Love seeing your fave characters finally get their lick back after being wronged for way too long? Well, you’re absolutely in the right place! From the simmering tension to the dramatic confrontations, and those jaw-dropping twists when a master plan finally falls into place, there’s just something deeply satisfying about a slow-burn revenge drama.
Sometimes it’s slick and high-stakes like The Night Manager. Sometimes it’s pure, unfiltered chaos like Beef. No matter the style, the payback is always worth the wait.
Thinking about what to watch next or where to get started? Here’s our list of the best revenge dramas you need to add to your watch list ASAP.
The Night Manager
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 12
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
Starring Tom Hiddleston as the formidable Jonathan Pine, The Night Manager begins as a revenge drama driven by Pine’s need to avenge his secret lover Sophie’s death. His target is Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie), a ruthless arms dealer dubbed the "worst man in the world" who ordered the killing. What ensues is a tense game of cat and mouse, full of deception, danger, and moral twists as Pine goes undercover to bring Roper down. Season two just wrapped with an epic finale, and with a third season already confirmed, the drama is far from over.
Beef
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 10
Where to watch: Netflix
A personal fave, Beef is right up there when it comes to addictive revenge dramas. It all kicks off with a simple road rage moment in a car park between two strangers – Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a struggling contractor, and Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a frustrated entrepreneur. But that one heated encounter quickly spirals into a full-blown feud, with each using the other as a target for their anger and frustrations. What starts as petty retaliation soon gets chaotic, dramatic, and absolutely unmissable. Part dark comedy, part thriller, it’s a seriously good watch. And if you haven’t seen it yet, now would be a good time as season two drops this Spring (11th April to be precise).
Frauds
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6
Where to watch: ITVX
Looking for a female-led crime drama packed with twists? Frauds has you covered. Starring Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker as Bert and Sam, former partners in crime, the ITV drama premiered last year and had us glued to our screens. Bert, just out of prison, reconnects with Sam for a high-stakes art heist in Spain - but what starts as a reunion quickly spirals into revenge, with old grudges and past betrayals bubbling to the surface. Packed with juicy twists, it’s the kind of drama that keeps you guessing until the very end.
Reunion
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 4
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
The BBC’s Reunion is revenge with a twist. The drama follows Daniel Brennan (Matthew Gurney), a deaf ex-con newly released from prison and determined to confront the people tied to the crime that changed his life forever. What starts out feeling like a classic payback story soon turns into something deeper, unpacking anger, buried secrets, and the search for the truth. With only four episodes, it’s the perfect weekend binge.
Doctor Foster
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 10
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
When Dr Gemma Foster (Suranne Jones) discovers her husband’s infidelity, she doesn’t just end their marriage - she sets out on a calculated mission to ruin his life. And she means business, stopping at nothing to get her payback. Full of psychological twists, Doctor Foster is a masterclass in revenge and betrayal. Alongside Jones, Jodie Comer, Bertie Carvel, and Victoria Hamilton star in the gripping thriller which has you wanting more. Luckily, there are already two seasons to binge, with a third currently in the works.
Happy Valley
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 18
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) will do whatever it takes to protect her family in Happy Valley. The show follows her relentless hunt for Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton), the man who raped her daughter and caused her suicide. But the battle isn’t one-sided, with Tommy Lee just as determined to strike back. Full of gritty crime, family drama, and a seriously satisfying payback, this show will have you hooked from the first episode.
Malice
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6
Where to watch: Prime Video
Charming tutor Adam is out for revenge in this darkly-twisted thriller. Believing that wealthy venture capitalist Jamie Tanner is responsible for the death of his parents, Adam (played by Jack Whitehall) sneaks into Tanner’s family life posing as a manny. His goal? Take down the entire family from the inside, using manipulation and carefully calculated chaos to ruin their lives emotionally, financially, and psychologically. With so much suspense and obsession running throughout the episodes, Malice is impossible to look away from.
Yellowstone
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 53
Where to watch: Netflix
With rivalries both inside and outside the Dutton clan, Yellowstone is a constant war. Kevin Costner stars as John Dutton, the brooding Montana rancher who’ll stop at nothing to protect his land from greedy developers. Kelly Reilly shines as Beth Dutton, and the series is packed with high-stakes family drama and nonstop revenge, giving major Succession vibes with a Western twist.
Killing Eve
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 32
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
Another favourite, Killing Eve starts as a thrilling spy hunt between MI6 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and the psychopathic assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer), but it quickly evolves into a full-blown revenge drama. By season four, Eve isn’t just trying to catch Villanelle, she’s out for payback against the organisation that’s turned her life upside down, and she’s embracing her darker side to make it happen. Blending dark humour, shocking twists, and complex characters, the show will have you on the edge of your seat. Based on Luke Jennings’ Villanelle novels, the series premiered in 2018 with a prequel exploring MI6 boss Carolyn Martens’ early days on the way. Definitely a reminder that it’s time for a rewatch.
Slow Horses
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 30
Where to watch: Apple TV+
While not strictly a revenge drama, Slow Horses is packed with backstabbing, grudges, and plenty of personal vendettas. Based on Mick Herron’s novels, the series follows a group of disgraced MI5 agents exiled to the hilariously depressing “Slough House” – a dumping ground for spies who’ve messed up big time. Despite their mistakes and constant internal clashes, this team of misfits still manages to protect England from dangerous threats, often using unorthodox methods. Five seasons in with season six and seven already confirmed, there’s plenty to keep you locked in.
