Finding a great show to watch is easy with Netflix. The streaming service offers subscribers a massive collection of new and classic series, including many shows you won’t find anywhere else. That library just keeps getting bigger, too, with new shows coming to Netflix every day. In order to make your decision even easier, we search through the entire collection every week to update this list of the best shows on Netflix right now.
We’ve also rounded up the best movies on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime, and the best shows on Disney+. Watching from abroad? Use a Netflix VPN to access your country’s catalog from anywhere in the world. Want to watch on the go? Here’s how to download shows on Netflix.
New shows added to Netflix
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Emily in Paris2020 - Elves2021
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- Maya and the Three2021
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- Money Heist2017
Emily in Paris (2020) new
In this shamelessly fun romantic-comedy series, Lily Collins portrays ambitious marketing exec Emily Cooper, who finds herself in Paris after landing her dream job. Along with acclimating to Parisian life, Emily must juggle the demands of her career, friendships, and burgeoning romance in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Blood of Zeus (2020)
Netflix continued its streak of impressive original anime projects with Blood of Zeus, one of the most visually dazzling animated shows on the streaming service. The series dives into re-envisioned Greek mythology with its story of Heron, a young man who discovers he is the son of Zeus, and possibly the only hero who can save both the heavens and the Earth. Fair warning: The series is not for the faint of heart, and has moments of intense, graphic violence. But it also has an impressive voice cast and a story that will keep you coming back for more.
This Is a Robbery: The World's Biggest Art Heist (2021)
The March 18, 1990, robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston is the largest art heist of all time to remain unsolved. The culprits behind the robbery — which is estimated to involve more than $500 million in stolen works of art — are still unknown, with no arrests made and none of the stolen art recovered. The details surrounding the infamous heist are chronicled in this four-part documentary series directed by Colin Barnicle and co-produced by Barnicle and his brother, Nick. Filmed over a seven-year period, the series features interviews with just about everyone involved with the event in one way or another, from the security guards who let the robbers into the museum to the FBI investigators put on the case, offering a fascinating account of one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of both the art world and the world of high-stakes crime.
Elves (2021) new
Genre Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Created by Stefan Jaworski
Directed by Roni Ezra
Cast Milo Toke Bendix Campanale, Sonja Steen, Lila Nobel
Seasons: 1
A family’s Christmas vacation to a secluded Scandinavian island takes a terrifying turn when their young daughter discovers a wounded creature in the woods and takes it home. Part Rare Exports, part Wicker Man, this Danish supernatural thriller could easily have been a two-hour holiday horror film, but works just as well (or better) as six compact episodes. Come for the Christmas story, but stay for the man-eating elves.
Saturday Morning All Star Hits! (2021) new
Genre Comedy, Animation
Created by Kyle Mooney, Ben Jones
Directed by Dave McCary
Cast Kyle Mooney, Emma Stone, Beck Bennett
Seasons: 1
How to describe this weirdly funny, irreverent, and occasionally disturbing parody of Saturday morning cartoon shows of the ’80s? Co-created by Saturday Night Live veteran Kyle Mooney, the series features a mix of live-action comedy and animation presented in the style of classic cartoon programming blocks from the era. Mooney portrays hosts Skip and Treybor, as well as a long list of other characters in the show, which also features twisted parodies of Denver the Dinosaur, Care Bears, and other series that ’80s kids will find eerily familiar. It’s one of the strangest shows you’ll find in this list, and certainly not for everyone, but if you get it, you get it.
The Witcher (2019)
Based on the popular fantasy series, Netflix’s The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), one of the few remaining monster hunters known as witchers who patrol the lands. The first season of the series was a runaway hit for the streaming service, exploring Geralt’s introduction to the cunning sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and the refugee princess Ciri (Freya Allen), whose fate is bound tightly to his own. The second season brings even more bloody battles, complicated characters, and memorable songs — courtesy of the bard Jaskier (Joey Batey).
Schitt's Creek (2015)
Genre Comedy
Created by Eugene Levy, Dan Levy
Cast Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Levy
Seasons: 6
Even Netflix couldn’t have predicted that the final season of Schitt’s Creek would sweep the Emmy Awards for comedy in 2020. But this little Canadian comedy surprised everyone by becoming a TV powerhouse, thanks in part to Netflix itself. The father-and-son duo of Eugene and Dan Levy created and starred in Schitt’s Creek for six seasons. The show follows the formerly wealthy Rose family after they lose their fortune and circumstances force them to move to a small town they once purchased as a joke. On the surface, that may sound shallow. But this is a comedy that has a lot of heart to go with its side-splitting moments and unique characters. The final episode even nailed the landing for the series, which is always a rarity.
Maya and the Three (2021) new
Genre Animation, Family, Action & Adventure, Comedy
Created by Jorge R. Gutierrez
Cast Zoe Saldana, Joaquín Cosío, Jorge R. Gutierrez
Seasons: 1
This nine-episode animated series created by Jorge R. Gutiérrez is a self-contained story that its creator likened to a Mexican version of Lord of the Rings, and the description isn’t that far off. The series is set in a world based on pre-colonial Mesoamerica, filled with the multitude of gods and heroes that populated the mythology of the indigenous cultures of that era, and follows a 15-year-old girl who embarks on a journey to find the three prophesied warriors who will help her defeat the underworld deities threatening humanity and save the world. Filled with unique, beautiful animation, and colorful characters you can’t help but cheer for (or against), Maya and the Three is an epic adventure everyone in the family will enjoy.
Better Call Saul (2015)
Genre Comedy, Crime, Drama
Created by Peter Gould, Vince Gilligan
Cast Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn
Seasons: 5
Bob Odenkirk stars in this Breaking Bad prequel series that heads back to the New Mexico desert for a look at Saul Goodman’s origin story. Before Goodman became the quirky, crooked lawyer Walter White played like a fiddle, he was Jimmy McGill, an aspiring lawyer who just couldn’t seem to keep his hands clean. The show is set six years before the events of Breaking Bad and throws out the convention that a spinoff must pale in comparison to its source material. It also proves creator Vince Gilligan and company remain at the top of their game.
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020) new
Genre Animation, Kids, Action & Adventure
Created by Zack Stentz
Cast Jameela Jamil, Glen Powell, Paul-Mikél Williams
Seasons: 4
Dinosaur-loving kids who are a little too young for the Jurassic World franchise don’t have to miss out on all of the gasping, screaming, and running with this animated series that manages to be entertaining for all ages. Camp Cretaceous follows young dinosaur expert Darius Bowman (Paul-Mikél Williams), who wins a trip to visit Camp Cretaceous on Isla Nublar with five other kids. Naturally, things go awry, and a dinosaur jailbreak leaves the teens stranded on the island and forced to rely on each other for their own survival.
Altered Carbon (2018)
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Created by Laeta Kalogridis
Cast Anthony Mackie, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Chris Conner
Seasons: 2
An adaptation of a popular cyberpunk novel by Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon is set a few hundred years in the future, by which point humanity has developed the technology to download a person’s consciousness into computers. People can now transfer themselves into new bodies, called “sleeves,” effectively making themselves immortal — provided they have the money. Into this world steps Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman), a former soldier who has spent the last 250 years in cold storage. He is back, in a new sleeve, courtesy of Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy), a wealthy man who wants Takeshi to find the man who killed Bancroft’s previous body. Altered Carbon draws on classic noir elements, as Takeshi explores a grimy city where everyone seems to have a hidden agenda.
Money Heist (2017) new
This Spanish crime drama rocketed to the top of Netflix’s most-watched shows when it was picked up by the streaming service and brought to a global audience, with everyone from professional athletes to Stephen King praising its clever, suspenseful, and visually stunning subversion of the heist genre. The series chronicles a pair of complicated heists orchestrated by a mysterious stranger known only as “The Professor.” The series, which won a long list of awards for its first season that included an International Emmy Award, unfolds from the perspective of a robber whose account occasionally veers into the surreal in order to keep the story rolling along at a captivating pace.
Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021) new
Genre Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation
Created by Kevin Smith
Cast Sarah Michelle Gellar, Tiffany Smith, Lena Headey
Seasons: 1
The classic 1980s cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe gets the revival treatment in this animated series developed by Clerks filmmaker and geek auteur Kevin Smith. The show picks up where the original animated series left off and tells a new, darker tale set in the magical land of Eternia. The impressive (to put it mildly) cast of voice talent includes Mark Hamill as Skeletor and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela, as well as Game of Thrones actors Liam Cunningham and Lena Headey, Diedrich Bader, Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Root, Henry Rollins, Jason Mewes, Justin Long, Tony Todd, and Dennis Haysbert, among other familiar faces (or in this case, voices).
The Last Dance (2020)
Genre Documentary
Created by Mike Tollin
Directed by Jason Hehir
Cast Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman
Seasons: 1
In fall 1997, the Chicago Bulls allowed a film crew to follow them as they embarked upon what coach Phil Jackson deemed “The Last Dance” — a final season before the team was likely to be split up after multiple championships. This 10-part docuseries chronicles that season and contextualizes it in legendary player Michael Jordan’s remarkable, world-changing career. Following Jordan from being cut from his high school basketball team, through his illustrious college and professional career, all the way to his iconic game-winning shot in the 1998 NBA Finals, The Last Dance is one of the most immersive and exciting sports documentaries of recent memory. The series doesn’t shed much light on the many controversies that followed Jordan throughout his career, but it does help solidify just what an enormous, transcendent icon Jordan really was.
Firefly Lane (2021)
Genre Drama
Created by Maggie Friedman
Cast Katherine Heigl, Sarah Chalke, Ben Lawson
Seasons: 1
Firefly Lane pairs lead actresses Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke as lifelong friends Tully Hart and Kate Mularkey, respectively, who have accompanied each other through one milestone in life after another. The series chronicles their friendship from childhood through the present day, where Tully is a wildly successful TV talk show host, and Kate is a divorced housewife who wants to rebuild her life. Love, life, and friendship lessons ensue, of course.
Waffles + Mochi (2021)
When good friends Waffles and Mochi decide to leave their frozen home to learn about foods that aren’t served on ice, they find a new home full of friendly people at a supermarket run by former first lady Michelle Obama. The pair work at the supermarket while also traveling around the world on adventures that teach them all about the origins and importance of various foods. As adorable as it is educational, the kid-friendly Waffles + Mochi also features an impressive list of guests from across the spectrum of famous chefs, foodies, and celebrity food experts.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (2020) new
Genre Documentary, Crime
Seasons: 2
The “crazy true crime” documentary has become the iconic genre of the streaming age, and Tiger King might be one of the best examples of it. The setup is simple enough: Director Eric Goode sets out to make a documentary about a snake dealer in Florida, and in doing so, stumbles into the world of big cat owners and the eponymous “Tiger King,” Joe Exotic, the owner of a big cat zoo who was convicted in 2019 of trying to put a hit on animal rights activist Carole Baskin. From the moment he appears on screen, Exotic is an outlandish figure, and the story only gets wilder from there.
Supergirl (2015) new
Genre Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Created by Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler, Andrew Kreisberg
Cast Melissa Benoist, Chyler Leigh, David Harewood
Seasons: 6
Melissa Benoist gave the world a hero to believe in — and to cheer for — when she made her debut as Supergirl in this series that made its way from CBS to The CW and ran for six action-packed, heartwarming seasons before concluding in November. The series follows Kara Zor-El, the Kryptonian cousin of the hero known as Superman, as she protects her new home from all manner of threats, both human and extraterrestrial, and occasionally finds herself assisting (or getting assistance from) a wide range of other, familiar costumed heroes.
Hellbound (2021) new
Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Crime
Created by Yeon Sang-ho, Choi Gyu-seok
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho
Cast Yoo Ah-in, Park Jeong-min, Kim Hyun-joo
Seasons: 1
This live-action Korean series is set in a world where terrifying supernatural entities emerge from hell to condemn evil-doers, but humans and religion are a far more sinister threat. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho and based on his animated short of the same name, Hellbound follows in the tense, horrifying steps of his zombie thriller Train to Busan.
History of Swear Words (2021)
Genre Documentary, Comedy
Cast Nicolas Cage
Seasons: 1
Regardless of whether you actually use them, swear words are an indelible part of our daily discourse. Plus, it can be fun to cut loose with a couple of expletives. Netflix not only realizes this, but it also embraces it with a six-part documentary series, History of Swear Words. Nicolas Cage is the perfect host for this show, as he examines the backstory and cultural impact of dick, damn, and a couple of words that we can’t actually repeat here. Actual linguistics experts also chime in for historical notes, while comedians like Sarah Silverman, Nick Offerman, Jim Jefferies, Nikki Glaser, and more get in on the bleeping bleep-bleep.
When They See Us (2019)
Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us tells the story of Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse), Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome), and Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez): Five young Black men who were falsely accused of rape and sexual assault in the infamous Central Park Five case. After serving years in prison, they became known as The Exonerated Five when the real rapist was caught. But the injustices suffered by these men and their families extended far beyond prison walls. It’s a difficult story to relive, but it’s also one that needs to be told.
Ozark (2017)
Genre Crime, Drama
Created by Mark Williams, Bill Dubuque
Cast Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz
Seasons: 4
In Ozark, the Byrde family has a knack for getting into overwhelming trouble. Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) had a scheme to launder money for a Mexican drug cartel, but when that goes wrong, Marty packs up his wife, Wendy (Laura Linney), and their kids for an abrupt move to the Ozarks — where he proceeds to set up an even more dangerous money laundering operation. In addition to starring in the series, Bateman has also made a name for himself directing episodes, earning a Primetime Emmy Award along the way. There’s only one more season to come, so now is the right time to catch up on Ozark’s twists and turns.
Supernatural (2005)
Genre Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Created by Eric Kripke
Cast Alexander Calvert, Misha Collins, Jared Padalecki
Seasons: 15
The longest-running American live-action fantasy series in TV history, Supernatural follows brothers Sam and Dan Winchester — played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, respectively — as they hunt all manner of ghosts, demons, and monsters across America. Mixing stand-alone “monster of the week” adventures with season-long story arcs that built an impressively deep mythology around the show, Supernatural kept fans coming back for its infectious chemistry and colorful cast that grew as the series progressed. A scripted television series has to be doing something right to run for 15 seasons without being canceled, and Supernatural finally ended its 327-episode run in November 2020 with the sort of satisfying, well-received series finale that few shows receive.
Narcos: Mexico (2018) new
A companion to the popular Narcos series, Narcos: Mexico chronicles the rise of the Mexico’s illegal drug trade throughout the 1980s. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story star Diego Luna portrays Guadalajara Cartel leader Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, with Michael Peña playing DEA agent Kiki Camarena. The third and final season of the series premiered in November.
Pacific Rim: The Black (2021)
An animated spinoff of the Pacific Rim film franchise, Pacific Rim: The Black is set in Australia after the monstrous Kaiju have overrun the continent. A pair of siblings discover an abandoned Jaeger — one of the giant robots built to battle the Kaiju — and attempt to use it to find their missing parents, forcing them to contend with both Kaiju and desperate human survivors who want the Jaeger for themselves. The animated series is aimed at the same audience as the films and not only offers plenty of giant robot versus monster brawls, but also expands the franchise’s mythology quite a bit.
High Score (2020)
How well do you know the story of video games? From the rise and fall of Atari to the emergence of Nintendo and beyond, Netflix’s High Score proves that there are still surprises to be found in the history of gaming. Throughout the first season, High Score tracks the beginning of the medium and interviews some of the pivotal figures who shaped gaming as we know it, many of whom remain unknown outside of gaming circles. The series also takes a deep dive into the console wars of the ‘90s, as well as the roleplaying and fighting genres, before examining the advent of 3D graphics. It doesn’t quite take us to the era of modern gaming, but the series is just getting started.
Colin in Black & White (2021) new
Activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick narrates this six-episode series that explores his early life and the experiences that led him to become one of professional sports’ most outspoken critics of racial injustice and ultimately cost him his football career. His fight for social justice continues, though, and the series casts Jaden Michael as a young Kaepernick, with Mary-Louise Parker and Nick Offerman portraying his adoptive parents.
Alice in Borderland (2020)
This Japanese series based on the manga of the same name by Haro Aso follows an aimless gamer named Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) who suddenly finds himself and his two best friends transported to an eerily empty Tokyo where they’re forced to compete in deadly games to survive. A mix of Battle Royale and The Hunger Games with a fascinating mystery and a talented cast, Alice in Borderland earned praise from critics and general audiences alike for its clever first season and was renewed for a second season just two weeks after the show’s Netflix launch. Its underlying premise will keep you guessing, and so will the sense of creeping dread as key characters are killed off — sometimes in gruesome fashion — from one episode to the next.
Inside Job (2021) new
What if all of the loony conspiracy theories were true, and there really was a shadow agency tasked with keeping them secret? This adult animated series takes that premise and runs with it, offering a hilarious spin on workplace comedies as the dysfunctional staff of a secret government organization attempts to keep the world — and all of the weird stuff we’re not allowed to know about — safe from various threats while dealing with their own personal issues. Lizzy Caplan and Christian Slater lead the show’s high-profile cast of voice actors.
Locke & Key (2020) new
When the Locke family moves back to their family’s ancestral home after a tragedy, the three children quickly learn that the old house holds plenty of secrets — and danger — when they discover a set of magical keys hidden around the property. They aren’t the only ones who know about the keys, though, and a mysterious entity will stop at nothing to collect them. Based on the comic book series created by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez, this dark fantasy will keep you guessing from one episode to the next.
Pretend It’s a City (2021)
Pretend It’s a City is not the first documentary that Martin Scorsese has made about writer and humorist Fran Lebowitz. The first documentary, Public Speaking, came out about a decade ago. Pretend It’s a City takes things even further with a bigger spotlight on Lebowitz herself. Although Scorsese often engages in conversations with his subject, Lebowitz carries most of the spotlight with her occasionally unconventional opinions. She can be a lot to take in, but Lebowitz never shies away from expressing herself.
You (2018) new
One of the more controversial recent entries in Netflix’s list of original series, You follows Joe Goldberg, a bookstore owner whose dark impulses take control when he becomes infatuated with a customer. Penn Badgley portrays Joe, with Elizabeth Lail playing the woman for which he develops a dangerous obsession in the show’s first season. A surprise hit for Netflix, the psychological drama based on Caroline Kepnes’ novel spawned a successful second season — in which Joe relocates from New York to Los Angeles, and The Haunting franchise actress Victoria Pedretti joins the cast — and then a third season that takes the saga to even darker, bloodier places as Joe balances new responsibilities with his sinister past. Disturbing, tense, and twisted, the series keeps generating plenty of buzz with each new chapter in Joe’s story.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)
When it comes to animated series, few rival Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. The beloved series continues to garner a following more than 15 years after its initial release, likely due to the way it deftly balances child-friendly themes with more sophisticated narratives, ones that revolve around war and the oft-ambiguous line between good and evil. The show is centered on the titular Aang, a master of the elements, and four nations, each of which is named after a different element (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water). The main story follows Aang and his companions in their effort to quell unrest and an ongoing feud with the Fire Nation, but the show’s detailed world-building and character development extend well beyond the scope of any one individual. To this day, it’s still considered a masterclass in storytelling, and considering Netflix is currently working on a live-action adaptation, there’s no better time to watch than now. The sequel series, The Legend of Korra, is also on Netflix now.
Mindhunter (2017)
Mindhunter flew under the radar during its two seasons on Netflix, but this stylish crime thriller still deserves to find a wider audience. The series is set in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, at a time when the FBI was struggling to understand how the minds of serial killers functioned. Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), with psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), take it upon themselves to study these men as they attempt to build the criminal psychology field from the ground up.
Seinfeld (1989) new
Netflix paid a crazy amount of money to secure the streaming rights to Seinfeld, the “show about nothing” created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, which ran for nine epic seasons and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television sitcoms ever made. The series is finally on the streaming service now, and it offers 180 episodes of idiosyncratic escapades revolving around, well … everyday life in New York City. Jerry Seinfeld portrays a fictionalized version of himself in the show, but it’s his surrounding cast that truly stole the show, with Jason Alexander portraying Jerry’s friend, George Costanza, Julia Louis-Dreyfus playing Jerry’s ex-girlfriend, Elaine Benes, and Michael Richards portraying Jerry’s quirky neighbor, Cosmo Kramer. There’s never been anything quite like Seinfeld on TV, and that’s probably why Netflix paid so much money (reportedly around $500 million) to become its new streaming home.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
One dark and ominous night, Hugh Crain (Henry Thomas) gathers his children and flees their vast, gothic mansion, leaving his wife, Olivia (Carla Gugino), behind. Olivia dies that night, her death ruled a suicide, and the tabloids run wild with stories of the haunted Hill House. The five Crain children — Steven, Shirley, Theo, Nell, and Luke — all grow up dealing with their trauma in varying ways, whether writing a successful memoir about the haunting of Hill House (Steven) or abusing drugs to numb the pain (Luke). As adults, the Crain siblings are barely on speaking terms, until a tragedy forces them all back together, and back to Hill House. Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House is a character-driven story, delving into the psychological problems of its many protagonists. It’s no mere family drama, though. In addition to their personal demons, there are some very real ghosts haunting the Crains, and Flanagan orchestrates some intense scares in the first episode alone, building tension but also knowing when to bust out a jump scare.
The Ripper (2020)
If the cold weather hasn’t chilled you to the bone, then perhaps Netflix’s latest true crime sensation will. The Ripper is a British import documentary that tackles the infamous Yorkshire Ripper, a serial killer whose reign of terror began in 1975 and ran through 1980. Survivors, investigators, journalists, and even family members of the victims share their tales about this horrific episode in their lives, and what it took to bring the killer to justice.
Squid Game (2021) new
This Battle Royale-style series from South Korea quietly became one of the most-watched shows on Netflix in the first week after it premiered, according to the CEO of the streaming service, giving audiences yet another tale of otherwise average individuals pushed to their limits in a deadly competition filled with familiar games and strange mysteries around every turn. The competitors all want a piece of the competition’s massive prize money, but as the games get deadlier and deadlier, the question becomes: Will anyone survive to claim it?
The Great British Bake Off/The Great British Baking Show (2010)
There are many cooking reality competition shows, but there’s only one Great British Bake Off. Although Netflix calls it The Great British Baking Show, it’s the same lovely program that has run for 11 seasons. However, only a selection of episodes from eight seasons are currently available. Regardless, the show still captures the quest of amateur bakers to impress the judges and out-bake each other to win the show’s final prize.
The Baby-Sitters Club (2020)
Released in summer 2020, this television adaptation of the popular children’s novel series of the same name by Ann M. Martin became an instant hit. Like the books, the series follows five middle-school girls who start their own babysitting business in Connecticut and their adventures as they do so. Each girl has her own unique passion and personality and a different job in the club, from Kristy Thomas (Sophie Grace), the president who makes it a point to call out social injustices, to the shy Mary Anne (Malia Baker), who serves as secretary. It’s a great show that pre-teens and young teens will love, and nostalgic parents who might have read the book series when they were kids will appreciate it, too.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)
We know who the Night Stalker is now. But from 1984 to 1985, Richard Ramirez horrified California with his violent crime spree that left police baffled. Two detectives played a key role in bringing Ramirez to justice: Gil Carrillo and Frank Salerno. In Netflix’s true crime documentary series, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, both Carrillo and Salerno share their stories of how they tracked down Ramirez. Several other key players also recount their part of this living history, but it was the public that ultimately ended the Night Stalker’s reign of terror.
Fate: The Winx Saga (2021)
If you’ve never seen the animated series Winx Club on Nickelodeon, then don’t worry. Fate: The Winx Saga is a live-action adaptation of that show, but it isn’t dependent upon previous knowledge of the characters or their world. Instead, it’s a reinvention of the Winx storyline with a more YA tone and a much darker take on the material. Abigail Cowen headlines the series as Bloom, a young fairy from Earth who is now on Otherworld and enrolled at Alfea to learn how to control her powers. There’s a definite Harry Potter vibe here for fans who are looking for a magic school fix, and fans can rest assured that a second season is in the works, according to Netflix.
Midnight Mass (2021) new
Writer and director Mike Flanagan brings another terrifying limited series to Netflix with this tale set on a small island where the arrival of a mysterious priest and the return of a troubled former resident coincide with a series of miraculous events that might not be what they seem. Although the series isn’t connected to his previous Netflix projects, The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass brings back quite a few cast members from those series, as well as some of his prior, critically acclaimed thrillers. However, it’s actor Hamish Linklater’s portrayal of the enigmatic Father Paul that’s truly something to behold, delivering a performance that truly sells the seven-part story’s exploration of faith, death, and redemption. It’s beautiful, brilliant, and very, very scary, but you’ll want to avoid spoilers going into the series, which is full of unexpected twists and turns.
Stranger Things (2016)
The opening sequence of Stranger Things lays out the TV show’s sci-fi aspirations clearly: A scientist flees down an empty hallway, pursued by some unseen force that eventually nabs him as he waits for elevator doors to close; it then cuts to a group of kids playing D&D in a suburban basement. From Alien to E.T. in a matter of seconds. The show is a stew made of various influences from the ‘80s. A mysterious creature and a secret government agency, a group of kids having adventures around their rural town, teens experimenting with sex, drugs, and peer pressure. There are pieces of Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, and John Hughes strewn throughout Stranger Things, and the result is a show that will feel immediately familiar to people who grew up with that source material. The show is not shallow in its emulation, either. The acting and direction are superb, giving even the most derivative scenes some heft.
Sex Education (2019)
This British blend of comedy and drama follows the teenage students at a fictional secondary school (that’s high school for American audiences) as they deal with issues in their personal lives often tied to their awakening sexuality. Asa Butterfield plays the shy, insecure Otis Milburn, who looks at sex a bit differently from his classmates thanks to his frank, oversharing mother, a sex therapist portrayed by The X-Files star Gillian Anderson. A critical hit that takes a unique approach to this uncomfortable, emotional time in every teenager’s life, Sex Education deconstructs the typical sex comedy trope with a thoughtful exploration of how our feelings and backgrounds shape our relationships to the people around us.
Bridgerton (2020)
Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton romance novels have become a buzzy original series on Netflix, thanks to showrunner Chris Van Dusen and mega-producer Shonda Rhimes. This is an alternate history tale that on the Bridgerton family, as well as their eight children, as they vie for position and romantic matches in London’s high society. In particular, Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) is pursued by several potential suitors, even though she may have her eye on Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the Duke of Hastings. But there are some significant obstacles in their way.
Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan (2019)
At times, this docuseries about the warring clans of 16th-century Japan feels more like an edgy action film than a traditional documentary, but the six-part series does a masterful job of exploring the political drama and intrigue of the Sengoku period — one of the most tumultuous eras of feudal Japan’s history. The series follows the rise (and, often, violent fall) of several prominent historical figures whose paths shaped the nation at a time when samurai, warlords, and powerful families were engaged in a near-constant civil war, and does so with a combination of historical (and graphic) reenactments and expert commentary. History lessons this deep have rarely been this intense, or compelling.
Lucifer (2016)
Tom Ellis plays fallen angel Lucifer Morningstar in this loose adaptation of the Lucifer comic book series. After leaving hell behind to chart a new path in his life, Lucifer encounters Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) and quickly falls for her. To remain a part of Chloe’s life, Lucifer helps her solve murders in Los Angeles with his talent for making suspects give up their secrets. No one can say that Lucifer isn’t open about who and what he is, but it takes a while for Chloe to realize that she really has partnered up with the original fallen angel. The series wrapped up its saga with its sixth and final season.
Shameless (2011)
You don’t need Showtime to catch Shameless, but you will be one season behind. The American incarnation of Shameless follows the Gallagher family as they struggle to get by on the south side of Chicago. William H. Macy stars as Frank Gallagher, the family patriarch who is more interested in feeding his addictions than feeding his family. Emmy Rossum also stars as Frank’s oldest daughter, Fiona, who tries to take care of the family herself. However, Fiona’s desire for a new life and the poor choices of her dysfunctional siblings often turn the Gallaghers’ lives into a dark comedy. And yet, after 10 seasons, most of the family is still together.
The Crown (2016)
Britain’s current and longest-reigning monarch is also one of its most unassuming. Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in the aftermath of World War II, at a time when the monarchy had ceded much of its power to Parliament and the Prime Minister. Despite a lack of governmental power, the Queen remains one of the most important heads of state in the world, and civic duties abound. Netflix’s The Crown traces Elizabeth’s (Claire Foy) life from her marriage to Prince Philip (Matt Smith) in 1947 to the present day, digging into the web of agendas and alliances the Queen must navigate. Heavy on political intrigue, The Crown is sure to satisfy viewers who appreciate Machiavellian television, as well as those who love TV shows like Downton Abbey. However, the show also has a deeply intimate side, in that it examines Elizabeth’s personal relationships and the toll exacted by her duties as Queen.
The Chair (2021)
Sandra Oh plays the newly appointed chair of the English department at a fictional, stuffy New England university in this comedy series created by Amanda Peet and Annie Julia Wyman. As the first woman appointed to the position, Oh’s character contends with her place in the institution’s history while simultaneously dealing with a host of other problematic elements — both professional and personal — including stubborn faculty members, institutionalized racism, and her own adoptive daughter. Jay Duplass, Bob Balaban, and Nana Mensah all play supporting roles in a funny, thought-provoking series that explores the issues facing higher-education institutions in the modern era.
Dark (2017)
Dark is one of Netflix’s most ambitious sci-fi series to date, but you’ll have to read the subtitles unless you’re fluent in German. Regardless of its original language, Dark presents an engrossing missing children mystery that starts in the present but soon expands into the past and the future as the implications of time travel tear four families apart. The end of the world is also in play, but even the Earth as we know it may not be the only battleground. There are a lot of twists and turns to follow, so you’ll want to pay close attention to this one.
30 Rock (2006)
Tina Fey turned her time as head writer on Saturday Night Live into this ridiculously popular sitcom that satirized, well … working on a live sketch-comedy show. Across 30 Rock‘s seven award-winning seasons, Fey portrayed Liz Lemon, head writer and showrunner on the fictional series The Girlie Show (later TGS with Tracy Jordan) as she navigates behind-the-scenes chaos, overbearing executives, and other troubling elements as she attempts to keep the show — and her career — rolling along. A recurring Primetime Emmy Award winner, 30 Rock teamed Fey with an impressive supporting cast led by Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and Jane Krakowski, among others.
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
Based on the comic book series of the same name by Gerard Way, this superhero series follows the lives of seven of 43 children born to women who mysteriously never knew they were pregnant until they went into labor. It turns out they are superheroes, and when these seven children are adopted by an eccentric billionaire, he turns the siblings into a superhero team called The Umbrella Academy. Later, however, the children become estranged from one another and their father. But when they discover he has died, they reconnect for his funeral. Warnings of a pending apocalypse prompt them to band together again to stop it, though it isn’t without clashing personalities and plenty of familial dysfunction.
American Vandal (2017)
This clever mockumentary series puts a new spin on true crime documentaries, with each season following a pair of high-school friends investigating a crime that isn’t as simple as it initially appears. The first season has friends Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck) attempting to get to the bottom of a prank that left crude phallic images painted on faculty members’ cars, while the second season brings the pair to a prestigious private school after an incident of mass diarrhea is perpetrated by a sinister criminal known only as “Turd Burglar.” It sounds ridiculous, but American Vandal also manages to offer compelling storytelling, blending the silliness of the crimes it explores with increasing tension and impressively scripted drama.
The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)
First things first: The Haunting of Bly Manor is not the second season of The Haunting of Hill House, despite both being creations of Mike Flanagan. Instead of a sequel to Hill House, Flanagan has envisioned Bly Manor as its own separate story, which was inspired by Henry James’ classic novel The Turn of the Screw. Victoria Pedretti headlines the series as Dani, a young governess who has been hired to watch over “two very unusual children.” Pedretti’s fellow Hill House veterans, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Henry Thomas, and Kate Siegel, will also be back in new roles unconnected to the previous series. The only thing that we can guarantee is that fresh scares are on the way. And it might be a good idea to watch this new show with the lights on.
Never Have I Ever (2020)
Never Have I Ever is a coming-of-age dramedy about a young woman who, after the death of her father, decides she wants to change her life and elevate her social status. However, Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), an Indian girl raised in America, finds that her family and friends aren’t fully on board with this renaissance. Considered a standout in a crowded field of coming-of-age dramedies on Netflix, Never Have I Ever delightfully balances the traditional perils of high school like teen romance and popularity with the challenges of grief, being a first-generation American, and finding yourself in a crowd of loved ones.
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Black Mirror (2011)
Each episode of Black Mirror tells a single story, with a theme of modern and near-future technology running through each unnerving tale. It’s often compared to The Twilight Zone for its episodic nature, and just like that classic, some of the stories will leave you sitting and staring at a blank television, wondering what you just watched. Beyond all of the thought-provoking, mind-bending, and world-building, the acting and aesthetic are smart and nuanced and will leave even the best spoiler guessers out there reeling from the sharp twists and turns in every episode.
Russian Doll (2019)
Natasha Lyonne brings her signature comedic stylings to this comedy-drama as Nadia, a woman stuck in a time loop who keeps reliving the same day over and over again, each time dying in increasingly freakish ways. She eventually discovers another man going through the same thing, and together, they try to figure out how to get out of the recurring nightmare. Earning four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, the mind-bending series will keep you puzzled and have you guessing all the way through. It’s the kind of series with lots of water-cooler-chatter potential by the end.
Lupin (2021)
Sometimes, finding the best TV shows means going international. For example, the French series Lupin is an exciting update on Maurice Leblanc’s legendary gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin. In a clever twist, the Lupin stories exist within the world of this show, and they inspire a man named Assane Diop (Omar Sy) to adopt the Lupin persona as his own to avenge his wrongfully accused father. Assane certainly has the skills of a master thief, but pursuing his revenge turns out to be far more dangerous and complicated than he anticipated.
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