17 Amazing Shows That Are 100% Original And Not A Reboot, Remake, Or Spinoff

    Because sometimes you wanna watch something that didn't already have 100 episodes 10 years ago.

    by
    Andy Golder
    by Andy Golder

    BuzzFeed Staff

    ,
    Ehis Osifo
    by Ehis Osifo

    Staff Writer

    1. Succession

    the cast promo with the family sitting at the dinner table
    HBO

    OK, listen up. You might think that a show about the CEO of a conservative media conglomerate and patriarch of an uber-wealthy family stepping down, causing chaos and competition among his three children, would be kinda boring and...y'know, ~businessy~. But Succession is actually incredibly funny, has a terrific cast (all of the Emmys for Jeremy Strong, please), and will have you DEEPLY invested in the intricacies of corporate takeovers. I know zilch about business and yet this show has me completely hooked.

    Where to watch: HBO Now

    2. Stranger Things

    the cast staring straight ahead
    Netflix

    Stranger Things is one of those shows that feels like it's based on something, but it isn't. Of course, it's influenced by all kinds of classics in the sci-fi and horror genres, but the show itself is totally original. You probably know all about the show by this point, but if you've been holding off on watching because you're not into sci-fi, consider that the real meat of the show is about the friendships of the kids. The monsters and telekinetic powers are just an added bonus.

    Where to watch: Netflix

    3. American Vandal

    two of the characters wearing headphones at a desk
    Netflix

    Everybody has that one TV show that makes them really angry when they think about it because it was canceled too early. After you watch it, American Vandal will be that show for you. It parodies — in a very self-serious way — crime documentaries, but focuses on fictional pranks at high schools. For example, in Season 1, the documentary crew tries to solve the case of who spray-painted a bunch of penises on the teaching staff's cars. But laughs aside (and there will be a lot of laughs), both seasons of this short-lived but beautiful show really highlight what it's like being a teenager these days, and the serious problems that modern youth face.

    Where to watch: Netflix

    4. The Good Place

    NBC

    It's honestly crazy that The Good Place isn't based on existing IP, because the world-building is SO GOOD. Come for the ambitious, high-concept premise and the exciting plot twists, stay for the cast of characters that you will absolutely fall in love with.

    Where to watch: Netflix

    5. Pen15

    the main characters screaming and shocked in the school hallway
    Hulu

    This show isn't based on another TV show or book or anything, but if you were in middle school in the late '90s or early '00s, you're gonna feel like it's based on your life. Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle play 13-year-old versions of themselves (surrounded by other actors who are actual teens) and cover basically every embarrassing moment that middle schoolers experience.

    Where to watch: Hulu

    6. On My Block

    four characters walking down the street with their backpacks
    Netflix

    Where do I even BEGIN? Have teen shows been done time and time again? For sure. But none ~quite~ like On My Block. It handles the issues of being a teen in a low-income neighborhood, but also tackles the nuanced issues of gang culture and how it affects your community and loved ones — all while being funny as HECK!

    Where to watch: Netflix

    7. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

    Mrs. Maisel doing stand up on stage
    Amazon Prime

    This original show from the creator of Gilmore Girls has a lot going for it: Rachel Brosnahan is so good that she won a Golden Globe after the show's first season, the period sets and costumes are stunning, etc. But personally, I'd say the show's most impressive achievement is that the stand-up routines that the titular Midge Maisel performs are actually funny and entertaining, which is rare for a show or movie that features stand-up comedy. It's often not very good at all! But this material is!

    Where to watch: Amazon Prime

    8. Russian Doll

    Natasha Lyonne fixing her hair in the mirror
    Netflix

    Russian Doll really ~feels~ like it's based on some sci-fi short story, but it's not. Sure, time loops have been done before, but this show isn't just a modern-day Groundhog Day. It features some surprising twists and emotional weight that make it very clear that Russian Doll is its own thing, thank you very much.

    Where to watch: Netflix

    9. Dead To Me

    two of the characters standing outside by their car
    Netflix

    Dead To Me plays out like some kind of mystery crime novel, but the show is wholly original, brilliantly acted (hi Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, you're both amazing and we love you), and very, very binge-worthy.

    Where to watch: Netflix

    10. Suits

    USA

    Law shows have been done time and time again, but none with a premise like this. It's a procedural with cool cases and witty banter between Mike Ross and his mentor Harvey Spector BUT THE ADDED TWIST is that Mike Ross doesn't have a law degree! So it's Mike practicing the law while trying to outrun the law. Great content, IMO.

    Where to watch: Amazon Prime

    11. Superstore

    four of the characters at their retail job looking bored and not working
    NBC

    If you ever find yourself missing The Office, you should give Superstore a try. Like The Office, it's also a workplace comedy (set in a fictional Walmart), and it also has specific, hilarious characters. But unlike The Office, it's a wholly original show, not based on a British series.

    Where to watch: Hulu

    12. Pose

    someone performing on stage
    FX

    This show opened my eyes to an entire culture that has existed but I just now learned about. This period piece centers around ball culture in the LGBTQ community in the late-'80s. The costumes? Original. The lewks™? Original. The saucy clapbacks? ORIGINAL. Blessed be the mind of Janet Mock for bringing this groundbreaking content to our screens.

    Where to watch: Netflix

    13. Glee

    the characters in jeans and matching color shirts performing on stage
    Fox

    Glee was not only AHEAD of its time, it has stood the test of time. It's like a fine wine — it gets better with age. Glee tackled topics like body dysmorphia, homosexuality, and teen pregnancy on network television, and set to some groovy tunes to boot!

    Where to watch: Netflix

    14. Atypical

    two of the characters looking at a tablet while sitting on the couch
    Netflix

    Very few shows have tackled autism and none have done it quite like Atypical. It's a funny, heartfelt comedy about Sam, a teen living with autism, and how he deals with his family, friends, and therapist. The show doesn't make you pity Sam or his family, but rather see things from a different perspective and, honestly, appreciate his ~atypical~ point of view.

    Where to watch: Netflix

    15. Elite

    the characters holding someone back from a fight
    Netflix

    It's wild that a show with this many twists and turns WASN'T based on existing IP. Murder, affairs, incest, drama, intrigue! I cannot believe that this was birthed out of someone's imagination.

    Where to watch: Netflix

    16. Derry Girls

    five of the characters looking around in fright and confusion
    Netflix

    This show is too funny for it not to be based on anything. Like, trust me. Just go watch it.

    Where to watch: Netflix

    17. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

    the characters performing on a bed on stage
    CW

    Not only is this show an original concept, THE SONGS ARE ALL ORIGINAL, TOO. Rachel Bloom taking her mental illness — which some people consider to be a disadvantage — and using her experience to make this amazing series will never cease to amaze me. Honestly, all those rebooters should feel a LITTLE bad.

    Where to watch: Netflix