diff --git a/src/commands/autoview.rs b/src/commands/autoview.rs
index adce1df402..6a8d61eeea 100644
--- a/src/commands/autoview.rs
+++ b/src/commands/autoview.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ pub fn autoview(
 
         if input.len() > 0 {
             if let Tagged {
-                item: Value::Binary(_),
+                item: Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(_)),
                 ..
             } = input[0usize]
             {
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ pub fn autoview(
                 } else {
                     for i in input {
                         match i.item {
-                            Value::Binary(b) => {
+                            Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(b)) => {
                                 use pretty_hex::*;
                                 println!("{:?}", b.hex_dump());
                             }
diff --git a/src/commands/fetch.rs b/src/commands/fetch.rs
index e87ddf8347..f2ddc737dc 100644
--- a/src/commands/fetch.rs
+++ b/src/commands/fetch.rs
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ pub async fn fetch(
                         })?;
                         Ok((
                             None,
-                            Value::Binary(buf),
+                            Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(buf)),
                             Tag {
                                 span,
                                 origin: Some(Uuid::new_v4()),
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ pub async fn fetch(
                         })?;
                         Ok((
                             Some(image_ty.to_string()),
-                            Value::Binary(buf),
+                            Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(buf)),
                             Tag {
                                 span,
                                 origin: Some(Uuid::new_v4()),
diff --git a/src/commands/from_bson.rs b/src/commands/from_bson.rs
index 12f92965a1..c5f742057e 100644
--- a/src/commands/from_bson.rs
+++ b/src/commands/from_bson.rs
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ fn convert_bson_value_to_nu_value(
             );
             collected.insert_tagged(
                 "$binary".to_string(),
-                Value::Binary(bytes.to_owned()).tagged(tag),
+                Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(bytes.to_owned())).tagged(tag),
             );
             collected.into_tagged_value()
         }
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ fn from_bson(args: CommandArgs, registry: &CommandRegistry) -> Result<OutputStre
         for value in values {
             let value_tag = value.tag();
             match value.item {
-                Value::Binary(vb) =>
+                Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(vb)) =>
                     match from_bson_bytes_to_value(vb, span) {
                         Ok(x) => yield ReturnSuccess::value(x),
                         Err(_) => {
diff --git a/src/commands/from_sqlite.rs b/src/commands/from_sqlite.rs
index c19c4fef10..a56ecd3058 100644
--- a/src/commands/from_sqlite.rs
+++ b/src/commands/from_sqlite.rs
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ fn convert_sqlite_value_to_nu_value(value: ValueRef, tag: impl Into<Tag> + Clone
             // this unwrap is safe because we know the ValueRef is Text.
             Value::Primitive(Primitive::String(t.as_str().unwrap().to_string())).tagged(tag)
         }
-        ValueRef::Blob(u) => Value::Binary(u.to_owned()).tagged(tag),
+        ValueRef::Blob(u) => Value::binary(u.to_owned()).tagged(tag),
     }
 }
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ fn from_sqlite(args: CommandArgs, registry: &CommandRegistry) -> Result<OutputSt
         for value in values {
             let value_tag = value.tag();
             match value.item {
-                Value::Binary(vb) =>
+                Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(vb)) =>
                     match from_sqlite_bytes_to_value(vb, span) {
                         Ok(x) => match x {
                             Tagged { item: Value::Table(list), .. } => {
diff --git a/src/commands/help.rs b/src/commands/help.rs
index f8d9b5c2fe..d710521fb6 100644
--- a/src/commands/help.rs
+++ b/src/commands/help.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-use crate::commands::command::CommandAction;
 use crate::commands::PerItemCommand;
 use crate::data::{command_dict, TaggedDictBuilder};
 use crate::errors::ShellError;
-use crate::parser::registry;
+use crate::parser::registry::{self, NamedType, PositionalType};
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
 pub struct Help;
@@ -29,44 +28,104 @@ impl PerItemCommand for Help {
     ) -> Result<OutputStream, ShellError> {
         let span = call_info.name_span;
 
-        if call_info.args.len() == 0 {
-            return Ok(vec![Ok(ReturnSuccess::Action(CommandAction::EnterHelpShell(
-                Tagged::from_simple_spanned_item(Value::nothing(), span),
-            )))]
-            .into());
-        }
-
-        match call_info.args.expect_nth(0)? {
-            Tagged {
+        match call_info.args.nth(0) {
+            Some(Tagged {
                 item: Value::Primitive(Primitive::String(document)),
                 tag,
-            } => {
+            }) => {
+                let mut help = VecDeque::new();
                 if document == "commands" {
-                    let mut specs = VecDeque::new();
-
-                    for cmd in registry.names() {
-                        let mut spec = TaggedDictBuilder::new(tag.clone());
+                    let mut sorted_names = registry.names();
+                    sorted_names.sort();
+                    for cmd in sorted_names {
+                        let mut short_desc = TaggedDictBuilder::new(tag.clone());
                         let value = command_dict(registry.get_command(&cmd).unwrap(), tag.clone());
 
-                        spec.insert("name", cmd);
-                        spec.insert(
+                        short_desc.insert("name", cmd);
+                        short_desc.insert(
                             "description",
                             value.get_data_by_key("usage").unwrap().as_string().unwrap(),
                         );
-                        spec.insert_tagged("details", value);
 
-                        specs.push_back(ReturnSuccess::value(spec.into_tagged_value()));
+                        help.push_back(ReturnSuccess::value(short_desc.into_tagged_value()));
                     }
+                } else {
+                    if let Some(command) = registry.get_command(document) {
+                        let mut long_desc = String::new();
 
-                    return Ok(specs.to_output_stream());
+                        long_desc.push_str(&command.usage());
+                        long_desc.push_str("\n");
+
+                        let signature = command.signature();
+
+                        let mut one_liner = String::new();
+                        one_liner.push_str(&signature.name);
+                        one_liner.push_str(" ");
+                        if signature.named.len() > 0 {
+                            one_liner.push_str("{flags} ");
+                        }
+
+                        for positional in signature.positional {
+                            match positional {
+                                PositionalType::Mandatory(name, _m) => {
+                                    one_liner.push_str(&format!("<{}> ", name));
+                                }
+                                PositionalType::Optional(name, _o) => {
+                                    one_liner.push_str(&format!("({}) ", name));
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        if signature.rest_positional.is_some() {
+                            one_liner.push_str(" ...args");
+                        }
+                        long_desc.push_str(&format!("\nUsage:\n  > {}\n", one_liner));
+
+                        if signature.named.len() > 0 {
+                            long_desc.push_str("\nflags:\n");
+                            for (flag, ty) in signature.named {
+                                match ty {
+                                    NamedType::Switch => {
+                                        long_desc.push_str(&format!("  --{}\n", flag));
+                                    }
+                                    NamedType::Mandatory(m) => {
+                                        long_desc.push_str(&format!(
+                                            "  --{} <{}> (required parameter)\n",
+                                            flag, m
+                                        ));
+                                    }
+                                    NamedType::Optional(o) => {
+                                        long_desc.push_str(&format!("  --{} <{}>\n", flag, o));
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                        help.push_back(ReturnSuccess::value(
+                            Value::string(long_desc).tagged(tag.clone()),
+                        ));
+                    }
                 }
 
-                Ok(OutputStream::empty())
+                Ok(help.to_output_stream())
+            }
+            _ => {
+                let msg = r#"Welcome to Nushell.
+
+Here are some tips to help you get started.
+  * help commands - list all available commands
+  * help <command name> - display help about a particular command
+
+You can also learn more at http://book.nushell.sh"#;
+
+                let mut output_stream = VecDeque::new();
+
+                output_stream.push_back(ReturnSuccess::value(
+                    Value::string(msg).simple_spanned(span),
+                ));
+
+                Ok(output_stream.to_output_stream())
             }
-            x => Ok(vec![Ok(ReturnSuccess::Action(CommandAction::EnterHelpShell(
-                x.clone(),
-            )))]
-            .into()),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/nth.rs b/src/commands/nth.rs
index 98ab6a10a9..554034d8e1 100644
--- a/src/commands/nth.rs
+++ b/src/commands/nth.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for Nth {
     }
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
-        Signature::build("nth").required("amount", SyntaxType::Any)
+        Signature::build("nth").required("row number", SyntaxType::Any)
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/open.rs b/src/commands/open.rs
index 32a99c6f17..232399a390 100644
--- a/src/commands/open.rs
+++ b/src/commands/open.rs
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ pub async fn fetch(
                                     )),
                                     Err(_) => Ok((
                                         None,
-                                        Value::Binary(bytes),
+                                        Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(bytes)),
                                         Tag {
                                             span,
                                             origin: Some(Uuid::new_v4()),
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ pub async fn fetch(
                             } else {
                                 Ok((
                                     None,
-                                    Value::Binary(bytes),
+                                    Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(bytes)),
                                     Tag {
                                         span,
                                         origin: Some(Uuid::new_v4()),
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ pub async fn fetch(
                                     )),
                                     Err(_) => Ok((
                                         None,
-                                        Value::Binary(bytes),
+                                        Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(bytes)),
                                         Tag {
                                             span,
                                             origin: Some(Uuid::new_v4()),
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ pub async fn fetch(
                             } else {
                                 Ok((
                                     None,
-                                    Value::Binary(bytes),
+                                    Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(bytes)),
                                     Tag {
                                         span,
                                         origin: Some(Uuid::new_v4()),
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ pub async fn fetch(
                         }
                         _ => Ok((
                             None,
-                            Value::Binary(bytes),
+                            Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(bytes)),
                             Tag {
                                 span,
                                 origin: Some(Uuid::new_v4()),
diff --git a/src/commands/post.rs b/src/commands/post.rs
index e1001b98d2..e72ed175ac 100644
--- a/src/commands/post.rs
+++ b/src/commands/post.rs
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ pub async fn post(
                 s.await
             }
             Tagged {
-                item: Value::Binary(b),
+                item: Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(b)),
                 ..
             } => {
                 let mut s = surf::post(location).body_bytes(b);
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ pub async fn post(
                             })?;
                             Ok((
                                 None,
-                                Value::Binary(buf),
+                                Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(buf)),
                                 Tag {
                                     span,
                                     origin: Some(Uuid::new_v4()),
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ pub async fn post(
                             })?;
                             Ok((
                                 Some(image_ty.to_string()),
-                                Value::Binary(buf),
+                                Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(buf)),
                                 Tag {
                                     span,
                                     origin: Some(Uuid::new_v4()),
diff --git a/src/commands/save.rs b/src/commands/save.rs
index 2fd26defeb..77bd4433d8 100644
--- a/src/commands/save.rs
+++ b/src/commands/save.rs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ macro_rules! process_binary_return_success {
         for res in $result_vec {
             match res {
                 Ok(ReturnSuccess::Value(Tagged {
-                    item: Value::Binary(b),
+                    item: Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(b)),
                     ..
                 })) => {
                     for u in b.into_iter() {
diff --git a/src/commands/to_bson.rs b/src/commands/to_bson.rs
index a77bebeacc..e1cd3a108f 100644
--- a/src/commands/to_bson.rs
+++ b/src/commands/to_bson.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub fn value_to_bson_value(v: &Tagged<Value>) -> Result<Bson, ShellError> {
                 .collect::<Result<_, _>>()?,
         ),
         Value::Block(_) => Bson::Null,
-        Value::Binary(b) => Bson::Binary(BinarySubtype::Generic, b.clone()),
+        Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(b)) => Bson::Binary(BinarySubtype::Generic, b.clone()),
         Value::Row(o) => object_value_to_bson(o)?,
     })
 }
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ fn to_bson(args: CommandArgs, registry: &CommandRegistry) -> Result<OutputStream
                 Ok(bson_value) => {
                     match bson_value_to_bytes(bson_value, name_span) {
                         Ok(x) => yield ReturnSuccess::value(
-                            Value::Binary(x).simple_spanned(name_span),
+                            Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(x)).simple_spanned(name_span),
                         ),
                         _ => yield Err(ShellError::labeled_error_with_secondary(
                             "Expected a table with BSON-compatible structure.span() from pipeline",
diff --git a/src/commands/to_json.rs b/src/commands/to_json.rs
index 35c03af32d..aa0e720dbf 100644
--- a/src/commands/to_json.rs
+++ b/src/commands/to_json.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ pub fn value_to_json_value(v: &Tagged<Value>) -> Result<serde_json::Value, Shell
 
         Value::Table(l) => serde_json::Value::Array(json_list(l)?),
         Value::Block(_) => serde_json::Value::Null,
-        Value::Binary(b) => serde_json::Value::Array(
+        Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(b)) => serde_json::Value::Array(
             b.iter()
                 .map(|x| {
                     serde_json::Value::Number(serde_json::Number::from_f64(*x as f64).unwrap())
diff --git a/src/commands/to_sqlite.rs b/src/commands/to_sqlite.rs
index 0fd392f345..e4eef72c24 100644
--- a/src/commands/to_sqlite.rs
+++ b/src/commands/to_sqlite.rs
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ fn get_columns(rows: &Vec<Tagged<Value>>) -> Result<String, std::io::Error> {
 
 fn nu_value_to_sqlite_string(v: Value) -> String {
     match v {
-        Value::Binary(u) => format!("x'{}'", encode(u)),
         Value::Primitive(p) => match p {
             Primitive::Nothing => "NULL".into(),
             Primitive::Int(i) => format!("{}", i),
@@ -97,6 +96,7 @@ fn nu_value_to_sqlite_string(v: Value) -> String {
             Primitive::Boolean(_) => "0".into(),
             Primitive::Date(d) => format!("'{}'", d),
             Primitive::Path(p) => format!("'{}'", p.display().to_string().replace("'", "''")),
+            Primitive::Binary(u) => format!("x'{}'", encode(u)),
             Primitive::BeginningOfStream => "NULL".into(),
             Primitive::EndOfStream => "NULL".into(),
         },
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ fn sqlite_input_stream_to_bytes(
     }
     let mut out = Vec::new();
     tempfile.read_to_end(&mut out)?;
-    Ok(Value::Binary(out).tagged(tag))
+    Ok(Value::binary(out).tagged(tag))
 }
 
 fn to_sqlite(args: CommandArgs, registry: &CommandRegistry) -> Result<OutputStream, ShellError> {
diff --git a/src/commands/to_toml.rs b/src/commands/to_toml.rs
index e18e152363..6669c94cd6 100644
--- a/src/commands/to_toml.rs
+++ b/src/commands/to_toml.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ pub fn value_to_toml_value(v: &Tagged<Value>) -> Result<toml::Value, ShellError>
 
         Value::Table(l) => toml::Value::Array(collect_values(l)?),
         Value::Block(_) => toml::Value::String("<Block>".to_string()),
-        Value::Binary(b) => {
+        Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(b)) => {
             toml::Value::Array(b.iter().map(|x| toml::Value::Integer(*x as i64)).collect())
         }
         Value::Row(o) => {
diff --git a/src/commands/to_yaml.rs b/src/commands/to_yaml.rs
index 915827252d..f4aa63ad6a 100644
--- a/src/commands/to_yaml.rs
+++ b/src/commands/to_yaml.rs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ pub fn value_to_yaml_value(v: &Tagged<Value>) -> Result<serde_yaml::Value, Shell
             serde_yaml::Value::Sequence(out)
         }
         Value::Block(_) => serde_yaml::Value::Null,
-        Value::Binary(b) => serde_yaml::Value::Sequence(
+        Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(b)) => serde_yaml::Value::Sequence(
             b.iter()
                 .map(|x| serde_yaml::Value::Number(serde_yaml::Number::from(*x)))
                 .collect(),
diff --git a/src/data/base.rs b/src/data/base.rs
index aa491ebdcb..c80cf409f0 100644
--- a/src/data/base.rs
+++ b/src/data/base.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ pub enum Primitive {
     Boolean(bool),
     Date(DateTime<Utc>),
     Path(PathBuf),
+    #[serde(with = "serde_bytes")]
+    Binary(Vec<u8>),
 
     // Stream markers (used as bookend markers rather than actual values)
     BeginningOfStream,
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ impl Primitive {
             String(_) => "string",
             Boolean(_) => "boolean",
             Date(_) => "date",
+            Binary(_) => "binary",
         }
         .to_string()
     }
@@ -77,6 +80,7 @@ impl Primitive {
             String(string) => write!(f, "{:?}", string),
             Boolean(boolean) => write!(f, "{}", boolean),
             Date(date) => write!(f, "{}", date),
+            Binary(binary) => write!(f, "{:?}", binary),
         }
     }
 
@@ -121,6 +125,7 @@ impl Primitive {
                 (true, Some(_)) => format!("Yes"),
                 (false, Some(_)) => format!("No"),
             },
+            Primitive::Binary(_) => format!("<binary>"),
             Primitive::Date(d) => format!("{}", d.humanize()),
         }
     }
@@ -175,8 +180,6 @@ impl Block {
 pub enum Value {
     Primitive(Primitive),
     Row(crate::data::Dictionary),
-    #[serde(with = "serde_bytes")]
-    Binary(Vec<u8>),
     Table(Vec<Tagged<Value>>),
 
     Block(Block),
@@ -227,7 +230,6 @@ impl fmt::Debug for ValueDebug<'_> {
             Value::Row(o) => o.debug(f),
             Value::Table(l) => debug_list(l).fmt(f),
             Value::Block(_) => write!(f, "[[block]]"),
-            Value::Binary(_) => write!(f, "[[binary]]"),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -288,7 +290,7 @@ impl std::convert::TryFrom<&Tagged<Value>> for Vec<u8> {
 
     fn try_from(value: &Tagged<Value>) -> Result<Vec<u8>, ShellError> {
         match value.item() {
-            Value::Binary(b) => Ok(b.clone()),
+            Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(b)) => Ok(b.clone()),
             v => Err(ShellError::type_error(
                 "Binary",
                 value.copy_span(v.type_name()),
@@ -347,7 +349,6 @@ impl Value {
             Value::Row(_) => format!("object"),
             Value::Table(_) => format!("list"),
             Value::Block(_) => format!("block"),
-            Value::Binary(_) => format!("binary"),
         }
     }
 
@@ -363,7 +364,6 @@ impl Value {
                 .collect(),
             Value::Block(_) => vec![],
             Value::Table(_) => vec![],
-            Value::Binary(_) => vec![],
         }
     }
 
@@ -495,7 +495,6 @@ impl Value {
             Value::Row(o) => o.get_data(desc),
             Value::Block(_) => MaybeOwned::Owned(Value::nothing()),
             Value::Table(_) => MaybeOwned::Owned(Value::nothing()),
-            Value::Binary(_) => MaybeOwned::Owned(Value::nothing()),
         }
     }
 
@@ -514,7 +513,6 @@ impl Value {
                 l.len(),
                 if l.len() == 1 { "row" } else { "rows" }
             ),
-            Value::Binary(_) => format!("<binary>"),
         }
     }
 
@@ -602,6 +600,10 @@ impl Value {
         Value::Primitive(Primitive::Decimal(s.into()))
     }
 
+    pub fn binary(binary: Vec<u8>) -> Value {
+        Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(binary))
+    }
+
     pub fn number(s: impl Into<Number>) -> Value {
         let num = s.into();
 
diff --git a/src/format/generic.rs b/src/format/generic.rs
index 57726f819c..b6f9e29f26 100644
--- a/src/format/generic.rs
+++ b/src/format/generic.rs
@@ -35,11 +35,6 @@ impl RenderView for GenericView<'_> {
                 view.render_view(host)?;
                 Ok(())
             }
-
-            Value::Binary(_) => {
-                host.stdout("<Binary>");
-                Ok(())
-            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/binaryview.rs b/src/plugins/binaryview.rs
index a6b8df8990..3b92177374 100644
--- a/src/plugins/binaryview.rs
+++ b/src/plugins/binaryview.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 use crossterm::{cursor, terminal, Attribute, RawScreen};
-use nu::{serve_plugin, CallInfo, Plugin, ShellError, Signature, SpanSource, Tagged, Value};
+use nu::{
+    serve_plugin, CallInfo, Plugin, Primitive, ShellError, Signature, SpanSource, Tagged, Value,
+};
 use pretty_hex::*;
 
 struct BinaryView;
@@ -21,7 +23,7 @@ impl Plugin for BinaryView {
         for v in input {
             let value_origin = v.origin();
             match v.item {
-                Value::Binary(b) => {
+                Value::Primitive(Primitive::Binary(b)) => {
                     let source = value_origin.and_then(|x| call_info.source_map.get(&x));
                     let _ = view_binary(&b, source, call_info.args.has("lores"));
                 }