a newly assembled crew and familiar faces from ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’. Each season centers on a self contained mystery that connects to his past. Patrick Stewart headlines alongside Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, and returning Next Generation cast. The show leans on character history while offering new ships, threats, and political intrigue.

‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ (2020)

This animated comedy follows junior officers who handle the odd jobs that keep a Starfleet ship running. Episodes riff on franchise tropes while telling heartfelt workplace stories. Voice actors Jack Quaid, Tawny Newsome, Noël Wells, and Eugene Cordero lead the ensemble. The half hour format makes it easy to sample and it rewards deeper dives with clever callbacks.

‘Halo’ (2022)

Adapted from the game franchise, this military sci fi saga centers on Master Chief and a war between humanity and the Covenant. The narrative expands the universe with political factions, Spartan origins, and artifact hunts. Pablo Schreiber, Natascha McElhone, and Jen Taylor bring key roles to life. Large scale battles and practical armor design support a story that tracks both strategy and survival.

‘The Offer’ (2022)

This limited series dramatizes the behind the scenes struggle to make ‘The Godfather’. It follows producer Albert S Ruddy as he navigates studio politics, mob pressure, and creative clashes. Miles Teller, Matthew Goode, and Juno Temple portray the real figures who pushed the film forward. Production design recreates 1970s Hollywood offices, sets, and costume details for a period accurate look.

‘1883’ (2021–2022)

A frontier family joins a wagon train on a perilous trek across the Great Plains in this ‘Yellowstone’ prequel. The story charts the Dutton lineage through hardships that define the ranch’s origin. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Sam Elliott headline the ensemble. Natural landscapes and survival set pieces frame a closed ended journey.

‘1923’ (2022)

Another ‘Yellowstone’ prequel, this chapter tracks the Duttons through Prohibition, drought, and conflict in the early twentieth century. Parallel plots follow the ranch, boarding school trauma, and global adventures. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren lead a cast that weaves family legacy with new adversaries. Each season tells a contained chapter while connecting to the broader saga.

‘Tulsa King’ (2022)

A New York capo finishes a long prison term and is exiled to set up operations in Oklahoma. The fish out of water premise powers clashes with local criminals and new business ventures. Sylvester Stallone stars with Andrea Savage and Martin Starr among the supporting players. The series mixes crime world maneuvering with dry humor and culture shock.

‘Mayor of Kingstown’ (2021)

In a Michigan town dominated by prisons, a fixer brokers peace among inmates, guards, gangs, and law enforcement. The show maps how deals ripple through the community and the families involved. Jeremy Renner and Dianne Wiest anchor a cast that shifts with new power struggles. Expect tense negotiations, lockdown crises, and casework that spirals into violent fallout.

‘SEAL Team’ (2017)

An elite unit undertakes high risk missions while managing family and mental health challenges at home. Episodes blend training, intel gathering, and deployments with long term character arcs. David Boreanaz leads a rotating squad that reflects real world tactics and gear. The move to streaming allowed longer missions and serialized operational planning.

‘Your Honor’ (2020–2023)

A respected judge protects his son after a hit and run ties their family to a powerful crime clan. The story unpacks legal loopholes, ethical compromises, and escalating consequences. Bryan Cranston and Michael Stuhlbarg face off across courtroom and street level arenas. The two season run forms a complete narrative with shifting alliances and reveals.

‘Yellowjackets’ (2021)

A championship girls soccer team survives a plane crash and forms factions in the wilderness while their adult selves face the past. The series alternates timelines to show how choices echo across decades. Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Juliette Lewis, and Christina Ricci lead the ensemble. Mystery threads, survival tactics, and community dynamics drive each chapter.

‘Billions’ (2016–2023)

Prosecutors and hedge fund titans wage strategic wars using court filings, market moves, and personal leverage. The series tracks how regulations, mergers, and media shape the battlefield. Damian Lewis, Paul Giamatti, and Maggie Siff headline a cast of deal makers and fixers. Each season builds new rivalries while old grudges resurface through inventive plays.

‘City on a Hill’ (2019–2022)

Set in Boston, this crime drama pairs a principled federal prosecutor with a compromised FBI veteran. Cases cover armored car heists, public corruption, and neighborhood politics. Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge lead investigations that collide with community pressure. The show focuses on procedure, informants, and the cost of cleaning up a system.

‘The Affair’ (2014–2019)

A relationship between two people from different backgrounds unravels marriages and interlocks with a criminal case. Episodes use alternating perspectives to revisit the same events with new details. Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson anchor a shifting cast. Time jumps and unreliable narration reveal how memories evolve.

‘Penny Dreadful’ (2014–2016)

Classic literary figures share a gothic universe where a small group battles supernatural threats in Victorian London. The series combines monster hunting with character studies and mythology. Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, and Timothy Dalton headline a story that blends ritual, lore, and family ties. Elaborate sets and practical effects support a moody atmosphere.

‘Ray Donovan’ (2013–2020)

A Hollywood fixer solves problems for the rich while trying to contain his volatile family. Cases involve contracts, coverups, and negotiations that turn physical. Liev Schreiber leads a cast that includes Jon Voight and Eddie Marsan. The show explores criminal networks, studio politics, and legacies that refuse to fade.

‘Kidding’ (2018–2020)

A children’s television host struggles to keep his on screen kindness alive as his personal life fractures. The series uses practical puppetry, intricate transitions, and music to mirror his emotional state. Jim Carrey stars alongside Judy Greer, Frank Langella, and Catherine Keener. Episodes switch between whimsical set pieces and grounded family drama.

‘Twin Peaks: The Return’ (2017)

This limited event series continues the story of Agent Dale Cooper and the town of Twin Peaks with new locations and identities. It blends surreal imagery with investigative threads that reward patient viewing. Kyle MacLachlan leads a large ensemble of returning and new characters. Chapters vary in pace and form while building toward a cosmic mystery.

‘The Good Wife’ (2009–2016)

After a public scandal, Alicia Florrick restarts her legal career and learns firm politics while handling complex cases. The show mixes procedural courtroom work with serialized rivalries and elections. Julianna Margulies, Archie Panjabi, and Josh Charles anchor a deep bench of guest judges and attorneys. It lays groundwork for multiple spinouts and recurring legal universes.

‘School Spirits’ (2023)

A teenager stuck at her high school as a ghost teams up with other spirits to solve her own disappearance. The mystery unfolds through club style meetings, clues from the living, and rules of the afterlife. Peyton List leads a young ensemble and the tone leans toward puzzle solving. The episodes build a mythology that supports future cases.

‘Interrogation’ (2020)

This true crime inspired series lets viewers follow a non linear set of episodes that can be watched in different orders. Each chapter focuses on a suspect, a witness, or a piece of evidence tied to a long running case. Peter Sarsgaard, Kyle Gallner, and David Strathairn appear across timelines. The structure emphasizes how perspective shapes conclusions.

Share the hidden gems you plan to try first in the comments.