“The most masterful show ever” and 10 more “gripping” family dramas on BBC, ITV, Netflix and more

Forget about families causing drama – drama is simply part of what families are. From the moment we’re born, we’re connected to a group of people with whom we experience everything – love, competition, and sometimes, even dislike. It’s a recipe for compelling stories, really.

Defining a ‘family drama’ can be tricky – it generally just means a story focused on a family. But it’s the relationships within that family that truly make the genre special, setting it apart from other types of shows and movies. This leads to a wide variety of options, so here are ten of the best family dramas currently available to stream.

1. The Split (BBC iPlayer)

Okay, so this show isn’t just some stuffy legal drama. It’s really about a marriage falling apart, and they don’t pull any punches showing how messy things get. Nicola Walker and Stephen Mangan play lawyers who deal with divorces – but not the simple kind. We’re talking seriously high-stakes, expensive breakups, and they really dig into the drama of it all.

Written by Abi Morgan (known for The Iron Lady), this series centers on three sisters who all work in the family business. The story follows their lives over three seasons and a special two-part episode, focusing on the complications that arise when their mother unexpectedly decides to stay in charge, and one sister, Walker, strikes out on her own. Throughout the series, viewers see the sisters navigate relationships, challenges, scandals, and both triumphs and setbacks.

This show is both funny and flows at a great speed, with a fantastic script. It perfectly captures the ups and downs of having brothers and sisters.

2. Trying (Apple TV)

The term ‘dramedy’ itself hints at a mix of emotions – you can expect both laughter and tears. Actors Rafe Spall and Esther Smith deliver nuanced and engaging performances as a couple struggling with infertility.

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This is a delicate topic, but Andy Wolton, the show’s creator, handles it beautifully. He finds a perfect balance between the sadness and difficulties, adding humor that feels genuine and heartfelt. The story quickly uses the adoption process itself as a source of comedy, highlighting both the frustrating paperwork and the deep emotions involved.

3. The Crown (Netflix)

After experiencing Shakespeare’s plays, the royal family – the House of Windsor – felt confident they could deliver real drama. And so, they entered the latter part of the 20th century, ready to do just that.

We all know the broad strokes of the British royal family’s history over the past seventy years – it’s well-documented in books, newspapers, and even everyday objects. However, it’s still fascinating to imagine what those private conversations were really like, the strategies used behind the scenes, and the intense conflicts that drove all the sensational headlines.

With recent events bringing the royal family into the spotlight, watching seasons five and six of The Crown feels different now. But Peter Morgan’s detailed series – spanning decades and starring Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II – remains a compelling look at the unique pressures and challenges of immense privilege and public attention.

4. Ozark (Netflix)

Marty and Wendy, a seemingly ordinary family, relocate to the Ozark Mountains hoping to erase their significant debts by laundering money for a dangerous criminal organization. This dark and suspenseful thriller follows their struggle to balance the law, the criminal world, and the bonds of family, with moments of dark humor along the way.

Like Breaking Bad, the central question is how desperate these characters will become to stay alive, and what compromises they’ll make to do so.

5. Bad Sisters (Apple TV)

The story begins with the shocking image of JP Williams’ widow attempting to manage an embarrassing physical reaction after his death – his body is still aroused in the open coffin. We immediately learn he was a deeply unlikeable man who met a violent end, and the central mystery is which of the five Garvey sisters was responsible.

The sisters are incredibly loyal to each other and fiercely defend their private world, especially as insurance investigator Brian Gleeson, who isn’t the most skilled, begins to investigate and ask questions.

Sharon Horgan, who both writes and stars in the show, comes from a large family herself – she has four siblings. Given her experience, it’s no surprise that the creator of shows like Pulling and Catastrophe has crafted a realistic and witty portrayal of family life.

6. Shameless (Channel 4)

The Gallaghers are an incredibly diverse family. You have Frank, the irresponsible, alcoholic, and somewhat criminal father, Fiona, the eldest sister who holds everything together, Lip, a secretly brilliant mind, and Ian, a mischievous and openly gay brother – and that’s just a glimpse of this complex family!

This is a classic family drama, a raw and honest look at life for a struggling family in Manchester. The siblings are tied together by their shared experience of an unstable father, and the show’s creator, Paul Abbott, draws on his own difficult childhood – his parents abandoned him and his seven siblings, leaving his teenage sister to raise them – to create something surprisingly heartwarming, humorous, and ultimately uplifting. It finds beauty in unexpected places.

The show also launched the careers of well-known actors like James McAvoy, Maxine Peake, and Anne-Marie Duff, bringing them to wider attention.

7. The Sopranos (Now TV)

The Sopranos rightfully earns its reputation as the show that launched the era of high-quality, complex television. It was groundbreaking in its ambition, scope, intelligence, emotional depth, and often brutal violence, completely changing what people expected from TV dramas. At its heart is James Gandolfini’s incredible performance as a New Jersey mob boss, struggling with anxiety, competing criminal groups, federal investigations, and a critical mother.

This show is fundamentally a family drama inspired by Roman history—the ruthless mother, Livia, is even named after a similar figure from the time of Emperor Tiberius. It’s a captivating story that’s both humorous and violent, thoughtful and completely gripping – a real saga of power and crime within a family.

8. Unforgivable (BBC iPlayer)

Jimmy McGovern’s powerful and moving story tackles the devastating impact of child sexual abuse on a family. It’s a very sensitive and challenging topic, but McGovern approaches it with both deep understanding and bravery.

Anna Friel plays the mother of a boy who was abused by his uncle. It’s heartbreaking that her son faces a long wait to get the mental health support he needs, while his abuser immediately receives similar care after being released from prison.

This story skillfully blends themes of injustice, anger, suppression, and empathy, prompting difficult questions about blame, accountability, and, ultimately, the possibility of forgiveness – as the title suggests. It’s a work that rightfully earns comparisons to the acclaimed novel Adolescence.

9. The Dry (ITVX)

Okay, so I just finished watching The Dry and it’s a really gripping show. It centers around Shiv, who’s been battling alcoholism and is trying to stay sober. She has to go back home for her grandmother’s funeral, and honestly, things get messy fast. Planning the wake stirs up a ton of old family secrets and bad blood, and it seriously puts Shiv’s recovery at risk. It’s a tough watch, but really good!

Honestly, this game really got to me. It’s a bit of a downer at times, with a really dark sense of humor, but it’s amazing how it deals with loss and figuring out who you are. It’s a powerful experience, for sure.

10. Breeders (NOW)

Starring and co-written by Martin Freeman (with Chris Addison and Simon Blackwell), Breeders draws on the writers’ real-life experiences as parents. The show centers on Paul (Freeman), a father who struggles with his own past while trying to raise a family with his wife, played by Daisy Haggard. He tends to be strict, stemming from unresolved issues in his own childhood, and together they navigate the challenges of parenthood.

This show, like many relatable family stories, has a heartwarming core despite moments of playful cynicism. It’s also genuinely funny, offering sharp and accurate insights into the challenges of raising kids today.

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2026-03-28 12:21