There are plenty of great shows on the streaming service that we all know and love. Netflix has interesting originals as well as older shows that you should definitely check out, and Hulu may have an even deeper library of archival titles.
If you’re looking for a streaming service that’s a little more off the beaten path, though, then BritBox might be perfect. The streaming service ports over several great British series that might otherwise never have seen the light of day in America, and gives you a chance to watch them. Even better, because they’re British shows, many of them are far shorter and easier to binge through than their lengthier American counterparts. Here are three great shows on BritBox you should check out this October.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Great Expectations (2011)
Adapted from the Charles Dickens novel of the same name, Great Expectations is everything you know the original novel to be. If you’re unfamiliar, the story follows an orphan named Pip as he comes to understand the world around him. The novel’s supporting characters were always the main appeal for older actors, and Gillian Anderson’s Miss Havisham is a particular treat in this adaptation.
The key thing this three-part adaptation understands, though, is that Great Expectations is a story that contains a little bit of everything, including some parts that are almost surprisingly frightening.
You can watch Great Expectations on BritBox.
Around the World in 80 Faiths (2009)
A thoroughly fascinating documentary series that explores the vast array of religions that exist on Earth, Around the World in 80 Faiths is a thoughtful examination of the way culture and religion have interacted across the globe.
Hosted by Anglican vicar Pete Owen Jones, the series does not take any set view on these religions but instead simply explores honest people of various faiths in an attempt to understand how they live and how their faith impacts the decisions they make. It’s the kind of earnest, open attempt to understand people who are different than us that few people attempt to make today.
You can watch Around the World in 80 Faiths on BritBox.
Broken (2017)
Another fascinating exploration of faith, Broken stars a brilliant Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) as a Roman Catholic priest living in Northern England who must guide his parishioners through the trials and tribulations of modern life even as he starts reliving his own traumatic childhood.
Broken examines the ways that faith is tested more than ever in a world increasingly defined by amorality and scientific exploration. Like any good exploration of religion, this series doesn’t have firm opinions about whether its central character’s religious beliefs are true or righteous, but it does understand that he’s doing his best to live a good life in a world that makes that as hard as possible.
You can watch Broken on BritBox.