Black Books has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on fuboTV and Fawesome. 3 seasons in, and the quality has not slipped. 618 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Dylan Moran's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Black Books arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Black Books land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Black Books centres around the foul tempered and wildly eccentric bookshop owner Bernard Black. Bernard’s devotion to the twin pleasures of drunkenness and wilful antagonism deepens and enriches both his life and that of Manny, his assistant. Bearded, sweet and good, Manny is everything that Bernard isn’t and is punished by Bernard relentlessly just for the crime of existing. Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey lead a cast that never overplays a joke. The series ran for 3 seasons (2000–2004), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. What keeps Black Books from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Black Books respects your intelligence. Fans of Superstore will recognise the sensibility here immediately. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Dylan Moran is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.

Black Books wrapped up in 2004, created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan — and 3 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.