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We follow the daily adventures of 3 bears that are individually lovable but collectively iconic. They rotate around as the centerpiece of an episode, each offering different flavors of humor namely dopey, slapstick, cringe, absurd, and when all else fails, funny animal. Some episodes take us into flashbacks of the bears as lost babies looking for a home, and it was a mistake to turn that into its own show, but it is in perfect quantity here. The recurring characters never overstay their welcome, changing the 3-person dynamic into even numbers where no character ventures off alone, or the inevitable 3 against the world, where the bears unite to overcome something else.

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Kids

Actor: Bobby Moynihan, Demetri Martin, Eric Edelstein

Rating: TV-Y7

So this is what City of Ghosts feels like in live-action. This series is just as candid, but it definitely takes the piss more. Maudie (Anna Cook) has excellent timing, loads of charm, and is far and away the most consistent character and performer. The show’s choppiness—you’ll know when you see it—can feel repetitive, cycling around to being memorable, then cycling back around to being a challenge, ad infinitum. But generally, it’s an investigative mockumentary delivered like an over-the-top cartoon (complete with the 2-in-1 episodes). It's got its challenges, but the sarcasm and earnestness makes it worth seeking out.

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Kids

Actor: Abby Bergman, Anna Cooke, Aston Droomer, Eliza Ong, Hana Struckett, Hannah Johnston, James Saunders, Jamil Smyth-Secka, Maria Angelico

This documentary series has a gritty, Western vibe stemming from the marriage between old school rasslin’ footage and the accompanying hypnotic soundtrack. Legends gather around and take turns reliving the glory days, treating every fan-driven near-death experience as a badge of honor, showing how crazy everyone was on both sides of the fence. Between the rustic location they film in and the insanely casual delivery of terrifying stories, it’s easy to be transported to another time period and find it rather relaxing (much more so than sister series Dark Side of the Ring), an era that you almost wish would return, if there was a safer way to have it.

Genre: Documentary

Do mysteries get better the more questions you resolve? They often don’t, plus resolutions can also eliminate a need for rewatching. But that’s not the case here with Tales from the Loop, a story that gets tighter and more substantial the more answers you get. It goes for an eerie, atmospheric vibe, allowing viewers to get a feel for the world with a slow burn unveiling of context. There’s a gloom to the way it handles the bridge between reality and its (for lack of a better word) supernatural, but it’s still a comfort to watch. It’s easy on the eyes, dialogue and performances are measured, and if you have the headspace for long episodes, it’s a well-executed show in general that’s worth your time.

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Rating: TV-MA

The series can feel unnecessary, the way jumping out of a plane to feel alive is unnecessary. Add to that the layer of it spotlighting a Hollywood A-lister and the stress he experiences, and you may wonder why the show is as successful and acclaimed as it is. But the more time you spend on it, the more it registers as an ode to stress management, in general.  Ultimately, the fun of it is in seeing and learning from the crazy experiences us normal folk don’t have access to, and the fact that it’s Chris Hemsworth. Episodes can feel a little long and indulgent, but it handled its ambition with enough care to at least be taken seriously.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Documentary

Actor: Chris Hemsworth

Rating: TV-14

You read the premise and you see it executed, and your imagination can instantly be swallowed whole with excitement and surprise. Because it’s a greatly interesting thought for God to have accountabilibuddies, as great as the thought of him being a cat—makes you wonder how much of what he says is the God side or the cat side talking, if it’s even separate. And the visualization of prayer, and keeping records of it and such, speaks to those of us who have had to become creative with our Catholic guilt. Just a fantastic execution of a premise that could've ended up an absurd trippy hipster cartoon with no soul.

Genre: Animation, Comedy

Actor: Ally Maki, Kenny Yates, Mark Proksch, Sasheer Zamata, Suzy Nakamura, Tom Ellis, Tom Kenny

Rating: TV-MA

Two things stand out most. First, the animation style, which looks like a cute combination of various multi-textured elements like online avatar profiles, claymation, and origami and construction paper cutouts. Second is the voiceovers, which sound very candid and raw as if the creators had prioritized bullet points, and had visual elements and script polishing come in later. The pseudo-documentary approach and “rough” production feel exciting and fresh, and truly tie all the individual parts together. This could've just as well been a silly live action concept, but its serene nature and aesthetic stand out perfectly as an animated series.

Genre: Animation, Kids

Actor: August Nuñez, Blue Chapman, Honor Calderon, Kirikou S'hai Muldrow, Michael Ren

Rating: TV-Y7

Its greatest asset is arguably its gorgeous pastel aesthetic, like the Dixit Stella board game come to life. Music constantly plays throughout the show like a chill video game. Dialogue is weird and disjointed, not even in a bad way, just in a way that you can’t ignore. Come to think of it, there’s a lot on this show that you can’t ignore even if you wanted to, not with characters who talk like that. I can see a lot of people being overwhelmed by disjointed cuteness if you watch for long enough, but I can also see a lot more people falling in love with it instantly, no questions asked.

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Allyn Rachel

Rating: TV-14

Alexa and Katie greets us with vintage Nickelodeon sitcom acting, which is far from the most inspiring. But the same can’t be said about this show’s premise and execution, which is incredibly heartfelt and commendable. Characters are supportive and mature where it counts, though it’s structured to feel like any other kids’ sitcom—which is to say that the intrinsic heaviness is handled well, and in line with Alexa’s desire that people not treat her any differently. The show is vulnerable and sweet, packaged in a familiar and comforting way for younger audiences learning to be brave with Alexa.

Genre: Comedy

Actor: Eddie Shin, Emery Kelly, Finn Carr, Isabel May, Jolie Jenkins, Paris Berelc, Tiffani Thiessen

Rating: TV-Y7