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Amazing shows we still can’t stream in Australia and what to watch instead

Streaming platforms offer thousands of hours of television, but great shows still fall through the digital cracks. Here’s how to avoid FOMO.

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Alexandra Plesa
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Competition on the streaming market is fierce. Whichever service you choose to subscribe to comes with an overwhelming amount of content. Yet it’s understandable that streaming platforms can’t offer every show ever made. Licensing deals are complicated and expire. Which means that TV shows can end up suspiciously missing from all streaming services, regardless of how popular or critically acclaimed they are.

If that’s the case, you have 2 options. 1: you purchase the series from digital retailers or on DVD. 2: you wait patiently for the show to make it to a streaming service and watch something else in the meantime to overcome FOMO (fear of missing out). If you choose the latter, we have some suggestions that will help. Here are some of the best series currently not available on streaming platforms, along with recommendations of what to watch instead.

1. Psych

Year of release: 2006
Cast: James Roday Rodriguez, Dulé Hill, Timothy Omundson

A charming procedural, Psych follows a man with uncanny powers of observation who convinces the police that he's a psychic and starts solving cases with help from his reluctant best friend. Their bromance is the stuff of dreams. Also, the show is hilarious, which is always a plus. Psych used to stream on Prime Video, but that's sadly no longer the case. Until it returns online, you might want to redirect your attention towards a worthy replacement.

What to watch instead:

Pushing Daisies

Year of release: 2007
Cast: Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Kristin Chenoweth

A critical darling and cult sensation, Pushing Daisies is best described as a forensic fairytale. The action follows a young man with a special gift – he can briefly bring back the dead by simply touching them. However, if he touches them again they'll be dead forever. This helps him solve murders, but things get complicated when he brings his childhood crush back to life and has to avoid touching her ever again. It's fun and quirky. Just like Psych, it's not afraid to get silly every now and then. You won't be disappointed.

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2 seasons 2 seasons

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2 seasons 2 seasons

2. Stargate SG-1

Year of release: 1997
Cast: Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks, Richard Dean Anderson

A seminal sci-fi series, Stargate SG-1 is based on the 1994 movie Stargate and kicks off about a year after the events in the film. It revolves around an elite United States Air Force special operations team who explores the galaxy and battles alien threats. Thanks to a great cast and tight storylines, the show quickly grew into a worldwide phenomenon. Unfortunately, it's not available to stream anywhere in Australia right now.

What to watch instead:

The Expanse

Year of release: 2015
Cast: Steven Strait, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper, Wes Chatham

If you love adventures set in space, The Expanse will be right up your alley. The series takes place in the future, when humans have colonised the solar system. There's tension among the planets, with the entire galaxy on the brink of war. As the show begins, a police detective is tasked with finding a missing woman, only to eventually uncover a conspiracy. Based on the novels by James S. A. Corey, this stellar adaptation doesn't disappoint.

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6 seasons

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3 seasons 3 seasons 3 seasons

3. Portlandia

Year of release: 2011
Cast: Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Jonathan Krisel, Kyle MacLachlan

This absurdist series pokes fun at Portland and its eccentric, laid-back inhabitants. The show, starring comedic duo Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, has never been hugely successful but managed to gather a loyal cult following during its 8-season run. It portrays hipster culture through well-crafted comedy sketches, continually challenging and surprising fans with its playful nature. It’s a tad niche, sure, but that doesn’t make it any less fun.

What to watch instead:

Parks and Recreation

Year of release: 2009
Cast: Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman

Another title with a (larger) cult following, Parks and Recreation is both heartfelt and hilarious. With a brilliant ensemble cast, the series follows a group of employees from the Parks and Recreation Department of fictional Pawnee, Indiana. It’s a mockumentary, so expect a lot of dry humour and awkwardness, all part of the show’s charm.

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7 seasons 7 seasons 7 seasons 7 seasons

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7 seasons 7 seasons

4. Beavis and Butt-Head

Year of release: 1993
Cast: Mike Judge, Tracy Grandstaff, Adam Welsh

An iconic MTV series, Beavis and Butt-Head revolves around 2 socially awkward, metal-loving teenage delinquents. They spend their days commenting on music video and reality TV, as well as engaging in outrageous shenanigans. A movie and a revival series were announced to arrive exclusively on Paramount Plus in 2022. The original should become available on the same platform, but we'll have to wait a little longer to be able to watch.

What to watch instead:

Daria

Year of release: 1997
Cast: Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, Julian Rebolledo

Another MTV hit, Daria centres on the titular character, a smart and cynical girl who goes through adolescence as a proud outsider. It's funny, sarcastic, honest and brilliant. It's also the kind of show that feels timely even more than 2 decades later. Plus, Daria is a Beavis and Butt-Head spin-off. What more could you wish for?

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5 seasons 1 seasons

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5 seasons 5 seasons 5 seasons

5. The New Adventures of Old Christine

Year of release: 2006
Cast: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Clark Gregg, Hamish Linklater, Trevor Gagnon, Emily Rutherfurd

Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus in top form, The New Adventures of Old Christine follows a divorced mum who juggles parenthood with running a women's gym. Things get more complicated when her ex starts dating a woman also named Christine – hence the "old Christine" reference in the show's title. It's an endearing and hilarious series, so we're sorry to report it can't be streamed in Australia just yet.

What to watch instead:

Seinfeld

Year of release: 1989
Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards

Seinfeld revolutionised television. It gave viewers a show about nothing, with flawed yet oddly endearing characters. Hugely popular and critically acclaimed, the sitcom stands the test of time, proving just as hilarious today. It also stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, so there's that.

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9 seasons 1 seasons

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8 seasons

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