Baller Alert’s Year In Review: Best Streaming Shows Of 2020

While the country remained on lockdown for the majority of 2020, many of this year’s biggest series was the only thing getting us through quarantine. Let’s take a look back at some of the most popular shows that kept us glued to our televisions and anticipating each episode.

1. P-Valley (Starz)

P-Valley proved to be a breath of fresh air as the country was held at a standstill over the summer. After premiering on July 12 on Starz, the strip club infused comedy/drama quickly captivated the country. According to Deadline, P-Valley had the highest viewed series premiere with 17% above the previous high. The series grew Starz App viewership by 37% over the first three episodes and ranked #1 among 2020’s new premium series with African American viewers. 

2.Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

While many fans of Power were skeptical about how intriguing the hit series successor would be, Power Book II: Ghost has proven itself to be just as captivating as the series before it. The story of Tariq St. Patrick balancing his education while still building his criminal empire following the death of his father has kept fans glued to each episode. In fact, the spinoff was received so well that new subscribers to the Starz app rose by 42% within the first week of the premiere on September 6. According to Deadline, viewership for the premiere was 36% higher than the final season premiere of the original series Power last summer. 

3. A Teacher (Hulu)

Met with extreme criticism and even a call to end the show, A Teacher is now one of Hulu’s most addictive offerings. The series is centered around the illicit sexual relationship between a 17-year-old student and a high school English teacher tutoring him. The controversial series, which debuted on Hulu on November 10, 2020, received a 71% approval rate by Rotten Tomatoes. 

4. Your Honor (Showtime)

Legal thriller Your Honor was an immediate hit on Showtime. The enchanting drama follows the tale of a prominent judge who is forced to make dangerous decisions after his son kills the son of a mob boss in a hit-and-run. Your Honor made Showtime history as the series with the largest audience for a limited drama series premiere. The first episode brought in 770,000 across Showtime’s various platforms on December 6. With streaming and on-demand viewing added, the debut episode topped 2 million viewers overall. 

5. Lovecraft Country

Debuting on HBO back in August, Lovecraft Country was met with 760,000 viewers for its on-air premiere. Viewership then skyrocketed to 1.4 million when streaming and replay numbers were taken into consideration. The streaming via on-demand and the HBO app made up nearly 46 percent of the total premiere audience. The series based on Matt Ruff’s novel follows a group of African Americans as they take a road trip across 1950’s Jim Crow America. On their journey, they encounter racist whites and creepy monsters sure to make even the most seasoned horror fan lose sleep at night.