Created by and co-starring Stephen Merchant, the British dark comedy The Outlaws deals with a group of everyday people involved in community service who chance upon a bag of money. The subsequent drama adds to the situational humor of the Amazon Prime Video original.
There are plenty of other recent shows that deal with similar money-centric premises or evoke a similar deadpan writing style. From Ozark's crash course into money laundering to Slow Horses' tryst with character-driven dry British humor, these series make for the best streaming options once viewers are done with The Outlaws.
The Ricky Gervais Show (2010-2012)
Stream On Apple TV+
Apart from his solo work as a screenwriter and an actor, Stephen Merchant is mostly known for his collaborations with Ricky Gervais ranging from the original version of The Office to the animated meta-satire The Ricky Gervais Show. The latter featured the comedic duo along with fellow British humorist Karl Pilkington as they have "pointless conversations" on anything and everything.
The animation of memorable Hanna-Barbera characters and the pre-recorded radio conversations displays Merchant's sense of humor in the early 2010s. So, if viewers of The Outlaws wish to check out more of the showrunner's work, then The Ricky Gervais Show would be a good place to start.
The White Lotus (2021-)
Stream On HBO Max
The White Lotus deals with the titular resort in Hawaii and the misadventures of its dark and twisted guests. Relationships are tested and vacation plans are ruined as chaos ensues.
The characters of The White Lotus are flawed, wild, and exciting in their own ways. When it comes to modern dark comedies, the HBO anthology miniseries' first season is quite a standout work. So, it is natural for fans of The Outlaws to get a taste of American dark humor after they have had their fair share of bleak British comedy.
Ozark (2017-)
Stream On Netflix
When Marty and Wendy Byrde are forced to shift homes, their family unexpectedly gets dragged into a money-laundering conspiracy. Despite the various risks involved in a life of a crime, the Byrdes actually start embracing the darkness leading to some thrilling results.
Even though the main characters' arcs are bleaker, both Ozark and The Outlaws touch upon the theme of human greed and how it can cause all-out destruction. In both cases, the problems start when the characters encounter a whole lot of money.
Good Girls (2018-2021)
Stream On Netflix
Three suburban moms are exhausted with their average lives. It is only after an impromptu grocery heist that the adrenaline starts kicking in. This ultimately leads the titular “good girls” down a dark rabbit hole of criminal activities that draw them into trouble but also increase the money in their hands.
The show relies on a comedic approach to explore a "Good Girls.
Fargo (2014-)
Stream On Hulu
Inspired by the satirical undertones of the film of the same name, Fargo is filled with hyperviolent and philosophical tales of the human spirit in testing times.
The first season, in particular, comes closest to The Outlaws. Martin Freeman's lead character Lester Nygard is introduced as a mild-mannered working man. But he starts harboring his own shady secrets as a homicidal maniac es by the sleepy town of Fargo. The Outlaws similarly go through drastic personality changes when exposed to illicit money.
Slow Horses (2022-)
Stream On Apple TV+
A gripping spy comedy, Slow Horses deals with the inner workings of a faction of MI-5 that includes incompetent agents with a record of career blunders. As the newest recruit to the department investigates an inside job, the "slow horses" find their redemption.
Jack Lowden's River Cartwright shines in the lead role while sharing a delightful love-hate relationship with his senior, the obnoxious boss Jackson Lamb, played by Gary Oldman. Given Oldman's veteran status with dramatic roles, a light-hearted role like this is a welcome change, much like Christopher Walken's humorous turn as Frank in The Outlaws. Even the inner banter between the group of misfits in each case is similar, with some quintessential dry British humor.
Barry (2018-)
Stream On HBO Max
The titular protagonist in Barry is a retired hitman who decides to find a new purpose in life as he trains to be an actor. Still, for men like Barry, their rough past always seems to catch up.
One of the best comedies on HBO, Barry is an essential pick in the dark comedy genre. The Outlaws deals with people intentionally moving towards crime. In the case of Barry, here's a person who wishes to come out of a life of crime only to be drawn back into it.
Claws (2017-2022)
Stream On Hulu
A manicure shop becomes a front for illegal businesses in the crime comedy Claws. It is exciting to see how a bunch of odd manicurists start off with money laundering and then climb up the ladder to start their own criminal empire.
New-age dark comedy shows like Claws and The Outlaws are turning everyday people into illegal moneymakers, subverting the typical tropes within the crime genre. The protagonists in such stories are no Pablo Escobar (or not even Walter White) but the desire to make a quick buck is just tempting enough to turn even likeable nobodies into fancy criminals.
Severance (2022-)
Stream On Apple TV+
Apple TV's critical hit Severance merges workspace drama with dystopian sci-fi. The plot basically deals with a company that compels its employees to separate their personal and work life through technological means. This is how they are "severed" by the company.
Oscar-winner Christopher Walken plays a major ing role as Burt Goodman, one of the "severed" employees. While Walken has had a stellar filmography, it is interesting to find a resurgence in the actor's TV career with recent TV shows such as Severance and The Outlaws.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005-)
Stream On HBO Max
A disorganzied Irish pub is run by a group of loathsome and self-centered individuals who are friends but can easily betray each other at the drop of a hat. While It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia might seem like an average sitcom centered on these "frenemies", it is much more than that.
Running for more than a decade, the dark comedy uses its characters to expose the transient and frail nature of humanity itself. With its ensemble of imperfect strangers coming together as unlikely friends, The Outlaws can lead viewers towards checking out this modern HBO classic.