TV shows to watch if you like dark comedies

01 of 10

After Life

After Life blends creator-star Ricky Gervais' signature comic nastiness with a moving story of grief and growth, with Gervais playing Tony, a newspaperman who's sunk into miserable misanthropy after losing his wife, Lisa (Kerry Godliman), to cancer. Through interaction with a delightful cast of characters, including an older widow played by Downton Abbey's Penelope Wilton and a no-nonsense nurse (Extras' Ashley Jensen), Tony starts to find the will to live again. (Streaming on Netflix)

02 of 10

Atlanta

Calling Donald Glover's masterpiece a show about two cousins navigating the Atlanta hip-hop scene is like calling Twin Peaks a show about an FBI agent investigating a murder: It's technically true, but doesn't come close to capturing the show's Lynchian brilliance. (Yes, "Lynchian" applies to both.) Atlanta blends social commentary, surreality, and relentless inventiveness to produce one of the very best shows on TV, which can go from a trapped-in-a-creepy-house thriller to a trippy party at Drake's house without batting an eye. (Streaming on Hulu)

03 of 10

Barry

Bill Hader stars in this HBO series as a hitman who falls in with a Los Angeles acting class while in town for a job, and decides to remake himself as an actor. The show plumbs the depths of Barry's soul as he struggles to leave his past behind, with stellar supporting turns from Henry Winkler as Barry's self-absorbed acting teacher, Sarah Goldberg as a troubled classmate, and Anthony Carrigan as the world's most upbeat Chechen mobster. (Streaming on HBO Max and Amazon)

04 of 10

BoJack Horseman

BoJack Horseman is both one of the funniest and most heartbreaking shows ever made, with its later seasons often veering between soul-crushing bleakness and uproarious comedy from moment to moment with surefooted ease. The series follows the titular character, a washed-up former sitcom star who is also a horse, in a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals exist side by side. (Don't worry, you'll get used to it quickly.) The all-star voice cast includes Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Aaron Paul, and Amy Sedaris, all doing some of the best work of their careers. (Streaming on Netflix)

05 of 10

Dead to Me

DTM_106_Unit_00530_R — Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Another story of grief and healing, Dead to Me tells the tragicomic tale of Jen (Christina Applegate), who forms a close friendship with the free-spirited Judy (Linda Cardellini) after losing her husband in a hit-and-run car accident. The central duo carry the show with winning chemistry, leavening a dark mystery with a charming portrait of female friendship. (Streaming on Netflix)

06 of 10

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

FX's long-running sitcom is perhaps the gold standard for comedic depravity, with "the Gang" at Paddy's Pub—Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dee (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank (Danny DeVito)—having embarked on nearly every conceivable outrageous scheme and morally objectionable act over nearly 20 hilarious seasons, with no end in sight. Among the It's Always Sunny highlights: kidnapping, stalking, grave robbing, arson, hiding naked in a couch to eavesdrop, and much, much more. (Streaming on Hulu)

07 of 10

Rick and Morty

Rick and Morty follows the adventures of its title characters, the self-proclaimed smartest man in the universe and his grandson, respectively (both voiced by co-creator Justin Roiland). Those adventures more often than not turn very deadly; a memorable season 1 outing sees the duo turning an entire planet into horrifically mutated Cronenberg-beasts. Along the way, the show brutally satirizes film and TV tropes and reveals Rick to be perhaps the most reprehensible antihero on television. It's fun! (Streaming on Hulu)

08 of 10

Shameless

Shameless centers around the impoverished Gallagher clan, whose deadbeat, alcoholic patriarch Frank (William H. Macy) leaves his six children to fend for themselves, with the oldest, Fiona (Emmy Rossum) doing her best to support the family. It sounds like the recipe for a Dickensian family saga, but none of Dickens' characters ever tried to sell beer and weed out of an ice cream truck. (Streaming on Netflix and Amazon)

09 of 10

Succession

Succession's Roys could go toe-to-toe with the Gallaghers for the top spot in the dysfunctional TV family pantheon. HBO's satirical dramedy kicks off when patriarch Logan (Brian Cox) suffers a stroke, inciting a scramble for control of his corporate empire among his children: Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Shiv (Sarah Snook). What follows is a riveting blend of corporate intrigue, cringe comedy, and Shakespearean drama. (Streaming on HBO Max and Amazon)

10 of 10

You're the Worst

When Jimmy (Chris Geere) and Gretchen (Aya Cash) meet at a misbegotten wedding, it sets off one of the great romantic comedies of our time. You're the Worst, which concluded in 2019, marries edgy humor with serious looks at mental illness, addiction, and more, charting the daily struggle of learning to live with yourself and others. (Streaming on Hulu)