Best British TV Shows On Netflix Streaming

It seems that crime and mystery shows from across the pond are just better than those we have domestically. Maybe it's due to the fact that they don't carry guns, so the emphasis isn't on action like here in the States...or maybe it's just the accents. Whatever the reason, few will be able to deny the amazing quality of Luther.

John Luther (Idris Elba) is more than your typical loose-cannon detective. His intellect is as large and imposing as his physical presence, but unfortunately his obsessive nature often gets the better of him.  The series picks up as he is coming back from suspension after being investigated for letting a serial killer nearly fall to his death.  With his personal and professional life now in shambles, he dedicates himself to his first new cases in months. Soon he becomes the subject of interest for Alice (Ruth Wilson), one of the very killers he's investigating. The result is an amazing detective show with one of the most interesting relationships in crime.    

When it comes to lovable jerks, few are as charming as the Irish bookshop owner Bernard Black (Dylan Moran). You would think that a small business owner would want to encourage customers to browse and shop in their store, but luckily for us the real world traditionally has no place in sitcoms. Instead we get a drunken, anti-social shopkeeper that is as bad with customers as he is accounting.

Moran co-created and stars as the owner of the eponymous book store. Aided by the lovable Manny (Bill Bailey) and Fran (Tamsin Greig), Bernard drinks and smokes his way through the work day filled with customers who have the nerve to want things and ask questions. Whether it's accidentally drinking the Pope's wine or fighting off a new chain bookstore, the trio are typically left with a hangover and a bad smoky taste in their mouth. It's cynical, it's snarky, it's funny, and it will make you want to start working in a bookstore where you do nothing but drink wine and smoke cigarettes all day.    

Sometimes it's hard to appreciate something when you're in the middle of it. For example, America is an amazing country that is a collection of varied land types and cultures. It's easy for Americans to forget what a beautifully diverse country we live in. Luckily the curiosity of Englishman Stephen Fry, who was nearly born an American, allows us a look at this amazing country through the eyes of an outsider.

For those who don't know, Stephen Fry is an English institution. From his comedy work with Hugh Laurie (House) to his hit quiz show QI, Fry has been entertaining England for decades and now he takes his act on the road. Driving across America in his black London taxi, Fry travels to all fifty states in the Union and visits with their residents. What results is an interesting and beautiful look at what makes America one of the greatest countries in the world.    

Doctor Who is the current geek-chic television darling. People everywhere will tell you that bow ties are cool and that they knew who River Song was all along, but Doctor Who is so much more than the two most recent seasons. Luckily Netflix offers everything you need to conduct your own crash course in Time Lord 101. Whether you're new to the show, a fan for decades, or firmly somewhere in between, there is a wealth of Doctor Who to be seen and Netflix has decades worth of content available for streaming.

For those who may be unfamiliar, the show centers on a time traveling alien known only as The Doctor. He is typically joined by human (and sometimes not so human) companions as he flies about time and space, saving the universe and generally making it a better place to live.  Through the decades, The Doctor has been played by many amazing actors and has been written by some of the biggest names in science fiction and fantasy.   This show is a seminal piece of sci-fi. While the production values for some of the older seasons are dated, the stories and characters are ones that will continue to be cherished for years to come. It is a must watch for any science fiction fan.