What Makes a Series the Best on Paramount Plus
At a high level, the best series on Paramount Plus balance strong writing, reliable performance, and clear value within the service’s mix of originals, licensed network classics, and genre depth. Paramount Plus positions itself as a midtier streamer with a distinct backbone in comedy and event dramas anchored by legacy brands including CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, and BET. For viewers, that means access to long-running procedurals, nostalgic revivals, and curated younger-skewing hits. This guide focuses on consistently strong series worth prioritizing, how they perform across seasons, and where the service remains strongest for sustained viewing.
Quick Reference: Notable Series by Category
Streamers make different tradeoffs in price, depth, and breadth. On Paramount Plus, the standout traits are reliable originals and deep access to CBS and Nickelodeon libraries. Below is a concise, high-signal comparison you can scan before detailed notes:
| Series | Type | Seasons (Paramount+) | Verification Note | Primary Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Trek: Discovery | Original Sci-Fi | 5 | Paramount+ original, concluded | World-building and serialized arcs |
| Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Original Sci-Fi | 3 (Season 4 filming) | Paramount+ original, renewed | Character focus, episodic quality |
| NCIS | Licensed Procedural | 21+ | Airs on CBS; full catalog available | Procedural comfort, broad appeal |
| Blue Bloods | Licensed Drama | 14+ | Airs on CBS; seasons 1–13 available | Family crime drama, steady pacing |
| SpongeBob SquarePants | Licensed Kids | 13+ (hundreds of eps) | Nickelodeon core catalog | Timeless humor, wide age appeal |
| Big Mouth | Original Comedy | 7 | Ended; fully available | Raunchy, honest teen comedy |
| God Friended Me | Original Dramedy | 4 | Completed series | Gentle, conceptual premise |
| Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens | \nOriginal Comedy | 3 | Renewed for later season on Netflix | Warm family comedy, distinctive voice |
How Paramount Plus Structures Its Catalog
Paramount+ operates as a hybrid service. It carries deep CBS back catalogs, key Nickelodeon IP, and a curated slate of originals that emphasize continuity over constant novelty. Licensing flows from parent Paramount Global, so you will find both Paramount Pictures films and content owned by sister studios, though depth varies by region due to existing deals. Library strength leans toward crime procedurals, multi-camera sitcoms, and family-friendly animation, with fewer prestige limited series compared to top-tier streamers. Understanding this structure helps you decide whether the service fits your baseline needs versus occasional novelty viewing.
Top-Tier Originals Worth Prioritizing
Within the original slate, several series demonstrate consistent quality, coherent world-building, or strong payoff over multiple seasons. Star Trek: Discovery evolved into a serialized space opera with strong production values, while Star Trek: Strange New Worlds refined the formula with tighter, character-driven storytelling. Big Mouth matured across seasons, sharpening its humor without losing its candid voice on adolescence. For genre fans who value sustained investment, these represent the most durable creative commitments on the platform. If you prioritize high-concept storytelling with long-form payoff, start here.
Star Trek: Discovery and Strange New Worlds Compared
Discovery and Strange New Worlds sit at opposite ends of the Trek spectrum. Discovery leans into serialized arcs, lore-heavy episodes, and evolving starship design, which can feel dense but rewarding for lore enthusiasts. Strange New Worlds balances episodic problem-solving with ongoing character beats, making it more approachable for casual viewers while retaining thematic continuity. Both showcase strong casting and steady budgets, and both anchor the science-fiction credibility of Paramount Plus. If you’re new to Star Trek, Strange New Worlds offers the gentler onboarding; if you want ambition and scale, Discovery delivers.
Reliable Licensed Series for Familiar Comfort
Beyond originals, Paramount Plus leverages its parent company’s linear footprint to offer extensive catalogs from CBS and Nickelodeon. NCIS remains a workhorse for procedural viewers, with formulaic but dependable storytelling and long-running character arcs. Blue Bloods provides steady, family-centric crime drama with slower-burn tension and clear moral lines. For families, SpongeBob SquarePants and other Nick staples supply evergreen humor and low-stakes viewing that transcend generational gaps. These series don’t reinvent the wheel, yet they fulfill a crucial role: known quantities that reduce the effort required to choose something to watch.
Originals With Strong Conceptual Hooks
A subset of Paramount+ originals distinguish themselves through clear premises and consistent execution. God Friended Me uses a digital-age concept—an algorithm suggesting people to ‘friend’—as a gentle framework for human-interest stories, though its narrative momentum can lag. Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens centers on family dynamics and cultural identity with warmth and specificity, even as its later season shifted focus. Such series benefit from recognizable emotional stakes that extend beyond genre tropes. If you value premises that support emotional payoffs more than high-octane twists, these shows align well with your viewing goals.
Value Assessment: Is Paramount Plus Worth It for You?
Value on Paramount Plus hinges on how often you lean into its particular strengths: serialized sci-fi, procedural comfort, and family animation. A single plan typically suffices if you target a handful of series rather than channel-flipping across dozens. Bundling with other services, occasional promotional pricing, and limited-time drops can stretch the effective cost per hour. Compare your interest in CBS/Nick IP and Trek originals against alternatives; if those map to your existing habits, Paramount Plus delivers a coherent, low-friction experience rather than a scattered one.
How to Choose Based on Your Viewing Habits
- If you like serialized world-building: prioritize Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- If you prefer comfort procedurals: lean on NCIS or Blue Bloods.
- If you watch with kids or enjoy light animation: SpongeBob SquarePants and other Nick classics are safe bets.
- If you favor candid, character-led comedy: Big Mouth and Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens hold up well.
- If you like conceptual premises with emotional arcs: consider God Friended Me or genre hybrids.
Final Verdict
The best series to watch on Paramount Plus depend on your appetite for originals versus library depth. For durable, evergreen value, focus on Star Trek’s flagship entries, NCIS for reliable procedurals, and key Nick animations for broad household appeal. The catalog won’t satisfy every trend, but within its lanes it remains consistent, well-produced, and straightforward to navigate. If your viewing map aligns with these categories, the service justifies its cost without demanding constant reevaluation.