The 10 Best TV Shows of 2026 So Far: Critic and Audience Favorites

A list of the ten best TV shows of 2026, selected for strong scores from both critics and audiences. The shows span seven streaming services: HBO Max, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, Paramount+, and Netflix. Notable entries include 'The Pitt' season 2 (97% critics, 8.2 IMDb), 'Wonder Man' (91% critics, 87% audience), 'Paradise' season 2 (88% critics, 84% audience), 'Young Sherlock' (84% critics, 86% audience), 'One Piece: Into the Grand Line' (100% critics, 96% audience), 'Widow's Bay' (98% critics), 'Off Campus' (96% critics, 90% audience), 'Rivals' season 2 (95% critics, 90% audience for season 1), 'Dutton Ranch' (86% critics, 83% audience), and 'The Bear' season 5 (98% critics, 84% audience). The list highlights shows that avoided the common gap between critic and audience scores, with some like 'The Bear' recovering from lower audience ratings in previous seasons. The article notes that 'The Pitt' season 2 averaged 15.4 million viewers per episode, 'Paradise' has been streamed over 13 billion minutes, and 'Young Sherlock' reached 45 million viewers. 'One Piece' pulled 16.8 million views in its first four days, and 'Off Campus' attracted 36 million viewers in 12 days. 'Dutton Ranch' drew 12.9 million viewers in its first week, becoming Paramount+'s biggest original series launch. The list also mentions Emmy nominations for 'Wonder Man' and 'Widow's Bay', and renewals for several shows.