10 Great Shows on NBC's Peacock You Shouldn't Miss

Peacock TV is NBC's slept-on streaming service. Peacock shows usually don't get the level of attention of offerings on HBO Max, Netflix, and Hulu, so they're easy to miss. And unlike competing services, many are available for free. 

"Plans start at Free—no credit card required."

Peacock's plans are Free, $4.99 for Premium (limited ads), and $9.99 for Plus (mostly ad-free). The free version offers 40,000+ hours of hit movies and TV shows while the paid versions promise 60,000+ hours of content. Peacock offers access to "live sports and events, including Winter Olympics, Super Bowl LVI, Premier League, and WWE" and "next-day access to current NBC hits." And it has a slate of Peacock Originals. 

Peacock has some shows that are hugely popular like The Office, Law & Order, and Parks and Recreation. But the service also boasts some lesser-known shows that are worth a look. The first episode of some of these shows may be available for free.

Battlestar Galactica

Battlestar Galactica is well-known but I'm putting it here because many people may not be aware that it's available for free. The original Battlestar Galactica aired in

1979. The version on Peacock is a 2004 remake starring Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell. The Galactica is the only protector of a fleet of civilian spaceships on the run from an enemy determined to destroy them. The Cylons have laid waste to their homeworlds, the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. Colonial Fleet Commander William "Bill" Adama and President Laura Roslin must lead the fugitive fleet of survivors in search of a new home. They have their sights set on a fabled thirteenth colony, Earth. The critically acclaimed show was nominated for and won several awards. Peacock has the pilot (a two-part miniseries), and all four seasons. 

Resident Alien

Resident Alien is a comedy revolving around an alien sent to Earth to wipe out humanity. When he crash lands, he must fit in until he can put his deadly plans into action. He kills and takes on the identity of Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, a physician vacationing in a small town. When the town's doctor is murdered, Harry is pressured by the mayor into temporarily filling his position. As he becomes more human, he begins to question his mission. He also has to deal with a nine-year-old boy who can see his true alien appearance. Season 1 of Resident Alien is comedy gold with a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It does lose its way a little in season 2 but it is still a great show. It stars Alan Tudyk who appeared in the cult favorite Firefly.

Smother

A Peacock Original, Smother is a mystery set in Ireland. The story revolves around Val Ahern and her three adult daughters. When her estranged husband is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, Val suspects he was murdered. While she attempts to investigate, her daughters are keeping secrets.

The Capture

A detective investigating a kidnapping gets caught up in a world of spies, deep fakes, and deception. Shaun Emery, a former British soldier accused of killing an unarmed Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan, is acquitted by the Court of Appeals. When his barrister Hannah Roberts leaves the celebration afterward, he follows her to ask her out. They kiss, then she boards a bus. CCTV footage tells a different story. It shows Emery kidnapping Roberts. DI Rachel Carey leads the investigation. What seems like an open and shut case becomes much more complicated. The six-episode Peacock Original ends with an interesting moral dilemma for DI Carey and raises questions about how far those tasked with keeping us safe should be allowed to go. 

Departure

Departure involves an investigation by the Transport Safety and Investigations Bureau into the disappearance of British Global Air Flight 716 over the Atlantic Ocean. Kendra Malley is the lead investigator. Madelyn Strong is ejected from the plane when it suffers an explosive decompression. She miraculously survives but then a man attempts to kill her as she's recovering in the hospital. Kendra realizes there is far more to the tragedy than she expected. The show has two seasons and has been renewed for a third. 

Vigil

Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva of the Scottish Police Service investigates a death aboard the HMS Vigil, a nuclear-powered submarine. That death happens shortly after the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler. Silva struggles to find answers but the submarine crew members are either cagey or outright hostile. Her colleagues on land must deal with the Royal Navy and MI5, the British Security Service.

Project Blue Book

Project Blue Book is inspired by the real-life Project Blue Book, a series of studies into UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) that were conducted by the United States Air Force between 1952 and 1969. Skeptical astrophysics professor Dr. J. Allen Hynek and his partner, Air Force veteran Captain Michael Quinn investigate strange sightings across the U.S. The show has received some criticism for referencing real people by their real names, the name of a real government program, and actual incidents, then mixing them with fictional elements.

Psych

Psych is another free show on Peacock. If you are looking for a series to keep you busy for a while, this eight-season comedic detective series has dozens of episodes. Psych ran from 2006 to 2014. Shawn Spencer is a crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department. He uses his observational skills and impressive memory to fake psychic abilities. He and his friend Burton "Gus" Guster open up a private investigation agency together even though Gus knows Shawn is a fraud and is often irritated with him. Lead detective Carlton Lassiter is skeptical of Shawn's psychic abilities and is often annoyed by his behavior but he also respects his crime-solving abilities while junior detective Jules O'Hara appears to be a believer. Together they solve a crime of the week.

Yellowstone

Kevin Costner is the star of Yellowstone, a series that follows the troubles of the Dutton family. They are the owners of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the largest ranch in the state of Montana. The ranch borders the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, a national park, and a growing town. The Duttons must fight to protect their land from real estate developers and other powerful interests. The show features unstable alliances, corrupt politicians, greedy businessmen, and unsolved murders. 

Dr. Death 

Dr. Death is inspired by the true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, who built a successful neurosurgery practice. Several routine surgeries ended with patients either permanently maimed or dead. As the number of botched surgeries increased, two physicians and a Dallas prosecutor set out to stop him. The show examines the disturbed mind of Dr. Duntsch and the failures of the system that should have stopped him earlier. The show was inspired by a hit podcast that examined the case.