Family

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Family is available on streaming right now. The 5-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Sada Thompson anchors it with a performance that rewards close attention. Available now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Family keeps coming up in conversation. Family takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. The lives of the middle-class Lawrence family in Pasadena, California. The performances from Sada Thompson and James Broderick give it more weight than the premise alone would suggest. It ran for 5 seasons (1976–1980), and the writing holds up across every one of them. What elevates Family is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Family. Viewers who responded to Parenthood will find a lot to like here too. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Sada Thompson is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

Family wrapped up in 1980, created by Jay Presson Allen — and 5 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.