Vicious

Vicious has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Paramount Plus, and in the US on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Premium. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Dakota Fanning anchors it, but the writing does the real work. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Paramount Plus.

There is a reason Vicious keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting in Vicious is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. When Polly receives a mysterious box, it comes with one rule: place inside something she needs, something she hates, and something she loves. If she doesn’t obey, it will consume everything—and everyone—she’s ever known. The writing gets a boost from Dakota Fanning and Kathryn Hunter, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2025. Vicious is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Vicious proves them wrong. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Watch Dakota Fanning work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.