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Although Spotify is currently making waves in terms of music-related content, there is no denying that YouTube continues to be the OG and is still preferred by many people around the world. In addition to music, YouTube's secret to success lies in its eclectic content ranging from informational tutorials to parody videos. In fact, the social media platform also offers intriguing TV shows across different genres.
Even though YouTube's collection of TV shows may seem limited when compared to popular OTT platforms such as Netflix and Prime, it still has enough quality titles to keep viewers entertained over a long weekend. Also, it helps that many of the shows are free to watch so cinephiles don't have to worry about paying for yet another subscription.
While there are plenty of free TV shows that viewers can watch on YouTube, this list narrows down the best ones that offer unique premise, intelligent writing and exciting characters.
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Disclaimer: This list contains information from various sources.
Single by 30, Sherwood and eight other shows on YouTube that you can shamelessly binge-watch for free
1) The Sleepover Club (2003)
This Australian TV show available on YouTube is based on the famous novels of the same name. In the lead are five best friends portrayed by Caitlin Stasey, Ashleigh Chisholm, Hannah Wang, Basia A'Hern and Eliza Taylor. As the name suggests, they have a sleepover club wherein each member organizes sleepovers which gives them quality time to interact and bond.
The show, containing two seasons and 52 episodes, tackles different common problems that are part and parcel of growing up. Even though it specifically caters to teenagers, the show has a nostalgic vibe that adults will find endearing as well.
It is interesting to note that The Sleepover Club is quite similar to the ever-popular The Baby-Sitters Club (1990) in terms of likable characters and meaningful life lessons.
Where to watch: Full episodes of this show are available on the Totes Amaze - Teen TV Shows YouTube Channel.
2) Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo (2013)
The popular manga, Itazura na Kiss, has seen multiple adaptations but this Japanese show in particular, starring Honoka Miki and Yuki Furukawa, has won much praise from fans. Honoka plays high-schooler Kotoko who struggles to improve her academic ranking. She falls for the intelligent Naoki (Furukawa) and writes him a love letter but he is quick to reject her.
She then makes up her mind to move on. However, she finds new hope when she ends up moving into Naoki's house after her house is destroyed by a shooting star. The never-ending push-and-pull dynamic between Kotoko and Naoki is one of the highlights of Mischievous Kiss.
Viewers who enjoy rom-com narratives will appreciate the well-written screenplay that delivers perfectly timed humor along with touching emotional moments.
Where to watch: Mischievous Kiss containing two seasons and 32 episodes is available on Drama Japan Youtube Channel.
3) Escape the Night (2016)
This YouTube show is perfect for murder mystery fans. Famous YouTuber Joey Graceffa plays The Savant acquires an estate from a past era. He invites 10 guests, well-known figures from YouTube and the entertainment industry, to a party. But something always goes horribly wrong. Then the guests have to take part in various challenges in order to escape the estate.
Escape the Night has a total of four seasons and 40 episodes. The tricky puzzles do add to the intrigue but the real reason to watch this show is for the animated guests, who dress and act as different personas from a past era. As it is mostly unscripted, it is a joy to watch the guests improvise their reactions to the growing panic and chaos developing within the estate.
Where to watch: Episodes of Escape the Night can be viewed on Joey Graceffa's YouTube channel.
4) Single by 30 (2016)
Started by Wesley Chan, Ted Fu and Philip Wang, Wong Fu Productions on YouTube certainly helped raise the bar for heartfelt stories with an Asian connect. Their well-loved videos and shorts have also acted as a springboard for several Asian American actors to get recognized, including Justin H. Min and Simu Liu.
And so, when Wong Fu Productions announced Single by 30, viewers had high expectations and they didn't disappoint. In this YouTube show, Harry Shum Jr. and Kina Grannis play Peter and Joanna, two close friends who make a pact to get married if they are both single at the age of 30.
This eight-episode rom-com does a great job of capturing what modern relationships and dating is like. Viewers will particularly enjoy seeing how the leads mature with age and through experiences. Yes, there are some genre-specific clichés but it is still heartwarming and funny enough to keep romance fans hooked till the end.
Where to watch: This show is available for streaming on Wong Fu Productions' YouTube channel.
5) Mind Field (2017)
Of all the YouTube shows on this list, Mind Field has the most eye-opening narrative of all. Presented by Michael Stevens, the main aim of this docu-series is to explain the different facets of the mind and the factors that impact human behavior. In every episode, Stevens or other volunteers take part in different demonstrative experiments to help viewers understand the concepts better.
This YouTube show works really well thanks to Stevens, who is the brains behind the Vsauce channel. He finds a way to make even complex ideas and concepts easy to understand for the viewer watching at home. Containing three seasons and 26 episodes, Mind Field is the ideal choice for when viewers are craving some enriching content.
Where to watch: Mind Field episodes can be found on the Vsauce YouTube channel.
6) Youth and Consequences (2018)
Fans of shows like Gossip Girl (2007) and Heartbreak High (2022) will find this YouTube show particularly interesting. Anna Akana plays the lead protagonist, Farrah Cutney, who is one of the most popular students of Central Rochester High. But in order to maintain her status, she has to fend off multiple rivals who will use any and all methods to usurp her.
Backstabbing, manipulation and power struggles, all of these come forth in the storytelling and help build the necessary tension and drama. Like Mean Girls (2004), Youth and Consequences also showcase how high school cliques can create a divide among students who start to see themselves as superior or inferior to others.
Viewers should especially keep an eye out for Akana who delivers a captivating performance as Farrah whose real intentions are hard to decipher.
Where to watch: All eight episodes of Youth and Consequences can be viewed on Anna Akana's YouTube channel.
7) Sherwood (2019)
Nowadays, animated content doesn't strictly cater to only young audiences. In fact, most of the time, people of all ages can relate to the wholesome characters, intelligent dialogue and meaningful messages. Likewise, this YouTube show, containing 10 episodes, is fun for the whole family.
Inspired by the Robin Hood legend, it is set in a dystopian future where Britain is devastated after an environmental disaster. 14-year-old Robin Loxley, voiced by Anya Chalotra, is a hacker who joins a group of renegades to save the city from the mad Sheriff of Nottingham.
There is no doubt that Sherwood is a visual treat with its cyberpunk style of animation. But more than that, it is a heartening story featuring lovable characters that viewers of all ages will connect to.
Where to watch: This animated show is available on the YouTube Originals channel.
8) Be Yourself (2021)
K-drama fans will find that this show has a lot in common with Hello, My Twenties! (2016) in terms of quirky characters and friendship themes. In Be Yourself, the focus is on four young women who are starting their university life. Even though their personalities and outlooks are quite different, the four of them still end up being the best of friends.
Be Yourself is perfect for cinephiles who enjoy slice-of-life narratives. The way the young protagonists mature thanks to their interactions with each other and the lessons they learn from other life experiences is interesting to watch. Friendship, romance, drama, this show on YouTube has everything to keep viewers hooked for the entirety of its 24 episodes.
Where to watch: Be Yourself can be found on YOUKU English YouTube channel.
9) Choco Milk Shake (2022)
This YouTube show containing 11 episodes that run under 15 minutes each is perfect for viewers who don't have a lot of free time on their hands. In the lead is Jung Woo, played by Ko Ho Jung, who lost his parents and pets in a tragic accident. Even though he tries to think positively, he can't help but feel lonely.
But when two mysterious strangers arrive at his door, he is stunned to find that they are the humanoid versions of his beloved old pets, Choco and Milk. Jung Woo finds it rather suspicious at first but eventually warms up to the both of them who promptly move in with him.
The main reason to watch this short series is for the well-developed characters who are flawed and yet endearing. The actors playing Choco and Milk, Lee Jae Bin and Kim Seong Hyuk, particularly deserve much praise for the way they captured the distinctive qualities that make dogs and cats so different.
Where to watch: Choco Milk Shake is available on the Strongberry YouTube channel.
10) Enigma (2023)
This Thai show on YouTube has only four episodes, making it an ideal option for weekend binging. Chanikarn Tangkabodee plays Fa, who studies in Satrikurat School. Like her classmates, she is obsessed with getting good grades.
But when a student, overwhelmed with the pressure, ends up stabbing a teacher, Fa gets a gut feeling that something sinister is happening at the school. She is also suspicious of the new teacher portrayed by Metawin Opas-iamkajorn.
Metawin, who viewers might recognize from 2gether: The Series (2020), really embraces the mysterious role and keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The well-written script has several unexpected twists and turns which help maintain the suspense till the very end.
Where to watch: Episodes of Enigma can be viewed on the GMMTV official YouTube channel.
Viewers looking for quality TV shows to stream for free on YouTube should check out these promising titles that are too good to pass up.
